Prevention and Healing of Constipation

by Dr. Lynn Tan, N.D.

Nowadays, in our society, we need not greet each other with “Have you taken your lunch?” or Have you taken your dinner?” because our well-being is no longer measured by whether or not we have enough food for our 3 meals.

We now are facing a different but more widespread malady which is constipation. Lots of people are affected by this whether knowingly or unknowingly. Thus, it is our concern now to ask, “Have you moved your bowels today?”

If one eats 3 meals a day, then a healthy bowel habit should be a bowel movement 2-3 times, daily.

Between 10 to 14 hours after every meal, the waste residue of that meal should be on its way out. The pictures in Fig. 1 clearly illustrates how food moves through the gastrointestinal tract in a 24 hour period.

 

Fig.2 also shows what happens when the waste residue is not eliminated on time.

If you move your bowels once a day, this indicates that the transit time between eating food and eliminating it is 24-36 hours. This means that you may have a waste residue of 5-6 meals in your intestines. Some people have a transit time of up to 140 hours or nearly 6 days. One must feel terrible to have 18 meals stagnating in the system!

Some health professionals tell their patients that if they move their bowels every 2 or 3 days, or even every 4 days, and they have been doing this regularly, then it is normal for them. This is erroneous! You can’t feel all right with such infrequent bowel movements.

Constipation is a root cause for many troubles in the body. The troubles may range from tiredness, headaches, bad temper, insomnia, indigestion, flatulence, to other degenerative diseases like diabetes and even cancer.

The Cause Of Constipation

It is amazing that how an act which is so natural can be adversely affected by our culture. The following are the main cause of constipation:

1. Faulty nutritional patterns
2. Sedentary lifestyle
3. Antibiotics

Faulty Nutritional Patterns

Our movement away from healthy nutritional patterns could fill volumes of books. The biggest culprit which causes damage to our bodies is our consumption of refined and processed foods. The refining of grains like rice and wheat remove all fibre and most nutrients from them, leaving behind only starch which moves very slowly through the gastro-intestinal tract.

Consumption of meat and other chemicalized foods aggravates the problem further by destroying the friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract. These friendly bacteria help to clean up the poisons in the intestinal tract and keep out the growth of harmful bacteria. They also help in the peristaltic movements of the bowels. Meat also moves through the intestinal tracts much slower, causing putrefaction in the intestines.

Generally, people do not consume enough raw fruits and vegetables. Because fibre is so lacking in our diet, it is important to consume lots of fiberous foods which can act as a ‘broom’ and sweep out residues from the intestinal tract.

Lack of fluid intake also contributes to constipation. I define “fluid” as distilled water or fresh fruit and vegetable juices. This definitely excludes soft drinks and other sugar-loaded beverages since sugar kills friendly bacteria in the intestines.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Many people sit too much. Lack of physical movement causes the bowels to be lazy. Any form of physical exercise will help, but do it daily and regularly. I find the rebounder to be most helpful because it is effective and convenient, especially for busy people. Ten minutes of workout on it is equivalent to a two-mile jog, minus the hard impact on the joints.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics kill all bacteria. Thus, to restore the good intestinal flora, you need to take the friendly bacteria in the form of yogurt or Immfulora (which contains ten billion cells of friendly bacteria per 1 gm sachet) during antibiotic therapy, and at least two weeks after completion of the therapy. Lack of friendly bacteria may cause constipation or loose stools.

Cure For Constipation

The following picture (Fig.3) shows the cross section of a healthy colon and the colon of people who consume refined foods, white rice, and white flour products. Examples of these refined foods are: bee hoon, mee, roti canai, white bread, cakes, and biscuits, etc.

You will notice that you may still be able to move your bowels daily, but it is through a narrow passage. The more constipated you are, the more encrustations you will find in the colon. Below are also some photographs of the encrustations that have been flushed out when the colon is cleansed by taking the Herbal Klenz Powder.

Steps to prevent and cure constipation:

1. Remove the encrustations by using the cleansing herbs.
2. Restore the friendly bacteria colony by taking Immuflora and / or homemade yogurt.
3. Make sure you have enough fluid intake, especially in the form of fresh vegetable and fruit juices. Spirulina drink and ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) are excellent sources to provide a good environment for the intestinal flora.
4. Avoid refined foods. Instead, consume unpolished rice and whole wheat bread. Make your own pasta, noodles, biscuits, pancakes, etc., using wholemeal flour. Eat plenty of fruit and raw vegetables.

Prevention And Cure Of Constipation In Children

Feed Your Child Right

Feed your child right when he first begins to consume food and he will never have a problem with constipation.

Breastfeed Your Child

“Mother’s milk is for babies and cow’s milk is for calves.” This is the slogan I use whenever I talk to mothers. Cow’s milk is not suitable for human consumption, especially for us Asians who do not have the enzyme called lactase which aids in digesting the lactose in milk.

Breastfeed your baby for at least a year or more and delay introducing solid food as long as the baby is happy and growing well. After 6 to 8 months of age (depending on the baby), you may slowly introduce some juices that have been diluted by 50% and little fruits, raw vegetables, and homemade yogurt. Avoid all kinds of refined and processed foods. Raw is best. Meat should only be given sparingly. If the baby is fed this way, the child will never have constipation, nor any other sickness.

If it is not possible for you to keep your child from taking meat and refined foods, then supplements like Immflora and Spirulina to drink are essential.

Medicine and Drugs

Medicine and drugs are to be taken only if it is really necessary. Antibiotics disturb the intestinal flora and wipe out the friendly bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, which often causes diarrhea or constipation. In either case, supplements of Immuflora will solve the problem.

Squat, Not Sit

Train your child to squat, not sit, while moving the bowels. Even animals squat because it is the most natural position for evacuation. Sitting is a learned behaviour which is not necessarily conducive in moving the bowels.

Television And Computer Games

Television and computer games are not only damaging to the children in the area of social and mental development, they are also damaging to their physical health. Keep them away from these time robbing machines. Your child will learn to be more creative and get along better with others without these machines impeding their social skills. Take them outdoors to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. A rebounder not only provides excellent cellular exercise, it also prevents constipation and is a sure way for children to have fun at home.

What if your child is already constipated?

A change of diet and lifestyle as previously mentioned is absolutely necessary in order to correct faulty bowel habits. Even though you make the necessary changes to bring about better bowel habits, you may already have a blockage in the lower part of the colon and the rectum, causing constipation. If this occurs, my advice is to have a water enema.

The composition of a water enema is 1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar in 1 glass of distilled water.

For children between the ages of 1 to 2, use only ⅕ of the mixture.

For children between 2 to 4 years, use ⅓ of the mixture.

For children between 4 to 6 years, use half of the mixture.

Children above 6 may use all of the mixture.

Increase the amount of water if the stools do not flush out after taking the enema.

Please note that this water enema does not heal constipation – it simply treats the symptom of constipation by physically removing impacted faeces from the rectum. This then enables the ‘good’ waste residue to move out quickly once a difference in your lifestyle is established.

This water enema is not addictive. It removes impacted waste matter from the intestinal system rather than allowing it to stay, thereby causing auto-intoxication (self poisoning) and further constipation. The right foods, with the right amount of exercise, coupled with a water enema, if necessary, should eliminate the cause and symptoms of constipation.