It’s Entirely Natural - Articles

If you have ever suffered from constipation, you know the discomfort it causes. Your stomach feels bloated, bending from the waist is accompanied by pain and abdominal pressure, you dread using the bathroom and of course the inability to truly enjoy any activity because of the physical discomfort associated with movement in general.

Yet all of these symptoms pale when considering that there is a segment of the population for whom this is not an exception but rather the norm. Dealing with this painful condition day in and day out, these constipation sufferers may drink prune juice by the pint, swallow laxatives and stool softeners, and still are not able to consistently and without help achieve a bowel movement that is not painful.

Causes for constipation vary.

• Improper diet is at the top of the list and usually an increase in fiber and water intake will help alleviate the problem somewhat.
• The use of medication will impact the colon’s ability to move the fecal matter in a manner that is consistent with its intended function.
• Overuse of iron and calcium containing supplementation will cause stool to become hardened.
• The creation of a blockage that narrows the intestine to such an extent that passage is nearly impossible.

While the occasional bout of constipation is quickly and easily dealt with, the occurrences of chronic constipation need decisive action. Especially in the case of a blockage, an intervention that once again frees the movement inside the intestines is of utmost importance. When done inside a doctor’s office, colonic irrigation is quite commonly the term utilized for the manual probing and cleansing out of the colon and removal of fecal matter. Alternative healers like to use colon hydrotherapy which is gentler and helps to rid the colon of more accumulated waste.

Yet perhaps no form of treatment is as easily accomplished, safe, and gentle as the colon cleanse. Done in the privacy of your own home, you will be able to help your intestines to rid themselves of hardened fecal matter that may have been accumulating for more than decades!

While with healthy nutritional choices the accumulation of fecal matter is slow, the average American diet is predominantly unhealthy, and thus accumulation of waste is accelerated to such an extent that regular colon cleanse regimens are needed.

While unable to cure every conceivable reason for experiencing constipation, colon cleansers as a last resort will remove the blockages that narrow the passage through the intestines and remove the physical barriers to passing fecal matter along. Similarly, because of the removal of such matter, the intestines will once again be enabled to properly extract nutrients and water from fecal matter and thus many physiological reasons for constipation are removed. Thus, when occasional bouts of constipation occur, the use of prune juice and whole grain products will most likely get your body back on track and not require a doctor’s attention.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Colon Cleansing.

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Tags: Colon Cleansing, colon hydrotherapy, constipation, Fiber, whole grains

When the digestive system experiences imbalances, the whole body gets thrown for a loop. Many diseases and even common problems such as constipation and gas result from having digestive system malfunctions.

So, what causes digestive malfunction and imbalance? There are many causes, however stress is the most common and most destructive. Stress targets the digestive system and if it gets a hold there, the rest of the body is in for a rough ride. Most diseases start from a digestive system problem, which is something that has been studied and proven true. To cure the diseases of today, we must dig into the digestive system and fix the problem at the source.

One of the best alternative treatment options for colon health and many other problems is reflexology. Reflexology is simply the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the reflexes of feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs.

Just like the teeth, the feet and hands are a map to the health of our entire body. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding areas of the body. Furthermore, reflexology stimulates the lymphatic system and encourages the release of endorphins, the natural feel good hormones that are well documented in relieving the effects of stress.

Reflexology is meant to bring your body to a state of well-being. Only in this state is your body able to heal itself. When your body is full of toxins, your immune system is severely compromised, making you much more likely to succumb to sickness. Reflexology is a beneficial tool for improving circulation, relieving pain, and as an immune and nervous system stimulator. In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies, chronic sinus problems, acid reflux, migraines, PMS, menopause, insomnia, fertility problems, fibromyalgia, depression and even arthritis report significantly improved conditions as a result of the treatment.

If you don’t want to go to a trained reflexologist, but still want to experience the benefits the detox can bring, try the herbal foot detox patches. They are quite affordable and very effective. By simply applying them to your feet at night before bed, you will help detoxify all of your organs at the same time. Not only are well-known healing oils and tree extracts used in these patches, but also there are no side effects, making them a very popular choice.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Reflexology.

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Tags: colon health, constipation, Depression, fertility problems, fibromyalgia, immune system, Menopause, Reflexology, stress, toxins

Constipation is an uncomfortable yet common condition that is not fun for anyone, but unfortunately can be a part of life. Constipation is often the result of a lack of fiber and roughage in the diet. To improve this problem simply take a close look at what you are eating on a regular basis and resolve to make fiber more a part of your daily eating routine.

Bran is one of the best foods to prevent constipation, and in particular rice bran. Bran needs water to work properly and vice versa so drink as much fluid as possible. You should aim for at least six to eight glasses of water on a daily basis. It is recommended that you do not bombard your digestive system with a tremendous amount of fiber right away but start adding a little bit of it gradually each day. The body needs time to adjust to the addition of fiber to the system, especially when you are not inclined to consume much at all. Fluid needs to accompany fiber because the fiber is likely to absorb a great deal and the fluid will then in turn be able to “bulk up” the bran that is being eaten.

Why this works so effectively at combating constipation is that bran has rough edges and it is these rough edges that serve to stimulate the nerve endings in the bowel to start working to eliminate waste and in particular to increase the work of the colon. Bran is also beneficial to increase the amount of bulk that makes up the stools.

Not everyone is aware of this and researchers have no idea why it works but hot coffee, whether it be decaffeinated or regular helps to treat constipation. If you are constipated uncommon awakening drink six ounces but make sure you do so on an empty stomach so drink the coffee before you eat your breakfast. The good aspect of this remedy is that it yields almost immediate results. It is surmised that it is a chemical that is found in the coffee that makes it work like a charm, however it is not believed to be caffeine that makes it work so well. For reasons that have researchers baffled, the coffee for constipation cure works more effectively for women than it does men.

Prunes and prune juice have long been used as a treatment for constipation. The amount that is required to help a person tends to vary with the individual situation. The worse your constipation is, the more prunes or prune juice you will need to consume. It is unclear why prunes are effective when it comes to relieving constipation. Some researchers believe it is the fiber that is found in the prunes why others attribute it to the extremely high levels of sorbitol found in them. For those who are not familiar with sorbitol, it is an indigestible sugar alcohol.

Take the time to do your research over the Internet or at the public library to find other possible treatments for constipation if it is an issue for you.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more informaton on Food Cures.

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Tags: bran, coffee, constipation, Fiber, Food Cures, prunes

There are many smokers who have quite the habit by going cold turkey. Most will tell you that they did so without much in the way of preparation. Usually going the cold turkey route is something that is not thought out or pre-meditated, it just happens. Usually the smoker goes cold turkey in response to an event like a close friend or loved one dying of lung cancer, or perhaps they lost someone in a house fire that was caused by careless cigarette smoking.

To quit smoking this way, usually involves a drastic and very emotional motivator. The event usually is something that shows the smoker in a very dramatic way that smoking has caused a lot of grief or harm to someone and smoking becomes so distasteful that quitting becomes the only option. The smoker simply stops and the motivator is so vivid in their mind that every time the urge to smoke occurs the motivator zaps the urge and the person remains smoke-free.

There are times when the motivator to quit cold turkey is a pregnancy announcement and mom decides that the baby’s health is more important then the pleasure received from lighting up yet another smoke. Sometimes the motivator is the health of another person that is living in the same household as the smoker.

Whatever the reason, the timing is usually in a way that prevents the smoker from putting much thought or planning into the act of quitting. To succeed the smoker either needs to be able to stay focused on the motivator or to have a constant reminder of the motivation to quit. A pregnant mom can tape the ultrasound picture on her refrigerator or bedroom mirror as a reminder of the life growing inside of her that needs her to quit smoking. A father of an asthmatic son may need to hear his son wheezing and watch him reach for his inhaler to serve as a reminder that he needs to make his home smoke free.

Having gone cold turkey without a plan does not mean that you need to continue without one. You can devise a plan and can enlist the help of family and friends anytime. Speak with your healthcare provider about your decision to quit smoking and ask for advice and support groups.

After you have quit the smoking habit, you can still let others know of your decision and surround yourself with non-judgmental supportive individuals. Negative people will only drag you down and make you feel like you cannot succeed. Surrounding yourself with positive energy allows the positive energy to flow through you and gives it the ability to bring about positive changes in your life.

Whether you are going cold turkey or have designed a plan to quit you are likely to run across feelings of irritability, being tired, cravings at every turn and the need to put something in your mouth.

Here are some tips to help you survive:

• Understand that being irritable tired or out of sorts is to be expected.
• Make sure you drink lots of water all day and evening.
• Do something physical like going for a swim or walk to keep your mind active and off your cravings.
• Surround yourself with support - people who can help you to resist the temptation to smoke.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more informaton on Quit Smoking.

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Tags: cigarette smoking, cold turkey, constipation, Quit Smoking, smoke free, tobacco addiction