Digestive problems, including constipation, have occurred for centuries. The Native Americans relied on herbs and plants to cure their bathroom woes. Because their diets were limited to the foods they could readily find in the woods and on the prairies, they did not always consume enough fiber. While hunting, they might fore go eating for a day or two. What the Native Americans ate depended solely on what was available for hunting and foraging.

As you might suspect, this type of lifestyle led to troublesome constipation now and then. Native Americans learned quickly which plants acted as laxatives to safely ease their constipation and return their digestive systems to a state of normalcy.

Throughout history, people have relied on natural laxatives to ease their constipation. In fact, it is still common practice in Chinese medicine to ingest a mixture of rhubarb root, ginger root, and licorice root instead of over-the-counter medications. The most common Indian (Ayurvedic) natural laxative formula is a mixture of psyllium, flax, and chia seeds steeped in black cherry juice.

Here are some of the most common constipation cures throughout history:

Aloe Vera
For centuries, the beverage form of Aloe Vera has been used as a natural laxative for even the worst cases of constipation. The juice should be made from the powder of the ground up leaves.

Basil Leaves
Many people use basil in everyday cooking. Throughout history, basil leaves brewed as tea have been proven to help reduce gas, reduce stomach cramps, and relieve constipation.

Bottle Gentian
To prevent constipation, many Indian tribes relied on natural laxative plants to support proper digestion. Logically, if the body can digest food effectively, constipation can be avoided. Bottle Gentian was used as a juice to aid digestion and even suppress the appetite.
Buckthorn

Around 2 A.D., a Greek physician touted the use of Buckthorn for a number of ailments. One method of preparation involved using the bark to make a tea, and this natural laxative is still in use today. Also, the tea helps ease related symptoms of constipation as well.

Chamomile
While Chamomile cannot cure constipation or even relieve its symptoms, Chamomile can help reduce gas to aid in easy digestion. If your system is digesting food more effectively, constipation can be avoided before it starts. For best results, steep the chamomile flowers in hot water for at least three minutes.

Culver’s Root
When the Native Americans found themselves battling malaria, they would use Culver’s Root as a natural laxative for the bedridden. Culver’s Root can be toxic, so it’s definitely not a choice for the novice!

Dandelion
Dandelion leaves taste bitter, but many people enjoy adding them to salads or steeping them for tea. Dandelion contains properties acting as a mild natural laxative. While dandelion leaves may not suit everyone’s tastes, they are extremely nutritious and good for the body.

Flowering Spurge
The Mesquakies Indians discovered Flowering Spurge worked as a laxative when ingested as a tea. The root was infused with hot water and drank in the morning to help keep the tribes’ digestive systems regular.

New Jersey Tea
New Jersey Tea was made from the roots of Ceanothus Americanus and turned into a tea. Because tea was hard to come by during the Revolutionary War, New Jersey Tea became a common substitute. During the process, it was discovered this beverage worked as a mild natural laxative.

Peppermint
If your constipation is tied to Irritable Bowel Syndrome, studies show peppermint leaves steeped in tea can help relieve pain and discomfort. This can help the intestines and bowel to relax, which helps the eliminatory process in turn.

Tamarind
The ancient Egyptians believed massive amounts of garlic and Tamarind were best for curing constipation. They also relied on mint to aid with digestion as well as prevent constipation.

Wild Indigo
Native Americans used a mixture of buffalo lard and Wild Indigo to help diminish intestinal troubles. With a reduction of gas and intestinal pain, people were more likely to effectively eliminate waste.

What about over the counter laxatives?

Contrary to popular belief, using laxatives on a routine basis to obtain regular bowel movements can ultimately lead to laxative abuse or addiction. Once laxative abuse starts, many complications can occur and it can be difficult to get the digestive system back on track.

You may experience complications from prolonged or acute laxative abuse, including problems not directly related to the digestive system.

Potential complications include:

• Abdominal bloating, pain, or a sense of constant “fullness”
• Abnormalities in electrolytes
• Bleeding (which can lead to anemia)
• Dehydration
• Edema
• Esophagitis
• Gastric Bleeding
• Gastric Ulceration
• Gastritis
• Hemorrhoid irritation
• Inability to absorb nutrients properly (can lead to hypoproteinemia, calcium deficiency, or hypoalbuminemia)
• Inability to absorb medications
• Injury to the intestine
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Liver problems
• Melanosis Coli
• Metabolic disturbances
• Pancreatitis
• Perforations and lacerations of the esophagus (Mallory-Weiss Syndrome)
• Permanent impairment of bowel function
• Ulcerations in the bowels
• Weight loss

Is there an alternative to OTC laxatives?

The good news is YES! There is only one product that is both safe and highly effective against constipation…it is Oxy-Powder.

Oxy-Powder is actually an all natural colon cleanse product that uses oxygen to melt away compaction in your colon. Oxy-Powder has 3 natural ingredients: ozonated magnesium oxides, natural citric acid, and organic germanium-132. This product is by far the most safest alternative to laxatives your money can buy.

To learn more about Oxy-Powder go to:
http://www.oxypowder.com

It is an often-overlooked fact many healthful foods act as natural laxatives and provide an excellent alternative to their over-the-counter counterparts. With such a wide variety to choose from, you are sure to find something you like to help bring relief.

Increase Your Fluid Intake

The first thing to check when experiencing constipation is how much fluid you’ve been drinking. Not drinking enough liquids is a common cause of constipation, and simply adding fresh water and pure juices to your diet can really help.

Liquids increase the amount of ambient moisture within the colon. This promotes softer, bulkier bowel movements which are easier to pass. It’s important to note coffee, tea, and soft drinks do not help with alleviating constipation and can make the problem worse because caffeine acts as a diuretic. Fruit and vegetable juices remain good choices, but only pure water actually hydrates rather than dehydrates. Drinking a large glass of water every 10 minutes for an hour brings quick relief when needed.

Some juices that are particularly effective as natural laxatives include:

• Prune
• Apple-pear
• Grape
• Asparagus
• Wheatgrass
• Potato

High Fiber Foods

Fruit and prunes are well known natural laxatives due to their fiber content. Prunes help stimulate contractions in the intestines to eliminate waste. Prunes also attract water to the intestinal area to soften this material.

Other known natural laxatives include:

Exercise to Increase Regularity

One of the best natural laxatives is exercise. The modern lifestyle would seem to be a sedentary one and this leads to constipation. Regular exercise stimulates the colon and keeps you regular. Brisk 15 to 20 minute walks three or four times a week can do the trick.

Yoga is another excellent way to start exercising and it certainly can improve muscle tone on the inside as well as outside. Yoga is unique in that it offers modifications for difficult postures to beginners, so everyone can receive its benefits at their own level of fitness. Not surprisingly, owing to many thousands of years old Ayurvedic knowledge, many of the postures are geared specifically to promote colon health and natural digestive function.

Safer Alternative to Laxatives

A safe way to relieve constipation is by using Oxy-Powder®, available exclusively through Global Healing Center. Oxy-Powder® helps the colon remove impacted mucus, toxins, and waste and helps restore regularity and optimal bowel health. This product works gently, without any embarrassing or unpleasant side effects. Oxy-Powder® takes effect gradually over a 12-hour period, so you won’t experience any sense of urgency or loss of bowel control.

Oxy-Powder® uses Ozonated Magnesium Oxides, Natural Citric Acid, and Germanium-132 to effectively cleanse the colon without harming friendly intestinal bacteria. Colon cleansing permits better absorption of nutrients from the foods you eat and helps strengthen your immune system as well since you’re clearing out all that toxic sludge. You can experience an increase in energy, elevated mood, and a decrease in bad body and breath odors.

A laxative should provide effective, reliable, noticeable results without causing addiction, without causing you to lose bowel control, without diminishing your body’s natural digestive function, and especially without presenting any harmful side effects. It’s as simple as that, so conduct your own research and then choose the constipation reliever that’s right for you!