What is constipation?

Before dealing in detail with the best remedies for constipation , or rather, the best immediate laxatives that we can use to combat it, it is necessary to open a brief parenthesis on the disorder to understand what it is.

When we talk about constipation , also known in the medical field as constipation, we are referring to a condition in which our intestine undergoes real functional and organic alterations.

More precisely, it is an insufficiency, or a delay, in the evacuations of the faeces and this problem can be caused by various factors, among which we also have the presence of some pathological conditions that do not directly affect the intestine, but we will deal with the causes later.

A person can be said to be constipated when the following symptoms occur quite frequently:

• Difficulty and effort in evacuating stool;
• The sensation of having anorectal blockage;
• The number of evacuations per week is less than two;
• The stools appear particularly hard, ribbon-like and caprine.

Thus, we can speak of constipation when the individual has not been able to evacuate the stool for a period of at least three days , although the situation can vary from person to person.

It is a very common disorder that can affect anyone, especially adult women and the elderly. However, it also occurs in the case of children, but not newborns in which, a lack of evacuation would simply indicate that the baby has absorbed the nutrients of the mother’s milk.

What is constipation caused by?

As we have already mentioned in the previous paragraph, constipation can be caused by a wide range of factors and among these, very specific pathological conditions play a fundamental role , including:

• The presence of certain nervous pathologies;
• The presence of pathologies that affect the anorectal area, such as fissures, hemorrhoids and so on;
• Pathological conditions affecting intestinal function, such as diverticulitis, colitis and so on;
• Irritable bowel syndrome;

Even taking medicines influences the appearance of constipation, or constipation, as some medicines could cause intestinal derangements or make the stool more difficult to expel.

In addition to the diseases we have just mentioned and the intake of drugs, constipation can also be of a chronic idiopathic nature, i.e. be caused by other factors, such as those mentioned below:

• The presence of a pregnancy , due to the displacement of the colon caused by the uterus, or due to the various hormonal changes that occur in this period and which can lead to relaxation of the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Leading a sedentary life leads to a reduction in colon activity;
• The fact of following diets that are not suitable for our body, for example an exaggerated weight loss regimen, or the fact of being celiac;
• The presence of an eating disorder , such as anorexia.

These are therefore the main factors that contribute to the appearance of constipation, however, as you may have guessed from the title of our article, today we will deal with the remedies, more precisely with 3 effective immediate laxatives . In the meantime, let’s see what are the best remedies for this ailment.

What are the best remedies for constipation?

Intuitively, in the event that constipation was caused by an underlying pathological condition, the doctor will tell us how we must intervene to cure the disease that caused the disorder.

It would be advisable to consult your doctor also in all other situations, however, in most cases it is sufficient to change your eating habits or make changes to your lifestyle to resolve temporary episodes of constipation.

However, there is no universal remedy for constipation , each person can react differently to a specific remedy or treatment, so we recommend contacting your doctor.

Taking laxatives is often the best solution, these are medicines, or natural laxatives , which help promote proper intestinal function, let’s see what their mechanism of action is below, and then focus on the best products and most effective we can use.

What is the mechanism of action of laxatives?

Laxatives are therefore one of the most used remedies to resolve episodes of constipation . These are substances that should be taken with abundant quantities of water, so that, once they have arrived in the intestine, they manage to form a kind of gel which has the purpose of increasing the volume of the faeces.

This gel thus formed by increasing the volume of the faeces, making them softer among other things, ensures that our intestines are able to evacuate them more easily.

These benefits also include the following:

• The walls of the bowels relax;
• The microbial flora of the intestine grows;
• Improve secondary propulsive activity.

All these benefits, put together, counteract constipation even if the purgative effect can only be appreciated after a period ranging between 14 and 72 hours.

There are different types of laxatives, both on the market and in nature and, for this reason, a distinction is generally made between natural and synthetic laxatives which, in turn, have been further classified into subcategories, let’s see what happens in the case of natural laxatives in the next paragraph.

How are natural laxatives classified?

As we have already said, laxatives are divided into two broad categories, which are natural laxatives and synthetic laxatives. As far as natural laxatives are concerned, a subdivision has been made between those of vegetable origin and those of mineral origin.

In the first case, i.e. in the case of natural laxatives of vegetable origin , we mainly have the following products:

• Castor oil;
• Psyllium seeds;
• Olive oil and other vegetable oils;
• rhubarb;
• Aloe;
• The buckthorn;
• The Seine;
• To dietary fiber;
• The agar;
• the shell;
• The bran;
• Ashore;
• Guar and guar gum.

As far as natural laxatives of mineral origin are concerned, we have mineral oil and inorganic salts. In any case, remember that the fact that these are natural laxatives does not mean that they are free from any side effects, but we will cover these later.

What are the top 3 instant laxatives?

The 3 immediate laxatives that we will tell you about today are of natural origin but, given that, as we have already mentioned, they are still laxatives that could cause side effects, it would be advisable to ask your doctor for advice before using them.

The 3 immediate laxatives we decided to tell you about today are therefore the following:

• Senna herbal tea . It is an infusion widely used for the treatment of constipation as the beneficial properties of senna favor a natural evacuation. However, this natural remedy for constipation should only be used for short periods of time as, in the long run, it could irritate our intestines. To make the most of its beneficial properties, it is advisable to take the herbal tea before going to sleep and, if this has no effect, we can prepare another herbal tea the next morning, for breakfast;
• A smoothie based on flaxseed, kiwi and orange is strongly recommended to counteract acute episodes of constipation. Taking this smoothie in the morning facilitates the natural evacuation process thanks to the beneficial properties of the fruits that compose it. First of all we have flax seeds, used since ancient times to promote intestinal transit. The kiwi is famous precisely for its laxative properties, especially if we take it on an empty stomach and, finally, the orange is used to regulate intestinal functions and to favor natural purification;
• The quince is rich in pectin and this very substance brings innumerable benefits to our body, especially in case of constipation. It is advisable to consume this cooked fruit, possibly during its season which is autumn. Outside of the autumn season we can instead get stocks of quince-based jams, so as to always have them on hand, even if in different forms.

Are there any contraindications or risks associated with immediate laxatives?

Therefore, even if they are mainly natural laxatives , this does not exclude the possibility that these have very specific side effects and, as we have already advised you several times in the course of the article, it would be advisable to contact your doctor before using them.

In fact, incorrect use or even abuse of laxatives, of whatever kind they are, therefore even natural ones, could lead to risks, especially as regards our health.

If we take a large amount of laxatives , ailments may occur, including those mentioned below:

• an intestinal obstruction;
• meteorism;
• flatulenze;
• electrolyte imbalances.

Furthermore, doctors advise against using laxatives in the presence of very specific pathological conditions, for example in the event that the constipation has been caused by a mechanical obstruction, such as the presence of hernias, or inflammation involving the intestine.