Glucomannan | Available Treatments for Chronic Constipation
For patients suffering from chronic constipation, it is best to follow a
treatment regime that involves natural medicines and natural products. This
ensures fewer side effects and toxic reactions as compared to synthetic drugs.
A patient having chronic constipation can observe the following steps to treatment of the condition:
Dietary Fiber
The best natural medication for chronic constipation is the incorporation of increased dietary fiber into the diet. Dietary fiber acts by absorbing water and retaining it in the gastrointestinal tract. This therefore, results in the softening of the feces. It is also observed that dietary fibers generally swell up and therefore increase the bulk of the feces. This helps in increasing the motility along the gastrointestinal tract.
Dietary fiber can be either taken directly in foods or supplemented. Foods rich in fiber are generally obtained from fruits, vegetables and plant sources. Wheat, oats, and bran are some of the most common foods which are available, that are rich in dietary fibers. However, by far the most effective is konjac plant powder. Roots and corms of konjac, which is a plant that is found in East Asia, are known to contain 40% of the most potent dietary fiber known as glucomannan. Foods, which are made from konjac such as konjac pastas and konjac flour, are available in the stores, which can increase the fiber intake of your diet.
Alternatively supplements of dietary fibers like glucomannan in the form of capsules can be taken, if one finds it to tedious to maintain a fiber rich diet. FibraSlim is one such product that is available at pharmacies. It is not advised to take glucomannan and other fibers, which are formulated as tablets, as they could swell up during swallowing and block the esophagus, which in turn could prove fatal.
Exercise
The next best natural way of relieving constipation is by exercising. In
fact, it is noticed that people who are non-active are generally victims to
constipation. Exercises, which are targeted to the abdominal muscles and the
pelvic muscles, are quite effective in triggering bowel movements. One of the
most useful exercises that a person can do for bowel movement is the
squats.
Laxatives
Although not always natural, laxatives which can act in a number of ways like:
- Lubricant laxatives (e.g. mineral oil)
- Emmolient laxatives (e.g. docusate)
- Hyperosmolar laxatives (e.g. sorbitol and polyethylene glycol)
- Saline laxatives (e.g. magnesium salts)
- Stimulant laxatives (e.g. Bisacodyl
However, care should be taken not to just use one kind of laxative as it could lead to toxicity and alteration of physiology. It is best to keep shifting from one laxative type to the other.
Chronic constipation is not necessarily handled by the popping in of laxatives and other medication. Alternatives such as dietary fibers like glucomannan should be looked at for a safer treatment modality with more benefits.
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