When I suffered from Crohn’s disease several decades ago, one of my most common symptoms was diarrhea. I had loose, multiple bowel movements for years – it was one of my last symptoms to be cured. So imagine my surprise when I turned 40 and was constipated for the first time ever. Complicating matters further was the fact that rectal surgery to remove skin tags when I was 19 had left me with scar tissue in my rectum.
Well, a few years later, I had developed the Rectal StrictureHeal protocol to soften/dissolve the scar tissue in my rectum, and I had also resolved the (sometimes excruciating) constipation. And guess what? The reason most constipation advice doesn’t work is because doctors try to simplify something (eat more fiber, drink more water!) that is actually quite complex and multifactorial.
So instead of just expanding the constipation symptoms section of Listen To Your Gut, I had to write a separate book that included all the different protocols, gentle, safe cleanses/detoxes, and dietary variations.
Attention, if you are a woman over 40 suffering from constipation: remove the wheat (every grain of it) and see what happens. This is the first thing you need to test.
Also check out my video series on bowel positions for constipation. And check out this encouraging letter from a reader of Listen To Your Colon: The Complete Natural Healing Guide for Constipation to learn what he found most valuable:
“I’ve tried most, if not all, of your suggestions and the results have been fantastic. I’m not sure if my diverticulitis has cleared up (hard to tell without actually being able to see 🙂 but I hardly have any cramps anymore and everything on the buttocks is normal (if you know what I mean). Surprisingly, the toileting posture techniques and the colon massages seemed to help the most. Just simply supporting the knees and sitting upright do it I was sitting hunched over, mostly due to the simultaneous cramps, not realizing that this was “pinching” the internal organs that needed to be straight to allow for bowel movements (according to your book), and for me it works like clockwork (no pun intended).
Here are some of the other things I’ve also tried based on your book “Listen to your Colon and continue at this time” that work for me:
- In the morning, mix aloe juice (Inner Gel Filet is apparently the best concentration) with fruit juice.
- Banana and apple daily for the potassium and fiber aspect.
- If anything, the red meat selection is limited
- Salads or vegetables every day
- Dietary supplements with fiber pills
- Probiotic supplements
- Fish oil – Omega 3 (I also take other vitamin supplements)
I also work out at the gym three times a week (which I already did) and take a walk around the neighborhood in between.
For all of these reasons, I began going off my prescription medications, per my doctor’s OK, right down to the last two. Wean slowly as recommended.
Since I had my last seizure a few months ago and then researched and found your information, the change back to “normal” has been incredible. I recently had my annual checkup with my primary care doctor and lost 15 pounds (which is back to “normal” for me) and my blood work was back within “normal” ranges in many categories. I’m assuming this is a result of the diet changes and additional information you covered in your book.
Thank you for sharing this with me, but it is important that you know that what you have done yourself and put this information out there will be of use to others. My doctor even encouraged me to keep reading your research! because it works. Although he said it was nothing different than what he originally recommended (LOL).
But the key is that like anything, you have to stick with it and make permanent changes to your lifestyle. Luckily, best regards!! – MZ”
I like the way MZ approaches his constipation holistically and also views it as a lifestyle change – a message from his body that something is wrong with the way you live. So address the root cause and don’t just take a laxative to mask the real problems.
If you or a loved one are struggling with chronic constipation, send them to my Home Remedies for Constipation page where they can get Chapter 2 of Listen To Your Colon for free – along with some helpful things to try.
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
