When I first wrote Listen to Your Colon, I based it on my own experience and what I kept hearing from people who wrote to me after reading it.
Many of you shared long, personal stories. You told me what you tried, what felt confusing, and where you felt stuck. Over time, certain questions continued to arise. Certain patterns repeated themselves.
This feedback shaped the 2nd edition of Listen to Your Colon.
This update is not about changing direction. It's about explaining things more clearly, filling in gaps, and responding to readers' desires over the years.
Why constipation advice often misses the mark
Most people are told that constipation is simple: eat more fiber, drink more water, take something to get things moving.
But as many of you know, doing more of it doesn't help and sometimes actually makes things worse.
What I have learned through my own experience and from listening to my dear readers is that constipation is not a single problem. In the book I talk about two main patterns that I think keep cropping up:
- Peristaltic constipation, in which movement is slow or weak
- Stenosis-related obstruction in which tension or narrowing restricts blood flow
RELATED: Two Different Types of Constipation
When treated in the same way, it is easy to force the body rather than work with it. One of my goals with this book has always been to help people understand why their bodies may be holding back, rather than just putting more stress on it.
What's new in Listen to Your Colon 2nd Edition?
The 2nd edition contains updates and additions based on the questions and experiences readers have shared with me.
In this 2025 edition you will find:
- A clearer summary of constipation treatment with updated guidelines on probiotic sequencing and longer-term follow-up.
- Expanded nutrition instructions with larger grocery lists to make meal planning easier
- A new section on stool softeners, including a discussion of my ColonEaze Move formula.
- Integration of castor oil pack instructions and how to use them to support motility and reduce abdominal tension.
- Updated discussion of magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C, distinguishing between the two constipation patterns covered in the book.
- A fast-acting treatment plan intended for short-term use when symptoms feel more intense.
- Advanced mind-body tools, including journaling prompts and emotional release guidance.
- Updated pediatric and infant constipation protocols with clearer dosing and troubleshooting instructions.
- For readers who want more context or guidance, links to blog posts, tutorial videos, and podcast episodes have been added throughout the book.
These updates are intended to make the material easier to understand and work with – not more complicated.
The nervous system and the large intestine
A topic that comes up frequently in reader emails is stress—especially long-standing stress.
The colon responds to the nervous system, and when the body remains tense, the intestines often respond as well. That's why this edition includes tools like Lazer Tapping and simple journal prompts.
These are not presented as treatments. This allows you to pay attention to how the body reacts when tension is recognized rather than ignored.
Who this book is for
This book is for people who want to better understand their constipation and explore approaches that are less about coercion and more about listening.
This is particularly relevant if you've felt confused by conflicting advice or aren't sure where to start. It is not intended as a quick fix and is not a substitute for medical care. It's a guide to help you observe patterns, better understand why your body isn't functioning smoothly, and make more informed decisions.
How I recommend using the book
You don't have to read this book from start to finish or in page order, nor do you have to do it all at once.
Start where something resonates. Move slowly. Notice what your body is doing. The book should be used flexibly and not followed rigidly.
One final thought
Constipation is not something to fight or overcome. It is something the body communicates.
My hope is that this 2nd edition provides you with clearer information, better context, and a calmer way to explore what is happening in your own body, based on what I have learned through my own experience and from listening to so many of you.
Heartfelt,
Jini Patel Thompson
Read an excerpt from the 2nd edition
If you want to get a feel for the updated edition, you can read an excerpt from Listen to Your Colon (2nd Edition).
Download the excerpt
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.
