Let’s talk about constipation and natural constipation remedies that make life just a little easier. Ideally, you should be going to the bathroom at least once a day. However, struggling to poo is quite common in the world, so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

If you’re looking for a quick fix for constipation, then scroll down to my list of tips. They’ve all been tried and tested by me after years of struggling with this uncomfortable problem.

However, if you want to cure chronic constipation for life, then the next section may be for you.

Vegan and raw food for constipation

Well into my 20’s I suffered from constipation and my stepdad used to laugh and say it was because I ate “constipation-material” like pizzas, burgers, meat, dairy, bread, pasta, and sugar – and now I realise that he was right!

It was only when I started my raw vegan diet that things inside me changed drastically. All of sudden, I was able to go to the loo several times a day and I forgot what constipation feels like! It was like a miracle.

I was raw vegan for 5 years and even though I now eat cooked food and even pizza and pasta again, I’ve never had constipation since. Raw food was my cure for constipation for life.

So, going vegetarian, then vegan, then raw vegan is by far the best advice I can give you for getting rid of constipation and haemorrhoids for the long haul.

Quick fix natural constipation remedies

I know that dietary changes can be somewhat difficult for many people, so I will list some other simple techniques that can help you with this issue no matter what you are eating. But please bear in mind that you should ideally try to fix the root cause of the problem (most often diet, but it can be related to more serious health issues so it’s best to check with your doctor) in order to cure constipation permanently. The natural constipation remedies below are just to help you ease the pain. And some of them may seem weird, but I’m not trying to make jokes here, constipation can be a serious matter.

1. JUVIA Digestive Balance Formula

This blog has been live and helping people for many years now and I’ve decided to update it because I’ve actually found a product that works better than anything else out there! JUVIA is a natural cure for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) but even if you don’t have this condition, it will help if you have constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. 

It’s made from barley extract and even though it only has one main ingredient, the results are nothing short of miraculous. I’ve now spoken to dozens of people whose lives have been changed by JUVIA (including members of my family) and I couldn’t recommend it more. If you’re looking for a long-term solution and not just a quick fix, then this is my best recommendation.

Use code: AA10 for 10% off your order (P.S. I get nothing if you use this code, but I truly believe in this product that’s why I’m sharing it with you).

If JUVIA is not yet available in your country, have a look at the other options below:

2. Squat when you poo

Now don’t laugh, this has been a game-changer for me. Squatting, for those who don’t know the word, is how you would poo in nature, so not sitting down on a toilet seat, but with your knees pressed up against your stomach.

This is how we were born to go to the loo…toilet seats were not invented that long ago if you look at the human timeline. Squatting releases the need to strain yourself, which is one of the ways you get haemorrhoids. So not only does it help elimination by about 30%, but it also helps release everything out of your colon and not leave poop behind in your gut that will just linger around and rot (ew!).

In fact, just watch this epic advert for the squatty potty, I think it explains this hard subject soo well! I’m not affiliated with them in any way, I just frickin love their adverts!

If you feel like you can’t go to the loo, squat whilst sitting on the toilet OR for 20 minutes beforehand whilst sitting on your bed with your laptop, or whilst playing with your dog. The pose alone will trigger the need to go and works perfectly 99% of the time (at least for me)!

Can’t climb onto the toilet seat with your feet? There are special little squatting stools that you can use too.

Here’s more information about it if you would like to know more.

3. Drink Japanese Sencha tea for constipation relief

Note: I’m talking about real leaves here, not just plain “green tea” bags.

When I was 16, I went to the toilet once every couple of days, but at that time everyone I knew did too, so for me, it was normal. I finally got worried when I went to Bali and didn’t go to the loo for 10 whole days! I was a little scared, but luckily I knew someone who gave me 4 teaspoons of sencha tea in one cup of water, boiled to 80 degrees Celcius (don’t boil it to 100 degrees as it destroys some of the beneficial aspects of the tea) to help me.

It tasted pretty gross, but everything came out of me in just 30 minutes after drinking it! I used the same trick with other people I knew and it worked just as well, even though they were sceptical at first, saying things like “I’ve tried so much medicine, how can your little tea help me?!”

I used to drink this twice a day, first thing in the morning and after lunch and found it to be one of the best natural constipation remedies. Not only did it promote good digestion, but it also released toxins and after a few months, it made my body physically sick if I ate anything that was bad for me. If you’re drinking it every day, then 1.5 to 2 teaspoons of leaves is enough per cup.

You can get sencha tea online or in most good tea shops, I used to get mine delivered from Japan, but then I found a few decent ones in the Japanese shops in London. You definitely want to get a good quality one, preferably first harvest and organic. Don’t go for the cheap options here, they don’t work from my experience.

4. Eat more fibre

Yes, I realise I’m going back to diet again, but if you’re not ready to go vegetarian/vegan/raw yet, then at least consider eating more green vegetables and fruit, alongside anything else you choose to eat.

If your stool is too small and hard, fibre will help by adding bulk to it. Add more fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds to your diet as these are full of fibre (especially prunes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, berries, leafy greens, celery, and squash).

Flax seeds, or linseeds, are another awesome source of fibre and can be added to many meals, from breakfasts to falafels, to help your stool.

5. If you can’t squat, then rock on the loo

Let’s see if I can explain this properly, if you’re sitting on the toilet the modern way, then moving your upper body forwards and backwards whilst straining your stomach a little, will help move things along.

6. Never ever strain too much

Straining till your ears pop is certainly NOT the way to go! Not only is that awful for your whole system, but it is also a sure way of getting haemorrhoids! If you can’t go, wait a little, or refer to point 1.

7. Drink plenty of water and do some exercise

An obvious one, but still needs mentioning. Drinking lots of water is essential for our body to function properly and can really help with constipation.

If you really hate exercising, even some mild yoga will help, or dancing, or any kind of physical movement.

8. For desperate times, take MSM…

Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM sounds like a chemical, but it actually is a natural sulphur that is found in most living things, like plants. Most of us are unaware of what a large role sulphur plays in our nutrition and if the points above don’t work for you, this one certainly will!

MSM comes in white powder form, just do make sure to buy the true organic one, as there are chemical fakes out there. You take it by dissolving 1 teaspoon of MSM into one glass of water, best taken first thing in the morning. The taste is not amazing so if you really don’t like it, try dissolving it in some freshly squeezed orange juice as that will kill the flavour. Also, when MSM reacts with Vit C, it will make it even stronger. Do read up on MSM, it does many other things, such as preventing arthritis and candida.

9. or Magnesium powder as natural constipation remedies

Magnesium powder works in the exact same way and I found it to be one of the most surprising natural constipation remedies. A teaspoon in some water a day will get you going. However, I believe you shouldn’t take this if you have any form of kidney disease. I’m not a doctor, so do make sure to check with your doctor before trying anything new.

It may take from a couple of hours to a couple of days to work, but you will certainly see the result! Also, please remember that taking supplements is NOT a permanent solution. It is a means of getting you by hard times. I’m not a big fan of taking supplements, but when I came off a 7-day fast the wrong way last time, magnesium (as it was the only thing I could get at the time) saved my life.

10. If you need a quick constipation fix, do an enema

When I went to live in London, it shocked me that I couldn’t find an enema kit ANYWHERE! In my culture, cleaning the colon was the most natural thing in the world. Not only does it help poop exit if you’re badly constipated, but it also helps clean your system if you have had food poisoning or even if you have the flu! You can thankfully get an enema kit online now. Just don’t get the rubber ones, they’re not very comfortable.

People sometimes worry that your colon may get lazy and stop working on its own. However, this isn’t the case. It’s not like you’re going to do it every day for the rest of your life, just once in a while if you’re struggling or just feel like you need to clean your insides.

What is an enema? It’s basically a bag of water with a hose…you can guess where the hose goes… You fill up your colon with up to 2 litres of water, after which you should try to hold it in for as long as possible before it all comes out. Do stay close to the toilet to avoid any accidents.

11. And finally…coffee helps with constipation too

I don’t drink coffee, it makes me anxious, so when my boyfriend recommended it after yet another holiday constipation disaster, I wasn’t convinced. For whatever reason, my body just gets clogged up when I travel and this time, I had a photoshoot the next day so I was pretty desperate and decided to try some coffee. Within 30 mins, everything was out! After reading up about it, I found out that coffee helps peristalsis (basically moving poop along the colon), and even diluted coffee (so I don’t get anxious) worked on me. This may be one of the simplest and most available solutions to constipation.

Natural constipation remedies really work

I’m a big believer in natural cures, but what works for one person may not work for another. My recommendation is to try different things and see what suits you best. Do give it at least a few weeks though before you dismiss something. Good luck!