Constipation can be uncomfortable, and many people find it awkward to discuss their bowel habits or lack of bowel habits with their doctor. Rest assured, constipation is extremely common, and more people struggle with it than you may think. If you are feeling backed up, bloated, or uncomfortable, here are some home remedies for immediate constipation relief at home.
1. Stay Hydrated
Increasing your water intake is a great way to help relieve your constipation at home. Frequently, constipation is caused by dehydration, so increasing your water intake can help to soften your stool and allow it to pass quickly and easily.
2. Eat Fiber-Rich Foods
Adding fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, can help improve constipation. This is because fiber adds bulk to your stool and can promote more regular bowel movements. Food options that have lots of fiber per serving include chia seeds, kidney beans, lentils, and split peas.
3. Eat Prunes or Drink Prune Juice
Prunes act as a natural laxative and help soften stools, allowing your body to pass it faster. Try drinking prune juice or snacking on a few dried prunes to help relieve constipation.
4. Drink Warm Water
Drinking warm water, especially first thing in the morning, can help to stimulate bowel movements and relieve constipation. The warm water is a mild laxative and can push stool through the intestines.
5. Drink Coffee
Many people find that a cup of coffee in the morning can help to relieve constipation quickly. The caffeine in the coffee works as a natural laxative, so if you are struggling with constipation, consider drinking hot coffee in the mornings to help promote regular bowel movements.
6. Olive Oil
Olive oil is a lubricant for the digestive system and can help alleviate constipation. Many people find that consuming a tablespoon of olive oil first thing in the morning can help stimulate the colon and produce a bowel movement.
7. Exercise
Physical activity is a great way to stimulate the digestive system and promote bowel movements. If you struggle with constipation, consider adding exercise to your daily routine. Even a short walk can be beneficial.
8. Take a Probiotic
Constipation can sometimes occur due to a lack of healthy gut bacteria. A simple solution is to add a probiotic supplement or probiotic-rich food, like yogurt, to your diet.
9. Over-the-Counter Laxatives
Consider an over-the-counter laxative if all else fails and home remedies are unsuccessful. There are many laxatives available over the counter to try. Follow the package instructions and consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
When To See Your Doctor
If your constipation is persistent and you can’t find relief with at-home or over-the-counter treatments, seek care from a gastroenterologist today to help identify what may be contributing to your constipation and what you can do to find comfort.
Don’t live with the discomfort of chronic constipation – schedule an appointment today!
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FAQs
An enema is a fluid gently pumped into the rectum to help pass stool. An enema may be used when other treatments don't work. Your health care professional may use one of these if the rectum is blocked with stool.
What simple trick empties your bowels immediately? ›
Try These Tricks for Quick Bowel Movement Stimulation
- Drink coffee. Regarding drinks that make you poop, coffee is probably the first that comes to mind. ...
- Squat when you poop. ...
- Use a fiber supplement. ...
- Take a stimulant laxative. ...
- Take an osmotic laxative. ...
- Take a lubricant laxative. ...
- Try a stool softener. ...
- Use a suppository.
How do doctors treat emergency constipation? ›
An enema is a fluid gently pumped into the rectum to help pass stool. An enema may be used when other treatments don't work. Your health care professional may use one of these if the rectum is blocked with stool.
How do I fix constipation immediately? ›
Home remedies include increasing your fiber intake or taking a laxative, using a suppository, or taking a stool softener. Trying out a squat position, doing light exercise, or performing a colonic massage may also help. A doctor can check for other conditions affecting constipation and prescribe medication to help.
How can I loosen my bowel blockage at home? ›
A range of dietary and lifestyle changes like eating more fiber, staying hydrated, and exercising more may help. If you have severe symptoms, taking laxatives or other OTC medications can help activate your digestive system. Be sure to reach out to a healthcare provider if you often have difficult bowel movements.
What is the 7 second poop trick? ›
Crouching on a chair
Sitting a certain way for seven seconds is not proven to help constipation. However, changing your body posture while on the toilet can make things easier. Place your feet on a stool to place your knees higher than your hips.
How do you push out a big hard stool? ›
Follow these 4 simple steps to relieve the symptoms of constipation and pass stool easily.
- Keep your knees higher than your hips – a foot stool may help with this.
- Lean forwards and put your elbows on your knees.
- Bulge out your abdomen.
- Straighten your spine.
How long is dangerously constipated? ›
The normal length of time between bowel movements varies from person to person. Some people have them three times a day. Others have them just a few times a week. But going longer than 3 days without one is usually too long.
Why do I keep passing gas but not pooping? ›
Why do people have so much gas but cannot poop? Factors such as not drinking enough fluids or not eating enough fiber can cause constipation and make the stool hard to pass. A person can speak with their doctor to assess why they have constipation and gas.
Will impacted stool eventually come out? ›
When you have a fecal impaction, you'll need to have the hard mass of stool removed from your colon or rectum to get better. It won't go away on its own, and it can lead to death if it's allowed to worsen.
Eat Prunes or Drink Prune Juice
Prunes act as a natural laxative and help soften stools, allowing your body to pass it faster. Try drinking prune juice or snacking on a few dried prunes to help relieve constipation.
How to clean out bowels quickly? ›
How can I clean my colon naturally?
- Hydration. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is a great way to regulate digestion. ...
- Saltwater flush. You can also try a salt water flush. ...
- High fiber diet. ...
- Juices and smoothies. ...
- Juice fast. ...
- More resistant starches. ...
- Probiotics. ...
- Herbal teas.
How to stimulate a bowel movement? ›
Perform stimulation with your finger every day until you start to have a regular pattern of bowel movements. You can also stimulate bowel movements by using a suppository (glycerin or bisacodyl) or a small enema. Some people find it helpful to drink warm prune juice or fruit nectar.
What is a simple trick to empty your bowels completely? ›
Sitting correctly on the toilet and using this technique can help you empty your bowel more easily. Lean forward on the toilet with your forearms resting on your thighs, your legs more than hip width apart and your feet raised up on a small foot stool. Repeat for up to 10 minutes only or until your bowel has emptied.
How do you tell if it's constipation or a blockage? ›
Symptoms of an intestinal blockage are:
- Severe pain in your belly.
- Severe cramping sensations in your belly.
- Throwing up.
- Feelings of fullness or swelling in your belly.
- Loud sounds from your belly.
- Feeling gassy, but being unable to pass gas.
- Being unable to pass stool (constipation)
What empties your bowels immediately every morning? ›
In the morning, drink warm water with lemon to stimulate bowel movement and hydrate the body. Consume fiber-rich foods such as whole grains and fruits to improve digestion and regularity. Probiotics can help to improve gut health and regulate bowel movements.
How do I get immediate bowel movements? ›
Immediate Constipation Relief at Home: Doctor Advice
- Stay Hydrated. Increasing your water intake is a great way to help relieve your constipation at home. ...
- Eat Fiber-Rich Foods. ...
- Eat Prunes or Drink Prune Juice. ...
- Drink Warm Water. ...
- Drink Coffee. ...
- Olive Oil. ...
- Exercise. ...
- Take a Probiotic.
What is the banana trick to empty bowels? ›
Choose yellow or browning bananas to stimulate bowel movements. Unripe, green bananas have lots of tannins and resistant starch that bind your waste together and make it harder to pass. As they ripen, the tannins and starch become soluble sugars and fiber, which regulate healthy bowel movements.
What drink is good for emptying your bowels? ›
Beneficial drinks for constipation include prune juice, lemon juice, apple juice, and cranberry juice. However, some constipation relief over-the-counter (OTC) medications can also come in a drink format.