by P. Bobby

Created on: March 12, 2009

I found a period in my life - I was depressed, stuck in a rut, and not as active as usual - where I was not regular. Not only that, but pushing out harder motions is not what it's cracked up to be; but it will leave you with a painful crack on the anus which bleeds with every motion. Strangely enough, it is difficult to admit to this... even now. Of course constipation is a common - nay, universal - problem. I reckon very few folk realise that constipation is a symptom of depression! Our bowels get slow and sluggish just like the rest of the body. Is the bowel sluggish secondary to the brain being so, or does this arise de-novo in the intestines? Anything that gets the small and large bowel bouncing around inside the abdomen promotes intestinal peristalis and in-turn regular bowel movements.

What is universally accepted yet not necessarily true however, is that drinking plenty of water is an important part of treating constipation. As far as I am aware, there is no scientific evidence that has proved that increased water intake improves constipation; the effect if any is minor. However, unless you are on a medically-sanctioned fluid-restriction, there is no harm in making sure you get plenty of water each day - two and a half litres for the average adult will suffice but more is needed if the ambient temperature is high or you are sweating from exertion or a fever.

Many holistic commentators appear caffeine-averse. The natural muscle stimulant certainly does raise the heart rate and blood pressure, and is detrimental in larger doses. Heavy caffeine consumption has been linked to pancreatic cancer. Without being flippant, too much oxygen is also bad for you. I find however, after my second - if not my first - cup of coffee in the morning, I am a lot happier within myself - so to speak. It is difficult being happy outwardly if we are not settled inwardly. True?

Short of cutting up a cardboard box into small pieces and throwing them into a bowl of milk for breakfast, get plenty of fibre transiting your internals. Cellulose husk is the omnipresent fibre of the plant kingdom that - because of it being undigestable - should be omnipresent in the insides of the animal kingdom. As a bulking agent fibre draws fluid from the intestinal cells and into the stool itself, keeping the motion soft and moving. Prunes, apricots, apples and peach all work well, but just make sure to have a few servings of any fruit each and every day. Of the vegetables, asparagus seems to be particularly

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