A practical guide to discovering the cause of your constipation and finding the right natural remedy for your unique case

• Details the 8 main causes of constipation and how to determine which is at the root of your difficulties

• Offers practical advice on how to correct each type of constipation with natural and non-aggressive methods, such as dietary changes, herbs, and relaxation methods

• Explains gentle, natural ways to empty the bowels when quick relief is necessary

• Reveals how treating constipation properly can restore full function not only to the digestive system but to the liver and kidneys as well

Constipation has many causes. Most people do not know the exact cause of their constipation and thus have trouble finding lasting relief. Yet there are many natural remedies available that can be tailored to your body’s specific needs.

In this step-by-step guide, Christopher Vasey explains how healthy intestines work and the different forms that constipation can take. He details the 8 main causes of constipation: lack of roughage, lack of water, liver dysfunction, constipating foods or medications, weak muscles, imbalances in intestinal flora, stress and anxiety, and nutritional deficiencies. He helps you discover which of the 8 causes underlies your unique case and offers practical advice on how to correct it with natural and non-aggressive methods, such as dietary changes, herbs, and relaxation techniques. For situations when quick relief is necessary, he provides gentle ways to empty the bowels, including natural laxatives and enemas, explaining which to choose for each type of constipation, but also stressing that these are only temporary solutions.

Explaining how constipation can be a symptom of a deeper imbalance, the author explores how treating it properly can restore full function not only to the digestive system but to the liver and kidneys as well. In this practical guide, you will learn how to support the work of your intestines, allowing your body to gradually resume its natural working rhythm.

Christopher Vasey, N.D., is a naturopath specializing in detoxification and rejuvenation. He is the author of The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health, Natural Remedies for Inflammation, Optimal Detox, The Naturopathic Way, The Water Prescription, The Whey Prescription, The Detox Mono Diet, and The Healing Power of Fever. He lives near Montreux, Switzerland.

PART 1

What Is Constipation?

1 Understanding Constipation

2 Digestion and Elimination

PART 2

Attaining and Maintaining Intestinal Health

3 Roughage and Constipation

4 Water and Constipation

5 The Liver and Constipation

6 Constipating Foods and Medications

7 The Abdominal Muscles and Constipation

8 Intestinal Flora and Constipation

9 Nerves, Stress, and Constipation

10 Nutritional Deficiencies and Constipation

PART 3

Therapeutic Emptying of the Intestines

11 Laxatives, Purges, and Enemas

Appendix

Table of Constipation Causes and Remedies

Illustration Credits

Index

About the Author