|
 Don't
forget to take in a glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of
clarified butter at bedtime. Or Drink a glass of boiled water
with one teaspoon of flax seed.
Generally all fruits, except banana and jack
fruit, are beneficial in the treatment of constipation.
Certain fruits are, however, more effective. Bael fruit is
regarded as the best of all laxatives. It cleans and tones up
the intestines. Its regular use for two or three months throws
out even the old accumulated faecal matter. It should be
preferably taken in its original form and before dinner. About
sixty grams of the fruit are sufficient for an adult.
Pears are beneficial in the treatment of
constipation. Patients suffering from chronic constipation
should adopt an exclusive diet of this fruit or it's juice for
a few days, but in ordinary cases, a medium-sized pear taken
after dinner or with breakfast will have the desired effect.
Guava is another effective remedy for
constipation. When eaten with seeds, it provides roughage to
the diet and helps in the normal evacuation of the bowels. One
or two guavas should be taken everyday.
Grapes have proved very beneficial in
overcoming constipation. The combination of the properties of
the cellulose, sugar, and organic acid in grapes make them a
laxative food. Their field of action is not limited to
clearing the bowels only. They also tone up the stomach and
intestines and relieve the most chronic constipation. One
should take at least 350 gm of this fruit daily to achieve the
desired results. When fresh grapes are not available, raisins,
soaked in water, can be used. Raisins should be soaked for
twenty-four to forty-eight hours. This will make them swell to
the original size of the grapes. They should be eaten early in
the morning, along with the water in which they have been
soaked.
Orange is also beneficial in the treatment of
constipation. Taking one or two oranges at bedtime and again
on rising in the morning is an excellent way of stimulating
the bowels. The general stimulating influence of orange juice
excites peristaltic activity and helps prevent the
accumulation of food residue in the colon.
Other fruits specific for constipation are
papaya and figs. Half a medium-sized papaya should be eaten at
breakfast for it to act as a laxative. Both fresh and dry figs
have a laxative effect. Four or five dry figs should be soaked
overnight in a little water and eaten in the morning.
Among the vegetables, spinach has been
considered to be the most vital food for the entire digestive
tract from time immemorial. Raw spinach contains the finest
organic material for the cleansing, reconstruction, and
regeneration of the intestinal tract. Raw spinach juice-100
ml, mixed with an equal quantity of water and taken twice
daily, will cure the most aggravated cases of constipation
within a few days.
Half a lime, squeezed is a glass of hot water,
with half a teaspoon of salt is also an effective remedy for
constipation. Drinking water which has been kept overnight in
a copper vessel, first thing in the morning, brings good
results. Linseed (alse) is extremely useful in difficult cases
of constipation. A teaspoon of linseed swallowed with water
before each meal provides both roughage and lubrication. |
