Given what we now know about the effects of physical activity on staying regular, it’s unlikely that constipation was a common problem among Native Americans. However, they must have had some problems with constipation because they invented the firstever instrument for giving enemas. It was a syringe-like device, with the hollow leg bone of a bird at one end and the bladder of a small animal or fish at the other. Despite some technological improvements, enemas are given in much the same way today.
Another Native American treatment for constipation was a chewing gum made from the resins of the balsam tree. This treatment made sense because chewing gum is known to help relax the bowels due to the increased production of saliva, which contains digestive enzymes and can act as a lubricant. They had many other herbal remedies for constipation as well, a few of which are still used today.
Take herbal fiber. Researchers have found that dietary fiber is the best treatment for constipation because it absorbs water in the large intestine. This makes stools larger, which stimulates the intestines to move them along more quickly and easily. One of the best sources of fiber is seeds from the plantain plant. The psyllium absorbs tremendous amounts of water, making it one of the best remedies you can find.
To make a psyllium laxative, add a teaspoonful of plantain seeds to a cup of boiling water, allow to cool, then drink, seeds and all, once or twice a day. Be sure to drink a lot of water when using psyllium because it removes a lot of water from the body.
Some people are sensitive to the effects of psyllium, notes herbal authority James A. Duke, Ph.D. If psyllium makes you uncomfortable, you can get similar effects by eating more highfiber foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans.
Another herb that’s high in fiber is flaxseed. It doesn’t dissolve in water the way psyllium does, so rather than mixing it in liquid, it’s best to add it to foods such as cereals or homemade breads. Take one to three tablespoons a day, and drink plenty of water, Dr. Duke advises.
Stimulate the intestines. You don’t want to use it too often, but rhubarb root is a powerful laxative that stimulates the intestines. To use rhubarb, puree three stalks in the blender, being sure to remove the leaves, which are toxic. Add a cup of apple juice, a teaspoonful of lemon juice, and a tablespoonful of honey, and drink it once a day. But take heed: “Its laxative action can be pretty powerful,” Dr. Duke warns.
This natural constipation remedies article is taken from :
Healing Secrets of the Native Americans - Porter Shimer
