Homemade Laxatives: Natural Remedies that Help You Poop

Homemade laxatives are a natural way to help you poop. Follow this guide on how you can relieve constipation using homemade laxatives and learn how to prevent constipation from reoccurring.

Simply put, laxatives are substances that help you poop. Medical laxatives come in the form of pills, capsules or liquid, which are commonly taken orally, or as suppositories. However, you don’t need to rely on store-bought options to help you poop – there are also natural laxatives that you can make at home. These homemade laxatives are typically gentler on your bowels, don’t contain chemicals, and are much cheaper than the drugstore alternative. 

You should use a laxative when you are experiencing constipation. Constipation occurs when you pass three or fewer bowel movements a week. Other symptoms include straining pain during bowel movements, a feeling of fullness, and hard or dry stools. Constipation is not pleasant and can be very painful, and so laxatives should be taken to ease discomfort and help get your system running smoothly and regularly again.  We’ll show you which natural remedies you can use as a homemade laxative.

Why Does Constipation Occur?

Constipation can occur for a number of reasons. Most common reasons for constipation include dehydration or a diet with little fiber in it. More serious cases of constipation can be due to high levels of stress, muscle problems, digestive problems, or even hormonal changes. 

Store-Bought vs. Homemade Laxatives

Laxatives can be bought in drugstores or over-the-counter, however you don’t need to reach for the pills to help relieve constipation. Certain foods or natural products can help do the trick as well. 

Store-bought laxatives are medicines that act as stimulants, and work fast at relieving constipation and discomfort. However, they are also filled with chemicals, which may cause negative side effects for some people such as nausea. Not only are they not natural, but laxatives you buy over-the-counter can also be expensive. 

The benefits of homemade, natural laxatives are that they do not include any harsh chemicals that may cause side effects and they are much more gentle on your digestive system. Plus, they are totally cost-free! If you incorporate certain nutritious, natural laxatives into your regular diet, you won’t need to worry about constipation in the first place. 

6 Effective Homemade Laxatives

There are a number of ways you can relieve constipation from the comfort of your home – no trip to the drugstore required. 

1. High-Fiber Food: Foods high in fiber help with digestion and will act as effective laxatives if you are experiencing constipation. Foods that are high in fiber include: whole-grain cereal and bread, beans, oats, rice and fibrous fruits and veggies. 
2. Castor Oil: Castor oil works fast at relieving constipation, however it doesn’t taste very good. We recommend mixing a dose of castor oil with juice to mask the taste. 
3. Water: This homemade laxative could not be simpler. Constipation largely occurs when you are dehydrated, or when your colon has absorbed too much fluid, leaving hard and dry stool in your bowels. Drinking lots of water will help moisten your stool, and flush your stool out. If you don’t want to just drink plain water, try eating watermelon instead – it’s made up of 99% water. 
4. Dried Fruits: Dried fruits are very high in fiber and help with digestive health. Mix some dried fruits like prunes, raisins, apricots or dried figs, into your breakfast oatmeal, or enjoy them as a snack. These sweet treats will have you running for the toilet and back to normal in no time. 
5. Dark, Leafy Greens: vegetables like kale, Swiss chard, spinach and collard greens contain magnesium, which helps to soften stools and makes them easier to pass. 
6. Chia and Flaxseeds: these little seeds are easy to incorporate in breakfast items like smoothies, homemade yogurt, or overnight oats. They are incredibly high in fiber, and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep inflammation under control. 

How to Prevent Constipation

Now that you know how to get rid of constipation using homemade laxatives, it is useful to know how to prevent constipation from occurring all together. Here are some ways you can adjust your lifestyle and diet to ensure your digestive system is running smoothly and healthily:

• Plenty of exercise
• A balanced diet filled with fresh fruit and vegetables and whole-grain foods 
• Drinking lots of water daily
• Limiting your intake of dairy products
• Drinking Fair Trade coffee

All these tips will keep things moving regularly in your digestive system. However, if constipation continues to cause you pain, and these natural remedies for homemade laxatives are not working, then you should talk to a healthcare professional. 

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