Constipation is an end symptom of insufficient digestive and liver function and if you are able to address these underlying reasons then you should experience better elimination long term. The digestive tract is like a long pipe and what happens at the top of the pipe affects the bottom of the pipe and vice versa. Therefore improving digestion will have the best long term effect on the lower bowels and its ability to optimally eliminate wastes.
Below I have outlined other practices to improve liver and bowel function:- In the morning try to get her to drink warm water with half lemon squeezed in it – add honey. Lemon juice stimulates digestive and liver function and cleanses the bowels.
- Give her a probiotic supplement to increase beneficial bacteria, as an imbalance of good vs bad bacteria in the bowels is a contributing factor to chronic constipation.
- Reduce refined flours and sugars (bakery foods, bread, pasta) in her diet as wheat products are especially abrasive to the digestive tract.
- Try to get your daughter to consume more fruits and vegetables as these contain gentle fibre to encourage bowel evacuation. You can do this by making her fruit smoothies and add flaxseed oil and Vitamin C to the blend.
- See if she will drink a vegetable juice each day (beetroot, carrot, celery and ginger) as these encourage liver detoxification, alkalise and cleanse the system and provide vitamin C to move the bowels.
- The children’s range from Brauer make a liquid which may help to encourage bowel release in this situation you may try either the Brauer Children’s Recovery Tonic or Calm.
- Give her a vitamin C and bioflavinoid powder as vitamin C helps to stimulate bowel movement.
- Ensure adequate water intake as dehydration is the leading cause of chronic constipation problems.
- Try to get her to consume more oils in your diet to lubricate the bowels and reduce any inflammation present in the lower bowels. Foods which contain good oils are raw olive oil, fish oil capsules, flaxseed oil capsules, fish, nuts and seeds and avocado (if you can’t get her to eat avocado, you might try this great recipe http://www.flannerys.com.au/recipes/post/organic-chocolate-silk-decadence-dessert which is chocolate dessert made with avocado.
- Ideally you need to work on getting her to eat more bitter foods to stimulate liver and gall bladder function such as rocket, endive, raddichio and kale. Also eating foods high in sulphur help to stimulate liver detoxification such as garlic, brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions, broccoli, cauliflower and radish.
- Introduce herbal teas such as Dandelion, Burdock, lemon and ginger to support liver detoxification and promote healthy motility – again, they can be sweetened with organic honey or agave syrup.