Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate. Some people who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel. Some people think they are constipated if they do not have a bowel movement every day. However, normal stool elimination may be three times a day or three times a week, depending on the person. But that does not mean if you do not go every day you do not have a colon problem. The lesser you go the more chances of developing a intestinal disease like cancer

Constipation is a symptom that some thing has gone wrong.

Constipation Problem

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the United States. More than 4 million Americans have frequent constipation, accounting for 2.5 million physician visits a year. Those reporting constipation most often are women and adults ages 65 and older. Pregnant women may have constipation, and it is a common problem following childbirth or surgery

What causes constipation?

To understand constipation, it helps to know how the colon, or large intestine, works. As food moves through the colon, the colon absorbs water from the food while it forms waste products, or stool. Muscle contractions in the colon then push the stool toward the rectum. By the time stool reaches the rectum it is solid, because most of the water has been absorbed. This is because the body is not able to "produce" enough fluid.

Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon's muscle contractions are slow or sluggish, causing the stool to move through the colon too slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry. Common causes of constipation are

• not enough fiber in the diet
• lack of physical activity (especially in the elderly)
• medications
• milk
• irritable bowel syndrome
• changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, aging, and travel
• abuse of laxatives
• ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
• dehydration
• specific diseases or conditions, such as stroke (most common)
• problems with the colon and rectum
• problems with intestinal spleen and stomach function (chronic idiopathic constipation)

1) Medications

Some medications can cause constipation, including

• pain medications (especially narcotics)
• antacids that contain aluminum and calcium
• blood pressure medications (calcium channel blockers)
• antiparkinson drugs
• antispasmodics
• antidepressants
• iron supplements
• diuretics
• anticonvulsants

2) Changes in Life or Routine

During pregnancy, women may be constipated because of hormonal changes or because the uterus compresses the intestine. Aging may also affect bowel regularity, because a slower metabolism results in less intestinal activity and muscle tone. In addition, people often become constipated when traveling, because their normal diet and daily routine are disrupted.

3) Abuse of Laxatives

The common belief that people must have a daily bowel movement has led to self-medicating with OTC laxative products. Although people may feel relief when they use laxatives, typically they must increase the dose over time because the body grows reliant on laxatives in order to have a bowel movement. As a result, laxatives may become habit-forming.

3) Specific Diseases

Diseases that cause constipation include neurological disorders, metabolic and endocrine disorders, and systemic conditions that affect organ systems. These disorders can slow the movement of stool through the colon, rectum, or anus.

Conditions that can cause constipation are found below.

• Neurological disorders

• multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's disease
• chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
• stroke
• spinal cord injuries
• Metabolic and endocrine conditions
  • diabetes
  • uremia
  • hypercalcemia
  • poor glycemic control
  • hypothyroidism
• Systemic disorders
  • amyloidosis
  • lupus
  • scleroderma

Problems with Intestinal Function

The two types of constipation are functional constipation and idiopathic constipation.

Functional constipation means that the bowel is healthy but not working properly. It is not caused by organic (occurring naturally in the body) disease. Functional constipation is often the result of poor dietary habits and lifestyle. It occurs in both children and adults and is most common in women. Colonic inertia, delayed transit, and pelvic floor dysfunction are three types of functional constipation. Colonic inertia and delayed transit are caused by a decrease in muscle activity in the colon. These syndromes may affect the entire colon or may be confined to the lower, or sigmoid, colon. Using Intestcleanse along can relieve this problem.

Idiopathic constipation does not respond to standard treatment because it is not a localized problem.  Idiopathic constipation is caused by large bowels, spleen and stomach disharmony/imbalances. Therefore you need herbs to treat the spleen, herbs to treat the stomach and herbs to treat the bowels.

Can constipation be serious?

Sometimes constipation can lead to complications. These complications include hemorrhoids, caused by straining to have a bowel movement, or anal fissures (tears in the skin around the anus) caused when hard stool stretches the sphincter muscle. As a result, rectal bleeding may occur, appearing as bright red streaks on the surface of the stool. Treatment for hemorrhoids may include warm tub baths, ice packs, and application of a special cream to the affected area. Treatment for anal fissures may include stretching the sphincter muscle or surgically

Treatment for Constipation

• Diet Changes

• Lifestyle Changes

• Allopathic Laxatives: This can cause more problems later on.

• Herbal formulation is best method to treat constipation problems. It has not side effects and it is holistic.  It can moisturize the large intestine to allow and stimulate the removal of stools. It can contain anticancer herbs to remove toxins from the body. It can nourish the intestine to strengthen it (this restore the weak muscle walls of the intestine) and promote stronger bowel movement (contraction). Herbs can be sued to improve the stomach and spleen functions.

Herbs like Rheum Palmatum, Herba Lysimachia Christinae, Poria Cocos Wolf, Polyporus Umbellatus and Caulis Uncaria Rhynchophylla have traditional been used to ease the bowel movement. Below are some of the research done by scientists all over the world on these herbs. Chinese herbal plants like Herba Agastachis Rugosus, Rhizoma Corydalis Turtschanivoii, Stamen Nelumbinis Nucifera, Radix Platyclodon Grandiflorum, Radix Curcuma Aromatica and Fructus Amomum Villosum is traditionally used to treat stomach dysfunction. Herbs like Herba Agastachis Rugosus, Rhizoma Atractylodis Alba, Poria Cocos Wolf and Radix Pueraria Lobata (improves the body's capacity to  produce fluid) has traditionally been used to treat spleen deficiency.

Amomi Fructus: In modern western herbalism turmeric is approved by the German Commission E for a variety of digestive disorders such as flatulence, upset stomach and abdominal cramps. Curcumin is useful in helping to break down fats. Turmeric root extracts have been found to reduce secretion of acid from the stomach, protecting against gastro-inflammation and ulcers arising from certain medications, stress or alcohol. In fact, curcumin may prove useful for the treatment of gastric carcinoma. 95900

Clinical research by western scientists confirmed that bornyl acetate, the main ingredient of Amomum Villosum possess strong analgesic effects. 09271

Clinical research by western scientists proved that Amomum Villosum possess gastric anti-ulcerogenic effect. Research shows that it inhibit gastric lesions induced by aspirin, ethanol and pylorus ligature. 97839

Clinical research by western scientists proved that bornyl acetate, the main ingredient of Amomum villosum shows analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. 24301

Clinical research by western scientists proved that Amomum inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic reactions through the inhibition of histamine release and inflammatory cytokine production (treats gastric problems). 79737

Clinical research by western scientists proved that Amomum exhibits no cytotoxic activity but exhibit strong antibacterial activity. 54360

Rheum Palmatum: Scientific research proved that the phytochemicals of Rheum Palmatum have the following functions:

• Aloe-emodin -- antiherpetic, antileukemic, antiseptic, antitubercular, antitumor, antiviral, bactericide, cathartic, cytotoxic, genotoxic, pesticide, purgative, termitifuge, and viricide
• Chrysophanol -- 690-3,190, antiseptic, bactericide, candidicide, cathartic, hemostat, pesticide, and purgative
• Cinnamic acid -- anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, bactericide, cancer-preventive, choleretic, fungicide, herbicide, laxative, pesticide, and vermifuge
• d-Catechol
• Emodin -- antiaggregant, antifeedant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antiseptic, antitumor (breast), antiulcer, antiviral, cathartic, cytotoxic, gonadotropic, immunosuppressive, pesticide, purgative, spasmolytic, styptic, vasoelaxant, viricide
• Gallic acid -- anticarcinomic, antifibrinolytic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, bacteristatic, cancer-preventive, carcinogenic, hemostat, nephrotoxic, pesticide, styptic, and xanthine-oxidase-inhibitor
• Hyperin -- anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitussive, antiviral, capillarifortificant, capillarigenic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, hypotensive, pesticide, and viricide
• Physcion -- antiseptic, cathartic, pesticide, and purgative
• Quercitrin -- aldose-reductase-inhibitor, antiarrhythmnic, anticataract, antifeedant, antiflu, antihemorrhagic, antiinflammatory, antiviral, CNS depressant, cancer preventive, cardiotonic, choleretic, detoxicant, diuretic, dye, hepatotonic, hypotensive, paralytic, pesticide, spasmolytic, vasopressor, and viricide
• Rhein -- anticarcinomic, antiseptic, antitumor, antiviral, bactericide, candidicide, cathartic, cytotoxic, pesticide, proteinase-inhibitor, purgative, and viricide  
• Tannins -- 50,000-100,000, antidiarrheic, antidysenteric, antimutagenic, antinephritic, antioxidant, antiradicular, antiviral, bactericide, cancer-preventive, hepatoprotective, pesticide, psychotropic, and viricide

Herba Agastachis Rugosus: They are used internally to improve the appetite and strengthen the digestive system[238]. Considered to be a "warming" herb, it is used in situations where there is "dampness" within the digestive system, resulting in poor digestion and reduced vitality[254]. [238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31. [254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148

For further information regarding the compounds in the plant refer to USDA Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases.