Constipation
What is Constipation?
Constipation is the name given to infrequent or difficult bowel movements. In the United Kingdom, 4 out of 10 people consider themselves constipated and use laxatives on a regular basis. However, 85% of the population report that they have sluggish bowel movements.
In a healthy person the bowels should pass a motion at least once a day, and naturopaths suggest that we should have one bowel motion for each meal. When we are constipated the water in the faeces is re-absorbed by the body causing the stools to harden in the colon. Eventually, the colon loses its muscle tone and the condition becomes chronic.