Homeopathy & Acute Constipation

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Acute Constipation

Tip: Homeopathic Help for Acute Constipation (if chronic, needs to

see a homeopath)

Acute constipation can be helped often times through dietary means

like adding more fiber and extra liquids to the diet, or by using

herbal remedies.

Homeopathic remedies can also offer relief and some of the most

common remedies are Nux vomica, Bryonia and Calcarea carb.

Nux vomica is best for the person who has constant urges to pass

stool but is unable to do so. Bryonia is the remedy of choice when

the mouth, anus and stool is excessively dry. Calcarea carb is

generally used for those considered overweight and experience

heartburn and sour burping.

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http://www.hpathy.com/diseases/constipation1-symptoms-treatment-cure.asp

CONSTIPATION

Constipation is passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel

movements, usually fewer than three times a week. People who are

constipated may find it difficult and painful to have a bowel

movement. Other symptoms of constipation include feeling bloated,

uncomfortable, and sluggish.

Constipation - CAUSE

Common causes of constipation are

- not enough fiber in the diet

- not enough liquids

- lack of exercise

- medications

- irritable bowel syndrome

- changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, older age, and travel

- abuse of laxatives

- ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement

- specific diseases such as stroke

- problems with the colon and rectum

- problems with intestinal function (chronic idiopathic constipation)

Constipation - Treatment & Homeopathic Medicines

#Nux vomica [Nux.v]

Perhaps no remedy in the Materia Medica is oftener prescribed for

anything than is Nux vomica for constipation. Nux vomica has peculiar

and characteristic indications for constipation, and when prescribed

upon these indications it will cure every time. Nothing is surer than

this. But Nux vomica is often prescribed when these indications are

not present, and often does much good; in this class of cases there

will almost invariably be present one of the great clinical

indications of the remedy, and that is, its value in antidoting

purgative medicines. In many cases of inveterate constipation calling

for this,that,and the other remedy, it will be noticed that expected

results are not obtained and will not be obtained and will not be

obtained until Nux vomica has been given to antidote the effects of

drastic medicines. Then the case can be prescribed for, the

indications followed, and success result. Another thing about Nux is

the fact that while prescribed low, as in the tincture, it will

frequently relieve constipation, but to cure it the drug must be

given in a much higher potency. Hydrastis is another remedy that is

sometimes useful after the abuse of purgatives, laxatives, cathartics

and their like. In all these cases, however, the symptoms calling for

the respective drug should be present. claims it to be

superior to Nux as usually prescribed. He recommends a drop or two of

the tincture in water once daily before breakfast. Hydrastis has a

symptom, however, which is quite characteristic, that is a sinking,

gone feeling at the epigastrium, which Nux vomica does not have to

any extent. The constipation of Nux vomica is usually of the kind

induced by lazy habits, inattention to Nature's calls in the first

place, want of exercise, sedentary habits, and a sluggish condition

of the whole system. It is due not only to inactivity of the whole

system. It is due not only to inactivity of the intestines, but to an

irregularity of the peristaltic actions, giving rise to the great

characteristic, constant ineffectual urging to stool, and when the

stool does occur it is incomplete and unsatisfactory, as if a part

remained behind. Absence of desire for defecation contra-indicates

Nux. Inflammatory symptoms or pain generally contra-indicates. Carbo

vegetabilis has urging, but it is due to wind, while Opium and

Bryonia have no urging at all. According to d'Espiney, the physical

signs of this inharmonious intestinal action can be felt by palpating

the abdominal walls. Anacardium resembles Nux vomica in many ways. It

has a sensation of a plug in the rectum which cannot be expelled.

There is a fitful intestinal activity, but withal a powerlessness of

the rectum. Even soft stools are expelled with difficulty. Small

quantities may be expelled with each attempt. The mental symptoms of

Nux are important in treating constipation, for the effect that

constipation has upon the minds of some people is well known. In

cases indicating Nux vomica there will be a great crossness,

irascibility and objection to all opposition. The Nux stool is also

apt to be large, and haemorrhoids are a frequent accompaniment. We

may sum up Nux vomica by calling again the attention to the mental

characteristics, the sedentary temperament,the fitful intestinal

action and its antidotal relation to purgative drugs. Dr. Cartier,of

Paris, well says: " Nux vomica should never be given in constipation

according to the law of similars in the low attenuations, or in the

mother tincture. An opposite effect will be produced thereby, an

augmentation of the spasmodic state of the intestines; the higher the

dilution the better the chance success. Nor should it be too often repeated. "

#Sulphur [sulph]

Many of the older homoeopaths used to give Sulphur and Nux vomica in

alteration for constipation. They complement each other, follow each

other well, but better results will be obtained if each be given

singly when indicated; for, surely, both cannot be indicated at once.

With Sulphur there is an ineffectual urging to stool, with a

sensation of heat and discomfort in the rectum , and there is a

general uneasy feeling all through the intestinal tract, due to

abdominal plethora or passive portal congestion. It is very useful

remedy with which to commence the treatment of constipation, though,

unless the symptoms call for it, it should not be given. A bad

constitution and frequent ill health are good indications to start

with, a tendency to piles is another. The stools are hard, dark, dry,

and expelled with great straining, the first effort to stool being

extremely painful. There is apt to be much twitching and burning of

the anus, the evacuation are often unsatisfactory, and, as in Nux,

there is often a sensation as if a part remained behind. Another

characteristic symptom of Sulphur is constipation alternating with

diarrhoea. The general temperament of the drug has much to do with

its choice; in fact, almost all of the indications for its use will

be the general ones . The general venous system is usually at fault

in true Sulphur cases, and anything that stimulates this system into

action, such as exercise and cold, always benefits the Sulphur

patient. Sulphur needs to be given high and n continued for any

length of time .

#Opium [Op]

While the constipation of Nux is due to irregularity of intestinal

action, that of Opium is due to absolute inaction of the intestines,

a regular paralysis of the peristaltic movement. There is an absence

of desire, absolutely no urging to stool whatever, and so the faeces

become impacted in the bowels; and when passed at all come in little,

hard, dry, black balls, here resembling the stool of Plumbum , but

with Plumbum there is some activity. Another drug which has no urging

to stool is Bryonia, but here the lack of urging is rather due to

dryness of the mucous membrane than to intestinal inactivity; with

Opium there is a want of sensibility throughout the intestinal tract,

and consequently the constipation is not apt to inconvenience the

patient, hence it is apt to go on getting worse until the attention

is called to it by the flatus accumulating in the upper part of the

intestines. Where the faeces require artificial means for their

removal, this remedy should be thought of, though Selenium, Alumina,

Plumbum or Bryonia may be used in this condition. Diminished

secretions are also characteristic of Opium , so that dryness

intestinal inactivity, is one of the causes of constipation of old

people; the patient is drowsy and dizzy.

#Plumbum [Plumb]

As we have already seen, with Plumbum there is some intestinal

action; in fact, at times there is considerable. Lead colic is one of

the effects of the drug. So we have urging to stool, and accompanying

this urging is a colic with a marked retraction of the abdominal

walls. The stool is passed with the greatest difficulty and consists

of little round balls, which are black, dry and hard, and there is

accompanying, a marked spasm of the sphincter ani which is apt to be

painful. The anus feels as if drawn upward. With this drug there is

loss of muscular activity and diminished secretion of intestinal

glands. Thus we see that the indications for Plumbum in constipation

are concise and precise.

#Alumina [Alum]

Chief among remedies for constipation due to dryness of the

intestinal tract stands Alumina. There is diminished peristaltic

movement and complete inertia of the rectum, so that we have the

symptom, soft stool expelled with difficulty, explained. There is

little or no urging to stool. The stools may be hard and knotty like

sheep dung, or may be soft. It is one of our most useful remedies in

constipation of children where the rectum is dry, inflamed and

bleeding about the orifice. Alumina differs from Bryonia chiefly in

the state of rectal inactivity. A dry mouth and an irritated looking

tongue may lead to the selection of Alumina. There is much straining

with the remedy and the stool is passed in very small quantities ,

piecemeal, so to speak. If the characteristics of Alumina are

prominent in a given case, they may be due to the use of aluminum

ware in cooking. Even Spring water boiled in an aluminum pot will

deposit a white sediment on cooling.

#Bryonia [bry]

The large-hard-dry-stool-as-if-burnt of Bryonia is familiar to all of

our Medical School. The constipation of the drug is due to dryness

and there is no urging. Alumina is similar; its constipation is also

due to dryness, but it has such complete inactivity of the rectum

that even a soft stool is expelled with difficulty. With Bryonia the

stools are passed with a great deal of difficulty, owing to an atony

of the intestines similar to Veratrum album and Opium. Nux, as we

have seen, produces and cures constipation due to fitful, irregular,

peristaltic action. Bryonia cures constipation where not only the

intestinal secretions are diminished, but the muscular action as

well. Constipation in young children, according to , is

frequently cured by Bryonia 30th. It is said to act better in

rheumatic subjects and in summer. The mental condition of

irritability and ill-humor will often be present as a concomitant of

the Bryonia constipation. Older writers alternated Bryonia and Nux

vomica with success in very obstinate cases.

#Natrum muriaticum [Nat-m]

All the muriates have crumbly stools, and so we find that the

characteristic constipated stool of Natrum muriaticum is a hard and

crumbly one; the rectum is dry, the stool is hard to expel and causes

bleeding, smarting and soreness in the rectum. There is ineffectual

urging to stool,with stitches in the rectum. It sometimes comes in

the most obstinate cases, which are accompanied by hypochondriasis.

Magnesia muriatica, another of the muriates, has characteristically a

constipation in which the stools are passed with great difficulty,

being composed of hard lumps like sheep dung, which are so dry that

they crumble as they pass the anus. Ammonium muriaticum has this same

symptom of dry and crumbly stools, they may also be coated externally

with mucus. In constipation of young people who are subjected to acne

and comedos, Natrum muriaticum should be thought of.

#Lycopodium [Lyc]

Like Nux, Lycopodium has a sensation after stool as if something

remained behind. Constipation, due to constriction of the rectum,

calls for this remedy, and here it reminds one of Silicea. The

constipation , too, is apt to be associated with the stool. The

stools are dry and hard, or the first part hard, the last soft. In

the constipation of children and pregnant women it often finds a

place, and it is here praised by Hartmann. A great deal of rumbling

in the abdomen following the stool is an additional indication. Nux

and Lycopodium may be easily distinguished , though each has

ineffectual urging to stool. In Nux, as ,we have seen, this is due to

irregular peristaltic action, while with Lycopodium it is due to a

constriction of the rectum. The mental symptoms here, too, are of the

utmost importance; the depression, the melancholy and the

apprehension are characteristic.

#Graphites [Graph]

Graphites is one of our best remedies in constipation, if Homoeopathy

can be said to have " best remedies " . With this drug there is no

urging. The patient sometimes goes days without a stool, and when it

does come it is composed of little round balls, knotted together with

shreds of mucus and accompanied with great pain when passing, owing

to the fissure. These fissures, as well as the haemorrhoids which

accompany them, burn, smart and itch intolerably. Excessive soreness

of the anus in making the post defecation toilet is an indication for

its use. Three or four remedies are usually to be thought of in this

condition of fissure of the anus; they are: Silicea, Nitric acid,

Paeonia and Ratanhia; these, with Graphites, will remove in most

cases the underlying disease leading to the fissure. Aching of the

anus after stool is also characteristic of Graphites, and sometimes

we have with the drug ineffectual urging. The mucus-coated stool, the

extreme soreness of the anus, the general Graphites temperament of

sadness and obesity, will easily decide for the remedy. Graphites

suits especially women who suffer from a neglect to attend promptly

to nature's call.

#Platina [Plat]

With Platina, there is torpor of the whole intestinal tract,

unsuccessful urging to stool and great dryness of the rectum. The

stools seem to adhere to the rectum like glue or putty. There is

great weakness in the abdomen and a sensation as if there were a load

in the rectum which could not be expelled. It is considered a remedy

for the constipation of emigrants and travelers, so it would seem to

find an additional indication where the trouble was brought on by

change in manner of living. It is also a remedy for the constipation

due to lead poisoning. There is frequent urging, scanty, dry stool

and great abdominal weakness. As under Ignatia, there are sharp

stitches in the rectum.

#Silicea [sil]

When constipation is due to inefficient expulsive force of the rectum

and a spasmodic condition of the sphincter then Silicea is our

remedy. With this condition we have a condition where the sphincter

suddenly contracts and the partially expelled stool recedes.

Causticum has constipation due to powerlessness of the rectum, so

that the patient almost stands in order to enable him to get

sufficient power to expel the stool, but the spasmodic condition of

Silicea is absent. As with Graphites, Silicea has a great deal of

soreness about the anus, also an oozing of moisture. There is urging

to stool and a sensation as if faeces remained in the rectum.

#Veratrum album [Verat]

Though this remedy is ;one of our greatest diarrhoea remedies, it has

a marked effect in the treatment of constipation. The symptoms

calling for its use are as follows: There is complete atony of the

intestines, as under Bryonia and Opium. The faeces accumulate in

large masses in into a sweat; but finally has to give it up, and the

faeces have to be removed by artificial means. There are extreme

cases where the patient is able to force a passage for himself; the

stools are large, hard and black. As with the diarrhoea there may be

faintness after the stool. Dunham speaks of the constipation of

Veratrum as one characterized by a disposition to stool in the upper

part of the intestinal canal and an indisposition to stool in the

lower part. Dr. Bryce claims that it will bring stool quickest of any

medicine I ever tried. " He used 3x. It comes in very well after Nux

vomica, especially in constipation of children. Podophyllum 12th has

proved of use in constipation of children. Of course, the above

remedies will not cure every case of constipation, but they will, if

studied closely, be found to correspond with the majority of cases.

Phosphorus has a constipation of long slender stools voided with much

straining.