Constipation: I Keep Trying to Fix It, But It’s Not Working!

Constipation: I Keep Trying to Fix It, But It’s Not Working!

Constipation I Keep Trying to Fix It But It’s Not Working by Queen of the the Thrones

Constipation: I Keep Trying to Fix It, But It’s Not Working!

Written by: Marisol Teijeiro N.D. (inactive).
Medically reviewed by: Victoria Williams R.H.N.

Est. reading time: 16 minutes.

Have you ever wondered WHY your bowel movements aren’t what they should be? Maybe you’re feeling frustrated by persistent constipation? You try eating different foods, taking laxatives, and still you struggle with irregularity. Is this you?

Bowel health questions by Queen of the Thrones

Well, you’re not alone! In this blog, we’ll explore what causes constipation and what you can do about it.

1. Why is constipation called a functional digestive problem?

Constipation has reached epidemic levels, and it affects so many of the world’s population, but the effects of constipation are varied1. But one common component of constipation is that it is functional, meaning you can’t find obvious reasons for it. One example of an obvious cause would be having an intestinal mass that blocks the pathway of elimination. Fortunately, this is not a common cause, but you can see why it’s important to get checked out by your doctor. Usually your doctor will try different treatments or do a colonoscopy to get a better understanding of your intestines, depending on your age. Other times they might recommend lifestyle changes and treatments.

2. What are the symptoms of constipation?

The most common symptoms of constipation include discomfort in your abdomen, bloating, and gas. You may produce dry pebbles, hard stools, or have a bowel movement less than once per day. According to the Mayo Clinic2, constipation is classified as having fewer than 3 bowel movements per week.

3. How does it feel to be constipated?

Constipation has a very distinct feeling. You push and push and may go a little, but you feel like you haven’t voided completely despite the hard work. It also takes you longer than most to go to the bathroom. The official term used is incomplete evacuation and straining.

4. Why am I gassy and bloated when I’m constipated?

Gas and bloating is part of constipation and functional digestive disorders4. Even though gas is uncomfortable, it’s one of the natural ways that the body signals the intestines to move. In fact, hydrogen gas is known to have beneficial effects for the colonic mucosa, including functioning as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant: both of which would help move poo5 out of your body.

And while we might be very familiar with bad gas, there is such a thing as good gas (I know, I know, how can it be good?). Good gas is produced by good bacteria, like probiotics. It stimulates the natural action of the intestines to move stools down through your colon.

If the bacteria in your intestines is unhealthy like the archaea species of bacteria that produce methane, then it can actually slow down bowel transit time. This is linked to constipation6.

 


5. How often should I have a bowel movement ?

A normal bowel movement should happen every day. Generally speaking, men seem to go more than women. In fact, statistics show that on average, men go every 1.7 days while women have a bowel movement every 2.5 days7. . That’s a long time, agreed?

In my practice, our ideal goal is for all patients to go daily, for this simple fact: You eat daily, so what goes in, should come out… daily. Otherwise you get backup and subsequently, constipation.

If you want more information about what your poo says about you, get your free download here 

6. Why do men go to the bathroom more than women?

Men have a higher average for bowel movements because, let’s face it, women are more complicated. Yes, I am admitting that, but science shows this too. But the difference in pooping averages has to do with the fact that women have a broader hormone mix than men. Estrogen can be very problematic for women and can have an adverse affect on your bowel movements.

Three tips to improve constipation symptoms by Queen of the Thrones

7. How does my thyroid affect my bowel movements?

If you have an underactive thyroid (A.K.A. hypothyroid) or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, then you’re probably familiar with the common symptom of constipation. Think of an underactive thyroid as contributing to an overall slowing down of your metabolism. If your body is slow, then your bowel movements will be much slower too, leading to constipation. 

8. Why do my estrogen levels affect my bowel movements?

If you are carrying extra weight, taking birth control pills or other estrogen-replacement drugs, or are exposed to fake estrogens (A.K.A. xenoestrogens – which every human being on the planet these days is) then you probably have a higher level of estrogen than most.

Progesterone balances estrogen in the female body, and progesterone is necessary for healthy bowel movements. Basically, when your estrogen levels are too high, you lose the proper balance between estrogen and progesterone so your bowel movements reflect this imbalance resulting in constipation.

9. Why can’t I poo?

We’ve talked about a few, but there are so many reasons why you can’t poo8.
It has to do with:

Pathology of constipation by Queen of the Thrones

– Your nervous system
– Your hormonal system
– Your immune system
– Your digestive system
– Inflammation that you have in your body
– The amount of weight that you are carrying in your abdomen (central obesity)
– The types of bacteria you have in your gut
– The types of foods you are eating
– The foods you may be eating that you are allergic, sensitive or intolerant to
– How much fluid you are drinking
– How many caffeinated beverages you are consuming daily
– How much sleep you are getting
– How stressed you are
– How depressed you are
– How deficient you are in certain vitamins and minerals that support good bowel movements
– Your genetics

And the list goes on and on.

Estrogen Levels may affect your bowel movements according to Queen of the Thrones

10. Why is the digestive system called the center of our body universe?

Your gut and digestive tract are the center of the universe when it comes to your body. And if you have good bowel movements, you will have better health. Think of your digestive tract as the sun, and all the planets as your internal systems. In short, everything revolves around your gut.

So, if you’ve had problems figuring out why you can’t go, it’s probably because you haven’t found the exact culprit or you have a combination of different factors working against you, causing you to be constipated. And believe me, I understand how sorting out the root cause is like the most complex puzzle you’ve ever imagined. But bottom line, you want to look at your stools for the clues.

As you can see this is a HUGE topic!

11. How often should I poop?

Again, what goes in, must come out. If you eat every second day, then you should poo every second day. But because you eat daily, you really should be having a bowel movement daily. Otherwise, you are constipated.

Your body is an environment that requires flow. Intake of good stuff, outflow of bad stuff. Think of it like a fish tank. When your fish poops, the tank must be cleaned or the fish begins to swim in his own filth. 

The same is basically true for you. Waste that stays clogged in your intestinal tract for extended periods of time creates a toxic environment for your system. You don’t want your internal organs to swim in filth. That’s clearly unhealthy.

12. How come most of my friends don’t poo daily?

The reality is that constipation is reaching epidemic levels. 14% of the world population9, suffers from constipation. That’s approximately 1 billion people. The worst part is that this is a life threatening epidemic, because all natural environments, including your body, need to eliminate waste. If you can’t eliminate waste, then the waste backs up and creates a wide range of additional problems.

Common patient complaints by Queen of the Thrones

13. How much should you poop each day?

Did you know that your lower descending colon is the length of your wrist to your elbow. Well, that is the amount of food, fiber, and fluids that you ate the day before and should be what you eliminate daily. Remember, what goes in, must come out.

Have you ever thought, “Wow, here I am eating all this food and where is it going? If it’s not coming out of me, where is it?” It’s just sitting there causing problems. Let’s figure out what we can do to make it better!

Improve your bowel movements with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs

14. What is the first step to have better bowel movements?

To know what to do, it is important to know what the problem is. Peeking after you poo every time you go is key. Start to keep a log about it (pun completely intended!) Our Queendom is loving The Log Book | A 7-Day Logging Exercise. It is not only great for tracking your stools, but also your gratitude practices, your health practices, your food and water intake, your sleep and so much MORE!

15. What is the best supplement-free tool to help with constipation? 

If you want to reduce the number of supplements you take, then Castor Oil Packs are one of the best tools to help support proper elimination. And they have a long history. Castor Oil Packs have been a wellness tool since Egyptian times, and they’re used in all forms of medicine including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurveda, Mediterranean, Egyptian, and Caribbean cultures.  

Castor Oil Packs may help support:

– Digestion
– Absorption
– Elimination10

Castor Oil Packs have been shown in animal studies to support pain and inflammation balance11,12. So, with regular use of Castor Oil Packs, reducing inflammation in your gut may lead to less bloating, less food sensitivities and better digestion. 

I can’t tell you how many times I have thrown on a pack when I’ve been bloated or really suffering in my guts whether it be from butterflies rocking my belly, or from serious gas.

If nutrient absorption is an issue, chances are you’re low in some of your vital nutrients. Castor Oil Packs may help support nutrient deficiencies naturally, by helping you better absorb your food. To be able to digest food properly, you need amino acids from protein to produce digestive enzymes. So, if you can’t absorb your food properly, then how can you expect to make digestive enzymes? Improving this one function alone may support your body and allow it to work better.

Not only do Castor Oil Packs help support  movement in your digestive tract, but they may also help support the elimination process as well. In one research study, Castor Oil Packs were compared to stimulant laxatives and were shown to produce improved satisfaction and sensation of complete evacuation, reduced straining, and patients had an overall better bowel movement experience13.

On top of that, regular use of Castor Oil Packs may also help support antioxidant levels and other factors that help your body with cleansing, like glutathione14,15.

Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs make this ancient practice easy and less-mess.

Remember, there are so many possible ROOT CAUSES for your CONSTIPATION that  troubleshooting can be very difficult. Beginning a Castor Oil Pack routine is an easy way to set a solid  foundation while you remove the most common factors that contribute to constipation. 

Then, as you look at and analyze your poo, you can become your own best digestive detective by determining the underlying problem, and then fixing it

 

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice, in clinic, or online with the people you serve, you can join now!

Click here for references

1 Sharma A1, Rao S2. Constipation: Pathophysiology and Current Therapeutic Approaches. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2017;239:59-74. doi: 10.1007/164_2016_111.

2 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/symptoms-causes/syc-20354253

3 Mearin F1, Ciriza C2, Mínguez M3, Rey E4, Mascort JJ5, Peña E6, Cañones P7, Júdez J8; en nombre de la SEPD, la semFYC, la SEMERGEN y la SEMG.[Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and functional constipation in adults: Treatment (Part 2 of 2)]. Aten Primaria. 2017 Mar;49(3):177-194. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2017.01.003. Epub 2017 Feb 24.

4 Wilkinson JM1, Cozine EW1, Loftus CG1. Gas, Bloating, and Belching: Approach to Evaluation and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Mar 1;99(5):301-309.

5 Carbonero F1, Benefiel AC, Gaskins HR. Contributions of the microbial hydrogen economy to colonic homeostasis. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Sep;9(9):504-18. doi: 10.1038/nrgastro.2012.85. Epub 2012 May 15.

6 Sahakian AB1, Jee SR, Pimentel M. Methane and the gastrointestinal tract. Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Aug;55(8):2135-43. doi: 10.1007/s10620-009-1012-0. Epub 2009 Oct 15.

7 Bohlin J1, Dahlin E1, Dreja J2, Roth B1, Ekberg O2, Ohlsson B1. Longer colonic transit time is associated with laxative and drug use, lifestyle factors, and symptoms of constipation. Acta Radiol Open. 2018 Oct 22;7(10):2058460118807232. doi: 10.1177/2058460118807232. eCollection 2018 Sep.

8 Sinagra E1, Morreale GC2, Mohammadian G3, Fusco G4, Guarnotta V5, Tomasello G6, Cappello F6, Rossi F1, Amvrosiadis G2, Raimondo D1. New therapeutic perspectives in irritable bowel syndrome: Targeting low-grade inflammation, immuno-neuroendocrine axis, motility, secretion and beyond. World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Sep 28;23(36):6593-6627. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i36.6593.

9 Larry E Miller,1 Alvin Ibarra,2 and Arthur C Ouwehand2 Normative Values for Colonic Transit Time and Patient Assessment of Constipation in Adults With Functional Constipation: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Clin Med Insights Gastroenterol. 2017; 11: 1179552217729343.Published online 2017 Aug 31. doi: 10.1177/1179552217729343PMCID: PMC5582663PMID: 28894394

10 Arslan GG, Eşer I. An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 Feb;17(1):58-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.04.004. Epub 2010 May 18.

11 Grady H. Immunomodulation through castor oil packs. The Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. Volume 7 Jan 1 1998; 7(1): 84-9

12 Vieira C et al. .Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2000;9(5):223-8.

13 Arslan GG, Eşer I. An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 Feb;17(1):58-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.04.004. Epub 2010 May 18.

14 Badaró MM1, Salles MM1, Leite VMF1, Arruda CNF1, Oliveira VC1, Nascimento CD1, Souza RF1, Paranhos HFO1, Silva-Lovato CH1. Clinical trial for evaluation of Ricinus communis and sodium hypochlorite as denture cleanser. J Appl Oral Sci. 2017 May-Jun;25(3):324-334. doi: 10.1590/1678-7757-2016-0222.

15 Andrade IM1, Andrade KM2, Pisani MX1, Silva-Lovato CH1, de Souza RF1, Paranhos Hde F1. Trial of an experimental castor oil solution for cleaning dentures. Braz Dent J. 2014 Jan-Feb;25(1):43-7.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including information providers, are those of the respective authors or distributors. Neither Queen of the Thrones® nor any third-party provider of information guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content. This communication does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Information provided does not replace the advice of your health care practitioner. If you happen to purchase anything we promote, in this or any of our communications, it’s likely Queen of the Thrones® will receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, we only promote content and products that we truly believe in and share with our friends, family and patients. If you ever have a concern with anything we share, please let us know at care@queenofthethrones.com. We want to make sure we are always serving Our Queendom at the highest level.

6 Wellness Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day 2023

6 Wellness Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day 2023

Six wellness gift ideas for mothers day by Queen of the Thrones

6 Wellness Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day 2023

Written by: Joanna Teljeur B.A. Joanna Teljeur Copywritter at Queen of the Thrones Joanna Teljeur B.A.
Joanna Teljeur is a copywriter at Queen of the Thrones®. She started out writing dance criticism, and then made her way into broadcasting where she wrote scripts for radio and TV.
Full bio

Medically reviewed by:   Victoria Williams R.H.N.

Est. reading time: 13 minutes.

Personalized Self-Care Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Have you been looking high and low for a special Mother’s Day gift that she’ll value and love? Something that will help her feel better more often?

Well, this year, why not get mom a self-care gift that will help her relax, rejuvenate, and show her how much you truly care about her wellness? After all, a healthier mom is a happier mom, agreed?

If this sounds like a plan to you, then we’ve got some amazing personalized Mother’s Day gift ideas that will make mom feel nurtured, pampered, and adored.

First on the list is the Lymphatic Dry Brush

Dry brushing is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that may help support your lymphatic system and internal organs to drain and clear out toxins.

Queen of the Thrones Dry Brush for better exfoliation

Next up is the Fascia Body Roller

Recommended by naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, functional medicine practitioners, osteopaths, mental health doctors, health coaches, and wellness influencers, Queen of the Thrones® Fascia Massage Body Roller makes a dreamy gift to help mom relax, unwind, and roll out tension in her muscles.

Queen of the Thrones Fascia Body Roller Massage

Made with flexible silicone and a comfortable, adjustable hand strap, the Fascia Body Roller may help soothe mom’s tight muscles and release adhesions that can become blocked by physical and emotional trauma.

The cooling metal marbles help ease tension as you roll the balls from head to toe. It’s like a mini Mother’s Day Massage! Plus, the Fascia Roller may help promote relaxation and less stress 2 3 4. This also pairs well with Queen of the Thrones® Organic Castor Oil which contains ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties5 6 that helps glide the roller along the skin.

Tune into intuition with the Pearl Pendulum 

Pearls have always been the embodiment of femininity. Revered in the Bible and traded and bartered as highly valued currency, pearls have adorned women for centuries!

And the pendulum is an ancient metaphysical tool that has been used to help assess what is good (or not so good) for us in the present moment.

https://queenofthethrones.com/wp-content/uploads/202Queen of the Thrones Pearl Pendulum for energy detox

Combine the two, and you’ve got a Mother’s Day gift she’ll cherish for years to come: The Queen of the Thrones® Pearl Pendulum! 

The Pearl Pendulum can help you discover what your soul really needs. It’s great for finding confirmation on questions like, 

“Do I have a sensitivity to this food?” or “Is this supplement right for me?”

In fact, pearl is the best stone for muscle testing (getting answers from your body and your higher self) because the shell is made of calcium, just like your bones, and that makes it an excellent conduit to help anchor muscles and get clarity.

And while you’re thinking of ways to help mom tap into her more spiritual side, imagine how much she’d love…

Deepen meditation with the Mystic Mask

You’d love to help your favorite mother deepen her meditation practice, agreed? Well this little tool can help her relax, focus, and quiet her mind. 

The Queen of the Thrones® Mystic Mask helps reduce sensory stimulation while activating the third eye chakra and promoting natural melatonin production 8 9. These qualities make it the ideal companion for settling into a deep meditative state. 

Here’s how it works: The Mystic Meditation Mask has 5 small, stainless steel studs that line up with acupressure points around your eyes, which are known for supporting headaches, especially if you keep your mask in the fridge or freezer!

Queen of the Thrones Medical Mystic Mask

For all her hard work, dedication, and love, mom deserves a gift that helps her relax and feel more calm and focused, agreed?

And one sure way to do that is with a fresh, organic scent to help her calm her mind like…

Eau de Throne® Essential Oil Spray

Queen of the Thrones Eau de Thrones cinnamon flavor to refresh your environment

Make Mother’s Day an aromatherapeutic experience with this delicious blend of lavender, rosemary, clove and limonene. Eau de Throne® is the perfect mix of organic essential oils that will delight mom’s nose and soothe her mind. 

Better yet, it comes in a sweet little amber glass bottle, it’s easy to store, and great for travel! Mom can just toss it into her purse and enjoy a spritz of it in her car, bathroom, gym bag, or anywhere for a quick refresher.

And to complete your Mother’s Day gift guide…

Consider adding one of the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs! The most popular choice is the Liver Pack which may help support many different wellness functions from better sleep to better digestion (and who wouldn’t love that?). But the Pelvic Pack or Thyroid Pack would also make mom happy, especially if she’s trying to improve her self-care routine. Plus, Castor Oil Packs work well with any diet, supplements or wellness practices she might already be doing.

Remember, Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show your mom how much you appreciate her. By gifting her with personalized self care products, you’ll help her cleanse naturally, sleep better, and feel her best. Happy Mother’s Day to all the healthy moms out there! 

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice, in clinic, or online with the people you serve, you can join now!

Click here for references

  

 1. Thompson, B., Gaitatzis, K., Janse de Jonge, X. et al. Manual lymphatic drainage treatment for lymphedema: a systematic review of the literature. J Cancer Surviv 15, 244–258 (2021).

2. Komagata S. Kanpumasatsu: A superficial self-massage with a dry towel to enhance relaxation and immune functions. J Interprof Educ Pract. 2023 Feb 8:100609. doi: 10.1016/j.xjep.2023.100609. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36776417; PMCID: PMC990500

3. Rapaport MH, Schettler P, Breese C. A preliminary study of the effects of a single session of Swedish massage on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and immune function in normal individuals. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Oct;16(10):1079-88. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0634. PMID: 20809811; PMCID: PMC3107905.

4. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. Int J Neurosci. 2005 Oct;115(10):1397-413. doi: 10.1080/00207450590956459. PMID: 16162447.

5. Vieira C et al. .Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2000;9(5):223-8 PMID: 11200362

6. Al-Mamun MA, Akter Z, Uddin MJ, Ferdaus KM, Hoque KM, Ferdousi Z, Reza MA. Characterization and evaluation of antibacterial and antiproliferative activities of crude protein extracts isolated from the seed of Ricinus communis in Bangladesh. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016 Jul 12;16:211. doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1185-y. PMID: 27405609; PMCID: PMC4942971

7. Marwat SK, Rehman F, Khan EA, Baloch MS, Sadiq M, Ullah I, Javaria S, Shaheen S. Review – Ricinus cmmunis – Ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities.Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Sep;30(5):1815-1827. PMID: 2908470

8. Rong-fang Hu, Xiao-ying Jiang, Yi-ming Zeng, Xiao-yang Chen, You-hua Zhang. Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment. Published online 2010 Apr 18. PMID: 2039830

9. Khoddam H, Maddah SA, Rezvani Khorshidi S, Zaman Kamkar M, Modanloo M. The effects of earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality of patients admitted to coronary care units: A randomised clinical trial. J Sleep Res. 2022 Apr;31(2):e13473. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13473. Epub 2021 Sep 12. PMID: 34514653.