MOTHERS' REMEDIES. Constipation

Category: Digestive Organs

1. Constipation, a Good Substitute for Pills and Drugs"Two ounces each of figs, dates, raisins, and prunes (without
pits) one-half ounce senna leaves. Grind through meat chopper, and mix
thoroughly by kneading. Break off pieces (about a level teaspoonful) and
form into tablets. Wrap each in a wax paper and keep in covered glass
jars, in a cool place. Dose. One at night to keep the bowels regular.
Very pleasant to take."

2. Constipation, Substitute for Castor Oil. "Take good clean figs, and
stew them very slowly in olive oil until plump and tender, then add a
little honey and a little lemon juice, and allow the syrup to boil thick.
Remarks. Keep this in a covered glass jar and when a dose of castor oil
seems necessary, a single fig will answer every purpose. Not unpleasant to
take."

3. Constipation, Hot Water for. "A cup of hot water, as hot as one can
drink it, a half an hour before breakfast." The hot water thoroughly
rinses the stomach and helps the bowels to carry off all the impurities.

4. Constipation. Excellent Nourishment for Old People. "A tablespoonful
of olive oil three times a day internally for weak or very old people: it
can be injected,--used as an enema." Olive oil will be found very
beneficial for young people as well as old. It acts as a food for the
whole system and is very nourishing.

5. Constipation, Salt and Water for. "A pinch of salt in a glass of water
taken before breakfast every morning. I have found it a very good remedy."
This is a remedy easily obtained in any home and will be found very
helpful. Few people seem to realize how valuable salt is as a medicine. It
acts as a stimulant and loosens the bowels.

6. Constipation, Water Cure for. "Drink a quantity of water on retiring
and during the day." This simple home remedy has been known to cure
stubborn cases of constipation if kept up faithfully.

7. Constipation, Tonic and Standard Remedy for. "Calomel one ounce, wild
cherry bark one ounce, Peruvian bark one ounce, Turkish rhubarb ground one
ounce, make this into one quart with water, then put in sufficient alcohol
to keep it." Dose:--Take a small teaspoonful each morning when the bowels
need regulating, or you need a stimulating tonic.

8. Constipation, Glycerin and Witch-Hazel Remedy Where Castor Oil Failed--
"Equal parts of glycerin and witch-hazel." Dose :--One teaspoonful every
night at bedtime. In severe cases where you have been unable to get a
movement of the bowels by the use of other cathartics, take a teaspoonful
every two hours until the bowels move freely. This remedy has been known
to cure when castor oil and other remedies have failed.

9. Constipation, Well-known Remedy for.

"Fluid Extract Cascara Sagrada 1 ounce
Syrup Rhubarb 1 ounce
Simple Syrup 2 ounces

Mix."

One teaspoonful at night or fifteen drops four times a day for an adult.

10. Constipation, Effective Remedy, in the most Stubborn Cases of.

"Fluid Extract Cascara Sagrada 1 ounce
Fluid Extract Wahoo 1 ounce
Neutralizing Cordial 2 ounces

Mix."

Adults may take a teaspoonful of this mixture before retiring, this will
be found very effective in the most stubborn cases of constipation.

11. Constipation, Remedy from a Mother at Lee, Massachusetts.

"Senna Leaves 1/2 pound
English Currants 1/2 pound
Figs 1/4 pound
Brown Sugar 1 large cup

Chop all together fine. Dose:--One-fourth to one-half teaspoonful every
night. Do not cook. The best remedy I know."

12. Constipation, Fruit and Hot Water Cure for. "Drink a pint of hot
water in the morning before eating. Eat fruit, plenty of apples, eat
apples in the evening, and they will loosen the bowels. Chew them fine,
mix with saliva."

13. Constipation, Herb Tea for. "One ounce senna leaves steeped in
one-half pint of hot water, with a teaspoonful of ginger powdered; strain.
This is a most certain and effective purge, and mild in its action upon
the bowels. Dose:--A cupful at bedtime. This is far superior to salts."

14. Constipation, Purshiana Bark Tea Without an Equal for. "An infusion
of one ounce of purshiana bark to one pint of boiling water; infuse for
one hour and strain. It stands without an equal in the treatment of
constipation in all its varied forms. Dose:--One teaspoonful, morning and
evening according to symptoms or until the bowels are thoroughly
regulated." This is fine for constipation, especially if of long standing.
It may be used in connection with cascara. This will give relief when
other remedies fail.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Constipation. Too much reliance has been placed
upon medicine in the treatment of this disease and too little attention
given to diet, and the establishment of regular habits in eating,
exercising, sleeping and attending to the calls of Nature. Also, local
disease of the rectum has been overlooked until of late years. Remedies of
a laxative and cathartic nature soon lose their power and the dose must be
repeated or a new remedy must be given. This method of treatment is well
recommended and is very good.

1--Stretching of the sphincter.

2--Frequent rectal and abdominal massage.

3--Copious injection of warm water (in the beginning only).

4--Application of electricity over the abdomen and in the rectum.

In addition to this treatment which must be carried out by a physician the
patient must observe the following rules: Go to stool daily, and as near
the same time as is convenient, correct errors of diet. Drink an abundance
of water and eat sufficient fruit. Take plenty of outdoor exercise; take a
cold bath every morning followed by a thorough rubbing. Dress warmly in
winter and cool in summer. Change of temperature or climate if the case
demands it. Be temperate in all things affecting the general health.
Stretching the sphincter must be done carefully, but in a thorough manner.
It can only be done properly by an experienced person. Stretching of the
sphincter closes the opening so that the feces are not passed at all
times. It is circular in shape. Sometimes this grows larger, stiffer, or
it acts spasmodically. The opening is often so tight in some people that
it is difficult to introduce even a finger, and it frequently produces a
spasm of pain in the bowels, stomach and head to do so. This kind will
produce constipation or make it worse. In such cases it should be
stretched thoroughly but carefully so that the muscle will be able to
close the opening and the bowel contents will not pass at any time
unhindered. There are two methods of stretching the muscle--forcible or
gradual. The forcible method is generally done by inserting the two thumbs
into the anus and stretching the muscle thoroughly in every direction
until there is no resistance. (Dilators are made for this purpose, but
unless they are very carefully used they will tear the muscle). The
forcible method should be done under an anesthetic. Gradual stretching is
done when an anesthetic cannot be used. It is better to do too little than
to do too much at the first sitting. The muscle is very stubborn
sometimes, and it requires careful handling or the irritability will be
increased. An instrument in the hands of a careful man is all right. They
can be stretched by the fingers or the Wales' bougie, thus: Patients
should come to the office two or three times a week, the instrument
(bougies) are introduced and allowed to remain within the bowel until the
muscle resistance is overcome, and many times their withdrawal will soon
be followed by a copious stool. Forcible stretching is seldom required
more than once, if a large sized instrument is used from time to time
afterward, just as in gradual stretching; when thorough dilatation has
been accomplished, the muscle instead of acting as an impassable barrier
to the discharge of the feces, now offers only passive resistance, but
sufficiently strong, however, to prevent any unpleasant accidents, yet not
strong enough to resist the power of the expulsory muscles when the latter
are brought into full play during stool. Large quantities of feces do not
now accumulate; consequently the pressure upon the mucous membrane and
neighboring nerves is eliminated, and the bowel regains its normal
sensibility and strength. There are now sold dilators in sets for self use
in almost every drug store. These when used continuously do good and
successful work.

Next: Abdominal Massage. (Kneading, Rubbing, etc.)
Previous: Neuralgia of the Rectum

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MOTHERS' REMEDIES. Constipation