Tracy:  The first thing I always recommend is an increase in water.  Then
food items such as prune juice (yes, this old one really works) and other
foods with both soluble and insoluble fiber (oatmeal is a good one).
Exercise also works wonders for regulating the intestines; even yoga and tai
chi have an effect (there is a tai chi warm up  of pounding the abdomen with
your own fists in the direction of the intestines from right hip, up to
ribs, across to left side and down to left hip).  One supplement that helps
if the cause is hormonally related is the use of Omega-3 fatty acids,
specifically fish oils (be careful to buy only cerified as pure products
because toxins are concentrated in these oils).  The effect of the fish oil
is to rebalance the production of beneficial prostaglandins.  Herbs that
help in a gentle way (as opposed to senna, which can be brutal) are:
alfalfa, dandelion, chickweed and many others.  Remind her and the docs that
constipation is a symptom of an underlying physiologic imbalance. :)
Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC    [log in to unmask]
mom, wife, educator, lactation consultant, researcher, scientist, author,
organic gardener, photographer, lapidary creator, lousy cleaner.

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