Or, have you looked into Dr. Schultz forumula #1? that works very well!
This formula is full of stimulant laxatives, which are not good for long term use. The formula contains Curacao and cape aloes, senna leaves and pods, cascara sagrada and rhubarb root al of which are strong stimulant laxatives. Stimulant laxatives can cause electrolyte imbalances and weaken the intestinal muscles in as little as two weeks of use leading to a laxative dependence.
In addition the formula contains the berberine herb barberry. Berberine kills the intestinal flora, which further leads to constipation if you go off the formula since the flora generate serotonin, which regulates intestinal peristalsis. Berberine can also damage the intestinal lining after a few weeks of use and depletes potassium from the body elevating blood pressure.
There are much safer choices that do not cause the side effects of the herbs in the IF#1 formula.
hey guys, well... i have been starting to recover from constipation etc.... hwever whenever i defecate, ithe urge is so weak that if i dont feel it, it will go very soon.... did some research how the urge and how to get it backbut havent seen any articles that can help me....!!! pls helpif you have any suggestions on ways to improve...
First of all there are various causes of constipation:
http://curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1447120#i
If you need a stool softener then slippery elm or marshmallow root work well. Seaweeds are also very good and provide a lot of nutrition.
It is also very important to maintain your gut flora since the serotonin produced by these bacteria regulate intestinal peristalsis. Cultured foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, etc. will supply more flora and dietary fibers will feed them. Avoid things that will kill the flora such as berberine herbs (goldenseal, Oregon grape root, barberry, coptis also known as goldthread), colloidal silver, etc.
Hey heverthagerdi, i just saw yr reply, and i wanted to ask, how would you reccomend me to increase my intestinal flora??? this is because i have tried numerous acidophillus supps- but never feel the effects even the entric coated ones....since i have done a few SWF before...i am alomost certain i have very little bacteria to work on my stool...and thus because they are not formed in bulk fast enough or etc...i dont get the urge.....(maybe my thinking could be wrong but no harm in trying to increase intestinal flora)...
I do not care for probiotic supplements much since there is no way to tell how they were stored, processed, transported, etc. Were they stored too long or in to much humidity? Or were they subjected to heat at any time during storage, manufacturing or shipping?
Then there is the problem if the dormant bacteria be activated before being expelled?
At least with liver culture foods the bacteria usually active and ready to go. An exception are many of the so-called "live culture yogurts. Most of these were live culture before they were pasteurized, but no longer. Live cultured foods like kefir still ferment sugars that are present causing the container to bulge from the gas. This does not happen in yogurts in which the cultures have been killed.
the options you have given were yoghurt, kefir etc... are there anygood probiotic supplements you know?(that worked for you)
Again I do not like supplements in large part for the reasons given above. Cultured foods also tend to contain more strains of beneficial bacteria than supplements.
In addition, for the long run I really prefer prebiotics, which feed all the flora rather than just replace a few strains of beneficial bacteria.
and a general question, do fruits such as apples etc give good flora as well? thx
They will help stimulate the growth of the flora by providing fibers the flora can ferment as a food source.
hey hvergathrthi, thank you for replying, really appreciate it... when you say
" At least with liver culture foods the bacteria usually active and ready to go. An exception are many of the so-called "live culture yogurts. Most of these were live culture before they were pasteurized, but no longer. Live cultured foods like kefir still ferment sugars that are present causing the container to bulge from the gas. This does not happen in yogurts in which the cultures have been killed. "
idont quite understand.... so are you saying kefir over yoghurt?
Yes, because most yogurts on the market are not really live culture even though they claim to be.
...because i dont think my supermarket sells kefir... any other alternatives...
You can make your own kefir or yogurt at home. Otherwise you can make your own sauerkraut or cultured vegetables at home. Tempeh and miso are also good alternatives.
i started takig onions though-since you say its prebiotic.
All edible plants are technically prebiotic since they contain various fibers such as inulin, FOS and cellulose.