After struggling with extreme constipation for a couple of years, I've found triphala to be amazingly gentle yet persistent. 2000 milligrams before bed ensures that things will be moving in the morning, and if we can believe 3000 years of study, it's non-habit forming. In fact, it's supposed to help rebuild the colon's capacity to do its thing.

I've also found that increasing my intake of calmag to at least 1200 mg calcium, 600 mg magnesium a day has a direct effect on the colonic muscles and helps keep me going all day.

None of the other usually suggested measures - such as drinking more water, eating more fibre, etc. - were enough to make a difference, and when you're backed up you want something that will work now, not someday. Now I can start incorporating all the other helpful measures discussed on these pages, including cleaning out the liver, the colon's partner in the digestive process.