Q&A: Do you happen to know how to relieve constipation quickly?
Enemas are not an option
Today’s question concerns a 26-year old, who is on the autism spectrum. She’s been dealing with overt constipation for a week and her caregiver isn’t sure what to do. Giving an enema to an adult is on the spectrum is difficult to say the least, so she’s looking for options other than a standard enema.
Mary Ploppins say:
I’m sorry to hear about your daughter’s predicament! Hang in there, mama, we’ll get her sorted out.
Subclinical constipation is the most universal condition underlying Autism Spectrum Disorders. It may present as runny stools that barely form, or more commonly as withholding bowel movements because they are too hard and painful to pass. Over time, the latter ends up in situations as you describe.
These conditions are so intertwined that resolving the constipation results in pulling the original ASD diagnosis. I’ve seen it time and again for over 20 years!
Castor oil has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity in recent years for helping classical constipation. Generally, it is rubbed on the abdomen, in the belly button and/or over the liver, then covered with a piece of wool or flannel before bedtime. It’s called a ‘castor oil pack’ and helps soften the stool as well as prompt peristalsis by driving the oil deep into the body. It also kills parasites.
Fecal compaction is a real issue for people with autism, so softening the stool should help avoid any pile ups. Even though your goal is to avoid an actual enema, having a $10 enema kit from the local drugstore would be a good idea. Distract her with a TV or phone. If she ends up in the hospital, that’s probably the first thing they’ll do anyway.
The Queen of the Thrones makes a castor oil pack that is a handy solution to have on hand. Their castor oil is hexane-free and in dark glass bottles. This is important because castor oil will leach microplastics from plastic bottles, while hexane is a straight up neurotoxin. So, read labels!
Castor oil may be taken orally and it’s powerful! My experience, however, is that after a few days, it may lead to severe mineral deficiencies, marked by muscle cramping.
Whether taken orally or using the castor oil pack, results for very constipated individuals vary. In old works of the mystic Edgar Cayce, who initially popularized them in the 1930s, he advocated for only doing them three days in a row with the next four days off.
I have found that results fizzle out after a few weeks or months of this. Still, it may serve as a good aid for softening these really hardened feces as you describe.
The Oral Enema
My favorite alternative to enemas is the warm water salt flush. I call it the ‘oral enema’ because it really produces a similarly reliable result as enemas, even if it can’t go dig out pockets of pelletized turds with the same efficacy.
Before embarking on this, choose a day when you don't plan to be anywhere so she’ll have quick access to a bathroom.
Here’s the recipe:
2 teaspoons natural salt such as Celtic sea, Himalayan, Redmond, Colima or Baja salt1
1 quart very warm to hot filtered water (the temperature you’d drink tea or coffee)
First thing in the morning (preferably before sunrise) dissolve the salt in the water. She should aim to drink the solution within five minutes or as close as possible.
This is not as simple as it sounds. Offer her a straw or adding a little lemon or lime juice to make it more palatable.
After this, have her can lay down on her left side and rub her belly to encourage the waste to move its way through toward the anus. Depending on her mobility, you can literally just have her sit on the toilet until her colon begins emptying.
Some people say it takes an hour to start going. Others say that they release within minutes. And it’ll be quite a bit.
After the initial hardened pellets leave, more yeast, parasites and trash will flow out with the water during subsequent evacuations.
Once urination resumes, there shouldn’t be any further sudden episodes and the day may proceed as normal.
Unlike taking castor oil by mouth, the salt flush puts much-needed minerals back into the body—a key to avoiding illness. So, even if I were to do castor oil which strips the body of minerals, I would follow it the next day with the salt flush.
I know many people who do the salt flush religiously for weeks at a time, some are even suffering from high blood pressure. But that’s another story for another day.
I praise your commitment and sensitivity to your daughter’s needs. Hopefully, this information will help you both navigate the current hurdle.
If you decide to dig deeper and flush the liver as well, check out my liver-gallbladder post here.
Please report back and let me know how it goes either here or in the chat!
Keep on ploppin’!
M.P.
Table and Kosher salt are absolute abominations to the salt world and are strictly forbidden for this process. DO NOT CONSUME UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!