While I believe in a more long-term holistic approach to cure and prevent constipation through a healthy lifestyle, sometimes you need a quick fix to get things moving. And if you’ve tried some supplements that caused some nasty side effects such as severe cramping, you’re probably pretty wary of any new ones out there.
Here I created a list of some supplements and natural laxatives that are gentle yet effective. These are gentle enough to use for weeks at a time while you get your digestive system back up to health. They are not a permanent solution, but a temporary crutch to lean on in desperate times.
These are also gentle, so if your constipation is severe or you haven’t been going for a week or more, please see your doctor. And that goes for taking anything new. These are great to keep on hand just in case things get clogged up!
1. Oxy-Powder
I had to put this one first on the list because it really does the trick. Global Healing’s Oxy-Powder is an oxygen-based colon cleanser. I talked about my unusual personal experience with this effective laxative in another article. Here I would just like to say that I took less than what was indicated on the instructions and I still had results. When I increased the amount on my second try, I had 3 bowel movements the next day!
You can really feel this one working. It’s like it’s gently buffing and cleaning the insides of your intestines. There was no pain or cramping, but it is an interesting sensation. Make sure that when you take it you are prepared to be home for the day because you will need the bathroom several times.
The bottle says to take this before bed but before I started healing my gut I had to take it during the day to make sure I’m sitting upright as it travels down the tubes! Now I can take it before bed no problem and it works with no cramping. I really love this one. Oxy-Powder will definitely help relieve your constipation quickly.
2. Magnesium Citrate
Magnesium citrate supplements can be very helpful in relieving mild constipation in the short term as it relaxes the intestinal muscles, and softens and enlarges stool, which triggers a bowel movement.
It comes in a few different forms depending on how you want to take it. There’s an oral solution that you drink by the teaspoon.
You do need to make sure that you’re drinking more water when you take magnesium because it draws water from your body into the intestines and can dehydrate you and cause electrolyte imbalances. That’s why this is a short-term solution. It can also make your kidneys work harder so make sure you talk to the doc first.
3. Psyllium Husk
Psyllium husk comes from the outer shell of the seeds of the Plantago ovata plant widely cultivated in India. I recommend getting an organic brand because this plant tends to be heavily sprayed on large farms. This particular brand comes from an organic farm.
This remedy has been a well-known supplement to treat constipation because it works. Just mix one teaspoon with a full glass of water and drink right away. It will start to become thick quickly.
You can use it in your smoothies and you can also bake it into some healthy sourdough bread! This one is certified organic and GMO-free.
4. Biovy Thruve
I’ve used this natural laxative because it’s gentle and also includes probiotics to restore gut bacteria. This is a laxative you can use for a couple of months as you work on building your holistic lifestyle change.
Jujube fruit has been used in China, India, and Korea for a long time for a variety of reasons: insomnia, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and of course, constipation and the promotion of healthy digestion.
Senna leaf extract is widely used as a stimulant laxative that can tend to be a little harsh or cause cramping. However, in this formula, I’ve never experienced any discomfort or pain whatsoever. But of course, everyone is different.
The strains of probiotic bacteria are mostly Lacto and Bifido which is great for rebuilding your gut microbiota.
5. LaxiNon
I’ve found this natural laxative to be effective and gentle. I always have this one on hand in cases of emergency and I know it’s sensitive enough for my stomach. So if you’re in a pinch try this one out for a 
LaxiNon is made with herbs and dried fruits. It contains Aloe ferox, Plantago afra, fennel, plum, and fig. This one is also GMO-free, gluten-free, and vegan. The company that makes LaxiNon says it’s safe to use long term.
This one used to be my go-to before I discovered Oxy-Powder.
Get To The Root
Remember these are only short-term quick fixes. The underlying problems of an unbalanced lifestyle, diet, and a damaged gut profile can cause this issue to pop up again and again.
If you want to get to the root of the problem create a holistic treatment plan for yourself to heal your gut. That’s the only way to take control of your health and solve the issue for good.
I hope you find some relief from these supplements for constipation. Let me know in the comments if you’ve found something that works for you or if you’ve tried any of the ones I’ve mentioned!
And, of course, there are possible side effects with anything. Make sure you read the directions, check with your doctor, and drink plenty of water while supplementing. Drinking more water, in general, is a good idea when it comes to constipation. Also, it’s not a good idea to take different supplements at once. It would be more difficult for you to know which one works best with your body.
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I believe that when lifestyle modifications aren’t enough to resolve constipation, fiber supplements, such as psyllium husk, that come in a powdered form could be consumed by mixing into water or food. As you said, they are a short-term quick fix. But in these “not advanced” cases, they are effective. Deeper issues require digging into the root of the problem.
Yes, short-term fixes are important for relief but we shouldn’t let that become something that we lean on forever. It’s always best to get to the root of the issue because it’s probably causing other issues we don’t become aware of until much later when they could have been prevented.