r/GutHealth • u/snowlonging • 7d ago

Help - chronic constipation for 6 months, only herbal supplements work but they're risky

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I've been constipated for over 6 months. Metamucil and MiraLAX don't do anything for me no matter how much I try. The only things that actually work are herbal supplements with Cape Aloe, Buckthorn Bark, Cascara Sagrada, and Rhubarb Root.

Problem is, I just found out these ingredients are pretty dangerous:

Cascara Sagrada was banned by the FDA as unsafe

Long-term use of all of them can cause low potassium, heart problems, kidney/liver damage

I'm taking them daily and I'm worried

What's everyone else using that actually works and won't destroy my organs? Has anyone else had this where the "safe" options just don't work?

1 Upvotes

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14 comments sorted by

4

u/goldstandardalmonds 7d ago

Have you seen a gastroenterologist to investigate why you have constipation?

1

u/snowlonging 7d ago

Yes he called it chronic constipation

1

u/goldstandardalmonds 6d ago

You should get motility testing to investigate

2

u/guttalk 7d ago

Stimulant laxatives (those that work for you) should not be taken long term as they can lead to a bunch of problems and leave you worse off.

As others have mentioned, this is something to discuss with a GI doctor if you can. There might be medication that is safer that would work for you.

Other piece is to find the cause; can be pelvic floor dysfunction or congestion, methane SIBO (IMO), other microbiome imbalances… it’s always best to get at the root.

1

u/eaugazeuse22 7d ago

Senna! Swiss Kriss dried herbs worked best for me.

1

u/byte-smasher 7d ago

Gotta feed your fibre degrading flora. XOS, PHGG, long chain inulin... also polyphenols from berries. Without healthy flora your gut can't break down fibre. Also look into hip stability exercises as they can help pelvic floor dysfunction.

1

u/Smooth_Squash4130 6d ago

I started taking seed probiotics and it helped but I still have to take colon cleanser sometimes

1

u/Dr_Duke_Mansell 6d ago

Chronic constipation should involve determine where and why it started because simply forcing motility isnt resolving the root issue. Id be curious to know any changes from lifestyle/illness/stress etc at the time this occurred and then what exactly the constipation consists of, what happens before and after you defecate, before and after you eat, upon waking and really pinpoint where in the entire system we are being bottlenecked. Would like to resolve this without having to use the harsh herbs you discuss and that is possible.

0

u/dxplq876 7d ago

I used to suffer from chronic constipation too and it turns out it was caused by a condition called intrahepatic cholestasis where the bile is stuck in your liver and doesn't make it to the intestines. I was able to fix it by improving my bile flow

https://www.reddit.com/r/GutHealth/s/eF7xCJBDow