What to do when you're constipated

Constipation is a natural phenomenon that affects the digestive system for a variety of reasons: diet, stress and lifestyle can all contribute to inconvenient digestion. Thanks to their natural yet powerful properties, essential oils are effective against constipation.

Constipation: natural methods to get rid of it

Constipation can have a variety of causes. Stress is one of the most common, so it's not a physical reason but a psychological one. However, essential oils can be very helpful in resolving this problem. Whether occasional or chronic, stress can be relieved with essential oils. To understand how these natural remedies act on the digestive system to eliminate constipation, we need to understand its origins. Occasional constipation is most often the result of a sudden change in habits, whether dietary or related to daily life in general (stress, jet lag due to travel...).

Chronic constipation, on the other hand, has different origins, most often involving a diet low in fiber, the elements that promote intestinal transit. Lack of water or exercise are two other common reasons for chronic constipation. To limit constipation, all you have to do is prevent it or correct it by adapting your eating habits (drinking plenty of water, eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, wholegrain cereals and dried fruit) and lifestyle, such as regular exercise. Although laxatives are highly effective, they are not recommended over the long term, as they damage the intestinal tract and create dependency. Other powerful, natural products can relieve constipation: essential oils.

Essential oils to improve intestinal transit

So what can you do if you're constipated and want to get rid of the problem naturally? Thanks to their digestive tonic virtues, certain plants are particularly recommended for relieving constipation. Tarragon, basil and ginger are powerful remedies, and all you need to do is apply a few drops of essential oil diluted in vegetable oil to the stomach to feel the beneficial effects. Various blends can be made to obtain a synergy of essential and/or plant oils whose properties combine to relieve constipation. Here are a few examples, with proportions (which must be respected):

• Ginger essential oil (4 mL)
• Rosewood essential oil (2 mL)
• Basil essential oil (2 mL)
• Maritime pine essential oil (2 mL)
• Vegetable hazelnut oil (additional amount - 30 mL)

8-10 drops to be applied 3 times a day to the lower abdomen and back.

Hydrolats, which are less concentrated than essential oils, can also be used as follows:

• Sandalwood hydrolate (50 mL)
• Yarrow hydrosol (50 mL)

This blend, 1 teaspoon of which should be taken with a glass of warm water on an empty stomach, accompanied by a spoonful of honey, has powerful digestive properties. For children aged 30 months and over, use the following formula, 5 drops each morning and evening, massaged in a clockwise direction:

• Ginger essential oil (1 drop)
• Rosewood essential oil (2 drops)
• Tarragon essential oil (1 drop)
• Sesame vegetable oil (6 mL)

or this one, 4 drops at the base of the spine 2 times a day:

• Patagonian pine essential oil (1 drop)
• Rosewood essential oil (2 drops)
• Tarragon essential oil (0.5 drops)
• Mandarin essential oil (1 drop)
• Hazelnut vegetable oil (3 mL)
• Jojoba vegetable oil (15 mL)