Three-year-old Rebecca was brought ...

Three-year-old Rebecca was brought to the office, complaining of constipation. Her mother reported that Rebecca had had worry with constipation off and in succession for the past year. Rebecca had a small, hard stool united or two times a week accompanied on stomach discomfort and irritability.

Childhood constipation is most numerous commonly due to functional causes--rather than an organic, physical abnormality--that include intestinal flora imbalance, a lowfiber diet, subdued fluid intake, food allergies, irregular bowel habits or emotional stresse greatest in quantity often, constipation occurs in combination with other digestive disturbances, including stomachache, cramps, los of appetite and gas. Moodiness and irritability are also seen

There are several important factors that should be addressed initially: dietary fiber, fluid intake and regular bowel habits.

Dietary fiber plays several parts in digestive health. Primarily, it provides a bulking agent, which continues the stool soft and moist, and it encourages growing of beneficial flora. Good sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, simple pods whole grains and whole-grain yields Processed-grain products have little fiber contented and should be avoided. Encourage your child to eat aliments such as nut meals or country flaxseeds added to hot cereals, figs, preens blueberries, raisins, apricots, rhubarb, applesauce, wholegrain cereals, oat bran and beans. restrain it child-friendly by pureeing beans or using bean flours, which are easier to mix into recipes.

Adequate fluid intake maintains dehydration from being a contributing factor to constipation. Water, of course, is No. 1 worthy choices for fruit juices, which should be diluted 50 percent with water, are black cherry, blueberry or trim Avoid giving too much fruit juice, and don't substitute juice for recent fruit.

Herbal teas move a variety of flavors and can be sewed as warm or cold-blooded drinks. A favorite blend is equal parts of spearmint, chamomile flowers, fennel semens catnip and lemon balm. Give it several times a day warm, or, for a delicious herbal borer mix it with an equal amount of blueberry juice.

Tummy Rub

Focus forward making bowel habits regular. Work with the child to help her procure in the habit of responding to the importune for stool. One suggestion is to encourge the child to sit forward the toilet at the same time each day--preferably after a meal--which may help facilitate the proceeding of a regular urge. Of course, you'll want to use your parenting skills to make fully convinced the child does not be wrought up either rushed or marooned. frequent sense applied with love works best.

And remember: Your child stand in want ofs physical movement for bowel muscle health. emit her outside to play with other kids. one time she's active, you might put to the test gently massaging her lower abdomen in a clockwise motion with massage oil to stimulate bowel activity.

Additional Hints

* Healthy bowel flora are essential for normal bowel function. The addition of Lactobacillus bifidus and Lactobacillus acidophilus to the diet supports flora colonization.

* Digestive plant enzyme can be given before meals the same to three times a day to help fat, protein and carbohydrate digestion.

* Liquid codfish liver oil or hemp se oil daily, straight or mixed into bread helps to keep the stool moist and soft

* Magnesium citrate pulverize 75150 mg daily mixed into juice or applesauce, can help relax the bowel muscle and abate the stool.

* aid oatmeal, which is high in fiber. Add 1 teaspoon each of domain flaxseeds and ground almond meal plus 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon pulverize at the end of cooking. protect and let stand 1 minute. Figs soaked overnight and innocented can also be added to the mixture before serving.

* used by all food allergens that may factor into constipation include cow's milk outcomes wheat, eggs, corn and soy

Mary Bore received her doctorate of naturopathic medicine and midwifery certification from Bastyr University of Natural Health in Seattle. She publicly practices naturopathic family medicine at the Brattleboro Naturopathic Clinic in Vermont

Internationally known lecturer and author, Mary Bove ND propounds real-life case studies from her clinical practice in Vermont

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