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Constipation with a psychological cause
I am a 22-year-old female and suffer from constipation which has got progressively worse over the last two or three years. I have been able to control it, to some extent, using diet and exercise but the main causes seems to be psychological since it is always worse when I know I am tense. I have tried all the conventional routes but they only seem to make it worse.
You may want to visit your GP to talk about a very common digestive disorder called Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) of which chronic constipation, often triggered by stressful psychological events, is a classic symptom.
I have a friend who keeps her IBS under control for months on end, using, like you, a combination of careful diet and exercise - but all her efforts are in vain whenever she has to face visiting her mother which always triggers a full-blown attack. If that’s not evidence of the psychological link, I don’t know what is.
To tackle the current problem of chronic constipation, you will need to use an Ayurvedic herb called Triphala (which is actually a mix of three related plants that all work to support healthy digestion.) I recommend using Pukka Herbs' Triphala; which costs £12.95 for 90 veggie capsules (mail order from Revital; 0800 413596).
Any digestive disorder will also benefit greatly from using silica alongside the herbal or nutritional supplements of your choice. Again, if you need a specific brand recommendation then use Hubner’s liquid silicea which costs £15.99 from the same supplier.