Constipation is a rather widespread condition that is thought to affect about 15% of all people. Most people do not try to treat it and even fewer seek help from a health authority. Likely because this is an embarrassing condition to most people which gives them great reluctance to report their condition to their personal physicians.
Because of the stigma associated with this condition, some of those who do seek treatment attempt home-based or natural remedies. A good understanding of such treatments is necessary to avoid any potential hazards. One should note that just because some constipation treatments are natural, it doesn’t mean they are safe.
The most commonly used herb is the senna plant. The senna plant has powerful laxative properties due to high concentrations of anthraquinones. Anthraquinones have been found to increase intestinal activity and speed up movement of stool. It can be obtained as either tablets or in bags of leaves to be prepared as a tea. The cascara plant also has a history of being a natural laxative but has since been banned by the FDA.
While senna is a chemical agent that stimulates the colon to move its contents more quickly, mineral oil is an entirely different kind of agent used as a natural constipation treatment. When taken by mouth, it enters the intestine where it coats the stool. Since oil is a water repellent, the stool becomes protected against loss of fluid. This enables it to remain bulky and therefore move more quickly. Doctor and scientists call this a lubricant laxative which is a bit of a misnomer.
More widespread than either of the above are natural constipation treatments based on fiber. A popular one is psyllium. The psyllium plant is famous for having seeds that contain a lot of fiber. The seeds are usually processed into fine powder form which can then be dissolved. Retailers like nutritional supplement stores carry brand names like Metamucil which are incarnations of psyllium.
The flaxseed is another source of high fiber. These can be crushed like psyllium or taken whole. An additional benefit that some have reported is that consumption of flaxseed can lower cholesterol. However, such results need more confirmation and research. The oils that are extracted from flaxseed are not as palatable to most people.
It’s true of any natural treatment that the advice of a health professional be sought. A physician has much more expertise and knowledge than a layman on whether a natural constipation treatment is reasonable or not. Even if it’s effective, any particular treatment may have warnings on who should and shouldn’t take it. Acquiring more knowledge about the warnings should be of paramount importance for any subject.
During the course of many decades, scientists have labored over researching why the pancreas ceases to produce insulin or why the insulin it does produce is ineffective to the body. There is however one discovery. A mutant gene passed through the ages from our ancestors may be the cause of this phenomenon. Other possible causes include:
The risk factors for heart disease and diabetes go hand in hand.
Insulin is a hormone the pancreas secretes. As the glucose levels in the body rise, the insulin is converted into energy the body uses as fuel. In a diabetic, the pancreas produces either insufficient amounts of insulin or produces insulin that is ineffective in the body. Symptoms of this include polyuria or frequent urination as well as polydipsia or excessive thirst.
Inefficient insulin and it’s affect on the body:
Resistance to insulin is described as the body producing sufficient amounts of insulin but is not using appropriately. Another type of diabetes is where the insulin produced does not allow for glucose levels to be raised and the body can not convert it into much needed energy.
Is there a cure?
Unfortunately there is at present no cure. However, scientists and physicians are exploring many new, exciting, experimental procedures which have shown a very positive success rate. These new procedures include;
Pancreatic Transplant: Anyone having Type 1 DM diabetes which could not be controlled and was given this procedure experienced the ability to dispel the need for insulin injections as well as decreasing the risk factors that this type of diabetes caused.
Transplant of both Kidney and Pancreas: Anyone having Type 1 diabetes combined with significant kidney failure was given this procedure. The surgery gave the patients the ability to no longer require insulin injections as well as dialysis treatments. Any patient without signs of rejecting the organ transplants within the first year have a greater success rate for the next ten years or more.
Islet Transplants: This procedure is currently in clinical trials and involves replacing the bad Islets Of Langerhans with good islets from a deceased donor. Islets of Langerhans are the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. The islets are extracted from the donor pancreas and injected into the liver of the receiver. The cells start manufacturing insulin which works to regulate blood sugar levels.
All of these procedures are currently experimental and are not yet approved by the FDA. In a study of 36 patients who received islet transplants, only five remain free of the need for insulin 2 years after their transplant.
Searching for a cure for diabetes is an on-going battle. However, scientists are hopeful that a cure will present itself in the not so distant future as modern medicine continues to make advances. Until then, lifestyle changes for those with diabetes is a great start to living a long, healthy and productive life despite having this damaging disease.
About the Author:
Barb Hicks is a Licensed Registered Nurse who loves to write and share her knowledge about What Causes Diabetes with others. She also provides more information about Diabetes Facts on Clivir.com.
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