Bowel movements refer to the normal process of emptying waste material of the gastric system that does not serve any purpose in the body. In our body, nutrients are absorbed from whatever food we eat and the rest of the waste material is eliminated from the body as stool via anus. Bowel movements mean how often a person passes stool and what is the consistency of stool. It differs in each individual and there is no fixed definitive pattern of normal bowel movements. A person can pass stool once or many times a day or may skip a day or two without passing stool. But in general, three stools in a day to three stools per week are assumed to be normal. The stool may also be soft, hard or loose. Bowel movements might vary at times in a person and any occasional change is not to be worried about. However, if there occurs any sudden or significant change in the regularity, frequency or consistency of bowel movements then it refers to as irregular bowel movements.
It might simply be arising from some changes in the diet, change in daily routine, stress, anxiety, as a part of ageing, changes in the gut bacteria or it could indicate some underlying health problem needing treatment. One very common such health issue is IBS i.e. Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS refers to a functional disorder of the colon (large intestine) in which bowel movements get altered, means there occur diarrhoea or constipation or alternation between these two, bloating of abdomen and stomach cramps. Another health issue could be IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) that includes two inflammatory condition of digestive tract – ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of large intestine and rectum. Crohn’s disease leads to inflammation in any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. Next health condition is celiac disease (a gastric disorder in which eating gluten which is a protein present in wheat, rye, barley set off an immune response which leads to damage to small intestine and causes symptoms including bloating, diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, fatty stool, anemia and weight loss).
Other reasons could be food intolerance, thyroid issues, neurological issues like multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the immune cells damage the protective myelin sheath of the nerve fibers and hinders communication between brain and rest of the body parts). Besides use of some medicines like antibiotics and pain killers may result in irregular bowel movements. With irregular bowel movements one may get diarrhea or constipation or alternation between these two. Depending on the cause, other symptoms may also attend like pain in the abdomen, bloating, straining to pass stool, feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, urgency to pass stool, mucus in the stool, undigested food particles in the stool, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, passing blood in the stool, weakness and weight loss.
Homeopathic Treatment
Homeopathy proves highly effective in cases of irregular bowel movements. Homeopathic medicines help to regularize the bowel movements in very natural way. Homeopathic treatment for this complaint is done on symptomatic basis in every case. An individualized treatment is done based on the characteristic symptom of the individual. Homeopathic medicines are of natural origin, so are 100 pc safe to use with zero side effects. As there are no specific medicines for treating this complaint and the treatment is given purely based on the individual’s symptoms, it is advised to get your case evaluated by a homeopathic physician for right prescription and dosage.
Homeopathic Medicines For Irregular Bowel Movements
1. Aloe Socotrina – Top Medicine For Diarrhea
This medicine is the leading medicine to manage cases presenting with diarrhea. In cases needing it, stool is loose with an urge to pass stool immediately after eating or drinking. There is a sudden urgency to pass stool with a need to rush to the toilet. Gas may pass along with the stool. In some cases, mucus occurs in the stool. There may be abdomen pain before and while passing stool. A constant bearing down sensation can be felt in the rectum. At times, stool is passed involuntarily when passing gas.
2. Podophyllum – For Copious Watery Stool
This medicine is beneficial when the stool is copious and watery. The stool passes out in a gush means suddenly with intense force. The stool can be yellow or green coloured. It may contain mucus or undigested food particles. The stool has offensive smell. There may be sudden urge to pass stool.
3. China Officinalis – For Loose Stool With Weakness
China Officinalis works well in cases of loose stool accompanied with weakness. Stool is profuse and attended with excessive gas in the abdomen. Abdomen pain may occur due to gas. Abdomen is bloated. Stool smells bad. Rumbling occurs in the stomach.
4. Croton Tiglium – For Sudden Stool After Eating / Drinking
This medicine is recommended for cases where a sudden urge to pass stool appears immediately after eating or drinking. Stool gushes out with a great force. Pain in the abdomen on passing stool can occur. Nausea may be felt while passing stoolwhich be yellow or greenish. It may contain mucus or white flakes.
5. Nux Vomica – For Constipation With Frequent Urge For Stool
Nux Vomica is the best choice of medicine for managing constipation with a frequent almost constant ineffectual urge to pass stool. It may be recommended for persons who pass scanty stool several times a day, stool is unsatisfactory. Despite passing stool frequently in a day, they feel as if the bowels are not completely emptied and there is still more stool to pass giving a never got done feeling. They may feel pain in the abdomen. Nausea and vomiting especially in the morning may be felt.
6. Bryonia – For Constipation With Dry, Hard Stool
This medicine is very effective when there is constipation with dry, hard stool passed in lump form. The stool passes with difficulty and seems as if burnt. Besides, there is distension of abdomen.
7. Alumina – For Constipation With Absence Of Urge For Days Together
Alumina is a helpful medicine for cases where a person has no urge to pass stool for days together. Stool is passed when large faecal matter has accumulated in the intestines. When urge occurs, the stool is passed with intense straining efforts either with hard or soft stool.
8. Antimonium Crudum – For Alternate Constipation And Diarrhea
This medicine is highly suitable to manage cases in which an alteration occurs between constipation and diarrhea. Watery stool occurs with little hard lumps or undigested food particles in it. Cutting pain may be felt in the abdomen before passing stool. Vomiting may also attend. During constipation, there is passage of dry, hard stool with difficulty. There may be trapped gas in the abdomen. A characteristic feature that attends gastric complaint in most of the cases is thickly white coated tongue.
9. Lycopodium – For Alternate Diarrhea And Constipation With Bloating
This medicine is prominently indicated for alternate diarrhea and constipation with bloating. Persons needing it complain of gas and distension of abdomen after eating even a little amount of food. Gas and bloating is marked in the lower abdomen. Some specific food items that worsen the complaints includes cabbage, onions and beans.
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