long term overuse of senokot -s

Dear Nellie,

So I take it you’ve been dealing with constipation for at least that long? Senecot (laxative) and ducosate sodium (stool softener) are both to be used for “occasional” constipation. Nothing "natural" will be stimulating enough to simply replace your regimen all at once. The only thing we can offer is help get to the root of why you’re constipated.

There are so many reasons for constipation: lack of dietary fiber, lack of essential fatty acids (omega oils), an imbalance of gut bacteria, dehydration, lack of magnesium, medications, physiological abnormalities of the colon, imbalance of pH, candida, parasites, too much fat in the diet and too many refined foods, thyroid imbalance, lifestyle choices – just to name some of the more common ones. The list goes on and on. It often is a combination of several of these, especially after 20 years.

My first question is – what kind of diet do you follow? Diet is 80% of the game. Checkout the Fiber 35 Eating Plan to see how your diet compares, whether or not you have any weight to lose. http://www.fiber35diet.com/

My next thought would be to really find out what's going on in your gut after all those years. I would start with a Comprehensive Stool Analysis (CSA) – which can be ordered without a doctor visit. http://blog.brendawatson.com/c…..ial-tests/. If you'd like, let us know when you test, and we'll help you interpret the results.

If finances are an issue, then at the very least you might consider the H.O.P.E. program (High fiber, Omega oils, Probiotics and Enzymes) and see if you begin to notice your bowel habits improving naturally. There are a number of ways you can use these in combination. Here's more info. http://www.renewlife.com/h-o-p…..a-kit.html .

If you’d like to share a bit more about your situation – diet, other testing you've done through the years, other symptoms or issues, perhaps I can be more helpful.

Brenda Watson