Bowel Movement 101

Many years ago, when I was in my teens, my Aunt Ethel told me a little known - and even more dismissed from conversations -FACT. Hardly anyone ever hears or engages in conversations about "how to have BM- Bowel Movement".

All other problems aside; One must never forget the powerful forces of GRAVITY. I truly believe that most people DO NOT actually suffer from True-Constipation, but rather a loosing battle against the forces of Gravity.

Think about how you go to the bathroom. Do your bathroom visits fall into one of these scenarios:

* Slouching and relaxed - What do you hope to achieve. If your Tired, take a nap. If your Stressed -exercise always helps, cup of tea, Bubble-bath, shower, Sex.. the list goes on; however, Slouching & relaxing does not produce a BM.

* Hunched over rocking, straining, pushing. Just like in the Sopranos (if you ever watched one of the first series - Yes! you CAN actually drop dead having a BM); Although, this probably would not happen in the absence of other health conditions. Coincidentally, having proper BM's and eliminating waste, toxins, and parasites-helps to insure that some dis-ease process can be kept at bay for many years. (like Leaky gut syndrome). Google it! Very interesting read.

* Waiting, giving up. Not having a full evacuation, Probably because your Sphincter muscles are conditioned to SHUT OFF. Do you take laxatives? These create a dependency to themselves and your body them turns off the natural process of Mass-peristalsis. Do you prevent yourself from going to the bathroom when your body says "it's time". This also shuts off and reconditions the body's responses to Peristalsis and Mass peristalsis. These are the natural wave-like occurrence of smooth muscle contractions of the alimentary canal (esophagus to colon). When you start to eat this is the trigger for peristalsis. Once you chew you food and swallow it, these wave-like contractions pass the food through the esophagus, the stomach, small intestine. Distention in the large Intestine (Colon) triggers the stronger Mass peristalsis. Mastication (chewing), Digestion (breakdown to Chyme-food stuff), Assimilation/Absorption (Small-Intestine utilizes chemical compounds of macro and micro-nutrients), Elimination (Large Intestine re-absorbs fluids/water and some vitamins) the rest gets FLUSHED.

* Are you conditioned to the idea of reading in the Bathroom, the worst thing to do. Given the importance of moving Toxins and Waste out of the body, where they fester bacteria, parasites, and a host of other nastiness we don't even want to contemplate; it is probably not a good idea to make a marathon Chapter-a-Thon out of one of the most important bodily functions we perform.



So what can you do to have a proper, effective, quick, & effortless BM. (Leave the Book/Magazine in the Living room)

1. Think of how gravity works - GRAVITY IS YOUR FRIEND HERE!
2. Sit in an upright position so that your rectum is in a plumb line to the toilet. Not slouched! Not bent over! Not slumped! ERECT in a sitting position!
3. Take natural breathes - a little deeper than usual, until you get used to how easily and quickly a bowel movement can be induced. Breathing causes the diaphragm to expand downward. This downward movement puts internal pressure on the abdominal/abdominopelvic/pelvic cavities. Much like throwing a rock into a pool of water, this activity sends a rippling effect that helps stimulate peristalsis. No need to push!BREATHING is a powerful process.
4. Optional - With hands in a prayer position in front of the pubis, bring your forearms into the groin-as if hugging yourself. You do not need to press, just have your forearms resting gently, in re-enforcement of the fact that there is little room for fecal matter to go than OUT of your body.
5. Let GRAVITY go to work!

This is how to achieve an effortless Bowel Movement!

www.myspace.com/journeyintowellness

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastication
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestive_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Intestine#Absorption