Is constipation "impacting" your child? Here are 5 ways Naturopathic Medicine can help with pediatric constipation!

A child sits hunched over on a bed, clutching their stomach in pain, as they struggle with a severe stomach ache.

Being a Naturopathic Doctor, I love talking about poop.

The quality of digestion tells me a lot about a person’s health. Gut health is so connected to everything - skin health, immune health, mental health.

After struggling with digestion for the majority of my childhood and having to struggle with the lasting consequences to this day, I am on a mission to make the experience more comfortable for others especially kiddos who may struggle in silence.

You might have already started seeking assistance with constipation in your child...and the only answer you might have been given is Restoralax.

Here’s what I think about Restoralax.

It can be a totally valid tactic to resolving constipation, but it’s not a complete solution and should be part of a larger plan.

With normal digestion, stool builds and causes the bowel wall to stretch, triggering stretch receptors to start peristalsis. Chronic constipation causes the bowel to stretch and reduces the sensitivity of the stretch receptors, reducing passage of stool through the tract and the vicious cycle of stool building up. The stool can become dry and more painful to pass. This can cause fear and with-holding in kids, which worsens the issue.

How does Restoralax work?

Restoralax is an osmotic laxative, which means it pulls water into the digestive tract and hydrates the stool making it softer (and less scary to pass!) and bulkier to encourage peristalsis.

This allows us to retrain the bowels to be more sensitive to stool and have more regular bowel movements. But this can take months to achieve. Not many parents are comfortable with giving Restoralax for that long, so we can explore other options as well.

5 ways Naturopathic Medicine can help with pediatric constipation

A more complete plan would include the following:

1. School-friendly meal and snack ideas with fiber

2. Decreasing foods that may slow digestion

3. Working on healthy gut flora

4. Finding fun ways to increase water intake

5. Maybe complimentary supplements to encourage bowel movements and reduce bloating/tummy pain

These are part of my individualized approach to care. My goal is not for your child to have to depend on Restoralax (or whatever other supplements we’re using) - we want these nutrition and lifestyle habits to be enough to encourage regular bowel movements going forward.

Working with a Naturopathic Doctor focused in pediatrics (like myself) allows for more time to assess and understand the root cause of the sluggishness - if there is any gut dysbiosis, food triggers, structural contributors, mental health contributors, etc. We can also work together to implement Naturopathic Medicine strategies to combat pediatric constipation.

If you'd like to learn more about how I work with children, check out my Naturally Nurtured Kids Wellness Program. I am a Naturopathic Doctor in Mississauga and Milton, but am accepting new patients virtually across Ontario. Most clinics offer direct billing to insurance and lab testing ordered by Naturopathic Doctors may be covered by extended health benefits as well!

You can apply as a patient to be eligible for a free 15 minute Discovery Call to learn more about how my services might fit into your child's health journey.

Book a consult now!

DISCLAIMER: This does not constitute a therapeutic relationship and this is not medical advice. Please consult with your primary care practitioner before adding new therapies into yours or your child’s regimen.