QUESTION: Please Help. About 2 months ago my colon constricted and tightened up and I couldn’t have a bowel movement.  I have a home colonic kit and would do one everyday to get the waste out.  This is the only way I could.

I was on antibiotics for 12 years that destroyed my gut flora.  From that, I acquired multiple food intolerances (around 30) and looked for a good way to rebuild my gut flora and stop leaky gut. I started making dairy kefir, water kefir, and coconut kefir.  I started making the fermented vegetables of all kinds.  I was consuming these items quite frequently everyday.  I had face acne and inflammation before and could see it disappearing slowing and my skin looking better and better all the time.

However, what I wasn’t paying attention to, although I should have, is that my bowel movements were getting less frequent.  It’s strange because I didn’t have enough flora before the fermentation (I know this because I had it tested) but I had good bowel movements.  But now, I was getting slight bowel spasms, something I don’t remember getting too much before.  After that, it just got totally worse.  Right now I can’t even go take a number 2.  My colon has narrowed down small where nothing will come out of it.

I now have more pain all along my left side; and it feels tight and stringy, if that makes sense.  I assume there are some colon strictures and/or diverticulitis.  Now, when I do the colonics, I am having a harder time getting the waste out.  I can feel more blockages.  I am getting very scared! I have an appointment for a colonoscopy coming up.  Any natural remedies for colonic stricture? What do you suggest?

ANSWER: Please note that in Listen To Your Gut, I do not advise people to ingest fermented foods – I tell them to use the Natren probiotics (and many people have to start very gradually and often with one species). Fermented foods come in way down the road when you have your digestive flora stabilized. At that point, people can usually tolerate them and benefit from them. But again, you need to test and go slowly to see what your individual body likes and dislikes.

Regarding strictures, we have a number of options you can try that readers have experimented with. The first one involves a liquid, elemental diet to rest and flush the colon (be sure and sign up for the free report there as it has full info on how to do the clearance diet). Keep in mind, when you read about the 3 dietary options on this page, that you still need to test for your own sensitivities – some people do not tolerate raw milk, others do not tolerate raw vegetable juices, etc.

I am in the testing phase of my final formula/protocol for healing both intestinal strictures and abdominal adhesions: StrictureHeal. If you’ve been following my blog, or a member of LTYG Wellness Circle, you know this has been a 3-year process thus far.

But we do have a tried and tested procedure you can use for abdominal strictures and adhesions that has worked for many to relieve pain and release an obstruction (especially when paired with the liquid or elemental diet for a few days).

NOTE: Great news! You no longer have to monitor your thyroid on these StrictureHeal protocols (unless you have a known overactive thyroid – hyperthyroid), CLICK HERE and Dr. Tyler will explain why even high-dose, ongoing iodine supplementation is perfectly safe.

1. Apply DMSO / Aloe Vera Solution to Abdomen

Make up a 50% dilution of DMSO with Aloe Vera Juice – this means you combine 2 tbsp. 99% DMSO and 2 tbsp. aloe vera in a glass bottle, shake well.

Apply to your abdomen (or wherever your stricture/pain/cramping is) using your fingers or a natural hair paintbrush.

Do not use synthetic anything with DMSO as it will pick up and transport everything it contacts into your skin/bloodstream. Make sure hands and abdomen have been washed with plain soap and water and do not have any creams or fragrance on them.

Allow to dry. Then apply a hot castor oil pack to your abdomen.

Note: After you have done this protocol a few times, if you think your skin will tolerate a higher DMSO content, then try a solution of 70% DMSO to 30% aloe vera. DMSO tolerance varies widely (with redheads being the most sensitive), so the 50/50 ratio is likely to be tolerated by most, but feel free to adjust up or down as you desire.

2. Apply a Hot Castor Oil Pack to Abdomen

A castor oil pack is placed on the skin to increase circulation and to promote elimination and healing of the tissues and organs underneath the skin. It is often used to stimulate the liver, relieve pain, increase lymphatic circulation, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion. Just remember to use a cold-pressed castor oil and 100% cotton flannel (or wool) – no synthetics. You can use either a hot water bottle or a heating pad as the heat source. Here are detailed instructions.

Note: Castor oil stains anything it comes into contact with and you cannot wash it out.

Castor Oil Pack Components

• Cold-pressed castor oil
• Two sheets of plastic (garbage bags are OK)
• 1 yard 100% cotton flannel or wool flannel (or whatever cotton material you have that you can at least fold double to fit your abdomen – could be an old t-shirt but must be 100% cotton)
• Heating pad or hot water bottle
• 2 Large old bath towels (that you don’t mind if they are stained)
• Large Ziplock bag or plastic container with lid

1. Fold flannel into two or three thicknesses to fit over your whole abdomen.

2. Cut a piece of plastic 1-2 inches larger than flannel.

3. Place a sheet of plastic the size of your torso, and then an old towel over the plastic to prevent staining the surface you will be lying on. I do this in bed, but a sofa works well too.

4. Saturate one surface of the folded flannel with castor oil, but not so much that it is drippy.

5. Lie down on the old towel, and drizzle castor oil all over your abdomen, then cover it with the folded flannel over your abdomen (with the oiled side of the flannel against your skin). Place the cut-to-size piece of plastic over top of the flannel. And cover this plastic with another old towel.

6. Now wrap the towel under you, around your torso to hold everything snug and place a heating pad (low heat) or hot water bottle on top of the towel.

7. Rest for 30-60 minutes. Use healing visualization, meditation, or just sleep. A good time to use castor oil packs is just before bedtime.

8. When finished, this is a great time to do colonic massage. Remove the heat, towel, plastic and flannel. Bend your knees to soften the abdomen and use the remaining castor oil to lovingly massage your colon.

If you are doing your castor oil pack at bedtime and want to go straight to sleep afterwards, then have a large zip-lock baggie next to your bed, and an extra towel to remove any excess oil and protect your bed sheets. Fold the oily pack up and put it into the baggie, then drop it to the floor till morning. In the morning, put it in the refrigerator.

Otherwise, you can potentize this treatment by having a hot magnesium bath to further relax your muscles and wash off the castor oil at the same time. Use either magnesium flakes, magnesium oil or epsom salts (1-2 cups) in your bath water and soak for 20 minutes.

9. Store the pack in the covered container or baggie in the refrigerator. Remove it from the refrigerator 1-3 hours before you plan to use it, so that it is at room temperature when you are ready to use it.

10. Each pack may be used repeatedly. When it starts to smell stale, throw it out (don’t try to wash it) and make a new pack.

The Quick Version

If this procedure is way too complicated for you, simply apply a generous amount of castor oil to the skin of your abdomen. Cover that with an old 100% cotton t-shirt or other 100% cotton cloth you won’t mind eventually discarding. And cover that with a plastic bag. Lay your heat source (hot water bottle, heating pad) on top of that.

Keep the cotton t-shirt or cloth in a ziplock bag to reuse for next time. Eventually it will smell like stale oil, but can be kept for a few weeks at least in a plastic bag. Rest for 30-60 minutes. But even 10-15 minutes will make a difference – especially if you follow it with colonic massage. Stay covered and warm so you can relax.

Have a soft cloth or rag handy to catch any oil dripping off your body. You may want to put a towel or plastic underneath your body so your bed doesn’t get oily. Remember to use cold-pressed castor oil and 100% cotton flannel (or wool) – no synthetics.

When you’re finished with the hot castor oil pack, bend your knees and do colonic massage with the remaining oil on your skin. See below for detailed instructions on how to perform colonic massage.

Then, either wipe off the excess oil, or put an old pair of underwear and pants over top (to avoid staining your good clothes). Or, you can get in a hot bath or shower and wash the area with natural soap. If you prefer, you can potentize the treatment by going straight into a hot magnesium bath. Use either magnesium flakes, magnesium oil, or epsom salts (1-2 cups) in your bath water and soak for 20 minutes.

Frequency of Use

To be effective, a castor oil pack must be used at least 3 times a week, although 5 times a week is better. In cases of long-term chronic pain or acute stricture/obstruction, it works best to commit to a 6 week treatment period using the DMSO solution in combination with a castor oil pack 5-7 times per week, then as needed. Full healing may require 3 months of treatment.

If you don’t want to use the DMSO solution first, the hot castor oil pack on its own will provide significant relief from pain and softening of tissues. To actually begin to break down the scar tissue though, you’ll want to combine it with the DMSO solution.

Colonic Massage for Obstruction

If your intestine is obstructed, it is a good idea to also do this colonic massage after the DMSO / Castor Oil treatment – while the abdomen is soft and you are relaxed – to help massage the stuck food through the stricture:

Lastly, you can listen to this podcast with Larry Wurn from Clear Passage Therapy, who works manually to soften strictures and adhesions.

Let us know what works for you in the COMMENTS section below….