Reflections on constipation, the body’s signals, and why this book was revised
When I first wrote Listen to Your Colon, I was writing from my own experience and from what I was hearing again and again from people who wrote to me after reading it.
Many of you shared long, personal stories. You told me what you had tried, what felt confusing, and where you felt stuck. Over time, certain questions kept coming up. Certain patterns repeated themselves.
That feedback is what shaped the 2nd Edition of Listen to Your Colon.
This update isn’t about changing direction. It’s about explaining things more clearly, filling in gaps, and responding to what readers have been asking for over the years.
Why Constipation Advice Often Misses the Mark
Most people are told that constipation is simple: eat more fiber, drink more water, take something to make things move.
But as many of you know, doing more of those things doesn’t help and sometimes makes things worse.
What I’ve learned through my own experience and through listening to my lovely readers is that constipation isn’t one single problem. In the book, I talk about two main patterns I see come up repeatedly:
- Peristaltic constipation, where movement is slow or weak
- Stenosis-related constipation, where tension or narrowing restricts flow
RELATED: Two Different Types of Constipation
When these are treated the same way, it’s easy to end up forcing the body instead of working with it. One of my goals with this book has always been to help people understand why their body might be holding back, rather than just pushing the body harder.
What’s New in the 2nd Edition of Listen to Your Colon
The 2nd Edition includes updates and additions based on the questions and experiences readers have shared with me.
In this 2025 edition, you’ll find:
- A clearer Constipation Treatment Summary, with updated guidance on probiotic sequencing and longer-term follow-through.
- Expanded dietary instructions with bigger food lists to make meal-planning easier
- A new Stool Softening Agents section, including discussion of my ColonEaze Move formula.
- Integration of castor oil pack guidance, and how it’s used to support motility and reduce abdominal tension.
- Updated discussion of magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C, with distinctions between the two constipation patterns covered in the book.
- A Quick-Action Treatment Plan, intended for short-term use when symptoms feel more intense.
- Expanded mind–body tools, including journaling prompts, and emotional release guidance.
- Updated Children’s and Baby Constipation Protocols, with clearer dosing and troubleshooting notes.
- Added links to blog posts, tutorial videos, and podcast episodes throughout the book for readers who want more context or instruction.
These updates are meant to make the material easier to follow and easier to work with — not more complicated.
The Nervous System and the Colon
One theme that comes up often in reader emails is stress — especially stress that’s been present for a long time.
The colon responds to the nervous system, and when the body stays tense, the bowel often does too. That’s why this edition includes tools like Lazer Tapping and simple journaling prompts.
These are not presented as treatments. They’re ways of paying attention to how the body responds when tension is acknowledged rather than ignored.
Who This Book Is For
This book is for people who want to understand their constipation more fully and explore approaches that are less about forcing and more about listening.
It’s especially relevant if you’ve felt confused by conflicting advice or unsure where to start. It isn’t meant as a quick fix, and it isn’t a substitute for medical care. It’s a guide meant to help you observe patterns, gain more understanding of why your body isn’t working smoothly, and make more informed choices.
How I Suggest Using the Book
You don’t need to read this book from cover to cover, or in page order, and you don’t need to do everything at once.
Start where something resonates. Move slowly. Notice what your body does. The book is meant to be used flexibly, not followed rigidly.
A Final Thought
Constipation isn’t something to fight or override. It’s something the body is communicating.
My hope with this 2nd Edition is that it gives you clearer information, better context, and a calmer way to explore what’s been happening in your own body, based on what I’ve learned through my own experience and from listening to so many of you.
Warmly,
Jini Patel Thompson
Read an Excerpt from the 2nd Edition
If you’d like to get a feel for the updated edition, you can read an excerpt from Listen to Your Colon (2nd Edition).
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