Discover the comforting and effective relief from constipation through the use of heat therapy.

Sometimes we get sick, but it’s not serious enough to see a doctor or even take time off from work. It is just serious enough to guarantee you an unpleasant and uncomfortable day.

Constipation is just one example of a condition that can lead to this exact situation, and it is at this point that we often like to reach for the home remedies.

What is the role of heat and cold treatment in pain relief, and can it help with constipation?

The role of heat and cold in pain relief

Both heat and cold can be used to treat a variety of conditions. Heat boosts the flow of blood and nutrients to the affected area, while cold slows blood flow, reducing swelling and pain.

For some conditions, such as arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia and neck pain, either heat or cold could be used. This will help with muscle aches, spasms and stiff, swollen or tender joints.

You could use items like an electric heating pad, a gel pack that can be microwaved or frozen, a bag of ice or frozen vegetables or a washcloth soaked in hot or cold water.

Not all pain or injury can be treated with either heat or cold. The general rule of thumb is that ice is used for acute injuries or pain along with inflammation or swelling.

Heat is used for muscle pain along with inflammation, swelling and stiffness. We would also use heat to seek relief from constipation.

How does heat therapy work?

Increasing the temperature on a specific part of your body improves circulation and blood flow. This helps to soothe discomfort, increase muscle flexibility and even heal damaged tissue. 

It’s important to note that by ‘heat’, we mean ‘warm’ and not scorching hot.

Heat therapy comes in two forms: dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat is easy to apply and items like heating pads or dry heating packs are used.

Moist heat refers to heat sources such as steamed towels, most heating packs or even a soothing, warm bath. Moist heat can be slightly more effective and sometimes works in less time than dry heat.

When using heat therapy, you can focus on a small area of pain, more widespread pain or stiffness, or on your whole body.

For a smaller, local injury you can use small, heated gel packs or a hot water bottle. For a larger area you could use something like a steamed towel or heat wraps.

For a full body treatment you can have a hot bath or pop into a sauna.

While cold therapy needs to happen in short bursts, heat therapy is most beneficial when used for longer periods.

Minor stiffness or pain can be reduced with around 15 to 20 minutes of heat therapy, while moderate to severe pain will need up to two hours of treatment.

There are certain conditions for which heat therapy should NOT be used. Steer clear from this treatment in the following cases:

• If the area in question is bruised or swollen or both. It may be better to use cold therapy for this.

• Don’t apply heat therapy to an area with an open wound.

• Be careful of heat therapy if you have pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, dermatitis, vascular diseases, deep vein thrombosis, multiple sclerosis, heart disease or hypertension.

Can heat therapy help with constipation?

For the most part, constipation is caused by poor lifestyle choices – not enough water, not enough exercise and not enough fibre in your diet. 

If this is the case and you are not dealing with an underlying condition, a few home remedies could get you back on track in no time.

One of these is curling up with a hot water bottle, which could help you in the following ways:

• If you are constipated, you are most likely suffering with a tummy ache as well. The buildup of gas and faeces in your intestines are to blame for this.
  Using a hot water bottle can relieve the pain by relaxing the intestinal muscles and helping with the release of gas. Heat can also help to reduce inflammation in the area.

• Heat can help with increased blood flow to the intestines. This helps the muscles in the area to relax, which could in turn stimulate bowel movements.
  Relaxing the intestinal muscles has the further benefit of helping along the digestive system as a whole, in the end helping you stay regular.

• Using a hot water bottle can help to relax the body and reduce stress, potentially offering some relief if your constipation is stress-induced.

Along with your hot water bottle, make sure to drink lots of water, have some high-fibre foods and try exercising, even if you just go for a walk. If none of this helps, it’s time to consult a medical professional.

Conclusion

The evidence is merely anecdotal, but there’s plenty of reasons to believe heat therapy can provide some relief for constipation, especially for those who don’t like to take medication for less serious conditions.

As an added bonus a water bottle is affordable, easy to use and the only potential side effect is burning yourself – which is easy to prevent by just being careful.