Constipation is one of those symptoms people tend to normalize, hide, or laugh off — but clinically, it tells me more about your health than almost anything else.

Most people think constipation simply means “I don’t poop every day.”
But medically, constipation is defined as:

• infrequent bowel movements
• hard, dry, or pellet-like stool
• straining or pushing
• a sense of incomplete emptying
• needing to manually assist
• or going days without a true, complete bowel movement

What most people don’t realize is that constipation is never just about stool.
It’s about how your entire body is functioning.

Your bowels are deeply tied to:

• your pelvic floor
• your nervous system
• your lymphatic flow
• your gut health
• your hormones
• your mobility and posture
• your stress levels
• your inflammation load

So when someone is constipated, it’s not a “bathroom problem.”
It’s a system problem.
And your body is doing everything it can to signal that something needs support.

This is why long-term MiraLAX use concerns me — it softens stool, but it does nothing to address the deeper issue your body is trying to communicate.

Now let’s get into the full blog with that stronger foundation.

Constipation Isn’t Random — It’s a Signal

Your digestive system is highly sensitive to stress, inflammation, tension, breathing patterns, and even how well your lymphatic system moves.
When something is off internally, constipation is one of the first warning signs.

This is why I tell every patient:

Your bowel habits are a daily snapshot of your internal health.

If you’re constipated, your body is asking for help — and it’s time to listen.

Why People Become Constipated (The Real, Everyday Causes)

Clinically, constipation rarely has one simple cause.
It’s usually a combination of:

• Pelvic floor tightness or poor coordination

If the pelvic floor can’t relax, stool cannot pass — no matter what you eat or drink.

• Abdominal and lymphatic congestion

Pressure in the abdomen slows motility and increases bloating.

• Chronic stress or fight-or-flight mode

The nervous system literally “turns off” digestion when overwhelmed.

• Hormonal changes

Progesterone (especially the week before your period), thyroid changes, estrogen dominance, and postpartum shifts can all slow motility.

• Rib immobility and shallow breathing

The diaphragm must descend for the intestines to move.

• Gut imbalance or inflammation

Food sensitivities, dysbiosis, or low stomach acid can slow digestion significantly.

This is why constipation cannot be solved with a single supplement or laxative.

Where MiraLAX Fits In — and Where It Doesn’t

MiraLAX can be helpful short-term, especially to avoid straining during a flare.
But needing it daily for months or years is a sign something deeper is going on.

MiraLAX does not:

• improve pelvic floor relaxation
• resolve gut inflammation
• clear lymphatic congestion
• improve diaphragm movement
• fix stress-driven motility issues
• rebalance the microbiome
• correct bowel mechanics

It softens stool — but it doesn’t fix the reason you’re constipated.
And that’s why I don’t want you relying on it forever.

What You Can Start Doing at Home

Before we even meet, I often give patients a few easy, gentle tools that can help their system immediately.

1. Use a Squatty Potty (or just elevate your feet)

This changes the angle of your rectum and allows your pelvic floor to lengthen so the bowels can empty more naturally.

It reduces:

• straining
• pushing
• hemorrhoids
• pelvic pressure

Even a simple stool or stack of books works.

2. Stay hydrated the right way

Hydration isn’t about chugging water — it’s about creating a consistent hydration rhythm throughout the day.

Pro tips I give patients:

• Sip steadily, don’t slam water
• Add electrolytes if you run dehydrated
• Match caffeine with water
• Increase hydration around your menstrual cycle
• Add a pinch of mineral salt if you need support with absorption

Hydration thins lymphatic fluid, improves stool consistency, and supports motility.

3. Try the “I Love You” (ILU) abdominal massage

This gentle massage follows the direction of your colon to help stimulate movement.

How it helps:

• increases motility
• decreases bloating
• encourages lymphatic flow
• calms the nervous system

How to do it:

1. I stroke – downward strokes on the left side (descending colon).
2. L stroke – across the rib cage from right to left, then downward.
3. U stroke – up the right, across, then down the left (full colon pattern).

Light pressure only — this isn’t deep tissue work.

How I Treat Constipation in the Clinic

My approach focuses on treating the root cause, not just the symptom.
Your evaluation might include:

• pelvic floor tension or inability to relax
• diaphragm and rib mobility
• abdominal or lymphatic congestion
• gut sensitivity
• nervous system overstimulation
• cycle/hormone patterns
• posture and mechanics during bowel movements

Treatment often involves:

• pelvic floor release
• diaphragm & rib expansion
• lymphatic drainage
• visceral mobility
• nervous system down-training
• bowel mechanics
• mobility and core coordination
• targeted home exercises

Constipation usually improves quickly once we treat the right system.

When We Need Additional Providers

Some cases need a team approach.
If your symptoms suggest deeper gut involvement, I often refer patients to:

• Registered dietitians

To evaluate fiber balance, gut irritants, and food-related triggers.

• Functional medicine providers

For testing like stool analysis, SIBO, hormone evaluation, or inflammation markers.

• GI specialists

If we need imaging, medical evaluation, or additional diagnostics.

There is no shame in needing a team — the goal is to get you relief and clarity.

Final Thoughts

Constipation is not something to push through, hide, or “fix” with a daily scoop of MiraLAX.

It’s one of the strongest signals your body sends.
And if you treat it early and correctly, you can prevent so many downstream issues — pelvic pain, bloating, urinary symptoms, inflammation, and more.

Your body wants to work.
Let’s give it the right tools, not a band-aid.