Chronic constipation is one of the most common and most mismanaged gut health conditions. As a chronic constipation naturopath, I know how exhausting it is to do everything right and still struggle. In this solo episode, I walk you through the root causes of chronic constipation that most practitioners simply don’t investigate — from methane overgrowth (IMO) and dyssynergic defecation to microbiome dysfunction and nervous system dysregulation.
If you have tried the fibre, the water, the magnesium and the prebiotics and you are still constipated, this episode was made for you.
Most people with chronic constipation have been told the same things: drink more water, eat more fibre, and take magnesium or prebiotics, and while these have their place, they rarely resolve constipation
when a deeper physiological driver is present. In this episode, chronic constipation naturopath Lynda draws on current peer-reviewed research to explain why chronic constipation is so frequently under-investigated, and what proper investigation actually looks like.
Research has now linked reduced bowel movement frequency to a decline in cognitive function, and chronic constipation can precede the classic motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by 20 or more years. This isn’t to alarm you — it’s to show you that your gut health is worth taking seriously, and that getting to the root cause matters.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM A CHRONIC CONSTIPATION NATUROPATH:
In this episode, degree-qualified chronic constipationnaturopath Lynda Griparic walks you through five of the most commonly missed drivers of chronic constipation, the ones that standard advice simply doesn’t address.
You’ll discover why methane-producing gut organisms known as intestinal methanogens (IMO) physically slow your bowel, and why fibre and resistant starch can actually worsen constipation when IMO is the underlying driver.
You’ll learn about dyssynergic defecation, a pelvic floor coordination problem affecting around one third of people with chronic constipation and why most people have never had their pelvic floor assessed.
You’ll understand which secondary medical causes are most commonly overlooked, including thyroid dysfunction and medications that slow the bowel without people realising.
You’ll find out what advanced microbiome testing reveals that standard gut tests simply miss, and why that detail matters when it comes to targeted treatment.
And you’ll learn how chronic stress, nervous system dysregulation, and a history of trauma can keep you stuck and what a comprehensive constipation protocol actually looks like.
SUMMARY
- Why fibre and resistant starch can worsen constipation when IMO is the underlying driver
- What methane overgrowth (IMO) is and how it physically slows your bowel
- Dyssynergic defecation — the pelvic floor problem affecting around one third of people with chronic constipation
- Secondary medical causes that are frequently overlooked, including thyroid dysfunction and medications
- What advanced microbiome testing reveals that standard tests simply miss
- How chronic stress, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation keep you stuck
- Why chronic constipation has been linked to cognitive decline and can precede Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms by 20 or more years
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER:
✅ The difference between IMO and SIBO — and why it matters for treatment
✅ Why your pelvic floor may be working against you
✅ The medications and medical conditions most commonly missed as constipation drivers
✅ What shotgun metagenomics testing reveals that standard gut tests miss
✅ Why generic advice keeps so many people stuck for years
✅ How the gut-brain connection runs deeper than most people realise
Listen & Subscribe:
Connect with chronic constipation naturopath Lynda Griparic: Instagram
As a chronic constipation naturopath with over 20 years of clinical experience, I offer telehealth consultations Australia-wide and internationally. Book a telehealth consultation
If you have a gut health question you’d like answered, email:info@lyndagriparic.com or leave a comment below.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health routine.
References
1. Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO) & Methane
1. Mehravar S, Takakura W, Wang J, Pimentel M, Nasser J, Rezaie A. Symptom profile of patients with intestinal methanogen overgrowth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024;23(7):1111–1122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2024.07.020
2. Pimentel M, Mayer AG, Park S, Chow EJ, Hasan A, Kong Y. Methane production during lactulose breath test is associated with gastrointestinal disease presentation. Dig Dis Sci. 2003;48(1):86–92. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021349412787
3. Pimentel M, Lin HC, Enayati P, van den Bogaerde J, Lee HR, Sells Galvez JE, et al. Methane, a gas produced by enteric bacteria, slows intestinal transit and augments small intestinal contractile activity. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2006;290(6):G1089–G1095. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpgi.00574.2004
4. Pimentel M, Kong Y, Park S. IBS subjects with methane on lactulose breath test have lower postprandial serotonin levels than subjects with hydrogen. Dig Dis Sci. 2004;49(1):84–87. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:DDAS.0000011607.24171.c0
5. Jahng J, Jung IS, Choi EJ, Conklin JL, Park H. The effects of methane and hydrogen gases produced by enteric bacteria on ileal motility and colonic transit time. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2012;24(2):185–190. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01819.x
6. Triantafyllou K, Chang C, Pimentel M. Methanogens, methane and gastrointestinal motility. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;20(1):31–40. https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm.2014.20.1.31
7. Van Munster IP, de Boer HM, Jansen MC, de Haan AF, Katan MB, van Amelsvoort JM, et al. Effect of resistant starch on breath-hydrogen and methane excretion in healthy volunteers. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;59(3):626–630. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/59.3.626
8. Hughes RL, Horn WF, Finnegan P, Lamothe LM, Angurana A, Chu YF, et al. Resistant starch type 2 from wheat reduces postprandial glycemic response with concurrent alterations in gut microbiota composition. Nutrients. 2021;13(2):645. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020645
2. Dyssynergic Defecation
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11. George SE, Borello-France D. Perspective on physical therapist management of functional constipation. Phys Ther. 2016;97(4). PMID: 27634920. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20160110
3. Secondary Medical Causes
12. Xu X, Wang Y, Wang Q, Li J. Thyroid disorders and gastrointestinal dysmotility: an old association revisited. Front Physiol. 2024;15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1389113
13. Daniali M, Nikfar S, Abdollahi M. An overview of interventions for constipation in adults. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;14(8):721–732. https://doi.org/10.1080/17474124.2020.1781617
4. Gut Microbiome Dysfunction
14. Xu X, Wang Y, Long Y, Cheng Y. Chronic constipation and gut microbiota: current research insights and therapeutic implications. Postgrad Med J. 2024;100(1190):890–897. https://doi.org/10.1093/postmj/qgae112
15. Mares M, Turcu-Stiolica A, Subtirelu MS, Turcu-Stiolica R. The relationship between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and constipation in children — a comprehensive review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024;14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1431660
5. Stress, Trauma & Nervous System Dysregulation
16. Leigh SJ, Morris MJ, Bhattacharya S, Bhattacharya A. The impact of acute and chronic stress on gastrointestinal physiology and function: a microbiota–gut–brain axis perspective. J Physiol. 2023;601(20):4491–4538. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP281951
17. Holesh JE, Bass AN, Lord M. Exploring the complex relationship between psychosocial stress and the gut microbiome. J Appl Physiol. 2024;137(5). https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00652.2024
6. Constipation, Cognitive Decline & Parkinson’s Disease
18. Savica R, Carlin JM, Grossardt BR, Bower JH, Ahlskog JE, Maraganore DM, et al. Medical records documentation of constipation preceding Parkinson disease: a case-control study. Neurology. 2009;73(21):1752–1758. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181c34af5
19. Adams-Carr KL, Bestwick JP, Shribman S, Lees A, Schrag A, Noyce AJ. Constipation preceding Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2016;87(7):710–716. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2015-311680
20. Chalabi N, Durif F, Bhatt P, Marques A. Constipation is linked to accelerated cognitive and motor decline in isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder. Sleep Med. 2023;108:49–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.06.016
21. Stokholm MG, Danielsen EH, Hamilton-Dutoit SJ, Borghammer P. Early constipation predicts faster dementia onset in Parkinson’s disease. npj Parkinsons Dis. 2021;7:57. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-021-00191-w