The best way to avoid constipation is to eat a high-fibre diet with plenty of fluids. The best sources of dietary fibre are: unrefined cereals; fresh fruit; leafy green vegetables; peas; beans; lentils and root vegetables. Keeping active is also very important. People who are restricted from performing regular activity often suffer from constipation.

Laxatives should not be used on a regular basis, or ‘just in case’ you can’t have a bowel movement. Prolonged use of laxatives can cause the bowel muscles to stop working properly actually causing constipation.

Loose, watery stools

- Salt and glucose remedies to rebalance the body’s salts.
- Loperamide and morphine help to control diarrhoea.
For OTC products, read Diarrhoea

Make sure you drink plenty of extra fluids to allow for the extra fluid being lost when you have diarrhoea.

- ‘Health salts’ form a fizzy antacid drink when mixed with water to make burping easier and therefore reduce discomfort.
- Antacids also help wind to pass out of the bottom.
For OTC products, read Trapped Wind

Herbal remedies containing cardamon, dill or capsicum can be effective in helping gas to be passed out of the body.
If you are prone to wind avoiding foods such as beans and cabbage, which are known to cause foul smelling gases, may be helpful. It is worth remembering however, that these foods may protect you from bowel cancer.

Health salts contain large amounts of sodium and should be avoided if you have poor kidney function or a heart condition.
Gas trapped in the stomach or intestines may be caused by air that has been swallowed whilst eating or drinking. This does not usually smell.

- Domperidone is the only available OTC treatment for the relief of fullness, nausea, bloating and burping.
- Medicines containing bismuth salts may help with mild nausea, whilst antihistamines and anticholinergenics help in travel sickness.
For OTC products, read Nausea/Upset Stomach

There are many causes of nausea and vomiting e.g. peptic ulcers, obstruction of the intestinal tract, migraine, drug and alcohol abuse, travel sickness, psychological problems.
If nausea and vomiting persists you should visit your GP.

- Analgesics can help to relieve the symptoms of pain.
- Gripe water contains sodium bicarbonate, which helps the baby to get rid of excess gas through belching. It also helps to reduce acidity in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Other remedies contain dimethicone or simethicone.
- Products containing peppermint oil, hyoscine, mebeverine or alverine will relax the muscles
- Antispasmodics.
For OTC products, read Infant Colic/Gripe

Infant colic is very common in the first few months after birth.

- Analgesics can help to relieve the symptoms of pain.
- Other remedies contain dimethicone or simethicone.
- Products containing peppermint oil, hyoscine, mebeverine or alverine will relax the muscles
- Antispasmodics.
For OTC products, read All Bowel Symptoms

GI spasm can be caused by:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome which occurs when a section of the gut revolves and causes an obstruction
- Intussuception which occurs in children where a section of the gut ‘telescopes’, as if swallowing itself, and causes an obstruction
- Air which is swallowed with food, causing distension that can trigger smooth muscle contraction.

- Haemorrhoid creams and ointments will help to reduce the itching even when there are no haemorrhoids present.
- Threadworm can be treated with mebendazole and piperazine.
For OTC products, read Worms

Threadworm should be treated immediately as it can be passed on to others but other than the irritating itch does not cause any serious harm

Bleeding from the rectum can be caused by several conditions of the lower gastrointestinal tract such as anal fissure, haemorrhoids or bowel cancer. You should see your GP.

- Laxatives can help constipation, but can also cause bloating and trapped wind.
- Loperamide can help with diarrhoea.
- Antispasmodic drugs, such as hyoscine, mebeverine and alverine They are not generally suitable for children or breastfeeding women.
For OTC products, read Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome may be associated with psychological problems such as depression.

- Anti-inflammatory agents, e.g. hydrocortisone and heparinoids
to reduce the pain, redness, swelling and temperature of the affected area.
Hydrocortisone should only be used short-term and should be avoided during pregnancy.
- Antiseptics, e.g. Peru balsam and phenolic compounds – help prevent infection and encourage healing in the haemorrhoidal area.
- Astringents, e.g. allantoin, hamamelis (with hazel), tannic acid and bismuth compounds – shrink piles, harden the surrounding skin, dry up soggy areas of damaged skin or mucous membrane and reduce minor bleeding.
- Local anaesthetics, e.g. lidocaine – relieve the pain of the piles; they should not be used long-term as they cause irritation.
- Soothing creams and ointments, e.g. zinc oxide – widely used as a base for creams and ointments because it’s soothing and mildly antiseptic.
- Laxatives of the osmotic type or bulking agents – ease the pain of a stool and prevent constipation.
Some products contain combinations of one or more of these ingredients.
For OTC products, read Haemorrhoids/Piles

Haemorrhoids are associated with constipation. Straining to pass a stool increases the pressure in anal blood vessels and can cause piles, or make them worse.
Piles are also common during pregnancy, but often clear up after the birth.
Severe piles may need to be treated surgically.

- Gluten-free foods
For OTC products, read All Bowel Symptoms

Coeliac disease is caused by an intolerance to gluten.
If you suffer from Coeliac check with your pharmacist that any medicines you are taking are gluten-free.