Our ancesters did it to poo and we should do it too!

Squatting

Who would have thought I would recommend

Squatting over sitting on the toilet

A toddler in diapers squats instinctively to use his or her bowels. How easy it is for them to squat down, feet flat on the floor, in absolute comfort!

So what happens after that? We teach them to sit on a potty. If you are naïve to this topic, don’t worry, so was I.  After all, isn’t that how everyone goes “poo” on the toilet, and besides we have to teach our children to be civilized, acceptable ways of the world? Right!

Well not really! If you want to have a good functioning bowel our civilized ways are apparently not good for your health.  It’s only been one (for some) or two generations that have grown up with the toilet in their lives.  Squatting is a time tested method of evacuation and has served our ancestors for centuries.  Funny how, now in our society we have the highest occurrences of bowel disorders and we are a society of non squatters.  Any pharmacist will attest that laxatives are one of the largest selling over the counter medication today. 

I now add squatting to list of life style changes when counseling clients for bowel care issues. Most of my clients are not use to the squat position, so I suggest a stool in front of the toilet as a start to the correct position.  I have found this simple change to be very powerful.

Here are some personal accounts:    “A mother began squatting (because of hemorrhoids and bladder control difficulties) and was copied by her eight-year-old daughter who was fascinated by her Mom’s new habits! As well as her own problems improving significantly, her daughter’s bed-wetting episodes decreased remarkably.   On occasions, her daughter would wet the bed twice each night, three nights consecutively was not unusual. After squatting for bowel movements for two weeks, she wet the bed only once during the following three weeks and has had dry nights ever since. “

“Andrew was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. As a result of this condition, within a twelve-month period he underwent four separate surgical procedures, with general anesthetic. Neither surgery nor medication helped Andrew, and severe constipation was an ongoing symptom. After his mother read of the benefits of squatting for defecation, she encouraged Andrew to squat on the toilet seat. She noticed an improvement within two days! Two weeks later the surgeon was astonished at how the inflammation had subsided. “

Squatting for defecation is not something to try only as a last-ditch option for an existing problem. It is an option we can elect to practice to assist with inner cleanliness and to prevent or delay many bowel and bladder problems which are often regarded as age-related.

Also consider our public toilet practices as an issue to be examined.  When away from home, most people do not sit on toilet seats. For reasons of hygiene they hover above the seat. This is not squatting and results in retention of urine, which is conducive to bladder infections and cystitis.  We may want try squatting on our public toilets also….

In conclusion, the porcelain throne has caused enormous amounts of needless suffering, and the annual waste of billions of dollars in health-care costs. Clearly, the time has come to reacquaint with our natural habits.

I love to talk about poo

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