A Holistic Approach to
Chronic Constipation
Constipation is one of the most common concerns we see at Ovela Health, and it's rarely just about fluids and fibre. In most cases, it's the tip of the iceberg - a visible sign of something deeper going on in the digestive system.
For most people, a healthy baseline looks like passing a soft, well-formed, comfortable bowel motion once a day. Well-functioning bowels are foundational to your health, influencing everything from your hormones and skin to your energy and mood - which is why natural, root-cause treatment for constipation looks well beyond the bowel itself.
How Our Naturopath Approaches Constipation
Brisbane | Online
When you start working with Ovela Health, the first port of call is figuring out what’s driving your symptoms.
Our degree-qualified naturopath will thoroughly investigate what underpins your presentation and work with you to restore regular bowel motions - both in the short and the long term.
Care is available in-person at our Brisbane clinic, or via Telehealth for patients anywhere in New Zealand and Australia.
Slow Gut Motility
& Outlet Dysfunction
Sometimes constipation is about how fast things move (motility), and sometimes it's about how they exit (outlet dysfunction). Slow motility means waste travels through the intestines more slowly than it should. With outlet dysfunction, stool reaches the rectum just fine, but something at the exit itself gets in the way, whether that's the pelvic floor muscles failing to coordinate properly (instead of relaxing to let stool pass, they tighten or work against each other) or a structural issue like a rectocele, where weakened tissue allows the rectum to bulge and trap stool.
The Microbiome,
SIBO, Stress & Chronic Constipation
Your gut microbiome can also play a major role - certain microbes, like methane-producing organisms (methanogens), are known to slow transit time and contribute to harder, less frequent stools. This is closely linked to SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), where bacteria that should stay in the small intestine overgrow and disrupt normal digestive rhythms.
Underlying many of these factors is the nervous system - chronic stress and altered gut-brain signalling can affect gut motility, microbial balance, and even the coordination needed for a smooth bowel motion, making the nervous system a key piece of the puzzle when treating constipation naturally. A dysregulated nervous system is a common perpetuator of gut symptoms - it both contributes to the onset of gut issues and maintains them (because nobody feels happy and comfortable when they’re chronically constipated).
Up-To-Date Knowledge
Your degree-qualified naturopath stays current through ongoing education and reading of recent research, keeping your care grounded in evidence and best practice.
Comprehensive Testing
We believe it’s best to test, not guess. Ovela Health can refer you for comprehensive gut microbiome testing, SIBO breath testing, and other tests where required.
Truly Tailored Support
No two cases have the same root cause. We build your plan around your test results, history, and lifestyle (never a generic protocol).
Built for Long-Term Prevention
Once your symptoms have settled, we'll work with you to understand what's been driving them, and put together a maintenance plan to help keep your body in balance.
Book an appointment
with our gut health naturopath
Gemma McLeod (BNatMed)