From a holistic lens, constipation isn’t just about the bowels being stuck... it’s about energy, flow, and imbalance within the whole system. When elimination slows, it often reflects stagnation in more than one area of life... digestion, hydration, emotional processing, and even spiritual flow. On the physical level, constipation often ties back to dehydration, low mineral intake (especially magnesium, sodium, and potassium), sluggish bile flow, and insufficient fat in the diet. The colon needs lubrication... healthy fats like tallow, ghee, and olive oil stimulate bile and soften stool naturally. When someone eats too little fat or drinks water without minerals, the intestines dry out and movement slows. Lack of movement, shallow breathing, and chronic stress can also tighten the abdominal muscles and diaphragm, reducing peristalsis... the natural wave-like motion that moves stool along. On the nutritional level, it’s often a sign the body isn’t digesting well... low stomach acid, poor enzyme production, or dysbiosis in the gut can all contribute. Fermented foods, bitter herbs like dandelion or artichoke, and mineral-rich hydration like Soul Water support digestive secretions and motility. From an energetic and emotional lens, constipation can symbolize holding on... to emotions, memories, or control. The colon corresponds with the root and sacral chakras... grounding, safety, and release. When those are blocked, energy can stagnate, mirroring physical retention. Simple practices like deep breathing, hip-opening stretches, abdominal massage, and journaling around “what am I holding on to that no longer serves me?” can gently restore flow. Ultimately, true elimination requires hydration, minerals, movement, nourishment, and emotional release. When all these align, the body naturally lets go... just as nature does with every season’s cycle of release and renewal.