Laxative for Constipation-A Popular Choice of Treatment

In a mild form constipation gets cured by making some dietary and lifestyle changes. However when the constipation is severe it is difficult to cure constipation by adding fiber and fluids to our diet. It needs some other forms of treatment such as laxatives, suppositories, enemas, medicines etc.

Laxatives constipation option is the most popular of all the ones available in the market these days.

They are of two types, natural and synthetic. The synthetic laxatives consist of chemicals that make passage of stools easier.

The natural laxatives comprise of natural substances that help promote the peristalsis or intestinal contractions.

The natural laxatives constipation option has an edge over the synthetic ones due to the following reasons:

  1. The natural laxatives make the colon strong
  2. They do not have any side-effects and are totally safe.
  3. The help in cleansing the colon
  4. Synthetic laxatives may cause cathartic colon but the natural ones do not cause any harm
  5. Natural laxatives do not cause any weight gain
  6. They are not habit forming ones like the synthetic ones.
  7. Synthetic laxatives make the intestines sluggish.

The synthetic laxatives should not be used arbitrarily. They are to be used as the last resort if other milder forms of laxatives are not effective. Moreover their prolonged use should be avoided. They tend to make the intestines dependant on them. Hence synthetic laxatives should be used prudently.

The different types of laxatives constipation remedies are as follows:

  1. The bulk-forming laxatives are made up of fiber. Fiber refers to the part of the plant that is not digested or absorbed by the human body. It serves the purpose of adding bulk to the stool. The different types of fiber sources are:
  • Whole grain cereals such as whole wheat, barley, oats bran, jowar etc.
  • Fruits and vegetables.
  • Psyllium seeds
  • Methyl cellulose which is a synthetic fiber
  • Polycarbophyl which is also a kind of a synthetic fiber.
  1. Lubricant laxatives contain mineral oil that coats the stool and prevents water absorption from it. They should be used once only to clear constipation. After that natural methods should be used.
  1. Emollient laxatives are also called stool softeners. They should be used when there is a temporary need to soften stools just as after operations, delivery and a heart attack.
  2. Hyperosmolar laxatives also retain water in the colon and soften stools. They are safe for long-term use. However, they can be digested by the bacteria in the colon and turned in to gas. This may cause flatulence. Hence the dose can be reduced to avoid the gas problem.
  3. Saline laxatives work within a few hours. The mildest form of a saline laxative is milk of magnesia.
  4. As their name suggests the stimulant laxatives stimulate the intestinal contractions. Prunes contain a mild form of colonic stimulant.

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