Natural Laxatives (or purgatives) can be in foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are the best laxatives used to evacuate the colon for rectal and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas in that circumstance. Sufficiently high doses of laxatives will cause diarrhea. Laxatives work to hasten the elimination of undigested remains of food in the large intestine and colon. At the bottom of this post you will find a list of Natural Laxative Foods.

There are several types of laxatives. Some laxatives combine more than one type of active ingredient to produce a combination of the effects mentioned. Laxatives may be oral or in suppository form.

Over The Counter Laxatives

Laxatives can help relieve and prevent constipation. But not all of them are safe for long-term use. Overuse of certain laxatives can lead to dependency and decreased bowel function.
Laxative abuse is wide spread amongst people that get in the habit of using laxatives to lose weight.

How laxatives Work

Saline laxatives: Saline laxatives attract and retain water in the intestinal lumen, increasing intraluminal pressure and thus softening the stool. They will also cause the release of cholecystokinin, which stimulates the digestion of fat and protein. Saline laxatives may alter a patient’s fluid and electrolyte balance.

Dibasic sodium phosphate, magnesium citrate, magnesium hydroxide (Milk of magnesia), magnesium sulfate (which is Epsom salt) , monobasic sodium phosphate, sodium biphosphate.

Lubricant Laxatives: These simply make the stool slippery, so that it slides through the intestine more easily. An example is mineral oil, which also retards colonic absorption of water, softening the stool. Mineral oil may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and some minerals.

Laxatives pills that works in 6-10 hours:

2-6 hours:
Castor oil

Fast acting laxatives that works in 15 minutes to 1 hour:

About Laxatives For Children

If the accumulation of fecal material becomes so large and hard that it gets stuck, your child’s doctor may suggest an enema or laxative for children to help remove the blockage. Keep in mind that long-term use of laxatives can prevent children from learning how to have regular bowel movements, so follow the doctor’s instructions carefully.

Laxatives During Pregnancy

Stay with a fiber drink like fibersure or metamucill or drink lots of water. Another natural laxative is to drink fresh squeezed lemon in water throughout the day, and after your evening dinner make a hot lemon drink with just the hot water and fresh squeezed lemon and or lime.

Eating food rich in fiber, allows stomach acids to work to break the fiber down into soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is the portion of the fiber that is hard to digest. It moves into the bowels and does not change form, which can cause hard stool (not good). Soluble fiber, helps to soften the stool because it rapidly absorbs water. When water is added to soluble fiber, it turns into a gel-like sponge and rapidly enters the bowels to soften the stool.

Psylium Husks are forms of natural laxatives that are sold everywhere. They are beneficial in the relief of constipation because they offer high levels of soluble fibers. Psylium Husk capsules that are quite inexpensive and easy to swallow.

Foods That Are Natural Laxatives

Some vegetables and foods can be eaten to cure constipation and act as natural laxatives foods, although the effectiveness may vary. These include:

Prune juice is one of the better known natural laxatives. Prunes are not only high in potassium, Vitamin A, and iron, but they are also extremely high in both insoluble and soluble fiber. Prunes work efficiently and quickly as natural laxatives. Therefore, just a small amount of prunes is generally all it takes to relieve constipation.

One point to you should take into consideration when it comes to laxative use. Why do you need to take those laxatives?

Have you ever read up on digestive enzymes, this very well could be an answer to a lot of your constipation problems. Just click on the digestive enzymes link above to learn more about the digestive system, and how the foods you eat can be causing you problems.

Using Suppositories

• Seconds to use
• Relief in minutes
• No-mess applicators
• Fast, gentle, effective relief
• Convenient applicator delivers doctor-recommended glycerin with no mess
• Just insert, squeeze, remove, and discard
• Hyperosmotic means draws water into the stool to soften it.
• Wont’ upset digestive system.
• Predictable: Generally produces a bowel movement within 1 hour.
• Lubricated for easier insertion.
• Anatomically correct tip.
• Collar limits over-insertion.
• Easy to squeeze bulb.

Natural Laxatives – The Herbal Shopper!