Promotes evacuation of the bowels.
An agent that acts to promote evacuation of the bowel; a cathartic or purgative.
Or aperient, a substance that helps the expulsion of food residues from the body. If strongly laxative it is termed purgative or cathartic. Dietary fibre and cellulose function because they retain water and add bulk to the contents of the intestine; Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) also retain water; castor oil and drugs such as aloes, senna, cascara, and phenolphthalein irritate the intestinal mucosa. Undigested carbohydrates such as lactulose and sugar alcohols are also laxatives.
Having a tendency to loosen or relax, specifically in relieving constipation or an agent that relieves constipation.
A substance used to encourage bowel movements and to relieve constipation.
An herb which loosens the bowels. Also called aperient.
Protein that effects agglutination, precipitation, or other phenomena resembling the action of a specific antibody.
A type of drug that relieves constipation by increasing stool bulk (bulk-forming laxatives), softening the stools (stool softeners), lubricating the digestive tract (lubricants), or irritating the walls of the bowels to increase intestinal tract motility (stimulant laxatives).
Stimulates the action of the intestines to eliminate waste from the body.
An agent that causes a mild bowel motion.
Loosens contents in the bowels.
A drug whose purpose is to stimulate the large intestine to pass waste materials along to the rectum for excretion. Some may also act as waste product softeners to expedite passage along the large intestine are also used to treat constipation, but overuse may actually cause constipation as well as other bowel problems.
A gentle cathartic that helps to promote bowel movements.
A drug that stimulates emptying of the bowels and eases constipation.
An agent that promotes peristalsis and evacuation of the bowel in a relatively slow manner (as opposed to a cathartic).
Agent that promotes evacuation of the bowel, esp. fluid evacuation, by stimulating peristalsis (e.g., senna, aloe products); by increasing the bulk or fluidity of the feces (e.g., magnesium sulfate, magnesium hydroxide); or by lubricating the intestinal wall (e.g., mineral oil); also called cathartic; purgative.
Foods or drugs that stimulate a person’s bowels. Laxatives may be taken orally to help produce bowel movements, or they may be used rectally as enemas or suppositories to generate bowel movements in a short time. Laxatives should be used only to provide short-term relief, unless directed otherwise by a doctor. Most laxatives are available without prescription.
Foods or drugs that stimulate a person’s bowels for the relief of constipation. Laxatives may be taken orally to help produce bowel movements, or they may be used rectally as enemas or suppositories to generate bowel movements in a short time. Laxatives should be used only to provide short term relief, unless directed otherwise by a doctor. A proper diet that includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, as well as 6 to 8 glasses of water or other liquids per day. is the most effective way to promote healthy bowel function. Exercise is also important. There are many different types of laxatives and dozens of laxative products on the market. Most laxatives are available without prescription.
Drugs or other substances used to treat constipation. Also called aperients or purgatives, laxatives are classified according to their mode of action. The four main groups are bulk, stimulant, faecal softeners and osmotics. In addition, bowel-cleansing solutions are used before surgery, endoscopy, or radiological examination of the colon, to ensure that the bowel is clear of solid matter. However, these are not procedures for treating constipation.
A food or chemical substance that acts to loosen the bowels and prevent or treat constipation. Laxatives may act by increasing peristalsis by irritating the intestinal mucosa, lubricating the intestinal walls, softening the bowel contents by increasing the amount of water in the intestines, and increasing the bulk of the bowel contents. Many people feel that it is essential to have one or more bowel movements a day, and, if they do not, they may develop the habit of taking some form of laxative daily. They should be instructed that missing a bowel movement is not harmful and that bowel movements do not necessarily occur at regular intervals.
Substance which accelerates intestinal transit and the evacuation of the bowels.
A substance that aids defecation sans anguish or violent activity. Laxatives function by mollifying the fecal matter (thereby reducing the reuptake of water), enhancing the fecal bulk, or lubricating the intestinal lining.