Laxatives & Purgatives

Laxatives are medicines that induce bowel movements or soften and/or loosen up the stool with the medical community defining a laxative as a medicine or food that makes it easier for solid waste to pass through the body.  There are numerous foods, herbs, and other agents that have a laxative effect on the intestinal tract.  Some laxatives are gentler than others, while some act as cathartics – a medicine that causes the bowels to be purged, thereby acting as a purgative.  A purgative is defined as a medicine or a food that causes the bowels to empty or purge.

[NOTE: This post focuses on various foods, herbs, and supplements that I have tried and continue to use when doing my parasite cleanses.  There are numerous over-the-counter (OTC) and pharmaceutical options that are not included in this post, as I do not use them.]

Depending on the type, laxatives relieve constipation or allow for contents of the digestive tract to pass more rapidly.  As many laxatives cause the muscles of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to loosen or relax, one needs to be careful in choosing a laxative best suited for one’s needs as some laxatives can cause dependency.  With respect to laxatives, purgatives, and cathartics, there are other cautions and warnings that one needs to consider.  Many of these laxatives listed here are not for long term use and some are not without risk, especially for certain people including, but not limited to pregnant women, children, the elderly, those with certain health conditions, and those on certain pharmaceuticals.  Long term use of certain types of laxatives may cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and other issues like bowel obstruction.  To minimize these concerns, I consume coconut water, eat and/or juice lots of fresh vegetables, and avoid consuming caffeine containing drinks that would cause these aforementioned issues to be worsened, while doing a parasite cleanse. 

It must be noted that stimulant laxatives are definitely not for daily or regular use.  This type of laxative may weaken the body's natural ability to defecate and thereby may cause laxative dependency. Certain stimulant laxatives may cause cramping and diarrhea.  I have experienced this, but a parasite cleanse is not usually an easy or comfortable process.

I like to use bulk-forming laxatives that come from plants with a high fiber and mucilage content that expand when they come in contact with water; examples include psyllium, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and fenugreek seeds (see below for details) or a gentle herb like triphala, whenever possible.  Herbs and foods that are mucilaginous can help sooth an irritated gastrointestinal (GI) tract, as well as help with colon damage due to the overuse of laxatives or the damage done by the parasitic infection.  As the volume in the bowel increases, a reflex muscular contraction occurs, stimulating a bowel movement. These mild laxatives are best suited for long-term use in people with constipation or to aid during a cleanse.  Another side benefit is that these bulk forming fibers bind with the toxins released by intestinal parasites. 
 
Bulk-Forming and Demulcent Foods* that Act as Natural Laxatives:

• Flaxseeds (grind small amounts of the whole seeds – either brown or golden – fresh and store in the freezer).  (NOTE: milled = ground = flax meal). 
• Chia Seeds (ch-ch-ch-chia!)
• Fenugreek Seeds have been used in many traditional medicines as a laxative, and digestive aid. Fenugreek Seeds are high in non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) increase the bulk of the food and speed up bowel movements. 

NOTES: These seeds have numerous other health promoting benefits and are delicious!
Flaxseeds and chia seeds are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the form of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids (Flaxseeds have a very healthy 4 to 1 ratio and chia seeds have an even more impressive 3 to 1 ratio) that go rancid quickly. 

Demulcent Herbs*:

• Plantain (available wild: Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata)
• Psyllium Husk (Plantago ovata)
• Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) – the leaf and root are used for pain and swelling (inflammation) of the mucous membrane.

*Demulcent Foods & Herbs are mucilaginous – that is, they produce a “slime” that coats, soothes, and protects mucus membranes. 

Other Foods to Support Colon Health and Elimination:

• Apples and Pears (they are high in pectin which supports colon health)
• Non-Starchy Vegetables
• Sprouted Legumes (beans and lentils)
• Prune Juice
• Stewed Prunes

Triphala … in a class of its own:

• Gentle Bowel Tonic Used in Ayurvedic Medicine. 

• Triphala means “the three fruits.”
• Triphala is comprised of three Indian fruits: amalaki, haritaki, and bibhitaki.        
• Triphala nourishes & cleanses the digestive system.                                                        
• Triphala is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine used for:                                              

              1. Immune system stimulation.
              2. Improvement of digestion.
              3. Relief of constipation.
              4. Gastrointestinal issues.   

Stimulant Laxatives (Purgatives):

• Aloe Vera – soothes GI tract, reduces inflammation, and acts as a general tonic. Aloe also has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic properties.  Aloe latex  contains the laxative properties.  The latex is obtained from the cells just beneath the leaf skin.  When using the fresh leaf, I carefully scrap the inner leaf to obtain as much latex as possible.  The inner gel is important, as it helps sooth and heal the intestinal tract that is damaged by parasites and other pathogen that attach themselves with hooks, suckers, and teeth-like structures.  Parasites are a major cause of “leaky gut.”
• Cascara Sagrada¹ – PRECAUTION: Not for use during pregnancy or lactation except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Not to be used with intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain, or any inflammatory condition of the intestines. Not for use in excess of 8 days unless under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
• Senna (Senna alexandrina) is used traditionally as a laxative in the form of Senna pods, or as an herbal tea or as a tincture made from the leaves.  There are many OTC products made with Senna, but I prefer to use the natural herb (see below).
• Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) – the root has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for millennia as a purgative².
• Castor Oil

Saline Laxatives:

• Epsom Salt

Magnesium Supplement:

• Magnesium citrate like Natural Calm by Natural Vitality

Other Elimination Methods:

• Enemas (baking soda, coffee, wheat grass, etc.)
• Colon Hydrotherapy

Natural lifestyle choices that will help provide colon support to aid elimination include:

• Adding quality fiber to the diet.
• Increasing fluids (not caffeinated or alcoholic drinks).
• Getting regular exercise, like walking. 
• Eating probiotic rich foods.
• Consuming lots of dark, leafy greens, which are high in magnesium.  [Magnesium is essential for healthy bowel function and elimination, as well as acts as  a “cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation” and aids in proper “nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and [a] normal heart rhythm.” Source: NIH’s Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals at https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/]

Thanks for reading!  Peace & Love!
References:

1. "Cathartic," "Laxative," and "Purgative." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.
2. Macgregor, A. G. (1960). Purgatives and Laxatives. British Medical Journal, 1(5183), 1422–1424.
3. Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan Fenugreek           http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2090006
4. Berardi M, Tietze KJ, Shimp LA, Rollins CJ, Popovich NG (2015). Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs (18th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Pharmaceutical Association. ISBN-13: 978-1582122250

Sources:
¹National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) - Cascara
https://livertox.nih.gov/Cascara.htm
²Barceloux, Donald G (7 March 2012). Medical Toxicology of Natural Substances: Foods, Fungi, Medicinal Herbs, Plants, and Venomous Animals. John Wiley & Sons. p. 235. ISBN 978-1-118-38276-9. Retrieved 5 September 2017.

DISCLAIMER:
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare provider.  This information is not to be used or relied upon for any diagnostic or treatment purposes.
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES: 

• There are other natural products that may be effective that I have not tried, so please share any that you know about in the comment section. 
• There are also numerous laxatives including suppositories, enemas, and pills that are not covered here as I do not use them. 
• I prefer to use natural herbs and not the drugs based on natural herbs that have been mixed with other ingredients including fillers, artificial colors, etc. 
• A brief word on lubricant laxatives: Lubricant laxatives work by making stools “slippery.”   The only approved OTC lubricant laxative is mineral oil.  Mineral oil is made from petroleum and this is not something that I have used or intend to ever use. 
• There are also various emollient laxatives (stool softeners) that are on the market.  I did not use stool softeners during my parasite cleanses and do not use them at all now.  I tried a few in the beginning and either did not find them to be effective and/or found better natural products. 
• DRUGS.COM has a list of common laxatives at https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/laxatives.html.   
• Some sugar alcohols like sorbitol has a laxative effect on the body.  Sorbitol is often made from corn syrup.  I try to avoid as most corn is GMO.   

Gastrointestinal issues:
Diverticulitis - inflammation of the lining of the large intestine
Enteritis - inflammation of the small intestine
Gastritis - inflammation of the lining of the stomach
Ulcerative colitis - sores in the lining of the large intestine
Symptoms typically classified as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or irritable colon.
 
Other Relevant Definitions:
Mucilage – a polysaccharide substance extracted as a viscous or gelatinous solution from plant roots, seeds, etc., and used in medicines and adhesives.
Emollient – having the power of softening or relaxing, as a medicinal substance; soothing, especially to the skin or tissues.