Over-the-counter laxative medication represents one of the largest markets for consumer medication in the United States. A few of these medications contain natural products but a large number have chemicals as active ingredients. In 1996 the FDA asked many companies to contact safety studies to find out whether these ingredients were a danger to humans after the same agency discovered troubling side effects in animals.
More specifically, the animal studies showed that the rats developed some serious problems including development of tumors when fed high doses of the laxative chemicals. The doses used were much higher on a per pound basis compared to human consumption. Nevertheless it is troubling to see that a common OTC medication to have such an effect in animal studies.
A little less than 50 medications contain these chemicals or chemicals that are highly similar to it. The chemicals that were listed by the FDA include bisacodyl, senna (the herb), aloe, cascara sagrada and phenolphthalein. In 2010, aloe and casara have been put on a watch list and manufacturers are prohibited from advertising it as a constipation treatment.
Because of these safety concerns many people have turned to natural laxatives. Prune juice is a popular example of a constipation treatment that involves no chemicals. Rather prune juice contains a high concentration of both fiber which is good for adding bulk and aiding digestive motions and sorbitol which is good for absorbing water into stool. Prunes constitute many of the homemade laxative recipes.
Fortunately for those in need of other natural remedies, a few non-pharmaceutical paths and many medicated strategies are sold. The first and foremost which even a physician may bring up is the increase of dietary fiber. A rational path to carry out this approach is to emphasize fruits and vegetables with the highest fiber. Prunes are a great choice, containing not just fiber but in addition sorbitol which seems synergistic with fiber.
Another natural way to address constipation is to consider popular dietary fiber supplements. The supplements are sold under brand names like metamucil and often are formulated in crushed powdered forms of plant material like the plantago. Doctors point out that the timing given to this sort of intense fiber treatment usually requires around ten to fourteen days for its full effectiveness to be felt.
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