For idiopathic constipation, there are a handful of FDA approved medications available by prescription. Sufferers may also turn to conventional high fiber therapy.
There is a final therapeutic possibility known as home-based or natural remedies to treat the condition. It is important that note that although they are not classified as medications, improper use can lead to dangerous health effects. Furthermore, before taking any herbal or natural treatments, the user would be well-advised to investigate claims as to their efficacy.
As is usual, consult your physician before embarking on any type of treatment, even if they are deemed natural laxatives. This article is meant to be merely informative, and cannot possibly give diagnosis or advice to your particular condition. In addition, none of the products that are mentioned are endorsed in any way.
The class of constipation known as chronic idiopathic constipation is somewhat mysterious because it is only defined in terms of its symptoms, but the causes are, by definition, unknown. If the cause can be found, then it would lose the idiopathic label and become one of several classes of diseases, e.g. rectal prolapse, dyssynergia.
Even so, chronic idiopathic constipation is a condition that is quite difficult to define. The reason is because there is such a wide population variance of hat constitutes regular gastrointestinal activity. For some people, defecating once a day is perfectly normal. For others, defecating once every three days is a fact of life. Physicians have debated this thoroughly and a consensus known as the Rome Criteria was reached. The Rome Criteria defines constipation as a constellation of symptoms, including one or less bowel movements every three days.
In recent years, the number of treatment choices for idiopathic constipation has increased. Upon diagnosis, the doctor may offer the patient one of three possibilities. The first possibility is to elect to undergo high fiber therapy, consisting of consuming increased insoluble fiber. Successful therapy also implies correct diagnosis. If this fails, the second possibility is to try one of the many federally approved laxatives and constipation medications. There is also a third possibility for the patient to take up a natural, non-FDA approved laxative.
Although the third choice is deemed a "natural therapy", it can be no less dangerous than taking one of the FDA approved medications. Indeed, it may be more dangerous to take non-FDA approved but "natural medications" as proper dosing and purity of production is not well established. For example, aspirin is a natural molecule derived from the bark of the Willow tree, but it is safe only because of extensive testing in dosage and production.
Given these caveats, there are indeed some remedies which are based on either common ingredients (such as mineral oil) or herbs that have a long history of being used for treatment in constipation (such as senna). The natural treatments can roughly be divided into kinds. One kind belongs to what are known as stimulant laxatives. These natural laxatives chemically induce motion in the colon, as well as retain water to help propel the contents to expulsion. Examples of these include the senna laxative, derived from the senna plant. Previously the cascara plant was used as a natural laxative, but its dangers became known to the FDA and it was banned entirely.
What about the other kind of natural laxatives? These broadly include mineral and castor oil, as well as prunes or prune juice. In all of them, ingestion is thought to lead to water retention, either by coating and protecting the bowel matter (the oils) or by increasing indigestible bulk (prunes). Increased water content has been associated with better transit through the colonic space.
The availability of natural laxatives to the general public does not imply safety of such products. Use of any is best done with the advice and guidance of a doctor. If a patient and his doctor is able to come to some efficacious natural treatment, then indeed it may be a victory in the battle against constipation. - 30193
There is a final therapeutic possibility known as home-based or natural remedies to treat the condition. It is important that note that although they are not classified as medications, improper use can lead to dangerous health effects. Furthermore, before taking any herbal or natural treatments, the user would be well-advised to investigate claims as to their efficacy.
As is usual, consult your physician before embarking on any type of treatment, even if they are deemed natural laxatives. This article is meant to be merely informative, and cannot possibly give diagnosis or advice to your particular condition. In addition, none of the products that are mentioned are endorsed in any way.
The class of constipation known as chronic idiopathic constipation is somewhat mysterious because it is only defined in terms of its symptoms, but the causes are, by definition, unknown. If the cause can be found, then it would lose the idiopathic label and become one of several classes of diseases, e.g. rectal prolapse, dyssynergia.
Even so, chronic idiopathic constipation is a condition that is quite difficult to define. The reason is because there is such a wide population variance of hat constitutes regular gastrointestinal activity. For some people, defecating once a day is perfectly normal. For others, defecating once every three days is a fact of life. Physicians have debated this thoroughly and a consensus known as the Rome Criteria was reached. The Rome Criteria defines constipation as a constellation of symptoms, including one or less bowel movements every three days.
In recent years, the number of treatment choices for idiopathic constipation has increased. Upon diagnosis, the doctor may offer the patient one of three possibilities. The first possibility is to elect to undergo high fiber therapy, consisting of consuming increased insoluble fiber. Successful therapy also implies correct diagnosis. If this fails, the second possibility is to try one of the many federally approved laxatives and constipation medications. There is also a third possibility for the patient to take up a natural, non-FDA approved laxative.
Although the third choice is deemed a "natural therapy", it can be no less dangerous than taking one of the FDA approved medications. Indeed, it may be more dangerous to take non-FDA approved but "natural medications" as proper dosing and purity of production is not well established. For example, aspirin is a natural molecule derived from the bark of the Willow tree, but it is safe only because of extensive testing in dosage and production.
Given these caveats, there are indeed some remedies which are based on either common ingredients (such as mineral oil) or herbs that have a long history of being used for treatment in constipation (such as senna). The natural treatments can roughly be divided into kinds. One kind belongs to what are known as stimulant laxatives. These natural laxatives chemically induce motion in the colon, as well as retain water to help propel the contents to expulsion. Examples of these include the senna laxative, derived from the senna plant. Previously the cascara plant was used as a natural laxative, but its dangers became known to the FDA and it was banned entirely.
What about the other kind of natural laxatives? These broadly include mineral and castor oil, as well as prunes or prune juice. In all of them, ingestion is thought to lead to water retention, either by coating and protecting the bowel matter (the oils) or by increasing indigestible bulk (prunes). Increased water content has been associated with better transit through the colonic space.
The availability of natural laxatives to the general public does not imply safety of such products. Use of any is best done with the advice and guidance of a doctor. If a patient and his doctor is able to come to some efficacious natural treatment, then indeed it may be a victory in the battle against constipation. - 30193
About the Author:
Some of this information was generously granted by a site on natural laxatives. The site discusses how to choose glycerin suppository.
