Natural Laxatives

, with particular attention to everything that can be drawn from the plant world to seek health.

But be careful: as we have emphasized several times, natural is not always synonymous with healthy. The rule, of course, also applies to laxatives. Numerous preparations of natural origin, in fact, contain more drastic and dangerous active ingredients than synthetic ones.

, we remember sorted according to the power of their laxative effect from the least powerful to the most powerful: rhubarb, buckthorn, cascara, senna fruit, senna leaf, aloe. As the laxative potency increases, the undesirable effects induced also increase.

It is not surprising that the two characteristics go hand in hand and that as one increases the other also increases. Still considering this widespread category of natural laxatives, the purgative effect also varies according to the conditions in which the plant has grown and the processing methods adopted to produce the drug. In synthetic laxatives, on the other hand, the active ingredient is purified and precisely dosed.

In addition to the aforementioned sources of substances with a purgative action, nature offers us further remedies to promote or accelerate intestinal evacuation.

Other Laxatives

NATURAL LAXATIVES SYNTHESIS LAXATIVES Vegetable origin Mineral origin

Anthraquinone drugs:

Aloe
Seine
Cascara
Buckthorn
Rhubarb

Castor oil

Olive oil and other vegetable oils

Dietary fiber

Fiber supplements:

Bran
Guar and guar gum
Karaya gum
Psyllium, psyllium, psyllium seeds
Agar agar
Glucomannan

Laxative foods

Inorganic salts

Mineral oil

Phenophthalein

Bisacodyl

Picosulfate

Sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate

Sorbitol

Lactulose

Methylcellulose

Polyethylene glycol

We must not be fooled by the idea that a natural laxative is necessarily safe; some, in fact, have very important properties and side effects. Before resorting to "makeshift preparations" pushed by DIY, it is recommended to use the advice from a qualified doctor, pharmacist or herbalist.

Doses and Beginning of Effect

Dosage and time of onset of action of some laxatives Laxative

Average daily dose

(per os)

Onset of action (hours) Seine 15-60 mg 6-12 Cascara (fluid extract) 5 ml 6-12 Bran 20 g 12-72 Psyllium 4 - 30 g 12-72 Salts of magnesium 2 - 30 g 0,5 - 3 Methylcellulose 4 - 6 g 12 - 72 Sorbitol (syrup)

15 - 60 ml

24 - 48 Lactulose (syrup) 15 - 60 ml 24 - 48 Castor oil 30 - 60 ml 2-6 Mineral oils 15 - 45 ml 6-8 Bisacodyl 10 - 20 mg 6-8

Of all the listed laxatives that act in a more delicate and "natural" way are undoubtedly those of food origin (prunes, figs, apple juice, foods rich in fiber and related supplements); the last category, in particular, exploits the swelling effect of the fiber in contact with water. The so-called "bulk" laxatives must therefore be accompanied by generous quantities of liquids: their effect will manifest itself on average within 12-72 hours after ingestion, so a little patience is needed to understand if they work or not. People with ulcers, strictures or gastrointestinal and esophageal adhesions should avoid using them.

Attention: New European Regulation of 18 March 2021

On April 8, 2021, the ban on marketing foods and food supplements containing hydroxyanthracenes and their derivatives, a family of molecules contained in various plants, such as aloe, cassia, rhubarb and senna, came into force.

More in detail, the new European Regulation of March 18, 2021 - which came into force, precisely, April 8, 2021 - modifies Annex III of Regulation (EC) No. 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council to as regards the botanical species containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives.

The full text can be consulted by clicking here. However, we can summarize the main points as follows:

The following are added to the list of substances whose use in food is prohibited (Annex III part A of the aforementioned regulation):
- Aloe-emodin and all preparations in which this substance is present;
- Emodin and all preparations in which this substance is present;
- Preparations based on leaves of Aloe species containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives;
- Dantrone and all preparations in which this substance is present.
The following are added to the list of substances whose use in food is subject to Community surveillance (Annex III part C):
- Preparations based on the root or rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., Rheum officinale Baillon and their hybrids containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives;
- Preparations based on leaves or fruits of Cassia senna L. containing derivatives of hydroxyanthracene;
- Preparations based on bark of Rhamnus frangula L. o Rhamnus purshiana A.D. containing derivatives of hydroxyanthracene.

expertly the natural laxative properties of the ingredients, giving life to recipes capable of delighting not only the palate, but also the intestine, "awakening" it in case of occasional constipation Alice and MypersonaltrainerTv are pleased to present their mildly laxative recipes.