- published: 04 Aug 2015
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Laxatives (purgatives, aperients) are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under certain circumstances. Sufficiently high doses of laxatives may cause explosive diarrhea. Laxatives work to increase the movement of feces along the colon.
Some laxatives combine more than one active ingredient. Laxatives may be oral or in suppository form.
Some foods can be eaten to cure constipation and act as laxatives, although the effectiveness may vary. These include:
Also known as bulking agents or roughage, these include dietary fibre. Bulk-producing agents cause the stool to be bulkier and to retain more water, as well as forming an emollient gel, making it easier for peristaltic action to move it along. They should be taken with plenty of water. Bulk-producing agents have the gentlest of effects among laxatives and can be taken just for maintaining regular bowel movements.