LAXATIVE AND PURGATIVE HERBS

Laxative herbs promote bowel movements, dispel constipation, and help

eliminate food accumulations and toxic build-ups from the intestines.
They may be weak or strong. Weak laxatives are called simply laxatives
or aperients. Strong laxatives are called purgatives or cathartics.
Purgatives promote forceful evacuation, and may cause diarrhea and
griping, witJb. perhaps pain and tenesmus, owing to what is often an
irritant effect. As such, they should be used with care. Purgatives are
usually either cold, bitter herbs like rhubarb or hot oils like castor oil.
Mild laxatives are mainly moistening herbs and bulk laxatives, like bran.
They work thirough increasing elimination through greater lubrication of
the intestines. Some cold, bitter herbs, like cascara sagrada, also have a
mild laxative action, but it is more like a weak purgative, working
through stimulating peristalsis.
Laxatives and purgatives are indicated wherever tJiere is constipation, or
wherever there is a pronounced coating at the back of the tongue,
denoting a build-up of toxins in the colon. Sometimes a person who has
regular bowel movements may still have a large accumulation of fecal
matter in the colon and so require purgation. Whenever there are toxins
in the colon, which may also cause diarrhea, purgatives can be used.
They can also be used in the later stages of a fever to help clear the
toxins out of the body.
Chronic constipation, as well as constipation in the elderly, is usually a
Vata condition, with its accumulation of gas and dryness in the colon.
For this condition, generally mild, moistening or bulk laxatives are
prescribed; strong purgatives would cause irritation. However,
sometimes a strong purge is necessary for high build-up of toxins due to
accumulated Vata. In such cases, the hot oils, like castor, are specific.
Pitta constitution tends towards diarrhea due to its damp attribute, but
where heat is high it may also cause
constipation. Either way, purgatives of a usually cold and bitter nature,
which work on the small intestine, are prescribed. Purgation {virechana)
is the strongest way to eliminate Pitta, heat and bile from the body.
However, where there is inflammation or ulceraton of the intestinal
membranes, which is usually a Pitta condition, strong purgatives can
cause irritation. For such condition moistening laxatives of a cooling
nature, like psyllium seeds, would be indicated.
Kapha constitution may be constipated owing to the accumulation of
phlegm, mucus and undigested food particles in the intestines due to
deficient digestive power. For this condition, laxatives of a drying nature
are indicated; bulk or moistening laxatives would increase congestion.
Laxatives tend to suppress the power of digestion, and may weaken
peristalsis in the long run by over stimulation. As such they should be
used with stimulant or carminative herbs, like ginger and fennel seeds.
Constipation or toxins in the colon can also be treated by increasing the
power of digestion, Agra. Hot, spicy stimulant-carminative herbs can
help correct constipation in a Vata or Kapha constitution without
actually having to use laxatives. Dryness in the colon may also be
related to dryness in the lungs, and herbs that moisturize the lungs also,
like licorice or flaxseed, may be more specific to the condition.
Typical moistening or bulk laxatives: bran, flaxseed, ghee, licorice,
prunes, psyllium seed, raisins, shatavari, warm milk.
Strong purgatives: aloe vera (powder), castor oil, croton, epsom salt,
mandrake, rhubarb, senna.
Cooling herbs with various degrees of laxative action: aloe vera, blue
flag, cascara sagrada, echinacea, gentian, rhubarb, senna, yellow dock.
Strong purgatives and mild laxatives may be combined for moderate
action; the divisions, again, are not rigid.