Natural Laxatives

Natural laxatives are used to treat constipation associated with lack of dietary fibre in the diet such as apples, grapes and flax seeds.

Dietary fiber are the indigestible roughage of plants that absorb water as they move through the digestive system. A person may need a natural laxative supplement if they do not eat enough wheat, oats, seed husks, corn, vegetables, juices, potatoes and who do not drink enough water. Untreated, it can increase the risk of developing colon cancer as well as diverticulitis in the elderly.

The use of fiber supplements can help to lower cholesterol levels. This has been found especially true of ispaghula psyllium seed husk which is found in many off the shelf laxative remedies and included in many health food products. Psyllium seed husks expand in water and are indigestible and so are able to clean the walls of the intestine. Unlike artificial laxitive medication, they do not cause diarrhea and are also nutritious. Ispaghula husk is obtained from the plant 'Pantago' which is a plant that is used in many herbal remedies. This plant is anti toxic, anti inflammatory and antimicrobial.

Senna leaves are often used in herbal natural laxative remedies by increasing the amount of peristaltic movements in the colon. They contain the anthraquinone derivative senna glycodide. These anthraquinones are also found in other natural laxitive substances such as Aloe and Rhubarb.