Posts Tagged ‘herbal medicine’

Pain Medications And The Use Of Laxatives

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Opioid-based narcotics are a common type of pain killer, encompassing agents such as the most well-known morphine, but also others like codeine, and the infamous oxycodone. The compounds bind to what are known as opioid receptors on the surface of cells in the nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.

When the opioid compounds reach their target, they cause a reduction in perception of pain. But it seems that they do more than inhibit pain, they also induce a feeling of euphoria in some people. This is one reason why doctors are hesitant to treat their patients for fear of addicting them. There are other problems though.

One problem is that some people benefiting from pain-killing analgesics also suffer from incidental constipation. The condition is neither treatable by standard fiber treatments nor more powerful laxative agents. Causes of opioid-derived constipation are unknown to the consternation of many in the medical field.

The global pharmaceutical firm Wyeth and its partner Progenics actually sells a pharmaceutical product named Relistor that is used for controlling constipation induced by analgesic usage. It comes in a syringe-like, injectable form which is prescribed to people who are not helped by conventional laxatives.

For sufferers looking for natural treatments for constipation, there are a few options. A first tactic that even a primary care doctor may bring up is the increase of dietary fiber. A possible path to put into action this line of therapy is to emphasize fruits and vegetables with the most fiber content. Prunes are a good choice, contributing plenty of fiber but in addition sorbitol which seems synergistic with fiber.

Some will discover that the attention required to eat high fiber foods to be quite intense. A solution to address this is to take a look at the various widely used dietary fiber supplements. They are sold under brand names like metamucil and often are formulated in powdered forms of grain like the plantago.

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categories: laxatives,constipation,digestion,herbal medicine,natural treatments,herbal treatments,nutrition,supplements,medical,general health,health

Prevention Of Constipation With Natural Sorbitol

Saturday, September 25th, 2010

Prunes have been used for treating constipation for many hundreds of years. Prunes are made from drying plums. Even today it is used both in the full fruit form and in blended form as a natural laxative. Medical scientists surmise that the active ingredient is the sugar sorbitol.

The sugar sorbitol is a polymer-like molecule, which denotes the fact that it is composed of stringing together one or two repeating molecular subunits. There are some other very familiar polymers with very similar properties. The starch found in potatoes and bagels is a long polymeric compound.

The secret to sorbitol’s efficacy lies in the chemical concept of osmotic pressure or osmolarity. Chemicals with high osmotic pressure tend to absorb water whereas those low osmotic pressure will give up their water. Another simple example is the common table salt that can make a solution which is highly water absorbent.

Sorbitol has a very high osmolarity which explains its tendency to absorb water when passing through the gut. When it is in the interior of the intestine, it sucks up water content from the walls of the intestine. The effect is an increase in mobility of contents.

Fortunately for those need treatment, a few non-pharmaceutical options and a number of chemical methods are accessible. Amongst the non-medication remedies, foremost is high-fiber therapy. This can be accomplished through eating high fiber foods. One kind is the prune, which is a dried plum.

A few laxatives are used by those with constipation. Amongst the most popular are the widely known osmotic laxatives and the stimulant laxatives. The names are based on biological mechanisms of action. The compounds known as osmotic laxatives are given to the increased water content in the gastrointestinal tract which from empirical studies apparently is able to assist in propulsive muscular motions.

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Prune Juice And Other Natural Laxatives

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Over-the-counter laxative medication represents one of the largest markets for consumer medication in the United States. A few of these medications contain natural products but a large number have chemicals as active ingredients. In 1996 the FDA asked many companies to contact safety studies to find out whether these ingredients were a danger to humans after the same agency discovered troubling side effects in animals.

In particular, the animal studies that ultimately led to this directive were conducted on rats by a government lab. High doses of a compound known as phenolphthalein was fed to these rodents which caused a number of tumors. The caveat is that these rats received doses that are far above what humans. Even so it is worrying that a chemical we regularly ingest for treating gastrointestinal problems can be implicated in cancer.

Over forty medical laxatives are sold over the counter (OTC) which have more than one of these chemicals that were part of the FDA warning: senna, aloe, bisacodyl, phenolphthalein, and cascara sagrada. As of now, senna, bisacodyl and phenolphthalein continue to be marketed as laxative products whereas aloe and cascara have been declared to be too dangerous.

These safety concerns have been echoed in the public sentiment by an increased interest in natural laxatives. Prune juice is one such natural laxative drink, derived from the dried prune. It is a wonder food as far as constipation is concerned due to its immensely high levels of dietary fiber, as well as the carbohydrate sorbitol that has been shown to have beneficial properties for people with constipation.

For the people trying to find other natural remedies, a few non-medicated options and several chemical possibilities are available. A first tactic that even a primary care doctor may suggest is maximizing dietary fiber. Such a treatment strategy consists of eating a lot of typical foods that are high in fiber or taking in nutritional supplements containing fiber.

Some are unhappy that the attention required in to find natural fiber-rich foods is excessive. A possible way out to this issue is to try out supplements with psyllium. These are powders that are liquified with water to give rise to on-the-go drinks. As is true with food-based therapies, it can require about half a month until the sufferer and his or her physician are in a position to judge efficacy.

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categories: laxatives,constipation,digestion,herbal medicine,natural treatments,herbal treatments,nutrition,supplements,weight loss,food,medical,general health,health

Treating Constipation With The Senna Laxative

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

The senna laxative is an herbal that is derived from the plantago genus of plants. Its use has been documented for centuries and perhaps even thousands of years. Historically the leaves were either chewed or seeped in hot water to make a tea beverage. Senna is high in anthraquinones which are known to induce bowel movements. However, the caveat is that because it is an herbal supplement the production of senna is not regulated.

Senna laxative comes in various forms. Traditionally it has either been chewed or brewed into a tea but nowadays it can be found in tablet form for easy, measured consumption. There are a number of companies that produce it and a simple search should find several.

People who take senna should be on the look out for side effects. To test this, some people start off with a very small dose and see if there are stomach pains, diarrhea, or perhaps swelling of extremities. The side effects can be very severe, so people should be cautious. The moniker “natural remedies” should not be taken as a sign of safety.

Besides senna, there are some other natural remedies for constipation.

More traditionally, doctors may put forth that the patient tries first to maximize dietary fiber. This can be accomplished by taking in high fiber foods. One such food is the prune, which is a plum with moisture removed. The Beverley-Travis mixture is a famous example of a prune-based dietary fiber treatment.

Some are unhappy that the so much effort has to be put into getting fiber-rich foods. A commonly used solution is to look into the class of supplements with high fiber. Originally derived from specialized plant matter like the plantago, these nutritional agents are sold in finely crushed powdered form and are put into with water to make a drinkable solution.

Lastly, there are different classes of laxatives are available to patients with constipation. The best examples of classes of these agents are the osmotic laxatives which effect alterations in water uptake, and stimulant laxatives which seem to impact colonic muscle movement. Osmotic agents draw liquid out of the surrounding cells into the gastrointestinal passage which promotes speed-up of transit of food matter. Stimulant agents make the intestine increase its activity.

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categories: laxatives,constipation,digestion,herbal medicine,natural treatments,herbal treatments,nutrition,supplements,weight loss,food,medical,general health,health

Eating Prunes As Natural Laxatives

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

The physician who sees a patient with constipation may suggest a first-line treatment that has no medicines. This treatment is known as high fiber therapy, involving increased consumption of fiber rich supplements and foods. Psyllium and bran are two examples of excellent seed-sources of fiber.

A good number of people will also have come across manufactured products such as Metamucil. Metamucil is made by Procter and Gamble, and has high psyllium fiber in crushed form that can be taken with water. One question one might ask is whether there are natural high sources of fiber? The answer is yes. A prime example is the prune. But more interestingly, the prune contains another ingredient that has excellent laxative properties.

Plums have been a part of mankind’s food source for many millennia. Archaeologist evidence shows large number of pits in waste sites that go back to ancient times. Then as now, the process for manufacturing prunes has probably changed relatively little. The plum fruit is harvested from the plant and then arranged in a cool oven structure. The plums are dehydrated at 180 degrees Fahrenheit for a little under 20 hours. The resulting prunes are collected for further processing.

The chemical composition of a prune is actually quite complicated which is what makes it an ideal food that acts as a natural laxative. Even though we can analyze its chemical composition, our understanding of how each chemical acts in relieving constipation is somewhat unclear.

The main fact that is well-known and undisputed is that prunes contain a large amount of fiber. A less well-known but established fact is that prune juice has almost no fiber, yet still is able to provide constipation relief to people who drink it. The reason is due to its sorbitol content. Sorbitol acts as a bulk laxative, and acts synergistically with fiber.

On top of ingredients with laxative properties, prunes are a high energy source. The high energy is derived from its mix of both simple and complex sugars such as glucose and fructose. People who eat prunes get a quick energy boost as well as a sustained one from digestion of complex sugars.

There are many other compounds in prunes that we don’t fully understand but believe to be of benefit to health. For example, phenolic compounds might synergize with the natural laxative action. Potassium in prunes and prune juice are hypothesized to be good for heart health. Prunes seem certainly like a wonder food.

Although there’s no need to prepare the prunes in a special way before eating, a commercial food preparer in the United Kingdom stumbled upon a home recipe for treating constipation that involves blending prunes with other fruits and vegetables. The recipe, known by the name Beverley-Travis, has become famous and even studied for its efficacy in improving digestive health.

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Tribulus Terrestris Extract And Sexual Dysfunctions.

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Growing widely all over the world, tribulus terrestris is THE plant to increase users testosterone levels. With it comes greater sex drive and libido plus the quality of sperm is increased as is the volume.

Discovered in the 70s tribulus terrestris soon reached America. It was known to increase sex drive and bodybuilding results.

Tribulus has been adopted in the billion dollar business of bodybuilding supplements.

Tribulus will increase the testosterone level of body to it`s natural maximum. By staying in the maximum range there is no ill unwanted side effects. Tribulus terrestris has often been compared to steroids and even called a safe steroid. This is a quite wrongful comparison as steroids increase testosterone level way over the body`s limits. This brings along numerous problems including cancer. Tribulus can only bring increased muscle mass and also increased sex drive. It will make a LOT easier to gain erection and to maintain it. It helps the body to get back to the levels it once were and to perform the same way in every sense. Tribulus terrestris supports the body and by doing this it prevents and cures sexual dysfunctions.

Many tests have showed the rise in testosterone levels in animals and humans. Although there is a lot more animal tests been done than human. Tribulus is thought to work it`s magic by a agent called protodioscin. This works by releasing Nitric Oxide and producing more testosterone. The result in highly increased sex drive and erectile functions.

The problem with the human studies is that they are very few and most of them are done by the order of an Bulgarian largest tribulus and health products supplier. So there are some doubts about the accuracy of their results. These studies confirm that it does indeed increase testosterone levels, erectile functions, sperm quality and volume,libido, sex drive.

It is good to know that there is very many people found on the web who swear by the effects and this is the resource from where to get honest reports on the effects of tribulus terrestris extract.

Tribulus terrestris greatly helps people with low testosterone levels – middle aged and older men plus men with naturally low testosterone levels. Young and healthy people should by default have high testosterone levels, although this can vary. Using tribulus when your testosterone levels are low will bring the sexual functions back to normal and also helps a lot with the overall health and fitness level of the user and also contributes to the mental strength.

There should be at least 2 grams of tribulus extract taken daily to produce results which will become noticeable in about three weeks.

One should take time and experiment with tribulus as there is no way of over dosing from it so you can take it as much as you find fit and optimal.

The bottom line for tribulus is that the older you are the more you need it. If you are in your thirties then you already probably need it and if you are even older then get it asap to stop the quality of life from declining.

So the bottom line is that this is the safest alternative to viagra and cialis like drugs.

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The Senna Plant: A Common Natural Laxative

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

In late 2002, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration decided to restrict the sale of aloe and cascara products which were being marketed for laxative purposes. After this, senna became the sole surviving class of herbal laxatives being sold on large scale in the U.S. The plant has its origins in the East African region and Middle East, but can also be found in more temperate locations.

Of interest to readers may be the fact that the word senna comes from Arabic and Hebrew words, a fact that is consistent with what’s known about senna’s geophysical origins. Cassia is another common name. The ingredient that is responsible for its anti-constipation properties is the anthraquinone compound. More broadly speaking, anthraquinones have been established to be an active agent in other laxatives.

It’s quite plausible given what we know about senna’s etymological and geographical origins that its use actually goes back centuries. It was used in an unprocessed, essentially raw, form in times past. Nowadays, advanced manufacturing processes allow the herb to be bought in capsule or tablet form. Consumers can also opt for the tea formulation.

Despite its categorization as a natural laxative, all consumers must remain sensitive to the quality standards of the manufacturing company or producer. In the hands of an unscrupulous company, herbal treatments can become dangerous. Furthermore, even if companies take pains to maintain high quality, taking could have side effects and consequences because of its unregulated status. There’s no reason that a natural laxative can have dangers too. Although allergic responses have not been reported frequently, it’s still something to be aware of.

For additional safety, all buyers of senna should be well-informed of the warnings related to taking the senna herb. Medical and scientific studies have indicated that those who have a history of problems with heart disease, and those with hypertensive tendencies may react poorly to senna. The bottom line is that anyone who wants to try a new kind of laxative treatment, whether its natural or not, should ask for information from his personal physician.

Though it originally was taken as an herb, modern day formulations of senna are quite varied. A senna tea is available for people who wish to brew it and drink it. It’s possible that the usage of senna in antiquity was based largely on the tea form. Some nutritional and supplement stores carry it in a tablet or capsule form. The capsules might have other types of minerals or supplements to give it additional bulk and health value such as calcium.

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Finding Out About Home Constipation Treatments

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

The condition of being constipated is endemic to the population of most countries with an incidence rate pegged at about 15%. Most of the people who are afflicted make no attempt to treat, and even less ask for advice or help from a health services figure. This is understandable as the condition is somewhat embarrassing, which explains the general reluctant to report to physicians.

Because of the stigma associated with this condition, some of those who do seek treatment attempt home-based or natural remedies. A good understanding of such treatments is necessary to avoid any potential hazards. One should note that just because some constipation treatments are natural, it doesn’t mean they are safe.

The most commonly used herb is the senna plant. The senna plant has powerful laxative properties due to high concentrations of anthraquinones. Anthraquinones have been found to increase intestinal activity and speed up movement of stool. It can be obtained as either tablets or in bags of leaves to be prepared as a tea. The cascara plant also has a history of being a natural laxative but has since been banned by the FDA.

A different kind of home constipation treatment is mineral oil. When taken orally, the oil coats the outer surface of the stool and other stomach contents, helping them retain fluid. With more fluid, the stool isn’t as hard or dense and thus moves more efficiently through the colon. Such a mode of action is in contrast to senna which exerts its effects chemically. Mineral oil is termed a lubricant laxative even though it acts nothing like engine oil lubricant or any other lubricating oil.

Most people don’t know about senna and mineral oil, but almost everyone knows that fiber is a great remedy for constipation. The psyllium plant is one of the best sources of fiber. The husks of its seeds are turned into powdered form and sold at nutrient and supplement stores. Metamucil is but one of the many companies who manufacture products made from psyllium.

Flaxseed or linseed is another well-known natural source of fiber. The seeds are sometimes ground into powder like psyllium. Some research indicates that people taking psyllium can benefit from lower cholesterol. But as is with many scientific results, these bear closer scrutiny and study. Linseed oil is not taken as it has a strong odor.

Additional information and advice should be sought from a health professional with regards to natural constipation treatments. A doctor possesses more knowledge and understanding of the subtleties or dangers associated with treatments. For example, some natural laxatives may be effective but have harmful effects on people with certain conditions. Any subject wishing to take these agents should become aware of these harmful effects.

Additional resources provided for constipation remedy can be found here. Still have questions ? Perhaps you can check out our resources about medication for constipation.

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Natural Treatment For Hypothyroidism

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

If you want to use natural treatments to help your hypothyroidism then read this article closely. These are hints and tips that have helped many people and I’m surev they can help you too.

I recommend you start by changing your diet. Certain foods, like those high in tyrosine, will give your sluggish thyroid a boost. Foods such as chicken breast, fish and turkey are a great starting place.

You also need foods which are high in iodine. 2 great sources of this would be Sushi, and salt water fish. You can also take supplements such as sea kelp or a good all rounder like Thyromine (more on that in a tick).

Foods which contain a compound known as goitrogens can harm the function of your thyroid and should be avoided or cut down. These are often very healthy foods like cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potato and sprouts.

I would urge you to look closely at the Supplements which are available to you. If you chose the right supplements you will start to feel better very quickly. The best things for hypothyroidism are iodine supplements, vitamin d, manganese and selenium.

As mentioned earlier Thyromine is a very handy supplement that packs in a ton of essential ingredients. This supplement is helpful for combating weight gain, a major concern of many with hypothyroidism.

There are a few other all-in-one supplements out there for you to try but I believe that Thyromine is the best for treating your condition naturall and quickly.

Start taking small steps to improve your overall health today and you will feel much much better tomorrow.

One of the best ways to make massive leaps forward with improving your health is to keep a diary. You can do this in a simple note book, write a blog or even a keep a video diary. This is a great way to keep track of the effect certain changes have on your body. By collecting this data you can tweak your diet, add and remove supplements from your routine and you can literally see the difference as you move forward with your new health program. I really hope that by embracing this course of action you too can start to feel better.

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Relieving Constipation and Correct Diagnosis

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

(Foreword: The following information is provided as is, and should not be construed as an endorsement of any kind of the items mentioned. Furthermore, all readers should ask for the advice of a doctor when making choices concerning health. The writer is not a doctor and is providing the article from research obtained from third party sources.)

Numerous statistical figures have quoted that the impact of constipation to be as low as 2% to as high as 30%. A large recent 2006 survey conducted by the famous pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim pinpoints the number to be at 12% worldwide. Even at 2% though, most people would agree that constipation seems to be a problem afflicting a broad segment of the population.

One of the problems associated with statistical surveying of constipation is that it’s a poorly defined condition. This translates into an impact on diagnosis and treatment. For example, one physician might believe that having a bowel movement every three days is ok, but another physician would be alarmed at the low frequency. The source of the inconsistent opinions is that bowel movement frequency is itself highly variable from person to person. This difficulty in definition is compounded by differences in patient-reported symptoms such as difficulty or pain in passing stool, or excessive time spend on the toilet.

After diagnosis, the patient and the physician must still face the task of trying to determine the fundamental cause of constipation. For some, the constellation of symptoms might suggest something such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For others, incomplete control of muscles in the rectum due to trauma or injury can be a source of constipation. Yet for the largest group, there is no clear cause. This last group are classified into the “idiopathic” group.

The first step a patient diagnosed with idiopathic constipation might take is high fiber therapy, whether or not the patient’s self-reported intake of fiber seems to be sufficient. The reason for this is that high fiber therapy is accessible and gentle on the patient. There are two ways to carry out the treatment, one by increasing intake of foods high in insoluble fiber, the other by dosing with specific amounts of fiber supplements. The advantage of high fiber therapy is that the success of the therapy also confirms the diagnosis.

There are several other natural remedies which are not fiber-related, examples of which are anthraquinone herbs such as senna. However, one should never succumb to the idea that a natural treatment is a safe one automatically. The Federal Drug Agency (FDA) recently forced some natural remedies off the market for safety reasons. As a result, manufacturers can no longer market aloe vera and cascara medications as constipation remedies. Nevertheless, other remedies are available.

There are also a number of prescription-only constipation medications available. Some of these act as laxatives, whereas others are special compounds that modulate the functional properties of the gastrointestinal tract. In recent times, exciting therapies such as biofeedback have also risen to prominence. Expect treatments for constipation to advanced greatly in the next few years.

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