Читать книгу The Good Gut Guide: Help for IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis, Food Allergies and Other Gut Problems - Stephanie Zinser - Страница 15

Laxatives are substances that encourage the bowels to open. They are extraordinarily popular – nearly $1 billion is spent on laxatives each year in the US. There are several types:

Bulking agents are concentrated fibre preparations that include bran, ispaghula husk, methylcellulose and sterculia. Brand names to look for include Fybogel and Isogel (UK), Metamucil and Citrucel (US). All bulking agents should be taken with plenty of water, as this helps them to swell and form their bulk, which in turn helps move waste effectively through the large intestine.

Stimulant laxatives encourage bowel movements by stimulating the nerve endings in the bowel walls to make the muscles contract. This speeding up of bowel muscles encourages waste to pass through more quickly. In doing so, less water is reabsorbed back through the bowel walls into the body, the stools retain more moisture, are less dense and compacted, and therefore easier to pass. Stimulant laxatives can cause diarrhoea if taken too often or in overdose and dependency can develop with overuse. They should not be used for longer than a week at a time and never given to children without a doctor’s specific advice. Brands include Dulco-Lax and Senokot (both UK and US).

Lubricants and stool softeners such as liquid paraffin, mineral oil and glycerine suppositories can be given to help soften hard, impacted faeces. They are most often used when haemorrhoids or anal fissures cause severe pain on straining.

Osmotic laxatives such as Epsom salts are used to attract more water into the bowel, which then softens hard stools. They can cause chemical imbalances in the blood and aren’t generally recommended for long-term use. Lactulose and sorbitol sugars also act as osmotic agents and are often used as an alternative to bulking agents in the long-term treatment of chronic constipation. Lactulose should never be used by anyone with lactose intolerance or milk allergy.