Laxatives

I was just wondering, how often you can take laxatives without it being bad for you?

 

Laxatives work in different ways. Lubricants, stimulants, hyperosmotics, bulk formers, emollients (stool-softeners) or in combination.

I would ask why are you taking it (what are the signs and symptoms)? What has worked in the past? What have you tried BEFORE using a laxative.

If you are using laxatives for the purpose of weight loss I would strongly strongly strongly suggest that you stop immediately. This is an extremely unhealthy practice that leads to electrolyte imbalance, loss of potassium (yes, I know it's an electrolyte!), and the potential for dehydration.

Laxatives are intended to assist with the passage of stool in persons who have difficulty based on obstruction, hard stool formation, irregular homeostasis or a number of other illnesses.

http://www.drugs.com/cons/Ex_Lax.html#GXX35

If you are using cathartics for weight issues I would strongly recommend that you seek professional help.

 

i take a lot of laxitives. and i eat a lot of foods with the laxitive effect (fiberfilled foods, water-based fruits, ect.)

 

I have herbal teas and one is "Laxative" Tea, so I was just wondering how often I should take it. I was thinking once a week, or is that too much?

 

It really depends on how your system is anyway. If you find that you're constipated then laxatives would help, once a week shouldn't be that bad.. Just not like a few days in a row.

 

i take stool softeners, milk of magnesia, dieters green tea, and a ton of fiber cereal and other fiber stuff.

 

Yes, you have mentioned that more than once. Is there some reason why you are sharing information about a potentially dangerous lifestyle choice in a forum for health? Other than the need to be provocative.

 

Someone shouldn't NEED a laxative more than once a year or less. If so, you may have a nerve problem, in which your body isn't telling you your rectum if full and needs to be emptied. Weekly use of laxatives is not only addictive, it can cause you to LOSE the ability to have a normal bowel movement, and lose precious electrolyetes. I'd see a doctor immediatley.

 

I'm doing a colon/liver cleanse. I just want to make sure I do it right.

 

jesters right... if you take my advice your going to end up an emanciated 20 something year old.

 

I just figured, what with this being the health forum and all, that some of you might offer me some friendly dependable advice with the assumption that I am not the only hipforumer who has undergone a liver/colon cleanse.

 

you are 17 years old. Why do you feel a need to cleanse your liver and colon? The best thing to do is drink lots of water. Lots and lots of water, every day.

that's really fucked up and points to some sort of major psychological problem. Go see a head shrinker.

 

People don't really understand the dangers of excessive laxitive use on the human body. That is why you should only use them during extreme circumstances, for example extreme constipation. Other then that you probably shouldn't use them at all.

 

Try flaxseeds, it's mechanical and harmless.

 

My diet is very good, I mean VERY good, but over the last year I have consumed copious amounts a gin and wine that I feel somewhat obliged to my liver, and my colon? Well, theres just something great about knowing that its working right

 

To be honest with you, taking a bunch of massive shits isn't going to undo the damage done to the liver. The liver is self healing, up to a point. Stay away from alcohol. It is probably one of the worst things you can do to your liver, outside eating and entire bottle of Tylenol, or drinking comfrey tea.

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention I have herbal tea specifically for liver. I'm not using laxatives as a means for fixing my liver. And I'm definitely cutting back on the liquor BIG time, I've been doing quite well. (Its amazing, here in New Brunswick drinking AT LEAST weekly is considered so very normal that it just never really occured to me that I was causing heavy damage to my liver).

 

Dieter's Cleanse(two 7-Day Cleanse Programs,252 Capsules)

 

Thanks for the suggestion, however, after last night, I don't think I'll be needing it as I shit my brains out ALL NIGHT. It'll be a long time before I need to flush (no pun intended) my system again. Jeez I'm tired (but I'm clean on the inside, and that is a nice feeling).

 

Im 19 and have been doing a colon clense just to flush out the backlog, what works for me is cayanne pepper. I enjoy franks red hot a lot but for a week I put it on pretty much anything suitable at lunch/dinner and man did it speed up the shit going through me, couple that with some psyllium fibre husks mixed in water and I had some anaconda shits, kept me much more regular than normal.

Theres a lot of safe natural things you can do to speed up/flush out your colon. Cayanne pepper (franks red hot) and psyllium fibre husks is what works for me. We're young so I dont think theres any need to get your colon scoped or anything too drastic but i understand the need to make sure you dont have shit backed up in your system longer than it needs to be. I read we have between 3 and 15 lbs of shit in our systems. I want it out. Good luck with your liver and colon clenseing adventures!

-AU