Introduction
If the problem of constipation is also accompanied by digestive disorders, such as acidity and heaviness in the stomach, halitosis and belching, natural remedies are certainly a valid aid and an effective alternative to synthetic drugs.
To treat constipation and dyspepsia, herbal medicine offers many formulations; in this article two examples of products will be presented: chewable tablets and solution.
Natural chewable tablets
A product formulated with these drugs combines an irritating and stimulating laxative effect (aloe and senna), useful to counteract constipation, an eupeptic-digestive action made by other plants.
The natural treatment should not last more than three or four days, since the senna and aloe juice, anthraquinone drugs, exert their effect causing a strong irritation in the intestine. If the problem persists over time, even after treatment, it would be advisable to consult your doctor.
This product, although a natural remedy, should not be taken during pregnancy and breast-feeding; moreover, those who take drugs should avoid the concomitant use of drastic laxative effect drugs, because they alter the physiology of the intestine, hindering the absorption of the drug.
In the administration of this natural product, it would be good to drink plenty of water, at least two glasses, to help drugs perform their effect.
- Fennel : ( Foeniculum vulgare ) stimulates bile activity and has a carminative action. For this reason, fennel is used against dyspepsia and decreases abdominal swelling. It is also a diuretic. The phytocomplex is characterized by fencone and anethole, belonging to the category of mono and sesquiterpenes.
- Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ) is a diuretic and digestive drug, characterized by organic acids, lactone sesquiterpenes and phenyl propanes, which stimulate glomerular activity and tone the liver and pancreas.
- Carvi or caraway ( Carum carvi ) is a strong-flavored drug that recalls anise. Its medicinal properties help digestion and reduce meteorism. Moreover, thanks to the essential oil consisting of very volatile molecules, such as limonene and carvone, carvi can be used as an intestinal disinfectant (antiseptic properties). Finally, choleretic and cholagogue properties are also ascribed to this drug (it stimulates bile activity).
- Boldo ( Peumus boldus ): rich in alkaloids, it stimulates and favors the digestive function. It is also useful in liver disorders.
- Cassia ( Cassia angustifolia ): anthraquinone drug, precisely hydroxyantracene heterosides and sennoside B; it is rich in simple sugars such as glucose and fructose; at intestinal level it stimulates peristalsis favoring the advance of the feces with a purgative effect.
- Aloe juice ( Aloe ferox, juice): an anthraquinone drug par excellence, it stimulates a consistent laxative effect. The active ingredients can create irritation in the intestine: strictly speaking, it is advisable not to exceed the use of a product formulated in this way.
Herbal solution
A herbal formulation characterized by these drugs represents a good natural remedy, whose action is undoubtedly different from that expressed by the chewable tablets described above. If in fact the first product lightens the problem related to dyspepsia and constipation through strong modalities (just think of the laxative effect caused by anthraquinone plants), the second acts as a lubricant and mainly as an osmotic laxative. But let's analyze in greater detail the composition of the herbal remedy:
- Tamarind ( Tamarindus indica ) and Fico ( Ficus carica ) represent two drugs that perform the same function: they act as osmotic laxatives attracting water into the intestine and causing the formation of soft stools. Tamarind is mainly composed of organic acids (tartaric, citric, malic, succinic, lactic and oxalic). At low doses it serves to regularize the intestine; if it is taken in large quantities, instead, it determines a laxative effect. The osmotic action of the fig is made by the simple sugars contained in it.
- Plum ( Prunus domestica ): the plum has osmotic and laxative volume laxative properties, conferred by the presence of fibers and simple sugars. Moreover, by stimulating the secretion of acidic stomach juices, it tones up the gastric function.
- Sweet almond oil ( Prunus dulcis ) is included in the herbal formulation for its lubricating effect, which helps to regularize the frequency of evacuations without affecting the intestinal physiology.
- Ginger or ginger ( Zingiber officinale ): it is a root exploited for its carminative and digestive action.
Product commentary
Both products are excellent herbal remedies to counteract constipation and dyspepsia: what changes is their mode of action. The herbalist or the expert will have to recommend the product best suited to the customer's needs, clarifying the possible side effects that could follow. For example, neither formulation should be taken if dyspepsia is also related to gastric pyrosis: the active ingredients that make up the plants could, in this case, aggravate heartburn. In this regard, therefore, the patient should first expose all the symptoms, so that the herbalist, consequently, can choose the most suitable natural remedy to solve his problems of constipation and dyspepsia.
