Bulk Laxatives
<h2>Bulk Laxatives.</h2>
<p>Plant materials still provide the primary source of fiber that remains undigested and can swell when hydrated to bulk up the stool contents. The usual reason for consuming these materials is to help reduce constipation. However, an important application for bulk laxatives is constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Indeed, this can be the first line of therapy. They are also valuable in correcting disturbed bowel flora as prebiotics, in calming an irritated bowel wall in inflammatory bowel disease, in counteracting potential irritative effects of bile metabolites, and in slowing the absorption of sugars and cholesterol.</p>
<h3>Plant Remedies Traditionally Used as Bulk Laxatives</h3>
<ul>
<li>Linum (linseed), <em>Plantago ovata (</em>ispaghula<em>), Plantago psyllium </em>(psyllium seed and husk)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indications for bulk laxatives</h3>
<ul>
<li>Constipation</li>
<li>Inflammatory bowel disease</li>
<li>Blood sugar disturbance, including dietary management of diabetes</li>
<li>Some dyspeptic and gastric inflammatory conditions</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other traditional indications for bulk laxatives</h3>
<ul>
<li>Fluid retention</li>
<li>Obesity</li>
</ul>
<h3>Contraindications for bulk laxatives</h3>
<p>There are few contraindications for the use of fiber and the bulk laxatives. However, their supplementation should be kept under review in cases of:</p>
<ul>
<li>Iron deficiency anemia</li>
<li>Osteoporosis</li>
<li>Chronic malnutrition</li>
</ul>
<h3>Traditional therapeutic insights into the use of bulk laxatives</h3>
<p>Some of the bulk laxatives were also used for their obvious mucilaginous properties in reducing inflammatory problems in the upper sections of the digestive tract.</p>
<h3>Application</h3>
<p>Bulk laxatives need to betaken whole as powdered material, most conveniently in capsule form, with food.</p>
<p>Long term therapy with extra supplementation of soluble fiber is not always advisable and both soluble and insoluble fiber intake should be reviewed where absorption of mineral nutrients is a critical issue.</p>
<h3>Advanced Therapeutics</h3>
<p>Bulk laxatives may also be usefully applied in hypercholesterolemia and in some cases (depending on other factors) of hypertension.</p>
<p>Source - Bone & Mills</p>