When the makers of Ex-Lax announced the arrival of a "new" formulation of the product a few years ago, herbal remedies took front-runner status in the treatment of common constipation. Of course, it wasn't exactly a hard-to-win competition. The main ingredient of Ex-Lax, phenolphthalein, was taken off the market by the FDA, leaving little choice but to change the formulation. Senna, an herbal stimulant laxative became the "new" Ex-Lax ingredient so that today it has become one of the leading remedies for constipation relief.
There are actually several herbal choices for the treatment of constipation. For the most part they can be divided into two categories: stimulant laxatives and bulk laxatives. Stimulant laxatives act by forcing contractions of the smooth muscle of the colon and by drawing water from the body into the interior of the colon, allowing for looser stools. Bulk laxatives, on the other hand, are products which expand inside the colon when mixed with water. Once expanded, they trigger the colon's natural contractions which attempt to expel the bulky substance. (The trick to bulk laxatives is that you have to drink a lot of water with the laxative product or it won't work.)
Herbal stimulant laxatives include senna, cascara, castor oil, buckthorn and dried aloe juice. Senna is the most readily available of these due to its popularity as an ingredient in brand-name products such as Sennakot and Ex-Lax. The active components of senna are called anthraquinones. All stimulant laxatives contain anthraquinone-like ingredients which give the herbs their cathartic effect.
Stimulant laxatives, whether herbal or not, all carry basically the same risks. When used daily for more than 1-2 weeks they can lead to "laxative-dependency syndrome". This means that the muscles of the colon become lazy and don't contract very well unless you take more of the laxative. Rebound constipation can result from stopping the product after prolonged use.
Bulk laxatives, on the other hand, rely on the colon's normal muscle contractions and don't generally lead to dependency. Herbal bulk laxatives include flaxseed, psyllium and apple pectin. The first two of these are actually seeds and seed parts which swell with the addition of water to form a bulky mass inside the colon. Apple pectin does the same thing except that it's made from apple peels and not seeds. The main risk in using bulk laxatives is that of obstruction of the bowels which can occur when the product/water mixture can't get through. Again, the drinking of water with bulk laxatives is essential-without it, the laxative can become like a hard rock inside the colon. As you may imagine, rocks in the colon aren't easy to pass.
A general rule of thumb would be as follows:
If you suffer from chronic constipation, use a bulk laxative regularly (with water) to help train your system to have regular bowel movements without the use of stimulants. Save the stimulants for occasional use.
If you're still not sure which products to use or if your constipation is a new problem, see your healthcare provider for advice.
Read More....
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Herbal Treatment for Diabetes : Fact or Myth
Herbal Treatment For Diabetes : Fact Or Myth.
Diabetes has been recognized by western medicine since the early 1800’s as being one of the most prevalent and controllable conditions affecting a large portion of the population. However, Asian cultures have recognized this fact much earlier and and have developed and been using herbal treatments for diabetes for centuries. These treatments are widely regarded as effective, even today.
It must firstly be recognized that most of the herbal treatment for diabetes are not recommended for those requiring insulin treatment. This is because the majority of the herbs being used have proven effective in helping to restore the body’s ability to control the blood sugar level by boosting the effectiveness of the body’s own insulin. If the body is not producing insulin there is nothing to boost and, research suggests, the use of these herbal treatments will not have the needed effect.
This has obviously produced the skeptics who claim that the proponents of herbal medication are in the business simply for the money and find argument against the use of herbs in medicine. Conversely, the herbalists claim is that since the drug companies cannot patent herbs and other herbal treatments for diabetes, they cannot make money from their use therefore they condemn them as ineffective.
There Is Still No Cure For This Treatable Disease
Despite decades of research there is no known cure for diabetes and none is on the horizon. It is essentially the body’s inability to regulate the amount of blood sugar in the system. While in many cases medicine to help dissolve and reduce the blood sugar offers dramatic improvement, it is still necessary for some patients to require insulin injections to keep it under control. Owing to the lack of research,There are few arguments that indicate that herbal treatments for diabetes may not be effective.
As most herbal treatments for diabetes are shown to improve the reduction of blood sugar levels by helping insulin do its job, it stands to reason that for those who’s bodies don’t produce insulin herbal treatment cannot provide that help. (more info on diabetes at http://www.diabetesadvisory.com )
Possibly one of the best ways a person with diabetes can help himself or herself is through a proper nutritional diet, regular exercise and monitoring their blood sugar level. Fortunately, testing equipment is readily available and is typically done through blood samples with many home testing kits offering accurate readings and can be done numerous times throughout the day.
As soon as a person is diagnosed with diabetes, and their doctor starts them on a prescription regimen they should not eliminate the medicine in favor of a herbal treatment for diabetes without consulting their physician. It is very important that They increase the monitoring of their blood sugar level and notify their doctor of any change, good or bad.
Many diabetes sufferers can dramatically improve their blood sugar levels and consequently improve their overall wellbeing by cutting out the fatty, sweet elements of their diets by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and getting into a regular routine of exercise.
Read More....
Diabetes has been recognized by western medicine since the early 1800’s as being one of the most prevalent and controllable conditions affecting a large portion of the population. However, Asian cultures have recognized this fact much earlier and and have developed and been using herbal treatments for diabetes for centuries. These treatments are widely regarded as effective, even today.
It must firstly be recognized that most of the herbal treatment for diabetes are not recommended for those requiring insulin treatment. This is because the majority of the herbs being used have proven effective in helping to restore the body’s ability to control the blood sugar level by boosting the effectiveness of the body’s own insulin. If the body is not producing insulin there is nothing to boost and, research suggests, the use of these herbal treatments will not have the needed effect.
This has obviously produced the skeptics who claim that the proponents of herbal medication are in the business simply for the money and find argument against the use of herbs in medicine. Conversely, the herbalists claim is that since the drug companies cannot patent herbs and other herbal treatments for diabetes, they cannot make money from their use therefore they condemn them as ineffective.
There Is Still No Cure For This Treatable Disease
Despite decades of research there is no known cure for diabetes and none is on the horizon. It is essentially the body’s inability to regulate the amount of blood sugar in the system. While in many cases medicine to help dissolve and reduce the blood sugar offers dramatic improvement, it is still necessary for some patients to require insulin injections to keep it under control. Owing to the lack of research,There are few arguments that indicate that herbal treatments for diabetes may not be effective.
As most herbal treatments for diabetes are shown to improve the reduction of blood sugar levels by helping insulin do its job, it stands to reason that for those who’s bodies don’t produce insulin herbal treatment cannot provide that help. (more info on diabetes at http://www.diabetesadvisory.com )
Possibly one of the best ways a person with diabetes can help himself or herself is through a proper nutritional diet, regular exercise and monitoring their blood sugar level. Fortunately, testing equipment is readily available and is typically done through blood samples with many home testing kits offering accurate readings and can be done numerous times throughout the day.
As soon as a person is diagnosed with diabetes, and their doctor starts them on a prescription regimen they should not eliminate the medicine in favor of a herbal treatment for diabetes without consulting their physician. It is very important that They increase the monitoring of their blood sugar level and notify their doctor of any change, good or bad.
Many diabetes sufferers can dramatically improve their blood sugar levels and consequently improve their overall wellbeing by cutting out the fatty, sweet elements of their diets by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and getting into a regular routine of exercise.
Read More....
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