What Is a Laxative and How Does It Work?

Slow digestion and constipation can be a real nightmare, which people deal with in different ways. Constipation can often be beaten by natural remedies, or by small changes in lifestyle. Sometimes the natural approach is no help, which means it is then the turn of anti-constipation medications. Before turning to these, it is vital to know what laxatives are, which types there are, and how they work. If you want to learn more about constipation and laxatives, read on.

Key Takeaways

• Before turning to laxatives to deal with constipation issues, try some natural methods: add more fibre to your diet, make sure to drink enough water, and exercise regularly.
• Laxatives are substances that help to soften the stool, or generally encourage bowel movements.
• There are a number of types, each with a slightly different mechanism: bulk-forming laxatives, stool softeners, lubricant laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives and saline laxatives.
• One natural laxative that can be effective is Donat natural mineral water, whose unique combination of magnesium and sulphate works to improve the digestion.
• Different laxatives need different times to take effect. The fastest-acting are suppositories, which can actually begin working in 15 to 30 minutes.

What is constipation?

Irregular bowel movements do not necessarily mean you are suffering from constipation. Individuals vary, and our bodies work differently, so in certain cases it is particularly difficult to say whether someone is suffering from slow digestion and constipation, or something else.

You are probably suffering from constipation if you have the following symptoms:

• you have had fewer than three bowel movements in the last week
• your stool is firmer than usual
• you are straining or feel pain while evacuating
• you have the feeling of incomplete evacuation when you finish

Looking at what might be causing this issue, there are several possibilities:

• insufficient intake of fibre
• dehydration
• lack of physical activity and long periods spent sitting/lying
• lifestyle and changes of diet
• side effects of medications
• stress
• pregnancy
• other diseases (state of health)

These are just a few of the causes of constipation, but something else might be behind your issue, as everyone is different, as we have already seen.

Before you turn to laxatives

People experiencing digestive issues often turn immediately to the pharmacy and load up with strong laxatives, thinking that this is the best solution. But there are more gentle methods that can also help, such as natural laxatives and changes in the daily diet. We suggest that you always try these first, and only then consider moving on to stronger means.

To begin with, try increasing your daily intake of fibre.

To increase the volume of stool, the recommendation is for women to consume 25 g of fibre per day, and men 38 g per day. The fibre content in the diet should be increased gradually, to avoid bloating.

If you are looking for a simple way to add more fibre to your diet, try some of these foods:

• chia seeds
• pulses
• berries
• apples
• plums and prunes
• oatmeal
• kiwi

There are also foods that are frequently thought to be contributing factors in constipation, and should be avoided if you often suffer issues with irregular digestion. These include processed foods, meat in excessive amounts, fried and fatty foods, caffeine, highly spiced dishes, and dairy products.

In the fight against constipation it is also important to take in enough water, which improves the consistency of the stool and eases its journey through the body. Another exceptionally effective tool, is Donat mineral water, a natural laxative that has no side effects and has been used for more than 400 years to treat constipation. Take a look at how it can help improve your digestion and keep you healthy.

Do not overlook regular exercise, which will help your digestion and encourage bowel movements. Physical activity is effective against constipation, as it reduces the time that food spends on its journey through the gut, thus limiting the amount of water absorbed back into the body from the stool.

Successful strategies for defeating constipation naturally are therefore based on a healthy lifestyle. If you want to try this approach, you should check out our tips to help you make big changes in a natural way, whether in the area of digestion, or in the area of health and general wellbeing.

What are laxatives?

If natural methods to improve digestion are not helping, you will most likely want to try stronger means, for example laxatives.

There are different types of laxative, which differ in action and effect, and care is therefore needed in choosing the right one. Which types of laxative are seen, and how do they work?

• bulk-forming laxatives: like fibre, such laxatives travel through your body undigested and add bulk to your stool;
• stool softeners: as the name suggests, they help soften your stool and therefore make it easier to pass through your body until it reaches the toilet;
• lubricant laxatives: such laxatives again ensure softer stools that pass with more ease, as they actually keep the surface of your stool moist;
• osmotic-type laxatives: with the help of osmotic laxatives, your colon can retain more water which then increases the frequency of bowel movements;
• stimulant laxatives: a stimulant laxative can speed up the digestion and lead to a bowel movement;
• saline laxatives: they work toward drawing water into the small intestine and again promoting bowel movements.

Laxatives might be excellent at relieving constipation, but you should never take them too often or for too long. If you have any concerns, consult your doctor and get more information.

Natural laxatives

Alongside natural methods, you can try using natural laxatives to deal with constipation:

• castor oil: castor oil is known as one of the best natural laxatives that releases ricinoleic acid which promotes normal bowel movements;
• olive oil: another natural lubricant laxative that enables easier passage of the stool;
• aloe vera: this treatment for constipation comes from the inner lining of the aloe vera leaves, stimulating the movement of your digestive tract;
• magnesium citrate: as magnesium increases the amount of water in your intestinal tract, it can lead to a bowel movement.

Donat is a natural laxative with proven efficacy

Another mild natural laxative is Donat mineral water, with its unique combination of magnesium and other minerals. The sulphate salts in Donat have an osmotic effect, retaining water in the gut and softening the stool, while magnesium also encourages intestinal peristalsis and relaxes the muscles. Confirmation that drinking Donat can help ease bowel movements came from a 2015 clinical study by an independent research institute based in Berlin. It also confirmed that drinking it is safe, does not cause dependency in the gut, and does not disrupt the body’s electrolyte balance.

The best results will be achieved by drinking Donat according to a particular protocol. You can get help in establishing the right routine from Donat Moments, a free app that will guide you with reminders and useful advice.

Which laxative should I use?

Which laxative best suits you is hard to say, as this really depends on the individual. To begin you might try bulk-forming laxatives, to make your stool more compact.

If your stools remain firm and bowel movements are difficult, try an osmotic laxative, which will help you retain more water.

It can also happen that your stools are soft, but you still have trouble with bowel movements. In this case you can try a combination of a stimulant laxative with a bulk-forming laxative. The first will speed up digestion and ease bowel movement.

If your issues with constipation last for some time, or you think that the laxatives that you are taking are not right for you, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How are laxatives taken?

How the laxative is used depends on the form that you have chosen. Laxatives are usually available as:

• tablets or capsules: such laxatives need to be taken with water and are a good fit for people who don’t have problems with swallowing;
• sachets of powder: since you simply mix such laxatives with water and drink them, they’re better for older people or those who struggle with swallowing large capsules;
• suppositories: those usually come in a form of a capsule that you insert into your rectum and then wait for it to dissolve. Such (smaller) suppositories are especially suitable for children, but might be less convenient if you have trouble moving and cannot reach your backside.

When deciding on the form of laxative, you need to take account of your own physical state, and choose the one that best suits your actual needs.

You also need to be aware of timing, as some laxatives need to be taken on an empty stomach or just before sleeping.

Osmotic laxatives and bulk-forming laxatives can cause dehydration, and it is therefore important to remember to drink enough water.

How quickly do they take effect?

Different laxatives need different amounts of time before they take effect.

Bulk-forming laxatives reach their full effect in two to three days, although they can have a partial effect even within 24 hours.

Osmotic laxatives usually begin working after anything from 30 minutes to three days, depending on the exact type. Saline laxatives (magnesium salts) work faster than non-saline.

Quick results can also be achieved with stimulant laxatives, which take effect in six to 12 hours.

Stool softeners begin working in 12 to 72 hours, and can therefore offer quick relief in certain cases.

Suppositories can have a truly fast laxative effect, starting to work in just 15 to 30 minutes.

Side effects of laxatives

Like many other medications, laxatives too can have side effects. But this is no reason to be overly concerned, as these effects are usually mild, and disappear when you stop taking the laxative.

The side effects also depend on the type of laxative, but the most common are:

• bloating
• gas
• stomach cramps
• feeling ill in general
• dehydration and related headaches, dark urine, dizziness

The following are possible severe side effects:

• rectal bleeding
• severe cramps
• blood in your stools
• difficulty swallowing
• a rash
• irregular heartbeat

Remember that laxatives cannot be taken too often, or for too long, as they can have adverse effects such as diarrhoea, intestinal obstruction, or an imbalance of salts and minerals in the body.

If you are worried about side effects or you notice very strong laxative effects, contact your doctor without delay.

When to seek medical assistance

Constipation issues are usually fixed relatively quickly, with natural laxatives often being enough. Sometimes, though, it is necessary to seek medical assistance.

Consult your doctor immediately if you see any of the following symptoms:

• severe or chronic pain in your abdomen: this can be a sign of a more serious illness that needs to be treated immediately, such as intestinal obstruction, perforated intestine or stomach, pancreatitis, appendicitis, etc.;
• vomiting: this can be a symptom of faecal impaction that happens when a large mass of stool gets stuck in your colon and cannot find its way out, which must be taken extremely seriously;
• bloating: if your stomach is painful, this can point to bowel obstruction or conditions such as gastroparesis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and others;
• bloody stools: a small amount of blood on your toilet paper is not necessarily a cause for panic, however, in case you notice more than just a bit of bright red blood or have black stools, immediately call your doctors as they could be a sign of ulcers, Crohn’s disease or other serious conditions.

Medical assistance should also be sought if you are still constipated after taking laxatives for seven days, as your issues should have been resolved by then.

Constipation can be a warning sign of other diseases, such as cancer of the colon, hypothyroidism or diabetes, so it is best to arrange an examination and make sure that everything is ok.

Natural help first, then stronger means

Constipation is an unpleasant issue that is usually triggered by stress, lifestyle changes, a lack of physical activity, and sedentary living.

Fortunately there are many effective natural laxatives that can help us increase the frequency of bowel movements and improve the consistency of the stool.

If the natural approach in combination with drinking plenty of water, eating healthily and getting plenty of physical activity does not prove to be successful, we have a range of laxatives at our disposal that can speed up the process.

Always follow the directions for any medication that you are taking, and consult your doctor or pharmacist if anything is unclear. Seek immediate medical assistance if the issues do not resolve themselves after treatment, or if more serious issues appear.

Sources:

Treatment for Constipation. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), maj 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/constipation/treatment

Bothe G, Coh A, Auinger A. Efficacy and safety of a natural mineral water rich in magnesium and sulphate for bowel function: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Nutr. 2017 Mar;56(2):491-499. doi: 10.1007/s00394-015-1094-8. Epub 2015 Nov 18. PMID: 26582579; PMCID: PMC5334415. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26582579/