Saline laxative: indications and contraindications

Mechanism of action

Sodium and magnesium sulfate and phosphate ions are used as the active components of saline laxatives. These substances are capable of retaining fluid in the intestinal lumen. A large volume of water helps soften stool and increases osmotic pressure. Some substances can irritate receptors located on the intestinal mucosa, which improves peristalsis.

Salts are not absorbed by the mucous surface of the intestinal tract and pass through it unchanged. Saline laxatives act fairly quickly. The intestinal reaction can be observed within 2-3 hours after taking the drug. Such laxatives are not suitable for long-term use.

Why do you need a cleansing enema?

We don’t eat quite right and, as a rule, we eat more than the physiological norm. At the same time, we move little, so our intestines do not work efficiently enough and often fail to cope with their responsibility - to empty the gastrointestinal tract.

Remains of processed food accumulate in the folds of the intestines and get stuck there, after some time, turning into feces. You will be surprised, but up to 15 kg of waste can accumulate in the human colon.

These are entire deposits that poison our body, disrupting metabolism and other important functions. If these deposits are not cleaned out from time to time, they can cause irreparable harm to health. Therefore, the intestines, clogged and tired of garbage and toxins, must be cleaned periodically.

When should it be taken?

Any laxatives can only be used as additional therapy. If you experience frequent constipation, you should undergo an examination to identify the cause of the pathological phenomenon. Experts recommend taking saline laxatives only for acute constipation. Also, such drugs are used when cleansing the intestines before therapeutic fasting or diet. This helps cleanse the intestines of toxic substances. It should be remembered that laxatives of this group cannot be used continuously throughout the entire fasting period.

An indication for the use of a saline laxative is also preparation for intestinal diagnostics. The rapid action of the drugs allows them to be used for poisoning by poisons (mercury, arsenic, salts of heavy metals). The active components of drugs prevent the absorption of dangerous substances into the blood. During the interaction, sulfates of these metals that are safe for the system are formed.

Benefits of Saline Laxatives

An osmotic (salt) laxative has a rapid therapeutic effect and is not addictive. Some drugs from this group are able to stimulate the process of digestion of food and improve the production of gastric juice. Magnesium sulfate has a positive effect on the condition of bone tissue and myocardium.

Laxatives based on sodium and magnesium sulfate are recommended to be taken after anthelmintic therapy. The drugs will help remove dead parasites and their waste products from the body.

What are the disadvantages?

It is important to remember that you can only cope with such a delicate problem as constipation with the help of laxatives for a while. Saline laxatives do not affect the true cause of the pathological phenomenon. Such medications can be taken only in case of acute constipation and in the absence of contraindications.

Frequent use of saline laxatives can cause electrolyte and water-salt imbalance and dehydration. Exceeding the dosage is fraught with the development of bradycardia and a decrease in blood pressure.

Pros and cons of cleansing enemas

The purpose of all cleansing enemas, of course, is good - it is to cleanse the body, cleanse the intestines to normalize its functioning, stimulate metabolism and get rid of excess weight. Meanwhile, debates are still raging about what is more beneficial or harmful in enemas for weight loss.

Moreover, disputes are taking place at the level of doctors and nutritionists, because not all of them are confident in the safety and usefulness of this radical procedure.

While experts are addressing this issue, we, ordinary people, just need to know the positive and negative aspects of colon cleansing using enemas. And then everyone, at their own responsibility, will either cleanse themselves to lose weight, or try to lose weight by organizing proper nutrition and increasing their activity.

• Due to intestinal lavage and removal of deposits of fecal stones, body weight decreases. • Enemas remove waste and toxins from the body, which is undoubtedly beneficial for health, and sometimes colon therapy is prescribed by a doctor and carried out in a special room.

• This procedure, if done frequently, has a negative effect on the body, i.e. may disrupt the acid-base balance of the intestines. • Procedures carried out by non-specialists can cause weakening of the intestinal motility muscles. Getting rid of several kilograms of weight is impossible without observing dietary restrictions and increased physical activity.

Many experts believe that frequent enemas wash out the intestinal microflora, which can lead to dysbiosis.

Side effects of saline laxatives

If the rules for using laxative saline medications are not followed, side effects may develop. Most often they manifest themselves in the form of abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. A violation of the water-salt balance can be judged by symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, convulsions, and arrhythmia.

If you use saline laxatives for chronic constipation, you can weaken the normal tone of the intestines, which will negatively affect the ability to empty yourself.

Who should not take saline laxatives?

It is quite possible to cope with the unpleasant symptoms of constipation at home. Many people are helped by drugs from the group of saline laxatives. At first glance, such means may seem the safest. However, they are not suitable for use in all patients. Contraindications include the following pathological conditions:

• abdominal pain of unknown etiology;
• hemorrhoids in the acute stage;
• severe diseases of the stomach, intestines, kidneys;
• appendicitis;
• hypersensitivity to components;
• high blood pressure;
• dehydration;
• cholelithiasis;
• pregnancy, lactation period.

Contraindications for lemon enema

The medical procedure does not pose a health hazard provided it is performed correctly. It should also not be considered an alternative to regular cleansing. Introducing the solution through the anus cannot be an attempt to treat abdominal pain or intestinal obstruction. A lemon enema will be effective if it is performed at long intervals and with the prior consent of the attending physician. However, there are medical contraindications to its implementation:

• inflammation and perforation of the intestine;
• intestinal obstruction;
• failure of the circulatory system;
• kidney disease;
• cystitis;
• nausea;
• abdominal pain of unknown cause;
• fever and increased body temperature.

You should be aware that frequent repetition of an enema can disrupt the normal functioning of the intestines and its water and electrolyte balance, and also lead to heart problems. Take care of yourself and always be healthy!

Glauber's salt

Among saline laxatives, one of the most effective is mirabilite (sodium sulfate, Glauber's salt). The medicine is available in powder form for preparing a solution. The action of sodium sulfate is based on water retention in the intestines, due to which stool liquefies.

In medicine, the substance is used to relieve symptoms of acute constipation. Glauber's salt can also be used for preventive cleansing of the intestines before therapeutic fasting.

When using a saline laxative, it is recommended to drink more pure water to avoid dehydration and side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and electrolyte imbalance.

To prepare the solution, you need to dilute the powder in clean warm water. The dosage of sodium sulfate for adults is 15-30 g. The product can be used in pediatrics. The dosage is calculated depending on the age of the child.

Dill water

Tinctures, teas and decoctions based on dill are especially popular for difficult bowel movements in children and adults. After all, dill water for constipation has a calming, antimicrobial, antispasmodic effect and helps reduce gas formation.

Method of preparing the medicine:

1. 10-30 g of dill seeds are ground.
2. The powder is poured into 250 ml of water.
3. The liquid is infused in a closed container for 1 hour.

If dill water is used for constipation in a newborn, then the child is given 10 ml every 4 hours before feeding. Also, a woman can drink the infusion during lactation, 10-30 ml three times a day.

Dill water can be given to a baby with constipation for a short time. It is enough to drink natural medicine for 10 days. If necessary, therapy is repeated after 7-14 days.

For difficult defecation in an adult, the daily dose is ¼ cup. The drink is taken three times a day, half an hour before meals.

Modern pharmaceuticals recommend a different recipe for preparing dill water. To do this, buy dill oil at the pharmacy.

Pour 0.05 g of fennel essential extract into 10 ml of water. After preparation, the solution is stored in a cool place for 1 month.

A single dosage of dill water is 30 g. The medicinal liquid is taken up to 4 times a day.

Magnesium sulfate for constipation

Magnesium sulfate is an effective saline laxative, which is popularly known as magnesia, Epsom salt or bitter salt. In medical practice, this substance has been used for a long time to treat a variety of pathologies. In addition to the laxative effect, magnesium sulfate has antispasmodic, choleretic, anticonvulsant, hypotensive and vasodilating properties.

Magnesium sulfate acts quite gently and does not cause discomfort, like some other laxatives. Once in the intestine, the substance creates high osmotic pressure there, which, in turn, helps improve peristalsis. A small part of the substance is absorbed into the bloodstream, but is quickly eliminated from the body through the kidneys.

According to the recommendations of specialists, magnesia should be used if, due to constipation, intoxication of the body has begun. Deterioration in health, the appearance of abdominal pain are the first signs of a pathological condition. Magnesium sulfate helps to quickly cleanse the intestines before colonoscopy and other similar studies.

Medicinal

This is another type of therapeutic enemas, their purpose is to administer a medicinal substance. Their volume is usually no more than 50 ml.

30–40 minutes before the procedure, be sure to empty the intestines using a cleansing enema. A medicinal enema is given at night, the medicine should be absorbed into the intestinal wall.

They come in three types:

1. Local enemas, or microenemas. They are placed to provide a local effect on the walls of the rectum in case of its diseases. For example, a solution of prednisolone is administered for chronic inflammation of the large intestine, and chamomile infusion is administered for inflammation of the rectum.
2. General enemas. Many drugs, when administered orally or intravenously, are almost completely destroyed in the liver. When a drug is administered rectally, it immediately enters the general bloodstream, bypassing the liver. Therefore, some medications that are destroyed by the liver are administered rectally.
3. Drip enemas. Used when there is a large loss of blood or fluid; as artificial nutrition through the rectum. For example, after vomiting, a child becomes severely dehydrated, the blood becomes viscous and intravenous administration of drugs is difficult. In this case, a drip enema of saline solution is prescribed. Its peculiarity is the duration of the procedure - it is left overnight.

How to use?

Powder for preparing the solution can be purchased at the pharmacy. A sachet usually contains 20 or 25 g of magnesium sulfate. To eliminate the symptoms of constipation, magnesium sulfate powder is dissolved in 100 ml of warm water. Dosage is usually calculated based on the patient's age and weight.

The daily dose should not exceed 4 tablespoons. Adult patients should take 20-25 g of magnesia, children (over 6 years old) - 5-10 g. For children of the younger age category, the use of magnesia as a laxative is allowed only as prescribed by a doctor.

Magnesium sulfate does not completely dissolve in liquid and also has a pronounced bitter taste. Therefore, many patients add sugar and lemon juice. It is necessary to take a saline laxative solution on an empty stomach (preferably in the morning). The effect can occur within 1-2 hours after taking magnesium sulfate. In this case, the urge to defecate may be frequent.

General rules for the procedure

Doing an enema with a saline solution, like any other procedure of this type, must follow certain rules, namely:

1. Colon cleansing should be done lying on your left side or standing on all fours in a knee-elbow position;
2. The total volume of liquid infused should not exceed two liters for an adult and one liter when giving a salt enema to a child;
3. The optimal fluid temperature is from 25 to 35 degrees for simple bowel cleansing, and for constipation - from 12 to 20. If there is a need to relax the smooth intestine, the temperature should be increased to 37-42 degrees;
4. The tip must be lubricated with oil or Vaseline before insertion into the anus. In this case, the depth of its insertion should be 10-12 cm during normal cleaning. During the procedure for complete intestinal lavage, a special rubber tip is used, which is inserted to a depth of up to 50 cm. It is important to insert the first 4 centimeters of any tip strictly towards the navel, and after that parallel to the tailbone;
5. The container with the solution for washing the intestines should be raised 1-1.5 meters. Before inserting the tip into the anus, the hose is pinched to prevent spillage;
6. The hose, solution container and tip must be sterile, and the water must be boiled or purified.

The choice of place where the cleaning procedure will be carried out should be approached responsibly. You need to stock up on oilcloth and several diapers in case you suddenly fail to retain liquid in the intestines. It is best to do this in the bathroom so that you can quickly sit on the toilet.

Making saline laxative at home

You can cleanse the intestines not only with the help of pharmaceutical products. Salt water will help improve the functioning of the stomach and intestinal tract. In yoga, this method has its own name - shank-prakshalana. However, it can only be used in the absence of gastrointestinal and kidney pathologies.

Drinking large amounts of salty liquid can cause nausea and vomiting. To avoid this, you need to add a small amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the water. Immediately after waking up in the morning, you should drink a saline laxative.

How to make a saline solution to relieve constipation and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract? It is important to follow certain recommendations. The water must be purified and boiled. Before starting cooking, it should be heated to 40 °C. You can use regular table salt or sea salt. For 3 liters of water you need to take three tablespoons (tablespoons) of salt. This is the maximum amount of liquid you can drink during the cleansing process. It is necessary to perform certain exercises between fluid intakes.