Definition of Cathartic:
Aperients, Laxatives, Purgatives (L. purgare, to cleanse), and Cathartics (Gr. cleansing) all increase or hasten intestinal evacuations:
[Culbreth1927, pp 43-44].
- Aperients, Laxatives (L. aperiere, to open; laxare, to loose) which excite moderate peristalsis, giving soft movements without irritation: magnesia, manna, sulfur, tamarind, almond and olive oils, fig, prune, oatmeal;
- Simple Purgatives - which cause active peristalsis and stimulate secretion of the intestinal glands, giving one or more copious, semi-fluid movements accompanied by some irritation and griping: aloe, calomel, castor oil, cascara sagrada, rhubarb, senna, small doses of salines, drastics, cholagogues;
- Saline Purgatives - which stimulate the intestinal glands, increase peristalsis and osmosis, causing watery stools: magnesium sulfate and citrate, potassium sulfate, tartrate and bitartrate, sodium sulfate, phosphate and chloride, potassium and sodium tartrate;
- Drastic Purgatives Drastic Purgatives (Gr. to act, active) often are called simply cathartics, and act more intensely than the preceding, causing violent peristalsis, watery stools, griping, tenesmus, borborygmus, mucous membrane irritation, and exosmosis of serum; large doses become irritant poisons: colocynth, jalap, gamboge, scammony, croton oil;
- Hydragogue Purgatives (Gr. water + to lead, leading forth) which remove much water from the vessels: croton oil, elaterium, gamboge, potassium bitartrate, large doses of salines and drastics;
- Cholagogue Purgatives (Gr. bile + to lead, leading forth) which stimulate bile flow, causing free purgation of green-colored (bilious) and liquid stools: mercurials, aloe, rhubarb, podophyllin, euonymin, iridin, leptandrin.
Cathartics are stronger and quicker to stimulate bowel movement than laxatives. They usually act within three hours of taking the herb, and the reaction is uncontrollable. Many plants are laxative and cathartic, dependent on dose. Examples include Juglans, Aloe latex and Cassia [Brammer BOTM744].
Cathartics are medicines which accelerate the action of the bowels, or increase the discharge by stool [Brown1878; Meyer1932].
A very potent class of laxatives unsafe for long term use [Sanchez BOTM680].
Powerful complete elimination, not for long term or will be dependant. Never give to pregnant [ORWJr: except to induce labor], old, or children. Caution: rule out potential for intestinal blockage first. Cathartics are a fix fast to feel better, but get to the root [Palmer2004].