Herbal Laxatives for Weight Loss

Herbal laxatives are a popular ingredient in "dieter's teas" and stimulant-free diet pills, but they are a somewhat controversial choice for use in weight loss. By stimulating the activity of the bowels, herbal laxatives can cause an abrupt drop in weight from loss of fluid and feces, but they can also lead to physical or psychological dependency. Herbal laxatives should not be used for extended periods of time.

Types

• Psyllium husk is one of the most commonly used forms of herbal laxative. Though it is technically a bulk fiber source--not a true laxative--psyllium can healthily encourage feelings of fullness, while promoting the regular activity in the bowels. Senna, a stimulant laxative, is often used alone or in combination with psyllium husk, and is an extremely popular herbal weight loss remedy. Aloe vera was once used as a laxative, but commercial preparations no longer contain aloin (the active laxative compound) due to FDA regulation.

Mechanism

• Herbal laxatives encourage bowels to empty themselves before the calories and nutrients are absorbed. Since they hinder nutrient absorption, fewer calories are converted into fat. Bulk-fiber laxatives, like psyllium husk, can also "trick" the person into feeling full by expanding in the stomach and colon. On a short-term basis, herbal laxatives can cause weight loss by ridding the body of water and feces; however, this abrupt loss of weight is only temporary.

Safety

• Fiber-based laxatives also offer a number of health benefits beyond standard weight loss, and they are associated with few side effects. However, stimulant-based laxatives can cause cramping, diarrhea and even short-term loss of bowel control. When used on a long-term basis, all laxatives can cause the user to become physically dependent on them, and they may block the absorption of critical nutrients. The overuse of laxatives for weight loss can also be seen as a form of bulimia nervosa, a serious eating disorder.