Cathartics definition

Adjective The adorably quirky twosome bond during a revelatory stroll through London that involves a cathartic run-in with an ex, spicy vittles, revealing chats and some light breaking-and-entering. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 6 June 2023 As cathartic as deleting your Twitter account can be, a long-standing online presence associated with a real person is a valuable commodity, even if the platform is not. — Max Eddy, PCMAG, 1 June 2023 Phenolphthalein, an organic compound used medicinally as a cathartic, was the word given to Srinidhi. — Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2023 The tone of the stories ranges from painful and cathartic to humorous and enlightening. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2023 El Día Antes del Día is a cathartic gem that takes Sie7e’s minimalist sound and pushes it into the future, blending elements of urbano music without compromising Sie7e’s style. — Lucas Villa, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2023 For most viewers, this remote but near-tangible experience will be sufficient; for anyone yearning to take a dive themselves, the doc braids the cautionary and the cathartic. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Jan. 2023 Regardless, women have long used their songs as cathartic vehicles to expunge their feelings following public breakups. — Leila Cobo, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2023 And yet, despite Monica’s abuse, James has the cathartic realization that their love for one another was all-enduring. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2022 Noun Some people find free-wr...

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. cathartic Herbal medicine adjective Referring to an evacuative therapeutic agent. noun A herb that evokes intestinal evacuation. Herbal cathartics • Black root—Leptandra virginica. • Butternut—Juglans cinerea. • Castor oil plant—Ricinus communis. • Jalapa—Ipomoea jalapa. • Mayapple—Podophyllum peltatum. • Mountain flax—Linum catharticum. • Rhubarb—Rheum palmatum. • Senna—Cassia acutifolia. Medspeak adjective Having the effect of or referring to a laxative. noun A laxative. Psychiatry adjective Referring to or having the effect of catharsis.

Laxatives are medicines that help resolve Laxatives may also be called cathartics or purgatives. What are laxatives used for? Laxatives are used to treat constipation if lifestyle changes have failed to resolve the constipation or if the person has a medical condition (such as Before taking a laxative it is important to be sure the person is actually constipated and that the constipation is not due to an underlying, undiagnosed condition. People's bowel habits vary and it does not mean that somebody is constipated if they do not pass a bowel motion every day. Constipation is usually defined as " The passage of hard stools less frequently than the person's normal bowel pattern". Laxatives should generally not be used long-term unless under medical supervision because they can cause electrolyte disturbances (such as Before using a laxative, lifestyle changes, such as drinking more fluid, exercising, and increasing the amount of vegetables and fiber in the diet should be tried first. Types of laxatives include: • Bulk-forming laxatives (such as fiber, psyllium, or polycarbophil). These absorb water in the bowel and swell to bulk out the stool making it softer and easier to pass • Emollient stool softeners (such as docusate). These moisten and lubricate the stool making it easier to pass • Osmotic laxatives (such as lactulose, and magnesium sulfate/hydroxide) draw fluid into the bowel and soften stools • Stimulant laxatives (such as senna or bisacodyl) promote contraction of t...

• • • American Academy Of Clinical Toxico; European Association Of Poisons Cen (2004). "Position paper: cathartics". Journal of Toxicology. Clinical Toxicology. 42 (3): 243–53. • Tamara McGregor; etal. (2009). "Evaluation and management of common childhood poisonings". Am Fam Physician. 79 (5): 397–403. • Roberts, James R.; Reigart, J. Routt (2013). (PDF). Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings (6thed.). Washington DC: Office of Pesticide Programs,

Enter search terms to find related medical topics, multimedia and more. Advanced Search: • Use “ “ for phrases o [ “pediatric abdominal pain” ] • Use – to remove results with certain terms o [ “abdominal pain” –pediatric ] • Use OR to account for alternate terms o [teenager OR adolescent ] Search A-Z Constipation is difficult or infrequent passage of stool, hardness of stool, or a feeling of incomplete evacuation. (See also Constipation in Children Constipation is responsible for up to 5% of pediatric office visits. It is defined as delay or difficulty in defecation. Normal frequency and consistency of stool varies with children's age... read more .) No bodily function is more variable and subject to external influences than defecation. Bowel habits vary considerably from person to person and are affected by age, physiology, diet, and social and cultural influences. Some people have unwarranted preoccupation with bowel habits. In Western society, normal stool frequency ranges from 2 to 3/day to 2 to 3/week. Many people incorrectly believe that daily defecation is necessary and complain of constipation if stools occur less frequently. Others are concerned with the appearance (size, shape, color) or consistency of stools. Sometimes the major complaint is dissatisfaction with the act of defecation or the sense of incomplete evacuation after defecation. Constipation is blamed for many complaints (abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, anorexia) that are actually symptoms of an under...