Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Medicine for Purgative
                                    
                                 Chapter 3

  Herbal Medicine  for Purgative

Herbs inducing diarrhea or promoting laxation of bowels are defined as purgatives or purgative herbs.

Herbs of this type are often bitter in flavour, cold in nature, with lowering  and sinking actions, and have the effects of
loosening the bowels and eliminating stagnation, clearing heat and purging fire, dispelling fluid retention and reducing
edema. The digestive stagnation, interior excess of fire, the pathogens phlegm and water retention are released by
defecation. The drugs are indicated for syndromes of stagnative constipation, accumulation of heat of excess type in the
interior, edema and abdominal distention.

According to the strength of purgation and indications, the purgatives are divided into three types: purgatives, laxatives,
drastics and hydragogues. The effect of laxatives is mild and harmless to genuine Qi (energy); purgatives and
hydragogues have more potent actions. The hydragogues which are more toxic and most potent with the disadvantage
of causing impairment to the genuine Qi, must be used carefully.

When purgatives are used, attention should be paid to the following: in cases of interior syndrome accompanied by
exterior syndrome, the exterior syndrome should be treated first or the interior and exterior syndromes are treated
simultaneously; for patients with interior syndrome of excess type accompanied with deficiency of genuine Qi.
reinforcement with tonics and elimination with purgatives should be given in combination.

The purgatives must be stopped when the patient's condition improves. Over dosage of purgatives will injure genuine Qi
and should be avoided. As for the purgatives with toxic and violent effects, much attention should be paid to dosage,
administration and contraindications so as to ensure safety. (Aidus & E-fong Herbal Solution)