-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
digestive system
constipation
botanicals

primary herbs

Aloe spp.: slow acting in overcoming constipation (Ellingwood, p. 305)
Atropa belladonna (toxic): obstinate constipation (Ellingwood, p. 183)
Bryonia alba (toxic): infants, due to difficult digestion of cow's milk, hard stool dry, as if burnt (Harper-Shove, p. 79)
Cascara sagrada: muscular atony (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1656)
Cassia spp. (toxic) (senna): combine with other botanicals (NCNM botanicals)
Chelidonium majus (toxic): grayish, light or clay colored feces (Ellingwood, p. 315)
Chionanthus virginicus: light or clay colored feces, dry feces (Ellingwood, p. 314)
Hydrastis canadensis: sedentary life and much medication (Harper-Shove, p. 79)
Juglans cinerea: atony, flatulence; chronic constipation associated with dyspepsia, combines with Berberis aquifolium and Taraxacum officinale in mild constipation; with Rhamnus purshiana when necessary (Harper-Shove, p. 88; Priest and Priest, p. 98; British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 123)
Linum usitatissimum (linseed, flax seed): causes no irritation, inflamed mucous membranes (Weiss, p. 112; Felter and Lloyd, p. 1147)
Olea europaea (olive oil): rectal injection for impaction; constipation in children (Ellingwood, p. 308)
Plantago psyllium, ovata (seed): demulcent; use after soaking in water (NCNM Botanicals)
Rhamnus purshiana: chronic (Priest and Priest, p. 98)
Rheum officinale: atonic conditions of bowel, tonifies (Ellingwood, p. 304)
Rumex crispus: mild (NCNM Botanicals)
Taraxacum officinale (root): (NCNM Botanicals)
Veronicastrum virginicum: improves tone of gastrointestinal tract, liver (Ellingwood, p. 319)
Xanthoxylum americanum: atony, stimulates; insufficient secretion (Harper-Shove, p. 78)


complementary herbs

Caution
: patient may have bowel obstruction

• add demulcents, carminatives to balance formula
Juglans cinerea + Zingiber officinalis (prevents gripping) (Priest and Priest, p. 99)
Cassia spp. (toxic) + Mentha piperita + Foeniculum vulgare (seed) + Carum carvi, equal parts (Weiss, p. 108)

for full catharsis: Rheum officinalis + Dioscorea villosa + Zingiber officinalis (Priest and Priest, p. 99)

for long-term tone: Taraxacum officinale (root) (NCNM Botanicals)

Be sure patient is consuming sufficient fluid. Herbal teas most often act as a diuretic, hence often do not count as fluids. (Anderson Geller)


footnotes