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| food stores and you can brew cascara tea by pouring 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon shredded bark and letting the infusion stand for 1 hour. Take up to 2 cups daily on an empty stomach until the condition is relieved, which shouldn't take long. Do not use fresh cascara bark; it should have dried for at least 1 year for best results. |
| American senna (Cassia marilandica) is a more powerful laxative and can cause cramps or griping unless combined with aromatic herbs such as ginger and chamomile. To brew senna tea, combine 4 tablespoons senna, 1 teaspoon dried ginger or 1 tablespoon fresh ginger and 2 cups water in a covered pan. Bring just to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat, add 1 tablespoon dried chamomile blossoms and/or 1 tablespoon fennel seed, replace cover and let stand an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Take in 1/4 cup doses every few hours. Senna usually relieves constipation within 6 to 8 hours. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy or by the elderly. |
| Another herb that relieves constipation is yellow dock root (Rumex crispus). Best known as a tonic for the blood and as a treatment for skin disorders, yellow dock promotes bile production, improves digestion and acts as a mild laxative. To brew yellow dock tea, combine 1 teaspoon herb with 1 cup water, bring to a boil in a covered pan, reduce heat and simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, then let stand another 5 to 10 minutes. If desired, add 1 teaspoon of an aromatic herb such as chamomile when you remove the pan from the stove. Drink in 1/4 cup doses throughout the day. Ten drops of yellow dock tincture daily will also prevent constipation. |
| A dark tar made of boiled aloe vera leaves used to be a popular laxative, but this powerful cathartic remedy is no longer aloe vera's claim to fame. Today aloe vera is best known for the soothing gel found in its green and yellow leaves. Its bitter cathartic chemicals are found in the skin of the leaves, which is why plain or clear aloe vera juice or gel does not have a pronounced laxative action. However, capsules containing whole leaf extracts are sold in health food stores and any ''whole leaf'' aloe vera product will have a |
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