cathartic (redirected from Catharsis (medicine))

cathartic /ca·thar·tic/ (-tik)

1. causing emptying of the bowels.

2. an agent that empties the bowels.

3. producing emotional catharsis.

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bulk cathartic  one stimulating bowel evacuation by increasing fecal volume.

lubricant cathartic  one that acts by softening the feces and reducing friction between them and the intestinal wall.

saline cathartic  one that increases fluidity of intestinal contents by retention of water by osmotic forces and indirectly increases motor activity.

stimulant cathartic  one that directly increases motor activity of the intestinal tract.

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ca·thar·tic (k-thärtk)

adj.

Inducing catharsis; purgative.

n.

An agent for purging the bowels, especially a laxative.

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cathartic

[kəthär′tik]

Etymology: Gk, katharsis, cleansing

1  adj, pertaining to a substance that causes evacuation of the bowel.

2  n, an agent that promotes bowel evacuation by stimulating peristalsis, increasing the fluidity or bulk of intestinal contents, softening the feces, or lubricating the intestinal wall. The term cathartic implies a fluid evacuation, in contrast to laxative, which implies the elimination of a soft, formed stool. Cathartics that increase peristalsis, usually by irritating intestinal mucosa, include certain plant substances, such as aloe, colocynth, croton oil, podophyllum senna, phenolphthalein, bisacodyl, and dehydrocholic acid. Saline cathartics, such as sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium hydroxide, dilute the intestinal contents by retaining water through osmotic forces. Suppositories containing sodium biphosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, and sodium bicarbonate induce defecation when the salts react to form carbon dioxide and the expanding gas stimulates peristalsis. Also called coprogogue [kop′rəgōg] . catharsis, n.

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cathartic,

n a substance that expels material from or cleanses the gastrointestinal tract.

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cathartic

1. causing bowel evacuation, usually of liquid feces; an agent that so acts.

2. producing catharsis.

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bulk cathartic

one stimulating bowel evacuation by increasing fecal volume.

irritant cathartic

contact irritants that directly or indirectly cause diarrhea. May cause superpurgation in susceptible animals, especially horses. Drastic purgatives such as croton oil are no longer used. Castor oil, danthron, senna and cascara are still used, but much less than more bland agents such as mineral oil.

lubricant cathartic

one that acts by softening the feces and reducing friction between them and the intestinal wall.

osmotic cathartic

agents which retain water into the intestinal lumen, thereby producing liquid feces; includes saline cathartics (below).

saline cathartic

one that increases fluidity of intestinal contents by retention of water by osmotic forces, and indirectly increases motor activity.

stimulant cathartic

one that directly increases motor activity of the intestinal tract.

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cathartic

adjective Referring to 1 Catharsis, see there 2. An evacuative therapeutic agent Mainstream medicine noun A purgative, laxative