Either way, many experts believe that these types of laxatives are not good long-term solutions for constipation. We’re not sure about this anymore.Īt this time, we don’t know if melanosis coli is a bad thing or just a meaningless darkening of the colon. In years past, we thought that this was a bad thing and that melanosis coli could cause a cathartic colon, meaning a colon that has become dependent on laxatives. Long-term use of senna and cascara can cause discoloration of the colon, which is called melanosis coli. There are mixed thoughts about herbal laxatives, specifically those in the form of senna and cascara, which are the main component of a lot of cleanses that people may have heard of. I also see people in my practice who are using laxatives long-term. If you don’t have kidney or cardiac problems, magnesium can be safely used in low doses. In fact, magnesium citrate is used for colonoscopy prep because magnesium acts as an osmotic and causes stool evacuation. Many people use magnesium in the form of magnesium citrate or magnesium oxide. It’s safe to give probiotics a try, unless you have an immune deficiency, in which case you should avoid them. Whether probiotics help depends on the person. And although we find that probiotics can help about 20 to 30 percent of patients, they can sometimes make things worse and are not always a cure-all. Many people are now using probiotics for this purpose. I usually suggest psyllium husks to fluff up the stool and create easier, more frequent bowel movements. Traditionally, fiber has been the main supplement recommended to make people regular. However, too much fiber can create bulky stools and a lot of bowel activity, which some people don’t like.

Eating lots of vegetables and fibrous foods can bring people who have either too much diarrhea or too much constipation to the middle, which can balance things out. When you go to a gastroenterologist, they’ll talk to you about eating a high-fiber diet. Other factors could be insufficient pancreatic enzymes, gluten intolerance, or celiac disease.įood also affects the quality of stool. And depending on the kind of gas that’s produced-too much methane, hydrogen, or hydrogen sulfide gases-as well as the balance of these gases, this determines whether stools are loose or firm. People with IBS may have too much bacteria that creates excess gas. The next most common cause is irritable bowel syndrome, where bloating, gas, and diarrhea are due to the bacterial population in the bowel called the microbiome. Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, are a major reason for bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

Radi shamsi md