Question: Are laxative gums and mucilage effective in combating constipation?

Answer: Laxative gums and mucilage are, in fact, effective treatments for constipation. As an added bonus they are also naturally occurring so they are healthy as well.

One of the active ingredients in the gums is sorbitol which is a sweetener that promotes the passage of stool. Mucilage contains an herb called psyllium husk which is the main ingredient in many colon cleansing products.

When these are taken in combination they can have a laxative effect on the body. The combination can assist in in helping you to have a bowel movement, but they should be used in measured doses.

The measured doses can be bought fairly easily in products such as  Colonix which uses psyllium husk as one of its main ingredients. Sorbitol is also fairly easy to find as it is the main ingredient in many sugar free chewing gums.

By chewing between fifteen and twenty sticks of sugarless gum a day you may notice a significant laxative effect. This is not usually recommended, but feel free to discuss the matter with your personal physician.

We hope that this has answered your question about laxative gums and mucilage, but if you would like more information please feel free to ask.