Cathartic

Overview
In medicine, a cathartic is a substance which accelerates defecation.

This is in contrast to a laxative, which is a substance which eases defecation, usually by softening the stool. It is possible for a substance to be both a laxative and a cathartic. However, agents such as psyllium seed husks increase the bulk of the stool.

Cathartics such as sorbitol are sometimes used in response to poisoning.

As an adjective, cathartic means psychotherapeutic, healthful, emotionally beneficial; releasing; emotionally purging: viewing art or listening to music may be a kind of cathartic experience.

In general cathartics are;


 * 1) causing emptying of the bowels.
 * 2) an agent that empties the bowels.
 * 3) producing emotional catharsis.
 * 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.