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To treat constipation, many people seek out natural laxatives. Natural laxatives are agents derived from natural sources used for treating the condition of constipation. There are a number of such agents, some of which are supposed to be taken like an herb and others like foodstuff. Broadly they can be categorized into two types: the herbal agents and the fiber supplement agents. One question for both consumers and entrepreneurs is the nature of the laxative market.

For starters, statistics indicate that approximately 5-15% of all people suffer from constipation at one time or another. Given that the population fo the U.S. is around 300 million, that means anywhere from 15 million to 45 million people suffer from constipation. Most people don’t seek treatment, but a substantial number will spend close to $700 million on OTC laxatives. Therefore, one might estimate that the potential market is approximately half a billion dollars or more.

The first category of natural laxatives is the nutrient type which act by containing lots of insoluble or soluble dietary fiber. Fiber is a sugar-like polymer molecule that’s differentiated by its ability to pass through the gut chemically unchanged. The human stomach and intestine doesn’t break down fiber nor does it extract nutrients from it. Many people have heard of bran muffins and bran cereals. Bran is the hard covering of grains that’s often discarded but can be kept as ingredients for its high fiber content.

In a regular diet, highly concentrated fiber can be found in certain fruits like avocados, pears and prunes. In addition, the presence of sorbitol enhances the anti-constipation effects of fiber. The downside to sticking to fruits for fiber is that one needs to eat a lot. High fiber supplements is by far a more convenient option.

The second category of natural laxatives is the herb type that are represented by the trifecta of aloe, cascara and senna. These three are plants that have been used for hundreds or thousands of years for their anti-constipation properties. Usually the FDA has stayed out of regulating herbal medicines, however in recent years it has stepped in and banned the labeling of cascara and aloe as “stimulant laxatives”.

Senna alone is sold specifically as a laxative at various outlets. It can be purchased in a number of different forms depending on the consumers’ preferences. The tea form is popular as it just needs to be brewed. After brewing the liquid will contain enough of the active sennoside compound to have an effect on bowel movements.

The big picture is that the market for natural laxatives remains big with potential for growth. The reason is that many people don’t respond to the first agent they try, and might switch once or twice to something else until they find a working product. In the future, diagnostics will eliminate trial-and-error but until then there will be opportunity for entrepreneurs to bring new products to market.

The site discusses how to select natural laxative agents. Obtain for free the latest news and facts concerning senna laxatives.

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