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26-489: See text Borassus ( palmyra palm ) is a genus of five species of fan palms , native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Papua New Guinea . These massive palms can grow up to 30 m (98 ft) high and have robust trunks with distinct leaf scars; in some species, the trunk develops a distinct swelling just below the crown, though for unknown reasons. The leaves are fan-shaped, 2–3 m (6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in) long, with spines along

52-503: A randomized controlled trial found PEG (MiraLax or GlycoLax) 17 grams once per day to be superior to tegaserod at 6 mg twice per day. A randomized controlled trial found greater improvement from two sachets (26 g) of PEG versus two sachets (20 g) of lactulose. 17 g per day of PEG has been effective and safe in a randomized, controlled trial for six months. Another randomized, controlled trial found no difference between sorbitol and lactulose. For children, PEG

78-473: A vegetable or roasted and pounded to make meal. The fruits are eaten roasted or raw, as are the young, jelly-like seeds. A sugary sap , called toddy , can be obtained from the young inflorescence, both male and female, and this is fermented to make a beverage called arrack , or concentrated to produce a crude sugar called jaggery / palm sugar . It is called gula Jawa ( Javanese sugar) in Indonesia and

104-424: A house. It is also used for baskets, mats, hats, and more. The fruit is eaten by many. The fruit is called nungu. This fruit is also used to make sweets. The wood is used for making beds, tables, chairs, cabinets and much more. In ancient times, this plant's bark was used to make pencils to write on banana leaves. The Sri Lankan government has created a separate Palmyra Development Board for the sectoral development and

130-495: A process designed to prepare the bowel for surgery or colonoscopy and to treat certain types of poisoning . Brand names for these solutions include GoLytely, GlycoLax, Cosmocol, CoLyte, Miralax, Movicol, NuLytely, Suprep, and Fortrans. Solutions of sorbitol (SoftLax) have similar effects. Saline laxatives are nonabsorbable, osmotically active substances that attract and retain water in the intestinal lumen, increasing intraluminal pressure that mechanically stimulates evacuation of

156-612: Is a current drug approved for use in the EU since October 15, 2009, in Canada (brand name Resotran) since December 7, 2011, and in the United States since December 2018. Lubiprostone is used in the management of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. It causes the intestines to produce a chloride-rich fluid secretion that softens the stool, increases motility, and promotes spontaneous bowel movements. For adults,

182-404: Is seen growing around Angkor Wat . Palmyra palms can live for over 100 years. In ancient India, palmyra leaves were used as writing paper , with their parallel veins providing a useful rule. In India, mature leaves of suitable size, shape, and texture were chosen and preserved by boiling in salt water with turmeric powder. Once dry enough, the leaf surfaces were polished with pumice , cut to

208-601: Is the most common acid-base imbalance observed. Other significant adverse effects include rhabdomyolysis , steatorrhoea , inflammation and ulceration of colonic mucosa, pancreatitis , kidney failure , factitious diarrhea and other problems. The colon will need more quantities of laxatives to keep functioning, this will result in a lazy colon, infections, irritable bowel syndrome, and potential liver damage. Although some patients with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa abuse laxatives in an attempt to lose weight, laxatives act to speed up

234-501: Is widely used in Javanese cuisine. The roots can be dried to form odiyal , a hard, chewable snack. In addition, the tree sap is taken as a laxative , and medicinal value has been ascribed to other parts of the plant. The palmyra tree ( பனை மரம் ) is the official tree of Tamil Nadu ; it is highly respected and used by the people. The leaf of the tree is used for fan making. It is also placed for roofs. The leaves are placed on top of

260-496: The enteric nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract . However, some have been discontinued or restricted due to potentially harmful cardiovascular side effects. Tegaserod (brand name Zelnorm ) was removed from the general U.S. and Canadian markets in 2007, due to reports of increased risks of heart attack or stroke. It is still available to physicians for patients in emergency situations that are life-threatening or require hospitalization. Prucalopride (brand name Resolor)

286-494: The intestines (lower part of the digestive tract ). Properties Bulk-forming agents generally have the gentlest of effects among laxatives, making them ideal for long-term maintenance of regular bowel movements. Foods that help with laxation include fiber-rich foods. Dietary fiber includes insoluble fiber and soluble fiber , such as: Emollient laxatives, also known as stool softeners, are anionic surfactants that enable additional water and fats to be incorporated in

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312-581: The osmotic effect, which retains water in the colon; lowering the pH through bacterial fermentation to lactic, formic, and acetic acids; and increasing colonic peristalsis . Lactulose is also indicated in portal-systemic encephalopathy . Glycerin suppositories work mostly by hyperosmotic action, but the sodium stearate in the preparation also causes local irritation to the colon. Solutions of polyethylene glycol and electrolytes ( sodium chloride , sodium bicarbonate , potassium chloride , and sometimes sodium sulfate ) are used for whole bowel irrigation ,

338-558: The petiole margins (no spines in B. heineanus ). The leaf sheath has a distinct cleft at its base, through which the inflorescences appear; old leaf sheaths are retained on the trunk, but fall away with time. All Borassus palms are dioecious , with male and female flowers on separate plants; male flowers are less than 10 mm (0.39 in) long and in semicircular clusters, sandwiched between leathery bracts in pendulous catkins ; female flowers are 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) wide, globe-shaped and solitary, sitting directly on

364-621: The subfamily Coryphoideae , though a few genera in subfamily Calamoideae ( Mauritia , Mauritiella and Lepidocaryum ) also have palmate leaves. Fan palm genera include: Fan palm can also be used as part of the common name of particular genera or species . Among the palms commonly known as fan palms are: The travellers palm ( Ravenala madagascariensis ), Phenakospermum ( P. guyannense ), white bird of paradise ( Strelitzia nicolai ), and New Guinea fan palm ( Cordyline fruticosa ) are sometimes called fan palms, because of their leaves' distinctive shape; however none are members of

390-510: The Indian government has also funded for the research. The project is aimed at reviving the palmyra palm industry in Jaffna district, which has over 3.5 million trees. Fan palm Fan palm as a descriptive term can refer to any of several different kinds of palms ( Arecaceae ) in various genera with leaves that are palmately lobed (rather than pinnately compound). Most are members of

416-546: The bowel. Magnesium-containing agents also cause the release of cholecystokinin , which increases intestinal motility and fluid secretion. Saline laxatives may alter a patient's fluid and electrolyte balance. Properties Stimulant laxatives are substances that act on the intestinal mucosa or nerve plexus , altering water and electrolyte secretion. They also stimulate peristaltic action and can be dangerous under certain circumstances. Properties Prolonged use of stimulant laxatives can create drug dependence by damaging

442-625: The colon's haustral folds , making users less able to move feces through their colon on their own. A study of patients with chronic constipation found that 28% of chronic stimulant laxative users lost haustral folds over the course of one year, while none of the control group did. Castor oil is a glyceride that is hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase to ricinoleic acid , which produces laxative action by an unknown mechanism. Properties Long-term use of castor oil may result in loss of fluid, electrolytes, and nutrients. These are motility stimulants that work through activation of 5-HT 4 receptors of

468-407: The most important trees of Cambodia and India, where it has over 800 uses. The leaves are used for thatching , mats , baskets , fans , hats , and umbrellas , and as writing material. In Sri Lanka , it is more common in the northern part of the country, where it has many uses including the production of jaggery from the syrup. In Cambodia, the tree is a national floral symbol/emblem that

494-481: The only nonprescription lubricant laxative available, but due to the risk of lipid pneumonia resulting from accidental aspiration, mineral oil is not recommended, especially in children and infants. Mineral oil may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and some minerals. Hyperosmotic laxatives cause the intestines to hold more water, creating an osmotic gradient , which adds more pressure and stimulates bowel movement. Properties Lactulose works by

520-698: The palm family (Arecaceae). Laxative Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant , lubricant , and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under certain circumstances. Sufficiently high doses of laxatives may cause diarrhea . Some laxatives combine more than one active ingredient, and may be administered orally or rectally . Bulk-forming laxatives, also known as roughage , are substances, such as fiber in food and hydrophilic agents in over-the-counter drugs , that add bulk and water to stools so they can pass more easily through

546-431: The proper size and a hole was cut in one corner. Each leaf has four pages and a stylus is used to write; the style is cursive and interconnected. Completed leaves are then tied up as sheaves. The black timber is hard, heavy, and durable and highly valued for construction , especially in structures exposed to water, such as wharves, fences, and boats. The tree yields many types of food. The young plants are cooked as

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572-493: The stool, making movement through the bowels easier. Properties Emollient agents prevent constipation rather than treating long-term constipation. Lubricant laxatives are substances that coat the stool with slippery lipids and decrease colonic absorption of water so the stool slides through the colon more easily. Lubricant laxatives also increase the weight of stool and decrease intestinal transit time. Properties Mineral oils , such as liquid paraffin , are generally

598-451: The surface of the inflorescence axis. The fruits are 150–250 mm (5.9–9.8 in) wide and roughly spherical, and each contains one to three large seeds. Depending on the species, fruit colour varies from black to brown, yellow, or orange; the fibrous pulp is aromatic and sweet to taste. Each seed is enclosed in a woody endocarp , which protects it when the fruit is consumed by elephants, monkeys, and other frugivores . At germination ,

624-407: The transit of feces through the large intestine, which occurs after the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine is already complete. Thus, studies of laxative abuse have found that effects on body weight reflect primarily temporary losses of body water rather than energy (calorie) loss. Physicians warn against the chronic use of stimulant laxatives due to concern that chronic use could cause

650-564: The young seedling extends downwards into the soil and only a few leaves are visible above ground; this provides some protection against frequent fires in its savanna habitat; after an indeterminate number of years (the establishment phase), the seedling forms a stem and quickly grows above the savanna vegetation, where it is then less vulnerable to fire. Palmyra palms are economically useful and widely cultivated, especially in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The palmyra palm has long been one of

676-519: Was found to be more effective than lactulose. Some of the less significant adverse effects of laxative abuse include dehydration (which causes tremors, weakness, fainting, blurred vision, kidney damage), low blood pressure , fast heart rate , postural dizziness and fainting ; however, laxative abuse can lead to potentially fatal acid-base , and electrolyte imbalances . For example, severe hypokalaemia has been associated with distal renal tubular acidosis from laxative abuse. Metabolic alkalosis

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