What should one do when the digestive system doesn't function properly?
To purge...
Many people reach for drastic laxatives as a convenient solution when fast relief from constipation is desired. But beware! It is precisely vegetable laxatives which are referred to as "natural" which often harm more than they help. Their effect is so radical that they often lead to cramping and watery bowel evacuations. Furthermore, these preparations can also damage the intestinal mucosa. Although the drastic laxatives offer short-term relief, they do not restore normal, regulated digestive processes.
This means that one has to keep taking these remedies - often in ever-increasing dosages - often resulting in laxative dependencies and disorders in the water and electrolyte balance.
Therefore do not rely on drastic laxatives as your primary remedy!
...or to activate the digestion?
Duphalac® helps restore normal digestion in a safe and gentle way.
Duphalac® contains lactulose as its active substance, a special sugar which is obtained from milk, but which should nevertheless not to be confused with the milk sugar lactose!
Lactulose cannot be utilised by the human body, which makes it also suitable for diabetics. In contrast to milk sugar (lactose), lactulose triggers no hunger pangs and doesn't lead to weight gains.
Duphalac® is available in syrup form. After it is ingested, Duphalac® travels undigested through the stomach and the small intestine, eventually arriving at the large intestine - precisely the place where its effect is to be felt. Here it is split up into fragments by the intestinal bacteria which naturally occur there. These fragments hold back the water in the colon like roughage does, making the stool soft and voluminous. The bowel is well-filled, which accelerates the transport of its contents, thus triggering normal defecation. The purgative effect of Duphalac® takes place around two to ten hours after ingestion.
Our large intestine contains a wide variety of bacteria populations which are referred to as natural intestinal flora. These germs are of great importance for both digestion and overall health.
When we have a non-balanced diet or when the stool is retained for a very long period in the colon during times of constipation, disease agents (pathogens) - e.g. undesirable bacteria or fungi - can spread in the large intestine, reducing the amount of natural and useful intestinal flora.
A high-roughage mixed diet alone is not sufficient for quickly restoring the natural equilibrium. Here is where Duphalac® can also help, because this preparation is an ideal nutrient for the useful intestinal bacteria. Thanks to Duphalac, they multiply quickly and can thus once again aid digestion. The bacteria population gradually normalises itself until the intestinal flora responsible for maintaining health has been restored. Duphalac® is thus more than just a laxative.
When the "good" intestinal bacteria increase in numbers and normal digestion is restored, patients will sometimes experience increased amounts of flatulence. One must expect more flatulence in cases where the intestinal flora had been severely damaged. This will in any event be only temporary in nature and is a good sign that Duphalac® is effective and that the natural equilibrium is being re-established.
Properly functioning intestinal flora not only activates the digestive system, it also enhances the immune system and has a positive effect on one's sense of physical well-being and overall general health.
Duphalac® is both non-addictive and non-irritating to the bowel. Its effect is so mild that even pregnant women, nursing mothers and children may take Duphalac®. As a rule, the purgative effect of Duphalac® takes place after two to ten hours.
In isolated cases it can also take up to three days before the first bowel movement occurs. The success of Duphalac® can sometimes be delayed in situations where laxatives which are not suitable for long-term use have already been used and continue to be taken. It is recommended in such cases that the habitual laxative be reduced in stages while simultaneously increasing the Duphalac® dosage. It may take the body several weeks to complete the adjustment process.
Even small changes in your nutritional and lifestyle habits can contribute significantly to the activation of your digestion:
Eat a variety of foods, including ones high in roughage
Whole-grain products, legumes, fresh fruit, salad and vegetables are good providers of roughage and also contain large amounts of valuable vitamins and minerals. Instead of having white bread for breakfast, eat whole-grain bread or a hearty bowl of muesli. How about an appetiser of raw vegetables before your main meal? You are doing yourself a favour when you eat whole-grain noodles and brown rice, and a fresh fruit salad for dessert tastes at least as good as the usual pudding. Foodstuffs with high roughage content can be an improvement to your meals. You will find that high-roughage nutrition is not only "healthy" but also tasty, creative and smart.
Drink plenty of fluids
This means at least two litres per day. Treat yourself to a glass of freshly-squeezed fruit juice before breakfast and drink two large glasses of mineral water with each meal. In addition to the usual coffee or black tea, you should also have herbal teas, diluted fruit and vegetable juices and mineral water on hand. The question of whether or not you are drinking enough fluids can be answered by looking at the colour of your urine: it should be no darker than white wine.
Put some exercise in your daily routine
Sport and physical activity help to bring a sluggish intestine back into shape. This doesn't mean you need to become a high-performance athlete. Think about how you can incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine: maybe you could ride the bicycle to the office or the shops? Or you could take care of minor errands on foot. Climb the stairs instead of taking the lift and put away all those remote control units at home! Even such simple everyday activities promote movement in the intestine (peristalsis).
Heed your bowel signals
Take your time - particularly in the morning after breakfast. Do not suppress the bowel movement when you feel the signal from your intestines. Follow the urge and go to the toilet without delay. If you ignore this signal, your bowels will respond namely with immobility and non-evacuation.
Allow yourself periods of relaxation
It would be very good if you could learn a relaxation method such as autogenous training or yoga or if you observe at a minimum brief regular relaxation breaks during hectic daily routines. This allows you to give your bowel a moment of quiet as well: it can relax and be that much more effective later when it goes back to work.
For more on risks and side effects read the package insert and consult your doctor or pharmacist.
