aperient
/əˈpɪərɪənt
/Medicine
adjective
(Chiefly of a drug) used to relieve constipation.The routine use of Triphala each morning is thought to detoxify the body and restore the integrity of the entire digestive tract, with a perfect balance between its astringent, demulcent, digestive, and aperient properties....
- In the spring time of the year, the judicious use of aperient medicines is much to be commended.
- All parts of the plant, but especially the root, are slightly aperient.
noun
A drug used to relieve constipation.The aperient to which the author appears to give the preference over all others is senna....
- Aperients should not be given if any doubt about cause of constipation exists.
- Besides alcohol and ether, the patient took vast quantities of aperients, thyroid preparations and various salts, as well as homoeopathic preparations.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Latin aperient- 'opening', from aperire.