The majority of the population understand natural laxatives either through having tried some themselves or knowing someone who has. Natural laxatives are defined as therapeutic agents derived from natural sources that fight constipation. The natural sources vary from herbal elements to grain husks. In general, they fit into either one of two groups: high fiber substances, and herbal laxatives. For entrepreneurs and consumers of laxatives, an understanding of the natural laxative market is helpful for business decisions as well as product purchasing.
The starting point for knowing this market is knowing the prevalence of constipation, the underlying condition that necessitates use of laxatives. Constipation is estimated by academic researchers to afflict somewhere from 5 to 40 million people in the U.S. A large number don’t seek treatment, but those who do will spend over $600 million on laxatives. Therefore one expects that the potential market is a little bit over half a billion dollars and potentially 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.
From a dietary point of view, it’s not necessary to use supplements to get daily recommended allowances. Eating foods such as prunes, pears and oranges will provide not only fiber but also sorbitol which also aids in digestion. However, the convenience of supplements is what attracts many people to take it in place of lots of fruits and vegetables.
The second type of natural laxative is the herbal remedies which are represented by the big three: senna, cascara and aloe. All three are plants which have been shown to relieve constipation, but not all three have received equal approval from the FDA. Although the FDA is not in the position of regulating agents that are termed “natural herbal supplements” and for which there are no health claims, safety issues have forced its hand in stopping new products containing aloe and cascara from being sold.
The remaining herbal agent therefore is senna, which takes the lion’s share of the natural laxatives market. Senna is available in a variety of forms, including powders, capsules and teas. Originally derived from a bushy plant found in Asia and Africa, senna’s natural laxative properties have been exploited for hundreds of years. Its various forms mean that people may take it as a pill, or drink it with tea, or mix with with their favorite beverage for consumption.
The consensus is that constipation remains a large problem for many people, and represents a niche that is yet to be fully exploited. Because constipation is often a chronic condition that requires repeat treatment, many people find the notion of natural laxatives to be attractive. However, the long term consequences of taking natural agents remains unclear.
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