Pharmacology does not stand still. Based on the latest discoveries, drug manufacturers are releasing new medications, causing old drugs to be forgotten. So recently, Soviet women who were planning to lose weight quickly knew that they had Glauber’s salt, which was sold for pennies at every pharmacy. Today, a pharmacist will throw up their hands at such a request. After all, the only place where you can currently purchase this product is at a veterinary clinic. And all because it was replaced on the market by a more successful analogue — magnesium sulfate. Nevertheless, there is a difference between these laxatives.
Brief description
Full chemical name: sodium sulfate decahydrate.
Alternative names:
Sal glauberi;
Siberian salt;
mirabilite;
sodium sulfate;
gujir.
Chemical formula: Na2SO4 · 10H2O.
Release form: coarse-crystalline white powder.
Description:
large transparent crystals;
the geometric shape of the crystals is prisms;
taste is bitter-salty;
odor is absent;
quickly melts in the mouth, instantly dissolves in water;
does not burn;
weathers with prolonged contact with air and upon heating, losing mass;
after complete weathering it becomes simple sodium sulfate.
Main purpose: laxative.
Method of administration: oral, after dissolving in water.
Pharmacokinetics: not absorbed in the intestine.
Sources:
it is a mineral mined in Canada, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Western Siberia;
seawater;
mineral waters of the resorts of Karlovy Vary, Marienbad (Czech Republic);
scale and crusts on the deposits of rock salt and gypsum.
From history: First discovered in the winter of 1626 by the German alchemist, chemist, pharmacist, and physician Johann Rudolf Glauber in the composition of mineral waters.
Origin of the name. Glauber named the substance he discovered mirabilite, since in translation from Latin “mirabile” means wonderful. After all, this salt cured him of typhus when he was in extremely serious condition.
Main problem
In medicine and veterinary medicine, Glauber’s salt is used as an effective, fast-acting laxative. It is not surprising that it is so in demand for weight loss. The problem is that not so long ago it was removed from the register of medicines for humans and was left only as a means for treating animals.
Therefore, many who want to get rid of extra weight with the help of mirabilite are worried about the main question: can a person drink a solution of powder sold in veterinary pharmacies and clinics.
Many sources claim that Glauber’s salt, which was prescribed by doctors to their patients as a laxative in Soviet times, is no different from that used in veterinary medicine today. On the one hand, indeed, both drugs are available in the form of a pure powder, without impurities. On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that the requirements for medicines intended for the treatment of humans and animals are different.
Glauber’s salt
No doctor today will officially prescribe this drug for the treatment of his patient. Although a huge number of positive reviews about losing weight with its help can be found. Therefore, when deciding on such a method of losing weight, it should be borne in mind that all responsibility for the consequences will have to be taken upon oneself. Are you ready to drink a drug that has the following labels on its packaging: “For veterinary use”, “For animals”, “For veterinary use”?
For weight loss, you can just as successfully use a lot of other laxatives, which are functional analogues, but are approved by official medicine — the same magnesium sulfate. Yes, mirabilite acts faster, but at the same time it aggressively irritates the intestinal walls and has much more side effects.
Moreover, you should not order bright jars with the label “Glauber’s salt for people” or “Glauber’s salt for weight loss”, etc. on dubious Internet resources. This is a scam.
Action
Health benefits:
helps with constipation;
improves digestion;
normalizes metabolism;
stimulates bile formation;
relieves symptoms in case of poisoning;
blocks toxic substances that enter the gastrointestinal tract with food, preventing them from being absorbed into the blood.
The main indications for the use of Glauber’s salt in Soviet medicine were constipation and severe forms of poisoning.
Effect when losing weight:
activates intestinal peristalsis, having a laxative effect;
this frees the gastrointestinal tract from stagnant fecal masses;
binds to toxic substances in the stomach and removes them from the body;
improves lymph flow;
relieves excess fluid, having diuretic properties (not as strong as laxatives);
cleanses the body.
Mirabilite promotes weight loss by removing fecal matter, toxins, toxins and other waste, as well as excess fluid. However, fat deposits do not disappear anywhere.
It is interesting. Paustovsky’s story “Kara-Bugaz” tells about the extraction of Glauber’s salt in Turkmenistan. After its publication, colleagues began to call the writer “the mirabilite of our literature”.
Possible harm
Usually, before losing weight with the help of any medications, it is recommended to undergo a medical examination and get advice from a doctor and a nutritionist. However, with Glauber’s salt, such advice is completely useless: not a single professional physician will prescribe a veterinary medicine for a person. Therefore, when deciding on such an extreme way to lose weight, you will have to rely only on yourself. At the very least, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the contraindications and side effects.
Contraindications:
individual intolerance;
avitaminosis;
anemia;
dehydration;
serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, any intestinal disorders (especially diarrhea);
cholecystitis;
exacerbation of any chronic diseases;
pregnancy, lactation;
childhood and old age.
Side effects:
dehydration;
deficiency of minerals, vitamins and other useful substances, which, due to mirabilite, are not absorbed by the body and are actively removed from it as soon as they enter the gastrointestinal tract;
prolonged, uncontrolled diarrhea;
vomiting (rare, but possible);
worsening of health;
excessive pallor of the skin;
bags and bruises under the eyes;
weakness, lethargy, drowsiness;
sudden mood swings, irritability;
allergic reaction.
Given the fairly extensive list of side effects, it is not surprising that Glauber’s salt was replaced by magnesium sulfate. It does not act so aggressively on the gastric mucosa.
Application
Self-use of Glauber’s salt
