Pharmacology is constantly developing. Using new knowledge, pharmaceutical companies introduce new products to the market, replacing the old ones. More recently, any Soviet woman who wanted to quickly lose extra weight knew that she could buy the cheap Glauber’s salt at any pharmacy. Today, a pharmacist would be surprised to hear such a request. Currently, this drug is sold only in veterinary pharmacies. The fact is that it was replaced on the market with a more effective analogue — magnesium sulfate. However, there are differences between these laxatives.
Brief description
Full chemical name: sodium sulfate decahydrate.
Other names:
- Glauber’s salt;
- Siberian salt;
- Epsom salt;
- sodium sulfate;
- gujir.
Chemical formula: Na2SO4 · 10H2O.
Release form: white, coarse-grained powder.
Description:
- large, transparent crystals;
- geometric shape of crystals — prism;
- bitter-salty taste;
- odorless;
- melts rapidly in the mouth, dissolves instantly in water;
- does not burn;
- loses weight for a long time in the air and under the influence of high temperatures;
- after complete weathering, crystals turn into simple sodium sulfate.
Main purpose: laxative.
Route of administration: orally, dissolved in water.
Pharmacokinetics: not absorbed in the intestines.
Sources:
- mineral mined in Canada, Georgia, Turkmenistan, and Western Siberia,
- sea water;
- mineral water from the resorts of Karlovy Vary and Marienbad (Czech Republic);
- plaques and crusts on deposits of rock salt and gypsum.
History of creation: first discovered in the 1626 winter by the German alchemist, chemist, pharmacist, and physician Johann Rudolph Glauber who isolated it from mineral water.
The origin of the name Glauber named the substance he discovered “mirabilite,” which can be translated from Latin as “wonderful.” This salt really cured him of typhoid fever when he was seriously ill.
Main problem
In medicine and veterinary science, Glauber’s salt is used as an effective fast-acting laxative. Therefore, it is no wonder that it is so popular among those losing weight. The problem is that not so long ago, it was excluded from the register of medical products for people, remaining only as a veterinary drug.
Therefore, the main question that worries people who want to lose weight with mirabilite is whether it is possible to drink a solution of the powder sold in veterinary pharmacies and clinics.
Many sources claim that Glauber’s salt, which was once prescribed as a laxative by doctors in the USSR, is no different from the one currently used in veterinary medicine. On the one hand, it is true that both substances are available as a pure powder without any impurities. On the other hand, one must take into account that the requirements for drugs intended for the treatment of humans and animals are different.
Glauber’s salt
Currently, no doctor will officially prescribe this drug to patients for treatment. Although, on the Internet, you can find many positive reviews about successful weight loss with its help. Therefore, if you nevertheless decide on this method of losing weight, it is important to realize that you will bear full responsibility for the consequences. Are you ready to use a drug on which the packaging says: “For animal use only”, “For animals”, “For use in veterinary medicine only”?
It is just as easy to use any other laxatives, which are functional analogues but approved by official medicine, for example, magnesium sulfate, to lose weight. Of course, mirabilite acts faster, but it is much more irritating to the intestinal mucosa and has many more side effects.
Moreover, you should not order bright cans with “Glauber’s salt for people” or “Glauber’s salt for weight loss”, etc., from dubious Internet resources. This is a hoax.
Impact
Beneficial features for the body:
- helps with constipation;
- improves digestion;
- normalizes metabolism;
- stimulates bile secretion;
- relieves symptoms of poisoning;
- binds toxic substances that have entered the gastrointestinal tract with food, preventing their absorption into the bloodstream.
The main indications for the use of Glauber’s salt in Soviet medicine were constipation and severe forms of poisoning.
Effect on weight loss:
- activates intestinal peristalsis, causing a laxative effect;
- thereby clears the digestive tract of stagnant feces;
- binds toxins in the stomach and removes them from the body;
- improves lymph flow;
- removes excess fluid due to its diuretic properties (less noticeable than laxative properties);
- cleanses the body.
Mirabilite contributes to weight loss by removing feces, toxins, slags, other waste products, and excess fluid. However, fat deposits are not eliminated.
Interesting fact. Paustovsky’s story “Kara-Bugaz” describes the process of mining Glauber’s salt in Turkmenistan. After its publication, fellow writers began to call the author “the mirabilite of our literature.”
Possible harm
With any weight loss through medications, it is generally recommended to undergo a medical examination and consult with a therapist and nutritionist. However, such advice is absolutely useless when it comes to Glauber’s salt: no certified doctor will ever prescribe a veterinary drug to a person. Therefore, if you nevertheless decide on such an extreme method of losing weight, you can only rely on yourself. At the very least, you should familiarize yourself with all contraindications and side effects.
Contraindications:
- individual intolerance;
- vitamin deficiency;
- anemia;
- dehydration;
- serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, any intestinal problems (especially diarrhea);
- cholecystitis;
- exacerbation of any chronic diseases;
- pregnancy, breastfeeding;
- childhood or old age.
Side effects:
- dehydration;
- deficiency of minerals, vitamins, and other useful substances that the body does not absorb due to mirabilite and are actively excreted from the body even together with food entering the digestive system;
- prolonged uncontrolled diarrhea;
- vomiting (rarely, but possible);
- deterioration of health;
- severe pallor of the skin;
- bags and dark circles under the eyes;
- weakness, lethargy, drowsiness;
- sharp mood swings, irritability;
- allergic reactions.
Given such a wide range of side effects, it is no wonder that Glauber’s salt was replaced with magnesium sulfate. It does less harm to the gastric mucosa.
Application
Self-medication with Glauber’s salt as a laxative for weight loss is a complex process because the instructions for use are intended for animals. It contains dosages for horses, cattle, reindeer, sheep, etc. None of this information applies to humans. Therefore, the drug should be used in accordance with the recommendations of people who managed to lose weight with its help.
First of all, you can find recipes for losing weight with Glauber’s salt. Here are some of the most popular and effective (according to reviews). All of them must be prepared fresh and used immediately.
Solution
Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Glauber’s salt in one glass of warm water. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach. Take for 1–2 days before the expected relief.
With tartar
Mix 1 tablespoon of Glauber’s salt
