Pharmacology does not stand still. Based on the latest discoveries, drug manufacturers are releasing new drugs, relegating the old ones to oblivion. So, until recently, Soviet women, planning to lose weight in case of emergency, knew that they had glauber’s salt, which was sold for pennies in every pharmacy. Today, a pharmacist will spread their hands in response to such a request. After all, the only place where you can now buy this product is a veterinary clinic. And all because it was replaced by a more successful analogue on the market – magnesium sulfate. However, there is a difference between these laxatives.
Brief description
Full chemical name: decahydrate crystalline sodium sulfate.
Alternative names:
- Sal glauberi;
- Siberian salt;
- mirabilite;
- sodium sulfate;
- gujir.
Chemical formula: Na2SO4 10H2O.
Release form: coarse crystalline powder of white color.
Description:
- large transparent crystals;
- geometric shape of crystals – prisms;
- taste – bitter-salty;
- odor – absent;
- melts quickly in the mouth, instantly dissolves in water;
- does not burn;
- weathers away during prolonged contact with air and upon heating, losing weight;
- after complete weathering, it becomes simple sodium sulfate.
Main purpose: laxative.
Mode of administration: oral, after dissolving in water.
Pharmacokinetics: not absorbed in the intestines.
Sources:
- it is a mineral mined in Canada, Georgia, Turkmenistan, and Western Siberia;
- seawater;
- mineral waters of the resorts of Karlovy Vary, Marienbad (Czech Republic);
- deposits and crusts on saltpeter and gypsum deposits.
From history: first discovered in the winter of 1626 by German alchemist, chemist, pharmacist, and physician Johann Rudolph Glauber in the composition of mineral waters.
Origin of the name Glauber named the substance he discovered mirabilite, since in Latin “mirabile” means wonderful. After all, this salt cured him of typhus when he was in an extremely serious condition.
The 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 drugs for humans and was left only as a means for treating animals.
Therefore, many who want to get rid of excess weight with the help of mirabilite are concerned about the main question: is it possible for a person to drink a solution made from powder sold in veterinary pharmacies and clinics.
Many sources claim that glauber’s salt, which in Soviet times doctors prescribed to their patients as a laxative, is no different from that used in veterinary medicine today. On the one hand, it is true that both drugs are available as pure powder, without impurities. On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that the requirements for drugs 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 their patient. Although you can find a huge number of positive reviews about losing weight with its help. Therefore, deciding on such a method of losing weight, you need to keep in mind that you will have to take all responsibility for the consequences. Are you ready to drink a drug on the packaging of which there are notes: “For veterinary use”, “For animals”, “For veterinary use”?
To lose weight with the same success, you can 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 irritates the intestinal walls aggressively and has much more side effects.
Moreover, you should not order bright jars with the label “Glauber’s salt for humans” or “Glauber’s salt for weight loss”, etc. from questionable Internet resources. This is a scam.
Action
Health benefits:
- helps with constipation;
- improves digestion;
- normalizes metabolism;
- stimulates bile production;
- 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 are constipation and severe forms of poisoning.
Effect when losing weight:
- activates intestinal peristalsis, causing a laxative effect;
- this frees the gastrointestinal tract from stagnant stool;
- binds to toxic substances in the stomach and removes them from the body;
- improves lymph flow;
- eliminates excess fluid, having diuretic properties (not as potent as laxatives);
- cleanses the body.
Mirabilite promotes weight loss by removing feces, toxins, toxins, and other waste, as well as excess fluid. However, fat deposits do not disappear anywhere.
It is interesting In Paustovsky’s story “Kara-Bugaz” he talks 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 dietitian. However, with glauber’s salt, such advice is completely useless: not a single professional doctor will prescribe a veterinary drug for a person. Therefore, deciding on such an extreme method of losing weight, you will have to rely only on yourself. At the very least, you should familiarize 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 nutrients that, due to mirabilite, are not absorbed by the body and are actively excreted from it as soon as they enter the gastrointestinal tract;
- prolonged, uncontrolled diarrhea;
- vomiting (rare, but possible);
- deterioration of well-being;
- excessive pallor of the skin;
- bags and dark circles under the eyes;
- weakness, lethargy, drowsiness;
- sudden mood swings, irritability;
- allergic reaction.
Given the fairly large 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 stomach lining.
Application
Independent use of glauber’s salt as a laxative for weight loss is problematic because the instructions for the drug are written for animals. In it, you will find dosages for horses, cattle, deer, sheep, etc. All this is not relevant for humans. Therefore, you have to use the drug in accordance with the recommendations given by people who have managed to lose weight with its help.
First, you can learn about recipes for weight loss with glauber’s salt. Here are some of the
