Pharmaceutics does not stand still. Pharmaceutical companies release new medications basing on latest discoveries and relegate old preparations to oblivion. So, until recently, Soviet women striving to lose weight in an emergency way knew that there is the Glauber’s salt which is sold for a mere trifle in every drugstore. Today a pharmacist will shrug his shoulders at such request. In fact, there is only one place where you can still buy this product – in a veterinary clinic. And this is because this product was replaced at the market by a more successful analog, magnesium sulfate. However, there are differences between these laxatives.
Brief Description
The full chemical name: decahydrate crystals of sodium sulfate.
Other names:
- Glauber’s salt;
- Siberian salt;
- Mirabilite;
- Sodium sulfate;
- Gujir.
Chemical formula: Na2SO4 · 10H2O.
Dosage form: large-crystal powder of white color.
Description:
- large, transparent crystals;
- geometric shape of crystals – prisms;
- bitter-salty flavor;
- odorless;
- melts quickly in the mouth, dissolves instantly in water;
- does not burn;
- on prolonged exposure to air and during heating weathers and loses weight;
- after complete weathering it becomes a regular sodium sulfate.
The main purpose: laxative.
Method of administration: oral, after dissolving in water.
Pharmacokinetics: is not absorbed in the intestine.
Sources:
- it is a mineral mined in Canada, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Western Siberia;
- seawater;
- mineral springs of the health resorts Carlsbad and Marienbad (the Czech Republic);
- raids and scales on the deposits of rock salt and gypsum.
From history: it was discovered in winter of 1626 by the German alchemist, chemist, pharmacist and physician Johann Rudolph Glauber in mineral water.
Origin of the name. Glauber called the discovered substance mirabilite because in Latin “mirabile” means wonderful. And this salt did save him from typhus when he was in the gravest condition.
The Main Issue
In medicine and veterinary medicine Glauber’s salt is used as an effective rapidly acting laxative. No wonder it is so popular for weight loss. The problem is that not so long ago it was deleted from the Register of Medicinal Products for People and it remained only as a remedy for animals.
That is why the main question that worries those who want to get rid of extra kilograms with the help of mirabilite is whether it is possible for a human to drink a solution of the powder sold in veterinary pharmacies and pet stores.
Many sources claim that Glauber’s salt which the doctors prescribed to their patients as a laxative in the Soviet years does not differ from the one used in veterinary medicine today. On the one hand, it is true that both preparations are the same pure powder without any impurities. On the other hand, one has to remember that the requirements for medicines appointed for treatment of people and animals differ.
Glauber’s salt
Today no doctor will officially appoint this preparation for treatment of their patients. Although there are tons of positive reviews on weight loss with its help. Therefore, if you decide to use this weight loss method, you need to realize that you will have to take full responsibility for the consequences. Are you eager to drink a preparation on the packaging of which there are warnings “For veterinary use”, “For animals”, “Veterinary use”?
For weight loss with the same success you can use many other laxatives which are its functional analogs and are nevertheless approved by official medicine – the same magnesium sulfate, for example. Yes, mirabilite works faster, but it also irritates the intestinal walls aggressively and it has many more side effects.
Besides, you should not order from dubious Internet resources colorful jars labeled “Glauber’s salt for people” or “Glauber’s salt for weight loss”, etc. It is a cheatery.
Effect
Beneficial properties for health:
- helps with constipation;
- improves digestion;
- normalizes metabolism;
- stimulates bile production;
- alleviates the symptoms of poisoning;
- blocks poisoning substances which get into gastrointestinal tract along with food and does not let them to be absorbed into blood.
The main indications for use of Glauber’s salt in the Soviet medicine are constipation and severe forms of poisoning.
Effect on weight loss:
- activates intestinal peristalsis having laxative effect;
- thanks to that the gastrointestinal tract is cleaned from fecal masses;
- binds poisoning substances in the stomach and removes them from the body;
- improves lymph flow;
- removes excess fluid, having diuretic properties (not as strong as the laxative properties);
- cleanses the body.
Mirabilite promotes weight reduction through removing stools, toxins, slags and other waste products as well as excess fluid. However, the fat deposits do not disappear.
It is interesting. The novel by Paustovsky “Kara Bugaz” tells about Glauber’s salt mining in Turkmenistan. After its publication the colleagues called the writer “mirabilite of our literature”.
Possible Harm
Before weight loss with the help of any medications it is usually recommended to undergo medical checkup and consultation with a doctor and nutritionist. However, such recommendation is totally useless in case of Glauber’s salt: no professional doctor will prescribe veterinary preparation to a human. Therefore, if you decide to resort to such an extreme weight loss method, you will have to rely only on yourself. At least you should know about the contraindications and side effects.
Contraindications:
- individual intolerance;
- avitaminosis;
- anemia;
- dehydration;
- severe diseases of gastrointestinal tract, any bowel disorders (especially diarrhea);
- cholecystitis;
- aggravation of any chronic diseases;
- pregnancy, breastfeeding;
- childhood and senility.
Side effects:
- dehydration;
- deficiency in minerals, vitamins and other useful substances which are not absorbed by the body because of mirabilite and are actively excreted immediately after entering the gastrointestinal tract;
- prolonged uncontrolled diarrhea;
- vomiting (rare, but possible);
- poor health;
- excessive paleness of the skin;
- bags and bruises under the eyes;
- weakness, lethargy, drowsiness;
- changes in mood, irritability;
- allergic reaction.
Taking into account the rather impressive list of side effects it is not surprising that Glauber’s salt had been replaced by magnesium sulfate. It does not have such aggressive effect on the gastric mucosa.
Application
Self-use of Glauber’s salt as a laxative for weight loss is problematic because the instruction of this preparation is given for animals. There you will find dosages for horses, cattle, deer, sheep, etc. It is not relevant for people. That is why it is necessary to use this preparation according to recommendations of those who have already lost weight with its help.
First of all, you can find recipes for weight loss based on Glauber’s salt from them. Here are some of the most widespread and, judging by the reviews, effective examples. All
