Posted by dna on August 5, 2003, at 9:48:17
In reply to Re: Triphala Triphala Triphala » babs, posted by Gabbix2 on December 23, 2002, at 22:27:07
I've had problems with constipation all of my life until I discovered Dieters' Tea. I've been drinking this tea for over 17 years. It is very habbit forming and addictive and works by stimulating the colon. It is a purgative that works only too well but does not permanently solve the underlying problem. I started with one bag in a cup of water and within a few years, worked my way to eight bags in a quart of water, steeping it for hours until it was as black as coffee. DO NOT USE THIS TEA!!! Although it is a natural herbal remedy, it is very dangerous and several deaths from heart failure have been linked to Dieters' Tea. My potassium levels dropped to dangerous levels and my electrolites were completely out of balance. I have heart palpatations, arythmia and painful, debilitating muscle cramps. In desperation, for the last nine months, I've been attempting to wean myself off the tea, slowly reducing the number of bags and steeping time. The dependency is not only physical, but pshychological as well. I am now steeping only three bags but the laxative effects are also greatly reduced and the "situation" is again, problematic. I've been searching for a substitute, trying calcium/magnesium supplementation, which is helping but only in conjunction with the three bags of tea. My doctor also recommended an ounce of mineral oil twice a day. Mineral oil is not digested or absorbed and passes through the system while lubricating the colon. Yesterday, I tried triphala for the first time, also in conjunction with the tea, mineral oil and also with calcium/magnesium supplementation. I started with three capsules taken with dinner, according to the instructions on the bottle. At this point, I'm willing to try anything... well, at least once. I was quite skeptical as I do not believe that alternative medicine, herbal remedies, self diagnosis and treatment have a sound scientific and medical basis. But apparently, I got excellent results without the painful cramping and gas caused by the tea!
I appreciate the many recommendations people contributed. No doubt many would work for ocassional "situations" but for chronic constipation caused by laxative tea dependency, or by anti depressants or other drugs, a combination of lifestyle and dietary changes need to augment mineral or herbal supplementation. Eating more roughage, such as flaxseed meal, hommos made with tahini (mentioned in one of the posts), and tabouli while reducing red meat and fatty, starchy foods are excellent dietary alternatives. Increasing exercise and drinking more water are beneficial as well. And Calcium/Magnesium works well for me, add to that the triphala. Maybe now I can cut down to two bags!!
I hope this somehow helps anyone out there hooked on Dieters' Tea or any other laxative--to get off the dangerous stuff before it is too late. In summary, I believe a combination of approaches or methods produce better results rather than relying on a sigle approach or remedy.
> I'm glad you appreciated my euphemisms Babs.
>
> I would take 6 capsules before bed, and on an empty stomach in the morning take 6 more,and don't eat for 20 minutes afterward.
> Once the "Situation" is dealt with I find 2-3 capsules a day works.
poster:dna
thread:132134
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030802/msgs/248226.html