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The Hindu-Yogi System of Practical Water Cure2122
In the first place, the majority of people seem to think that a Purgative
Medicine acts in some mysterious manner, by a power peculiar to and
belonging to it, thus moving the obstructions from the bowels by its own
force, virtue, and power. This is not correct, for the Purgative Medicine
has no power of that sort within itself—it can move nothing by mechanical
action nor even by chemical power acting upon the faecal matter. What
really happens is that the Purgative Medicine contains within itself elements
which are repugnant to the Stomach and Intestines, and which act upon
them as irritant and objectionable chemicals. Nature, hastening to the rescue,
and being desirous of removing the objectional and irritating substance,
generates certain fluids which loosen up and lubricate the passages, and then
cause a contraction of the walls of the stomach and intestines which force the
objectionable matter from the system. The effect of the Purgative is caused
by Nature’s instinctive efforts to throw from the system an objectionable
and harmful substance, just as it throws off and eliminates other poisons, by
various channels, sometimes through the kidneys, sometimes through the
skin—whichever way is the quickest and easiest, Nature uses to get rid of
objectionable substances. The pain and “gripes” of Purgatives, are akin to
the cramps accompanying the presence of poisons within the stomach—in
fact, the Purgative is a kind of milder poison. Of course, in carrying off the
poisonous Purgative, Nature also carries away a quantity of faecal matter
which has become softened and lubricated by the secreted fluids. This is
the whole story. But the impacted Colon is not cleansed by the process as
we shall see in a moment.
The use of Purgatives is deplorable, in many ways. As a well-known English
physician has said: “There is no habit so pernicious to the gastric digestion
as systematically taking purgative drugs, and there is none more common.”
Purgative medicines irritate the stomach and intestines, and bring about a
refusal of the parts to perform their normal functions in a natural manner.
The Purgative Habit is acquired, and after a time the bowels practically refuse
to act without the unnatural stimulus of the pill, syrup or aperient water.