Carminative

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A carminative, known in Latin as carminativum (plural carminativa), is a herb or preparation intended to either prevent formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitate the expulsion of gas from the gastrointestinal tract, thereby combatting flatulence.

Contents

Name

The word carminative is a derivative of Latin cārmen "card for wool", according to Hensley Wedgewood, on the humoral theory that carminatives "dilute and relax the gross humours from whence the wind arises, combing them out like the knots in wool". [1]

Varieties

Carminatives are often mixtures of essential oils and herbal spices with a tradition in folk medicine for this use. Some examples for oils and spices with carminative action are:[ citation needed ]

Modern drugs used for the same purpose include simethicone, which simply lowers the surface tension of gas bubbles rather than having physiological effects.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fart lighting</span> Practice of igniting flatus upon expulsion for humorous purposes

Fart lighting, also known as pyroflatulence or flatus ignition, is the practice of igniting the gases produced by flatulence. The resulting flame is often of a blue hue hence the act being known colloquially as a "blue angel", "blue dart" or in Australia, a "blue flame". The fact that flatus is flammable and the actual combustion of it through this practice gives rise to much humorous derivation. Other colors of flame such as orange and yellow are possible depending on the mixture of gases formed in the colon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Route of administration</span> Path by which a drug, fluid, poison, or other substance is taken into the body

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleroxacin</span> Chemical compound

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crofelemer</span> Pharmaceutical drug

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References

  1. Hensleigh Wedgwood, A Dictionary of English Etymology, s.v.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pitasawat, B; Choochote, W; Kanjanapothi, D; Panthong, A; Jitpakdi, A; Chaithong, U (Sep 1998). "Screening for larvicidal activity of ten carminative plants". The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 29 (3): 660–2. PMID   10437975.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Harries, Nicola; James, K. C.; Pugh, W. K. (1 July 1977). "Antifoaming and Carminative Actions of Volatile Oils". Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 2 (3): 171–177. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2710.1977.tb00087.x.
  4. W.N. Ewing; Lucy Tucker (2008). The Living Gut. Nottingham University Press. ISBN   9781904761570.

Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg The dictionary definition of carminative at Wiktionary