Stool
A bowel movement is the last stop in the movement of food through your digestive tract. Your stool passes out of your body through the rectum and anus. Another name for stool is feces. It is made of what is left after your digestive system (stomach, small intestine, and colon) absorbs nutrients and fluids from what you eat and drink.
Sometimes a bowel movement isn't normal. Diarrhea happens when stool passes through the large intestine too quickly. Constipation occurs when stool passes through the large intestine too slowly. Bowel incontinence is a problem controlling your bowel movements. Other abnormalities with bowel movements may be a sign of a digestive problem.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Felter's Materia Medica on Stool
ALOEALOE
The dried juice of the leaves of several species of Aloe: (1) Aloe Perryi, Baker; (2) Aloe vera, Linné; (3) Aloe ferox, Miller. (Nat. Ord.... / ...eristalsis, but does not greatly increase the secretions of the intestinal glands, consequently the stools are feculent rather than watery, unless the dose be large. As it takes from 10 to 15 hours to...1
The dried juice of the leaves of several species of Aloe: (1) Aloe Perryi, Baker; (2) Aloe vera, Linné; (3) Aloe ferox, Miller. (Nat. Ord.... / ...eristalsis, but does not greatly increase the secretions of the intestinal glands, consequently the stools are feculent rather than watery, unless the dose be large. As it takes from 10 to 15 hours to...1
BAPTISIA
...o ulceration and decay (gangrene); sepsis, with enfeebled circulation; fetid discharges with atony; stools resembling “prune juice” or fetid “meat washings”; face swollen, bluish, and resembling o......oms will be present with the addition of the characteristic pea-soup, meat washings, or prune juice stools, or tarlike viscous evacuations, showing the admixture of decomposed blood. In fact, it is li...1
...o ulceration and decay (gangrene); sepsis, with enfeebled circulation; fetid discharges with atony; stools resembling “prune juice” or fetid “meat washings”; face swollen, bluish, and resembling o......oms will be present with the addition of the characteristic pea-soup, meat washings, or prune juice stools, or tarlike viscous evacuations, showing the admixture of decomposed blood. In fact, it is li...1
CASCARA SAGRADA
The dried bark of Rhamnus Purshiana, De Candolle (Nat. Ord. Rhamnaceae). A shrub of Northern Idaho and the Pacific coast. Dose, 5 to 30... / ...ctically non-griping purgative, acting with but little or no prostration and never causing a watery stool. It has, moreover, a tonic action upon the stomach and bowels, and does not produce an after c... / ...Dose: One half to one teaspoonful at bedtime. If a more profound action is desired a half drachm of Specific Medicine Podophyllum may be added.1
The dried bark of Rhamnus Purshiana, De Candolle (Nat. Ord. Rhamnaceae). A shrub of Northern Idaho and the Pacific coast. Dose, 5 to 30... / ...ctically non-griping purgative, acting with but little or no prostration and never causing a watery stool. It has, moreover, a tonic action upon the stomach and bowels, and does not produce an after c... / ...Dose: One half to one teaspoonful at bedtime. If a more profound action is desired a half drachm of Specific Medicine Podophyllum may be added.1
CHELIDONIUM
...ish; hepatic congestion; jaundice due to swollen bile ducts; sluggish liver action with light pasty stools; reflex cough from hepatic pain; fullness with tensive or throbbing pain in the right hypocho......ominal pain as a rule. The skin and membranes have the usual appearance of hepatic obstruction, the stools are clay-colored, the urine cloudy and pale with rather high specific gravity, or it may be l...1
...ish; hepatic congestion; jaundice due to swollen bile ducts; sluggish liver action with light pasty stools; reflex cough from hepatic pain; fullness with tensive or throbbing pain in the right hypocho......ominal pain as a rule. The skin and membranes have the usual appearance of hepatic obstruction, the stools are clay-colored, the urine cloudy and pale with rather high specific gravity, or it may be l...1
CHIONANTHUS
...epatic pains and tenderness or soreness upon deep-pressure; light claycolored, or frothy yeast-like stools; sallow, dirty-looking skin with hepatic tenderness and expressionless eyes; intense cutting ......ostration; icteric coloration without pain; the urine stains the clothing yellow; colic, with green stools; jaundice, with pale watery alvine discharges and intense itching of the skin; pain simulatin......orange-tinted, there are occasional hectic flushes, and sometimes diarrhea, with frothy, yeast-like stools. Chionanthus is the most positive remedy for simple jaundice not dependent upon malignant or ...1
...epatic pains and tenderness or soreness upon deep-pressure; light claycolored, or frothy yeast-like stools; sallow, dirty-looking skin with hepatic tenderness and expressionless eyes; intense cutting ......ostration; icteric coloration without pain; the urine stains the clothing yellow; colic, with green stools; jaundice, with pale watery alvine discharges and intense itching of the skin; pain simulatin......orange-tinted, there are occasional hectic flushes, and sometimes diarrhea, with frothy, yeast-like stools. Chionanthus is the most positive remedy for simple jaundice not dependent upon malignant or ...1
COLOCYNTHIS
...—Pain of a cutting, twisting, boring, or tearing character, and if of the bowels, a desire to go to stool; visceral neuralgia, with cutting pain; dysentery, with tormina, and small passages of mucus, ...... cathartic, producing copious watery evacuations, and sometimes violent emesis, tormina, and bloody stools. It may cause death from gastro-enteritis. The powder or the tincture applied to a raw surfac......e. With similar symptoms minute doses act well in cholera infantum; in chronic diarrhoea with slimy stools and tympanites; in diarrhoea from overeating or improper food; and in dysentery with great to...1
...—Pain of a cutting, twisting, boring, or tearing character, and if of the bowels, a desire to go to stool; visceral neuralgia, with cutting pain; dysentery, with tormina, and small passages of mucus, ...... cathartic, producing copious watery evacuations, and sometimes violent emesis, tormina, and bloody stools. It may cause death from gastro-enteritis. The powder or the tincture applied to a raw surfac......e. With similar symptoms minute doses act well in cholera infantum; in chronic diarrhoea with slimy stools and tympanites; in diarrhoea from overeating or improper food; and in dysentery with great to...1
ELATERIUM
The feculence of the juice of the fruit of Ecballium Elaterium (Linné), A. Richard. (Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae.) A trailing vine of southern... / ...enteritis, with violent vomiting, cramps, and watery purgation. In medium doses only copious watery stools are produced, but with considerable depression. The treatment for excessive action of elateri... / ...is preferred by some physicians, though elaterium, notwithstanding its impurities, seems to be more generally efficient than its derivative.1
The feculence of the juice of the fruit of Ecballium Elaterium (Linné), A. Richard. (Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae.) A trailing vine of southern... / ...enteritis, with violent vomiting, cramps, and watery purgation. In medium doses only copious watery stools are produced, but with considerable depression. The treatment for excessive action of elateri... / ...is preferred by some physicians, though elaterium, notwithstanding its impurities, seems to be more generally efficient than its derivative.1
EUPHORBIA COROLLATA
...tion in the stomach; cholera infantum, with hot, tumid abdomen and constant desire to defecate, the stools being greenish and irritating; irritation of the respiratory tract, especially the glottis, w...... It is especially useful in cholera infantum, with hot, tender abdomen and constant desire to go to stool, the discharges being greenish and irritating. Euphorbia is a good gastrointestinal sedative a...1
...tion in the stomach; cholera infantum, with hot, tumid abdomen and constant desire to defecate, the stools being greenish and irritating; irritation of the respiratory tract, especially the glottis, w...... It is especially useful in cholera infantum, with hot, tender abdomen and constant desire to go to stool, the discharges being greenish and irritating. Euphorbia is a good gastrointestinal sedative a...1
FEL BOVIS
Oxgall, Oxbile. The fresh bile of Bos Taurus, Linné (Family, Bovidae), the Common Ox. Description.—A brown-green or dark-green, disagreeably bitter, and... / ... there is a deficient supply of normal bile, particularly in chronic constipation with clay-colored stools, in jaundice and in intestinal dyspepsia, due to hepatic torpor.1
Oxgall, Oxbile. The fresh bile of Bos Taurus, Linné (Family, Bovidae), the Common Ox. Description.—A brown-green or dark-green, disagreeably bitter, and... / ... there is a deficient supply of normal bile, particularly in chronic constipation with clay-colored stools, in jaundice and in intestinal dyspepsia, due to hepatic torpor.1
IRISIRIS
...resulting in enlarged lymph nodes. Hepatic torpor, splenic fullness, and jaundice, with claycolored stools are influenced for good by it, the drug acting quietly as an alterative when given in small a......t upon indigestion, and bilious headache, with nausea and sour and bitter vomiting, and claycolored stools. In fact one of the most important uses for iris is in that complex condition included in the...1
...resulting in enlarged lymph nodes. Hepatic torpor, splenic fullness, and jaundice, with claycolored stools are influenced for good by it, the drug acting quietly as an alterative when given in small a......t upon indigestion, and bilious headache, with nausea and sour and bitter vomiting, and claycolored stools. In fact one of the most important uses for iris is in that complex condition included in the...1
JALAPA (Ipomea jalapa)
...ion and Therapy.—Jalap is an irritant cathartic operating energetically and producing large liquid stools. It gripes considerably and sometimes causes nausea and vomiting. Large doses produce violent......mation of the gastro-intestinal tract exists, and may be used where a derivative action, with full stools, is indicated. In small doses (5 grains daily) it may be employed to relieve constipation due...1
...ion and Therapy.—Jalap is an irritant cathartic operating energetically and producing large liquid stools. It gripes considerably and sometimes causes nausea and vomiting. Large doses produce violent......mation of the gastro-intestinal tract exists, and may be used where a derivative action, with full stools, is indicated. In small doses (5 grains daily) it may be employed to relieve constipation due...1
LEPTANDRA (Veronicastrum virginicum)VEVI4
... extremities; thirst with inability to drink; diarrhea with half-digested passages, or clay-colored stools; enfeebled portal circulation, with lassitude, gloom, and mental depression. Action and Thera......tro-hepatic and intestinal stimulant. The fresh root is viciously cathartic and has produced bloody stools and abortion. Drying, however, deprives the drug of its drastic quality and it becomes a safe......strengthens the functional activity of the intestinal glands, does not debilitate nor produce large stools, and if the circulation is feeble, with a tendency to stasis, it has a decidedly tonic effect...1
... extremities; thirst with inability to drink; diarrhea with half-digested passages, or clay-colored stools; enfeebled portal circulation, with lassitude, gloom, and mental depression. Action and Thera......tro-hepatic and intestinal stimulant. The fresh root is viciously cathartic and has produced bloody stools and abortion. Drying, however, deprives the drug of its drastic quality and it becomes a safe......strengthens the functional activity of the intestinal glands, does not debilitate nor produce large stools, and if the circulation is feeble, with a tendency to stasis, it has a decidedly tonic effect...1
MATRICARIA
...mper when menstruating; muscular twitching; fetid, greenish feculent alvine discharges, or when the stools are green and slimy, or of mixed whitish curds and green mucus, associated with flatulence, c......ow and white lumps of undigested curds, giving them the wellknown name of “eggs and greens”. Such stools usually excoriate the child severely, and are accompanied by colicky pain of greater or less ...1
...mper when menstruating; muscular twitching; fetid, greenish feculent alvine discharges, or when the stools are green and slimy, or of mixed whitish curds and green mucus, associated with flatulence, c......ow and white lumps of undigested curds, giving them the wellknown name of “eggs and greens”. Such stools usually excoriate the child severely, and are accompanied by colicky pain of greater or less ...1
MYRRHA (Commiphora spp.)
The gum-resin obtained from one or more varieties of Commiphora (Nat. Ord. Burseraceae). Region of Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, Africa, and... / ...n chronic gastritis and atonic dyspepsia, with full, pale tongue and membranes, and frequent mucous stools accompanied by flatulence. It acts well with the simple bitters, especially gentian. Myrrh is... / ...Ferri Composita) for the amenorrhea of chlorosis and other forms of anemia; and of the Compound Pills of Rhubarb (Pilulae Rhei Compositae).1
The gum-resin obtained from one or more varieties of Commiphora (Nat. Ord. Burseraceae). Region of Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, Africa, and... / ...n chronic gastritis and atonic dyspepsia, with full, pale tongue and membranes, and frequent mucous stools accompanied by flatulence. It acts well with the simple bitters, especially gentian. Myrrh is... / ...Ferri Composita) for the amenorrhea of chlorosis and other forms of anemia; and of the Compound Pills of Rhubarb (Pilulae Rhei Compositae).1
OLEUM RICINI
...to the abdomen castor oil will also cause purgation. After the first hardened feces are removed the stools become liquid and are passed without pain or tenesmus. Castor oil seeds are poisonous, twenty......ter than a free dose of castor oil. In cases where there is a semipasty and tenacious light-colored stool with burning at voiding and persisting for weeks, and there is much semi-colicky uneasiness or...1
...to the abdomen castor oil will also cause purgation. After the first hardened feces are removed the stools become liquid and are passed without pain or tenesmus. Castor oil seeds are poisonous, twenty......ter than a free dose of castor oil. In cases where there is a semipasty and tenacious light-colored stool with burning at voiding and persisting for weeks, and there is much semi-colicky uneasiness or...1
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Stool
CHOLERA INFANTUM
Withheld milk, substituting the juice of raw beef. , If irritant un digested food is present, give castor oil (aromatic); if stools are wa tery and colorless, give podophy1lin(1-20 gr. repeated in 2 hours), to change character of stools, then give astringents and carminatives. If vomiting is severe the best remedy is calomel in small repeated doses. Irrigation of the bowels with water at 100° F. is often useful. Apply a mild mustard or spice poultice over the bowels.2
Withheld milk, substituting the juice of raw beef. , If irritant un digested food is present, give castor oil (aromatic); if stools are wa tery and colorless, give podophy1lin(1-20 gr. repeated in 2 hours), to change character of stools, then give astringents and carminatives. If vomiting is severe the best remedy is calomel in small repeated doses. Irrigation of the bowels with water at 100° F. is often useful. Apply a mild mustard or spice poultice over the bowels.2
CONSTIPATION
Medicate no more than is necessary. Prescribe regular open air exercise, regularity in going to stool; correct the diet;... / Medicate no more than is necessary. Prescribe regular open air exercise, regularity in going to stool; correct the diet; advise a large glass of Apolinaris before breakfast; if necessary prescribe general tonics. The laxatives best suited for hab...2
Medicate no more than is necessary. Prescribe regular open air exercise, regularity in going to stool; correct the diet;... / Medicate no more than is necessary. Prescribe regular open air exercise, regularity in going to stool; correct the diet; advise a large glass of Apolinaris before breakfast; if necessary prescribe general tonics. The laxatives best suited for hab...2
References
1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.