Milk of Magnesia as Laxative

Milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) is an inorganic compound having chemical formula Mg(OH)₂. Magnesium hydroxide, when suspended in water has a milk like appearance, and so it is called milk of magnesia. Considered to be one of the best laxative, when consumed it neutralizes excess of stomach acid by pulling salt or saline solution from the blood into the intestines. This increases the water content which provides a flushing or laxative action within the intestines. Magnesium hydroxide is the most prominent component of antacids, and laxatives hence, milk of magnesia as a laxative interferes with the absorption of folic acid and iron in the body.

Milk of Magnesia Laxative: Benefits

As an antacid, it functions by the process of neutralization, where the hydroxide ions from the Mg(OH)₂ combine with acidic H+ ions produced in the form of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells in the stomach to form water. As a laxative, milk of magnesia functions by absorbing Mg2+ inadequately from the intestinal tract, so that it extracts water from the surrounding tissues by osmosis. This increases the water content that softens the feces and improves the volume of feces in the intestine, which automatically stimulates the intestine mobility. Along with this, Mg2+ ions release CCK (cholecystokinin, a peptide hormone of the gastrointestinal system responsible for stimulating the digestion of fat and protein), which causes intraluminal accumulation of water, electrolytes and intestinal motility.

Other Benefits of Milk of Magnesia

• Milk of magnesia laxative is available in the form of chewable tablets, capsules, or as liquids having variety of added flavors. It is not only used to relieve constipation or other gastro-intestinal problems, but also helps in alleviating indigestion and heartburn.
• It is used as a non-antiperspirant armpit deodorant.
• It also works against canker sores (aphthous ulcer) when utilized topically.
• If you have symptoms of seborrhea and dandruff, it works as a folk remedy when applied and massaged few minutes before hair washing.
• It is also beneficial in treating acne or oily skin when applied topically. All you have to do is to apply it on your face, allow it to dry and then rinse it. In fact, its oil-blotting properties makes it the best primer before applying makeup. Therefore, all those who suffer slight increase in oil production during the summer months should keep milk of magnesia on hand for those seasonal outbreaks and other skincare issues.
• Milk of magnesia is also considered to be useful for treating seborrheic dermatitis, a drying and flaking of the skin similar to dandruff but often occurs on the face.
• For industrial applications, powdered magnesium hydroxide, being a non-hazardous alkali, neutralizes acidic waste waters and plays an important role in the Biorock method of building artificial reefs.

Milk of magnesia is sold over-the-counter all across the world and has been considered to be the best option to other laxatives like castor oil. In our body, magnesium is usually excreted by the kidneys, and so only a small quantity of the magnesium from milk of magnesia is absorbed by the intestines. Therefore, daily consumption of milk of magnesia by someone suffering from renal failure or kidney disorder is not recommended, as over consumption may cause wearing of the kidney and will lead to toxic levels of magnesium in the blood. As taken with any other medications, some people have experienced negative reactions of milk of magnesia. In fact, if you have stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting, using milk of magnesia laxative should only be under a doctor's supervision.