Is it "laxative abuse" to constantly take castor oil?!
Question:
Is it "laxative abuse" to constantly take castor oil?
I take a small dose (1 tbsp) of castor oil every day to keep myself regular. I'm 16, but without it I can go weeks without "using the toilet" even though I eat plenty of fiber (30g a day) and drink 8 bottles of water a day. Is it laxative abuse, even though it is a natural remedy, to take castor oil every day?
Answers:
It is not abuse, but you must see a physician to rule out possibly serious causes of your chronic constipation. "Normal" for some people is two times daily; for others it is two times weekly. It is unlikely at your age that there is disease involved, but your physician may be able to recommend something more gentle than castor oil.