Relating to a substance or treatment that acts both as a cathartic (laxative) and has additional purgative properties.
From Greek 'kata' (down) + 'carthartic' (from 'katharsis', cleansing). This is a medical term combining two Greek roots to emphasize a strong cleansing action.
In ancient Greek and Roman medicine, physicians believed that aggressive purgation could cure almost anything, leading them to create these doubly-powerful laxatives that would empty the entire digestive system—sometimes dangerously.
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