A medicine or food that makes bowel movements easier and helps relieve constipation.
From Late Latin 'laxativus,' from 'laxare' meaning 'to loosen.' The root 'lax-' relates to being slack or loose, which describes the effect on the digestive system.
Ancient Egyptians used castor oil as a laxative over 5,000 years ago—it's such an effective remedy that it's still recommended today, making it one of humanity's oldest continuously used medicines.
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