Seidlitz powder

Seidlitz powder

Seidlitz powder is the name with which is commonly known a medication composed by a mixture of tartaric acid, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium sodium tartrate, used as a mild cathartic by dissolving in water and drinking.
After ingestion, the powder combines with gastric juices developing intestinal gases which are somewhat helpful in evacuating the taker's bowels. However their use could also lead to unpleasant side effects, and could be even fatal in subjects with conditions such as hernia, bowel obstructions and other ailments.
This medication's name comes from the Seidlitz Saline Springs of Bohemia (now Sedlčany in the Czech Republic), which were rather famous in Europe at the time this medication was first marketed in the late 1800s, even though the foregoing laxative constituents do not represent those of the springs named.

References

* [http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/effervesc_pulv.html webpage with instructions on how to prepare the powder]


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  • Seidlitz powder — n. (US Seidlitz powders) a laxative medicine of two powders mixed separately with water and then poured together to effervesce. Etymology: named with ref. to the mineral water of Seidlitz in Bohemia …   Useful english dictionary

  • Seidlitz powder — [ sɛdlɪts] noun a laxative preparation containing tartaric acid, sodium potassium tartrate, and sodium bicarbonate which effervesces when mixed with water. Origin C18: named with ref. to the mineral water of Seidlitz, a village in Bohemia …   English new terms dictionary

  • Seidlitz powder — /ˈsɛdlɪts paʊdə/ (say sedlits powduh) noun an aperient consisting of two powders, one tartaric acid and the other a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt, which are dissolved separately, mixed, and drunk while effervescing. {named after …  

  • seidlitz-powder — n. Rochelle powder …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • Seidlitz powders — [sed′lits] n. [so named because their properties are said to resemble those of natural waters from the spring at Sedlčany (Ger Seidlitz), Czech Republic] a laxative composed of two powders, one of sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt, the other… …   English World dictionary

  • Seidlitz powders — noun an effervescing salt containing sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt and tartaric acid; used as a cathartic • Syn: ↑Seidlitz powder, ↑Rochelle powder • Hypernyms: ↑purgative, ↑cathartic, ↑physic, ↑aperient * * * ˈsedlə̇ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Seidlitz powders — noun plural Etymology: Sedlitz (Sedlčany), village in Bohemia; from the similarity of their effect to that of the water of the village Date: 1815 effervescing salts consisting of one powder of sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt and another of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Ro|chelle powder — «roh SHEHL», = Seidlitz powder. (Cf. ↑Seidlitz powder) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sed|litz powder — or Sed|litz powders «SEHD lihts», = Seidlitz powder. (Cf. ↑Seidlitz powder) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Rochelle powder — noun an effervescing salt containing sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt and tartaric acid; used as a cathartic • Syn: ↑Seidlitz powder, ↑Seidlitz powders • Hypernyms: ↑purgative, ↑cathartic, ↑physic, ↑aperient …   Useful english dictionary

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