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😌 Emotional release 💧 Body cleansing
katharsis

katharsis

9.9
A medical emptying of the bowels using a laxative
  • noun
  • /kəˈθɑːrsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : purga
  • The physician prescribed a strong laxative to induce katharsis in the patient.

Examples

  • The use of herbal remedies for katharsis dates back centuries in traditional medicine.

  • Ancient medical practices often relied on katharsis to treat a variety of ailments.

  • A katharsis can be beneficial for digestive health.

  • What are the benefits of a katharsis?

  • The physician prescribed a strong laxative to induce katharsis in the patient.

  • Ancient medical practices often relied on katharsis to treat a variety of ailments.

  • The use of herbal remedies for katharsis dates back centuries in traditional medicine.

Synonyms

catharsis
vskatharsis
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A medical treatment that makes the bowels empty using strong medicine

is identical in meaning but follows an alternative spelling
purgation
vskatharsis
  • Archaic
9.9

An act that cleans the body by making you go to the toilet

focuses on actual purging rather than general cleansing
laxation
vskatharsis
  • Specialized
9.9

The passing of solid waste from the body through the anus

refers specifically to medicine-induced purging rather than natural elimination

How Cleansing

katharsis
  • Specialized
9.9
laxative
  • Specialized
18 4.1
bowel movement
  • Specialized
13 3.2

Surface Forms

katharsis singular
katharses plural

Etymology

Katharsis comes from the old Greek verb kathairein, meaning 'to cleanse'. In medicine this kept the same idea, so medical katharsis means a physical 'cleansing out' of the body, for example using a laxative to clear the bowels.