Digestive system motility

The following sections will discuss each region of the digestive system separately. Where appropriate, the basic digestive processes — motility, secretion, digestion, and absorption — will be considered. 

Acute physiological responses to opiate administration occur rapidly and include constricted pupils, decreased pulse rate, reduced body temperature, slowed respiration rate and impaired reflexes. In addition, there is a marked slowing of the digestive system through an altering of the tonus and motility of the stomach and intestines, allowing for greater water absorption. This last effect is not subject to tolerance, and constipation is a common side effect even for chronic users. Indeed, some report that this is the worst side effect of opiate use. 

Digestive system g agonists decrease secretion of stomach acid, reduce gastric motility, and prolong gastric emptying. Pancreatic, biliary, and intestinal secretions are reduced. Intestinal transit is also slowed. Peristaltic movements are reduced, but tone is increased, sometimes causing spasm. As a result, constipation is a frequent problem with opioid use. Bile duct pressure is also increased by opioids. 

The GI system is responsible at its most basic level for providing a continual supply of water, electrolytes, minerals, and nutrients. This is achieved by a myriad of specialized cells and coordinated interplay of motility, secretion, digestion, absorption, blood flow, and lymph flow. These components are under elaborate control of the central and enteric nervous systems, endocrine and paracrine regulation of hormones. The highly complex nature of GI function is clearly illustrated by the estimate that 80 to 100 million neurons exist within the enteric nervous system, a number comparable to that found within the spinal column, hence described as a "second brain."171... 

Aromatic plants are commonly administered as an infusion or tea, and thus are delivered directly to the site of action, i.e. the gastrointestinal system [216, 224]. Basically, aromatic plants and their EOs exert their digestive action by inhibiting gastric motility (antispasmodics), releasing of bile from the gall bladder (choler-... 

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