Constipation is a common problem for many people, but one company has come up with a rather uncommon solution — a vibrating pill. Called “Vibrant,” the pill contains no active ingredients. Instead, it’s designed to stimulate the muscles in the digestive tract to help move stool through the intestines, promoting regular bowel movements and relieving constipation. A single Vibrant pill is taken around bedtime every day, and then it travels the same route food does — through the stomach and small intestine — finally reaching the large intestine about 14 hours later. Then, it goes to work. The pill stimulates specialized nerve cells in the gut called mechanosensory cells, triggering muscle contractions that help squeeze food through the gut. Before use, each pill is activated in a little pod that turns it on. After it's swallowed, it's active for about 2 hours, goes quiet for around 6 hours and then activates again for another 2 hours. Finally, after it has done its job, it’s pooped out. The pill isn’t considered a cure, but it’s a maintenance treatment that people with chronic constipation can take regularly. Each pill gets flushed, so treatment requires a new pill each time…….thankfully!
