aperient vs cathartic

aperient

noun
  • A laxative, either in the form of a medicine or a food such as asparagus or hops, which has the effect of moving the bowels, or aiding digestion and preventing constipation. 

adj
  • Having a gentle laxative effect. 

cathartic

noun
  • A laxative. 

adj
  • Purgative; inducing mental or physical catharsis. 

  • That which releases emotional tension, especially after an overwhelming experience. 

How often have the words aperient and cathartic occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )