Diseases Treated by Colon Cleansing

The way we live our lives today and the kind of dietary routine we follow it becomes extremely difficult for our colon to tackle all the waste material that gets deposited into it. Although the colon is made to clean itself without requiring any external help yet we can facilitate the process by using some natural and herbal colon cleansers. This would allow the digestive system to work at its optimal level and our body will be protected from several kinds of diseases.

Using herbal colon cleansers is a relatively safe method but one should not continue with it more than required. Even if someone thinks that the herbs haven’t had their full effect, still no one should have the herbs continuously for more than a week. These are generally very potent substances and results begin to show in less than 6 to 12 hours. But it is because they are so potent that they also have serious side effects and should be discontinued after a short period. If someone is already under medication it would be wise first to consult his physician to know whether he can have the herbs in conjunction with the medicines he already is having. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children should not be allowed to take the herbs.

One would ask what would be the importance of having their colon cleansed at regular intervals. The answer is it would help you stay away from several ailments like indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, body odor, acne, mucus colitis, gas, fatigue, obesity etc. That is a whole lot of problems being solved just by having a clean colon. When the colon gets filled with toxic waste material, all these problems begin cropping up.

So when would you need a colon cleansing? Doctors would tell you that having irregular bowel movements can be normal, and though humans are supposed to have one bowel movement every day it is not uncommon for them to have one in two or even three days. But those who have gone through sever bouts of constipation would tend to disagree. The time for having a colon cleansed is when you feel uncomfortable and notice that your bowel movements have got irregular.

With a clean bowel you will feel rejuvenated, your skin will become clearer and have a glow in it, you will be able to concentrate better on things and your body will be able to better absorb the vitamins and minerals from the food you have.

Colon Cleansing Herbs: Harmful or Safe?

The concept of colon cleansing has suddenly been much discussed and practiced all over the United States. This can be attributed to the steady rise of diseases like colon-rectal cancer and herniated bowel pockets. But, as with any new thing there have been a whole host of people claiming to be experts about that particular field. Since colon cleansing is still not accepted by conventional medicine as a valid medical process, there is this group of alternative medical practitioners who try and outdo each other with their own special remedies. While some of them may have genuine intentions there are quite a few who are anything but quacks.

To induce bowel movements and thereby clean the colon there are some who prescribe various kinds of medical herbs. Touted as alternatives to commercial laxatives there are genuine risks attached to having such herbs. Some of the most popular colon cleanse herbs are cascara sagrada, rhubarb, senna, etc. All these herbs contain substances called anthraquinones. These are the key substances responsible for the laxative effects of the herbs. But they also come with side effects.

We will list a few of the side effects of having such herbs:

-Severe muscle contractions in the abdomen leading to unbearable cramping and gripping pain in the abdominal region
-An electrolyte imbalance in the body because of loss of potassium. There is also a lot of loss of body fluid
-Nausea
-Diarrhea with blood
-Rashes
-If used over a long period of time a condition called the melanosis coli may develop which leads to a dark pigmentation of the colon.
-If someone is under medication for some heart ailment then these herbs can be harmful for the person
-No pregnant woman or nursing mothers should ever take these sort of laxatives. Even children should not use these herbs
-These herbs have been cited as potential causes for liver toxicity, kidney impairment, hepatitis, heightened risk of adenoma or colorectal growths and cancer.

The best option for colon cleansing is to regulate your diet. Increase fiber intake and that would ensure that more roughage goes into your body. Consequently bowel movements should be more regular. Although the results may take time to show, but it is a much safer path.

To induce bowel movements and thereby clean the colon there are some who prescribe various kinds of medical herbs. Touted as alternatives to commercial laxatives there are genuine risks attached to having such herbs. Some of the most popular colon cleanse herbs are cascara sagrada, rhubarb, senna, etc. All these herbs contain substances called anthraquinones. These are the key substances responsible for the laxative effects of the herbs. But they also come with side effects.

If however you have already tried the herbs and are now experiencing the side effects, then you should immediately discontinue taking them.

Colon Cleansing: Techniques You Can Employ At Home

It is only those who have gone through severe bouts of constipation who would actually appreciate how necessary it is to have a clean colon. You feel, tired, depressed and bloated. In case of such an event it is helpful if you have your colon cleansed. There are several methods in which colon can be cleansed and many of them can be tried at home. We here provide the details of a few such techniques.

Juice Fasting

It is better to practice juice fasting than simple fasting to get your colon in proper shape. Vegetables and fruits contain a lot of fiber in them and this helps in bowel movements. Since you are not consuming anything else there is nothing additional that gets deposited. However consuming entire fruits and vegetables would not be a nice idea as the fibers in that form can be harder to digest. When you take them in the form of a juice you are much likely to yield better results. Also the fact that since most fruits and vegetables have high nutritional value, your body will not be deprived of energy to work which would have been the case if it was a complete fast.

Enema

In enema what you do is to flush out excess amount of waste that has accumulated in your stomach with water. The kits for enema are available in the market and you can bring one home for your own purpose. If you are using the enema kit for the first time you may feel cramps in your stomach. Do not worry about this. It is simply because the hard waste that has accumulated for so many days is being removed.

Laxatives

There are many laxatives available but you need to have the prescription of a practicing physician to buy them. If you don’t have a prescription you can always opt for the herbal alternatives which are widely available across drug stores and health food stores. These laxatives are very potent and yield results in half a day. But you may need to be at home for a couple of days as you might need to go to the toile quite often.

Colon cleansing is not something new and its roots can be traced back to as far as the Egyptian civilization when colon was thought to be the cause of all ailments. The idea was pretty much in vogue even during Restoration England. There has been a renewed interest in colon cleansing in the recent years. Colon cleansing is performed to keep the colon completely free of any toxic substances. It is also ensured that the colon retains its proper shape and size and can function at its optimal levels.

These laxatives should be consumed in moderate doses and one must see that he doesn’t develop a dependency for the drug as extensive use of it can cause severe side effects.