Colon Cleansing - Which Method To Use and Why?

Colon cleanse is a process by which an individual can hope to get rid of harmful toxins from within his/her digestive tract. While the overall process of colon cleanse is considered fairly effective in countering physical ailments. The overall process of colon cleansing is supposed to be methodical and systematic. There are actually many different options available today:

colonic irrigation, oxygen cleanses, therapeutic clays, diet-based cleanses, and fiber cleanses. It's important to know which ones work and why they may or may not be good for your health.

Oxygen Cleanse-

Oxygen cleanses use the natural power of oxygen to dissolve fecal matter that may be stubbornly stuck inside the colon. This can lead to diarrhea and loose stool, which create potential problems of their own.

Colonics or Colonic Irrigation-

Colonic irrigation is basically a clinically delivered, deep enema. That is, a professional inserts an instrument into the rectum and flushes the entire colon with fluid. Reports on this cleansing approach are mixed, but the process typically takes several visits and can be somewhat expensive. Medical professionals worry about possible adverse events such as the introduction to the colon of harmful bacteria, the perforation of colon by the inserted instrument.

Clay Cleansers (Bentonite Clay)-

Therapeutic clays, especially bentonite, have been used to help cleanse the body. These are naturally occurring clays that, when ingested, absorb toxins and throws them out of the body. Bentonite clay, in particular, carries little risk for adverse reaction, but it may absorb certain drugs, and large doses may cause a strong laxative effect.

Diets and Fasting-

Some cleanses work based on certain foods that you are supposed to consume or avoid. One popular cleanse instructs the user to consume only lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup, and a salt-water mixture. Other food-based cleanses, such as fasting and juice fasts, are thought to help the body's detoxification system by letting it use biological energy that would otherwise go toward digestion. These methods are advised to perform under professional guidance.

Fiber Cleansers-
Fiber-based cleanses utilize the natural colon-cleaning properties of plant-based dietary fiber. Found in soluble and insoluble forms, dietary fiber bulks up as it travels through the digestive tract, sweeping the intestines clean along its way. Additionally, certain fiber feeds the friendly bacteria in the colon.

Colon cleansing (also called a colonic or a colonic irrigation) improves health by removing toxins, promoting healthy intestinal bacteria, boosting your energy and enhancing your immune system. However, there's little evidence that colon cleansing produces these effects.

With continued use, this can result in poor intestinal muscle tone, faulty peristalsis, and even further dependence on laxatives. And not only can continued reliance on laxatives lead to the inability to move the bowels without their aid, but also to the depletion of vital electrolytes such as potassium.

By Jonathan Reynold