Everyone seems to be going in for colon cleansing these days. The wide range of colon cleansers available in the markets is proof of this fact. Most colon cleansers are derived from natural products and claim to be safe and free of side effects. However, there are some hidden dangers that you must keep in mind while using colon cleansers.

Some colon cleansers act as laxatives. This can be dangerous for the body because it removes too much salt, ions, nutrients, friendly bacteria and water from the body. This makes the body weak and dehydrated and can prove fatal in the long run. Colon cleansers which assist the body’s natural bowel movements are fine, but those that act as laxatives ought to be avoided.

Some ingredients present in natural colon cleansers can be dangerous if taken frequently. People tend to assume that if something is natural, it will be safe. But this is not the case. Colon cleansers contain herbs like Cascara, Senna and Psyllium. Senna and Cascara are laxative agents. They are safe when taken in small amounts when necessary, but large doses of these herbs can be fatal. If taken as prescribed by colon cleansers, these herbs can cause electrolyte imbalance, liver and kidney damage, rectal bleeding and colon polyps. Psyllium is used in colon cleansers with the aim of sweeping the colon clean. The fiber in Psyllium expands in the stomach and aids in digestion but the problem is that if enough water is not taken along with the cleanser, the fiber can remain in the colon and cause irritation. So you see, just because a colon cleanser claims to be made from 100% natural ingredients, it does not necessarily mean that it is safe.

Homemade colon cleansers are not safe either. The recipes for such cleansers use the same kind of herbs mentioned before. The problem with homemade colon cleansers lies in the fact that the user does not know the correct safety standards for preparation.

Using colon cleansers which act as laxatives can weaken the natural reflexes of the body’s excretory system. This makes the body unable to get rid of waste in the absence of laxatives. Therefore, choose only those colon cleansers which do not contain natural or synthetic laxatives.

Another problem with colon cleansers lies in the low quality of the ingredients. Yes, even 100% natural colon cleansers pose this problem. For instance, if the ingredients are not organically grown, they may be high in pesticides and fertilizers. While taking such colon cleansers regularly, these chemicals accumulate in your body. This produces more bad result than good.

Colon cleansers are fine when chosen and used carefully. There are several factors to be considered while using colon cleansers. Don’t use colon cleansers with the aim of combating constipation or other such problems. Colon cleansers are meant only to clean the colon and eliminate toxins from the body. If you have problems like anal fissures and constipation, get yourself checked by a doctor. These conditions may be indicative of other serious underlying problems.

Mark Perry

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