If you haven't heard of colonic irrigation or colon hydrotherapy by now then the chances are you have been hibernating for the last couple of years. Cleansing your colon has become the "in" thing to do, male or female, young or old. Previously the domain for celebrities such as Princess Diana; walk into any clinic, international hospital or spa and you are likely to be met by advertisements espousing the benefits of detoxing your body through colon cleansing.
However, some people don't like the idea of lying on a table with a pipe up their backside, however effective and fashionable it may be! Whilst I am not questioning the benefits of colonic irrigation, coffee enemas and the like are not for everyone!
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So what are the alternatives?
Herbal Colon Cleansing - An Alternative To Colonic Irrigation
A few years ago, whilst flicking through a women's health magazine, an illustration of a typical colon (for someone who eats a standard western diet) was enough to pack me off to the pharmacy to check out their range of colon cleansing products. Here I found shelves heaving with a myriad of natural herbal supplements and teas which profess to do the job.
Using a Herbal Colon Cleansing supplement is both simple to implement and maintain, not to mention far more convenient than regular trips to a clinic for colonic irrigation (although Do It Yourself kits are now available.) There is also a wide range of herbs to choose from which these days are easily available both from high street stockists and online. Because there are generally no harmful side effects they are also very safe, providing of course, you follow the instructions on the label. However just as a precaution, if you are taking prescription or over the counter drugs it pays to check with your doctor for possible complications, as certain medications may not mix well with some supplements.
Why should I cleanse my colon?
Anyone with a stressful lifestyle or years of eating a typical western diet of low fibre, high fat, sugar products, white flour, microwaved and deep fried foods is likely to have a considerable build up of toxic waste material in the colon. Such diets reduce our colon's efficiency, and consequently our waste products harden and become clogged in our digestive system.
Our colons take what we eat and separate the usable products from our digested food and put them back into our bloodstream. Any waste material should then be eliminated quickly but the problem arises when toxins and bacteria build up through a sluggish or blocked colon, causing them to leak back into our body, poisoning our system. Put simply, the greater the toxins in our body, the more likelihood of developing disease. Constipation, IBS, bad skin, fatigue, joint pain and unwanted weight gain could all be possible symptoms of a clogged colon.
As cleansing your colon is today's hype many of us have heard horror stories of how much and how heavy this waste product build up can be. What is often considered a "pot belly" or "spare tyre" could actually be a distended colon from the accumulation of years of toxic waste. This is why some people, after successfully cleansing their colon, not only feel a lot healthier but often lose a considerable amount of weight!
Colon Cleansing Herbs
There are numerous colon cleansing herbs available on the market and whilst all the commercial herbal supplements basically claim do the same job it pays to do a bit of research to find out which ones are right for you. It's important to educate yourself and possibly consult with a medical practitioner, as it useful to bear in mind that what works for one person may not work as successfully for you. Depending on your budget and own particular diet and lifestyle, some herbal formulas will be more suitable than others. For example, if your diet is low in fibre then you may benefit from taking a Pysllium supplement to provide you with the fibre you need.
- Pysllium is a widely used natural cleansing agent and very effective due to its high fibre content. It acts as a lubricant for the colon, allowing waste to pass through without obstruction. Very tough on uncooperative bowels, Pysllium adds bulk to waste matter and helps maintain regular bowel movements. It can also relieve hunger pangs and ease chronic symptoms like diarrhea and colitis. Husk of psyllium can be drunk in teas, water or milk, it is also a common constituent in herbal supplements.
- Linseed or Flax Seeds cleanse the colon and promote overall good health by cleansing the liver. It aids digestion and becomes a soft jellylike substance which assists in moving material through the bowel.
- Slippery Elm helps to normalize stools in the colon and softens any backlog of dried waste. It helps with both constipation and diarrhea and sooths stomach inflammation.
- Dandelion is another excellent natural herb which cleanses both the colon and the liver.
- Liquorice Root is also a popular ingredient in pill and mixture supplements, a natural detoxifier which acts as a laxative.
Whatever colon cleansing herbs you choose, be patient. It may take days, weeks or even months before you reap all the benefits of ridding your body of its unwanted waste. Whilst one person's body may respond quickly, for another it may take longer. All herbal formulas should be used in moderation in order to prevent dehydration from too many bowel movements and it s important not to exceed the dose on the label.
Natural herbal supplements will provide you with a simple, natural alternative to colonic irrigation. It requires some research and experimentation to see what works best for you, but they can all be conveniently integrated into your diet. By embarking on a colon cleansing regime you should feel a marked improvement in your general health and wellbeing, as you start to eliminate the poisonous toxic waste from your body.
Disclaimer: This article is offered as information only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. It is important to consult a professional health care provider, if you are in any doubt.
Herbal Colon Cleansing - An Alternative To Colonic Irrigation
Gill Hart is a freelance article writer and journalist in her spare time.