What is the best colon cleansing product?

Advocates for colon cleansing believe that toxins build up in the stool, sits in our bodies and leads to a variety of health problems such as arthritis, allergies and asthma. They believe that colon cleansing (also called colonic irrigation) will decrease the amount of toxins in our body, promoting healthy intestinal bacteria, boosting your energy and enhancing your immune system.

According to the Susan Cohan Kasdas Colon Cancer Foundation, no supporting objective evidence, clinical trials, or any validated scientific information supporting the value of colon cleaners has been found. In his article "Colon Cleansing: is it helpful or harmful?" Michael Picco, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic contends that "many leading experts agree that colon cleansers can do more harm than good to the colon." Although doctors prescribe colon cleansing as preparation for medical procedures such as colonoscopy, most don't recommend it for detoxification.

The most basic reason why colon cleansing is not doctor recommended for detoxificarion is that it is simply unneccessary. The human body doesn't need enemas or special diets or pills to eliminate waste material and bacteria. The digestive system and bowel do this naturally.

In addition, the colon lining, called the mucosa, gets its nourishment from bacterial products that exist in the stool. Colon cleansing leads to sloughing of the colonic mucosa which can lead to inflammation and subsequent colonic diseases. It can also increase your risk of dehydration.

A potentially more serious concern is that certain laxatives used in colon cleansing, such as those with sodium phosphate, can cause a rise in your electrolytes, which can be dangerous if you have kidney disease or heart disease.

Both the Mayo Clinic and the Susan Cohan Kasdas Colon Cancer Foundation recommend that anyone considering colon cleansing should first consult their primary care physician, or a Gastroenterologist or Colorectal surgeon.