My Colon Cleansing Blog

While Colon Cleansing is now a generally accepted alternative health practice, it must be noted that the act of cleansing your colon can actually cause a number of side effects.

Why Herbs Cause Side Effects

The herbs used in different colon cleansing programs are the main culprits of cleansing side effects. Many colon cleansing products use certain herbs because they possess properties for natural constipation relief. However, after the proper research was conducted, it was discovered that excessive use of specific herbs can actually cause more harm than good.

For example, excessive use of Senna or Cascara Sagrada can cause your bowel to become dependent on the herb. More specifically, this means that your bowels must have more and more of the herb, just to have a simple bowel movement.

Bowel Dependency is one of the most important colon cleansing side effects to be cautious of, however, there are many other side effects that consumers should be aware of prior to taking ANY colon cleansing product!

Possible Side Effects of Colon Cleansing:

How to Avoid Side Effects from Colon Cleansers

There are many ways to avoid the uncomfortable experience of cleansing side effects.

First and foremost, ALWAYS do the proper amount of research BEFORE buying or trying any colon cleansing product. If you are worried about the potentially dangerous effects of certain colon cleansing herbs, then it is best to avoid herbal colon cleansers altogether.

Second, make sure you have the proper diet while doing a colon cleansing program. Don’t binge on junk foods & sodas while cleansing. This is not going to help, in fact, it can cause the colon cleansing product to be ineffective, thus wasting your time and money. It is best to follow a healthy diet, consisting of lots of fruits & veggies, while taking a colon cleanser.

Third, it may be wise to look into taking a probiotic supplement while cleansing. Probiotic’s assist colon cleansers by populating your bowels with beneficial bacteria. Research has shown that probiotics have shown alot of promise in easing symptoms of digestive disorders and certain food sensitivities, while enhancing the colon cleansing experience.

Of course, as always, it is wise to discuss the possible colon cleansing side effects with your doctor prior to taking any colon cleansing products.

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If you are interested in process of colon cleansing, then you may be confused with the differences between Herbal Colon Cleansing & Oxygen Colon Cleansing.

Herbal Colon Cleansing Products

Herbal Cleansing Links:
- Senna Fact Sheet
- Herbal Colon Cleansing
- Herbal Cleansing Articles
- Information About Psyllium

Herbal Colon Cleansing utilizes a combination of herbs to help promote a healthy colon. Some of the more commonly used herbs include Psyllium, Senna, Cascara Sagrada and Bentonite Clay. While they all promote optimal colon health, they also all do different things within your body.

Herbal colon cleansers rely on herbs that bulk up inside the intestines, and then push out any built up waste. This process can take a long time to completely cleanse the colon. The average herbal colon cleanser requires at least 30 days, sometimes up to 90 days, to completely cleanse the colon of toxins. Keep in mind, that some of these ingredients should NEVER be used more than 7 consecutive days!

One major drawback of herbal colon cleansers, is the many stipulations that come along with them. It is very important to drink ALOT of water whenever taking colon cleansing herbs. If the proper amount of water is not consumed, then it’s very possible that you will become constipated.

This is a common side effect of herbal colon cleansers, so if you find yourself suffering from this, then you should increase your water intake.

There is nothing wrong with using herbs for colon cleansing, but a few of them can be dangerous if used incorrectly. So, it is always wise to consult with your doctor before using an herbal colon cleansing product. The two most debatable herbs are Senna & Cascara Sagrada.

Oxygen Colon Cleansing Products

Oxygen Cleansing Links:
- Oxygen Colon Cleansing
- Oxygen Colon Cleansing Info
- Oxygen Cleansing Explained

Oxygen colon cleansing products do NOT rely on herbs to cleanse the colon. Oxygen colon cleansers utilize the power of oxygen to cleanse the colon of buildup toxic waste.

Because of the way the oxygen breaks down the waste inside of you, it only takes about 7-10 days to completely detoxify the colon. This is one major advantage of oxygen colon cleansers. Also, there are no special diet restrictions or fasting involved in order for oxygen colon cleansing to work. However, it is always wise to eat a healthy diet, but especially important when doing any sort of detoxification program.

Also, oxygen colon cleansing products don’t require you to mix together fiber shakes or laxative teas. Thus, Oxygen colon cleansing is considered more convenient than herbal colon cleansers, especially for working professionals.

One drawback of Oxygen Colon Cleansers, is the fact that they liquefy your stool, so everything comes out really easily, but in the consistency of diarrhea. This can be quite concerning for those not expecting it. However, this should be something to expect.

Which Colon Cleansing Process Is Better?

There is no better process of colon cleansing. Both herbal colon cleansing & oxygen colon cleansing are beneficial in their own ways. Everybody is different, and they’re bodies react differently to both processes.

It is ALWAYS recommended that you do the proper research for ANY colon cleansing product you are considering, in order to find out what will work better for you and your body.

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We’ve already discussed why Senna can be dangerous for your body. Well, another common colon cleansing herb that should be used with extreme care, is Cascara Sagrada.

Cascara Sagrada is known for it’s natural and powerful laxative effects. If you suffer from constipation, then Cascara Sagrada can be your friend, but ONLY if you use it correctly.

If you use Cascara Sagrada excessively, then it is very likely that you can do damage to your body, more specifically, cause bowel dependency and severe bleeding in your intestinal tract. It is never wise to use Cascara Sagrada for longer than 7 consecutive days. Please keep in mind that most colon cleansing products that utilize the power of Cascara Sagrada, last about 30 days!

Cascara Sagrada is originally derived from the bark of the Rhamnus Purshiana tree, but if it’s not prepared correctly, then it can actually cause some pretty wicked problems within your body. If the bark is not prepared correctly, it can cause you to have severe and bloody diarrhea. In order for Cascara Sagrada to work properly, the bark must be aged for at least one year, but it is also possible that the bark is heat-treated prior to use. Because of the complicated preparation process, it is important to know that you are getting Cascara Sagrada from a good source. Or you might be paying the consequences later.

Because it is considered “natural” and contained in so many colon cleansing products, many people believe it is safe to use as much as they want. But this is simply not true. It is NEVER recommended to use Cascara Sagrada for longer than 7 consecutive days. It is also NEVER recommended that you take it without doctor consultation first. This is because Cascara Sagrada can interfere with many current health conditions you may already have, such as:

Side Effects of Cascara Sagrada

There are also many side effects of Cascara Sagrada that consumers need to be aware of prior to use. Here is a short list of the important side effects. It is ALWAYS recommended that you consult with your doctor, BEFORE you take Cascara Sagrada or colon cleansing products containing Cascara Sagrada.

More and more Cascara Sagrada Research is showing the ill-effects of this ‘natural’ herb. Please remember to be very careful when taking this herb. Always consult with your doctor and never, ever use it excessively!

Not only is Cascara Sagrada a questionable herb used for colon cleansing. Read more about the Questionable Herbs Used for Colon Cleansing.

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The main benefit of Senna is the fact that it’s a natural relief for constipation. The reason why it is commonly used is because Senna has a very powerful laxative effect.

Senna works great for constipation, if you only use it every once in awhile. However, something many people don’t understand, is that excessive use of senna can cause many problems for your digestive system, including a high possibility of bowel dependancy. In the case of Senna, excessive use equates longer than 7 days! Keep in mind that many of the colon cleansing programs currently using Senna last 30-90 days!!!

Senna can also interfere with certain prescription medications or supplements you may already be taking. It is always wise to consult with your doctor or gastroenterologist, prior to taking Senna. This is especially important if you currently suffer from any of the following health conditions:

Side Effects of Senna

There are also many side effects of Senna that consumers need to be aware of. Here is a short list of the important side effects. It is ALWAYS recommended that you consult with your doctor, BEFORE you take Senna or colon cleansing products containing Senna.

Not only is Senna a questionable herb used for colon cleansing. Read more about the Questionable Herbs Used for Colon Cleansing.

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There are many different ways to cleanse the colon.

One of more mainstream methods of colon cleansing, is to use a unique formulation of herbs that all promote optimal digestion & constipation relief. Most of these herbs are completely harmless and provide different benefits to your body. However, there are also a few herbs that consumers should ALWAYS be aware of, and only use after doctor consultation.

The following two herbs are frequently used in colon cleansing products, but consumers should ALWAYS be very cautious when using Senna and/or Cascara Sagrada.

Senna

Senna Links:
- Senna Fact Sheet
- Senna Info on Yahoo!
- Senna Info on Drugs.com
- Information About Senna
- Senna Research

The main benefit of Senna is it’s ability for relieving constipation naturally. The reason why it is commonly usedfor constipation, is because Senna has a very powerful laxative effect.

Senna works great for constipation, if you use it every once in awhile. However, something many people don’t understand, is that excessive use of senna (longer than 7 days) can cause many problems for your digestive system, including a high possibility of bowel dependency. Senna can also interfere with certain prescription medications or supplements you may already be taking.

It is always wise to consult with your doctor or gastroenterologist, prior to taking Senna.

Cascara Sagrada

Cascara Sagrada Links:
- Cascara Sagrada Fact Sheet
- Cascara Sagrada FAQ’s
- Cascara Sagrada Information
- Cascara Sagrada Info
- Cascara Sagrada Research

Cascara Sagrada is very similar to Senna. It’s also a powerful laxative that can help ease your constipation symptoms. However, just like Senna, you MUST be very cautious when taking Cascara Sagrada.

Cascara Sagrada comes from the bark of the Rhamnus Purshiana tree. Once the bark is peeled, it must be prepared properly before ingestion. This process is very complicated, because the bark must sit & cure for at least one year before ingestion. If Cascara Sagrada is not prepared correctly, it can cause all sorts of problems inside of you, the worst being Severe, Bloody Diarrhea!

Cascara Sagrada should NEVER be used for longer than 7 consecutive days and should NEVER be taken without consulting with your doctor first. Cascara Sagrada can interfere with medications you may currently be taking, and it can also aggravate any previous digestive disorders that you may already have. Such as, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, or Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis.

Warning About Excessive Use

It is very important to understand what these two herbs can do to you if used excessively.

If you used either of these herbs for longer than 7 consecutive days, then you are putting yourself at risk for many digestive complications! The main concern is Bowel Dependency, which means that you have “trained” your bowels to only have a bowel movement, when you take these herbs. When you don’t take these herbs, then it can be rather difficult for you to have a bowel movement.

Remember to talk to your doctor about the safety & side effects of Senna & Cascara Sagrada BEFORE you take it!

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