Colon Cleansing - Potions and Motions
Many people use products such as laxatives or purgatives when they think they need a 'good clean out' and they have come to think of these as cleansing their colon. Using laxatives, purgatives or enemas are, at best, a short term measures - that can themselves cause harm. Overcoming colon problems such as constipation requires a long term solution - one that improves the digestion of food in the small intestines and ensures efficient movement of material through the large intestines or colon.
Colon cleansing needs to be approached from a number of different angles - so that the end result is not just a clean colon, but a digestive system that is functioning effectively. This cannot be achieved by just using potions although the selective use of certain products can be a part of the process and can help in the short term. It needs to be kept in mind that these measures are not 'the answer'. They can be a part of the answer, but the search for what to do needs to go further or otherwise, in the long run, the problems could become much worse.
There are some foods that act as laxatives - they hurry the food and faeces through the bowel. Some of these include prunes and prune juice, licorice, some bitter herbs and spices and coffee. You will generally know what works for you. However, it is not recommended that you use coffee or alcohol in this way as they both act as diuretics and thus take fluids from you system. They also cause other problems for the body - in particular, the liver which has to detoxify them.
In addition to certain foods there are bulking agents. These aid in cleansing the colon by providing fiber and thus bulk. This means that the colon is able to function more effectively and this will help it to clean itself. Bulking agents can include the following:
Psyllium hulls from plantago psyllium - usually in ground form. Psyllium is one of the highest sources of dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble) to be found in any food and had been shown to help maintain cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range. Psyllium also absorbs a variety of toxins as it passes through the gut.
Slippery elm powder is used as a soothing remedy for the mucous membranes throughout the body and will sooth irritation and inflammation in the stomach, bowels, kidneys, urinary tract and the whole reproductive system.
Linseed is also called flax seeds is fibrous but does not absorb water and does not swell up the colon. It becomes a type of soft jelly which is why it is useful in moving material through the bowel. It also contains highly unsaturated fatty acids.
Aperients, laxatives and cathartics
There are other ways to get the colon working though they are not generally as good as using bulking agents - especially from the point of view of long term health, although they may produce good results initially. This is to use a group of herbs known as aperients, laxatives and cathartics.
Aperients are mild laxatives whereas true laxatives have a strong stimulating effect on the bowel. Cathartics and purgatives are the strongest and ensure rapid evacuation of the bowel contents. There are many herbs that have effects on the colon. I have selected a few - all with other beneficial actions as well. Many can be used in various combinations - depending on what is needed.
Aperients such as rhubarb, dandelion and milk thistle generally achieve their results by stimulating the flow of bile from the liver and gall bladder. The bile in turn acts on the walls of the colon and stimulates peristaltic action - the wavelike motion that propels food along the digestive tract. This is gentle, effective and an appropriate way of stimulating normal waste product elimination.
Bogbean has a stimulating effect on the walls of the colon which will act as an aperient, and also has a marked stimulating effect on digestive juices and on bile flow so will aid with sluggish digestion, indigestion and problems of the liver and gallbladder.
Dandelion root helps stimulate healthy liver function. It is a blood cleanser that is very rich in vitamins and minerals and promotes healthy circulation and stimulates bile flow. Dandelion is famous for its general detoxifying bitter tonic. Dandelion increases the elimination of toxins, wastes and pollutants through the liver and kidneys and thus cleanses the blood and tissues. The bitters in both the root and leaves assist the digestive system and liver. It can be used for liver disease, including jaundice and hepatitis and for problems associated with a sluggish liver, such as, tiredness, irritability, skin problems and headaches.
Licorice has many functions as well as acting as a mild laxative that can be used for irritation, inflammation and spasm of the digestive tract. It has a beneficial action on the liver where it increases bile flow and lowers cholesterol levels.
Milk Thistle is a mild laxative and is very effective at promoting good liver functioning as it helps protect the liver from toxins and pollutants by preventing free radical damage. It also stimulates the flow of bile from the liver and gall bladder for digesting fats. Milk thistle nutritionally supports the liver's ability to maintain normal function. It has shown positive effects in treating nearly every known form of liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, necroses, and liver damage due to drug and alcohol abuse. Milk thistle works due to its ability to inhibit the factors responsible for liver damage, coupled with the fact it stimulates production of new liver cells to replace old damaged ones.
Fringetree is a valuable herb that can be safely used in any liver problems - especially when they have developed into jaundice. It is a specific for the treatment of gall bladder inflammation and a valuable part of the treatment of gall stones. It is a herb that will generally aid the liver and as such is often used in a wider approach for the treatment of the whole body. Through its action of releasing bile it acts as a mild laxative.
Rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum - this is not the garden variety of rhubarb) has a purgative action for the use in the treatment of constipation and has a cleansing action on the intestines.
Cascara sagrada is used for the treatment of habitual and persistent constipation. It acts directly to stimulate (and you can say irritate) the walls of the colon.To make the active ingredients milder the bark must be aged one or two years or heat treated. Fresh dried bark products produce a laxative that is too strong for safe use. It also causes vomiting. It should only be used in acute situations and not as a long term solution.
Senna is a powerful cathartic. It is used in the treatment of constipation. It is best to combine senna with other carminative herbs to increase its palatability and to reduce griping, for example cardamom, ginger and fennel.
There are many other things that can be done to improve the functioning of the digestive system and cleanse the colon. The use of bulking agents, laxatives, aperients and cathartics is one measure. You can find these in the individual herbs section on the left of this page or you can find combinations in the inner cleansing and detox section. These need to be seen as useful for the short term and not as the main or only measure taken to improve the colon's function. To learn what else you can do and what measure you can take for long term improvement of digestive functioning and colon cleansing get your copy of Safe Colon Cleansing: Your Good Health Guide and begin now. Then get on with really enjoying life.
02.08.2007. 18:58
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