Over the past decade or two, a growing number of Americans have jumped on board the ‘health bandwagon’. As a result, companies that sell vitamins and supplements are doing a booming business, raking in billions of dollars. Likewise, holistic and homeopathic doctors, clinics and websites have also been doing a booming business.

Yet at the same time, the number of obese Americans continues to rise, and with it the many health problems associated with obesity including diabetes, heart disease, strokes, cancer and a host of others.

Part of the health bandwagon kick involves juicing vegetables and fruits and various cleanses for different things.

One of the more popular cleanses being recommended by holistic and homeopath doctors, doctors, clinics and website is a colon cleanse.

So, what is a colon cleanse and is it necessary and is it healthy?

Colon cleansing is a process designed to clean the colon’s contents in hopes of helping to prevent the possibility of developing colon cancer. The process can be done via store bought products, supplements or irrigations. Some can be obtained easily and others require a doctor’s prescription. The philosophy behind a colon cleanse is that the body often is unable to remove all of the waste product from the colon and that quantities of stagnant and allegedly toxic waste remains and collects on the walls of the colon.  

The process actually dates back to the ancient Greeks, but eventually, the process lost favor. In the early 1900’s, colon cleansing once again became popular. However, lack of scientific evidence to support the benefits of cleansing the colon soon led to the fad of colon cleansing fading away.

More recently, colon cleansing has once again gained in popularity, however, there is still a great lack of scientific evidence to support the benefits. Many people will swear by having it done and others will swear that it is just a waste of money and time as well as the nasty inconvenience of going through the process. Additionally, undergoing a colon cleanse may have some mild to severe side effects, depending upon what method, how it is done and the person’s overall health at the time of cleansing.

Some of the methods used for a colon cleanse include enemas, laxatives (stimulant and non-stimulant), herbal teas, enzymes and magnesium.

About 100-years ago, a machine was invented to perform a colon cleanse, but those are no longer in general use. Today, some hygienists and hydrotherapists will perform a colon irrigation. They will generally use an enema while the patient is lying on a table. They use a low-pressure pump or gravity feed reservoir that feeds several gallons of water through a tube that has been inserted into the rectum and part way into the colon. I knew one person who described it as feeling like a liquid colonoscopy. The water may contain any assortment of enzymes, herbs, coffee or probiotics.

So, are colon cleanses really necessary?

Consider the fact what one site states:

“Are bowel movements enough to clear the colon? Or is it true that colon cleansing can be beneficial? We do know that the body alone can do the following:”

• Natural bacteria in the colon can detoxify food wastes.
• The liver also neutralizes toxins.
• Mucus membranes in the colon can keep unwanted substances from reentering the blood and tissues.
• The lining of the intestines regenerates itself more than any other tissue in the body, preventing a buildup of harmful material.
• The normal number of bowel movements varies from person to person.
• Increasing the number of bowel movements doesn’t improve weight loss. That’s because the body absorbs most calories before they reach the large intestine.

As stated earlier, there can be side effects. Just because something says it’s ‘natural’ doesn’t necessarily means that it’s good for you. I often tell people that hemlock is ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ but it’s a deadly poison that will kill you. In ancient Greece, hemlock poisoning was a common form of suicide as in the case of famous philosopher Socrates.

So, what are some of the common side effects of undergoing a colon cleanse? Gathering from a variety of sources, the side effects include – dizziness, cramps, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, mineral imbalance, bowel perforation, infection, depletion of the helpful bacteria (biotics) necessary for bowel function, interference with some medications and even kidney failure.

Some people may increase their risk of experiencing some of these side effects if they have – Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, chronic hemorrhoids, rectal or colon tumors, heart disease, kidney disease or ulcerative colitis. Age is another factor to consider before undergoing a colon cleanse as your health is generally not nearly as good as it is when you are younger.

Many highly recommend colon cleanses and others say it’s best if you eat a proper diet low in red meats and fats, and add whole grains, fruits and vegetables to your diet along with taking a probiotic supplement. Some experts say it will keep your colon healthier without having to risk the side effects of a colon cleanse. The decision of whether or not to undergo a colon cleanse is up to you.