Colon cleanses have been used since ancient times. Today they are most commonly used as preparation for medical procedures, such as colonoscopies, or as a method for forcing the detoxification of the body. There is an ongoing debate about whether colon cleanses are actually necessary to detoxify your body. In this article, we’ll explore whether it’s a good idea to do a colon cleanse in situations other than when it’s prescribed by your colorectal specialist prior to a procedure.
What is a colon cleanse?
Colon cleansing—also referred to as colonic irrigation or colonic hydrotherapy—uses an increase of fluids to remove waste from the colon. It’s a practice that’s been used for many years as a way to clear toxic waste from the body. Medically speaking, colon cleanses can be used to prepare the body to undergo specific procedures related to the digestive tract. However, many people take matters into their own hands to perform colon cleanses at home as a method of detoxification or even weight loss.
Types of Colon Cleanses
As we mentioned, there are different uses for colon cleanses, which will have an effect on the type of colon cleanse performed. In addition to the medical colon cleanse, which is performed in an office or hospital by a trained professional or prescribed to be done at home, there are a few common forms of colon cleanse detoxes people use for a detox diet or weight loss:
Water flush: This method works exactly as it sounds—people drink large amounts of water in order to more easily flush waste from the body. People on a water flush colon cleanse will drink over 8 glasses of lukewarm water a day and only eat foods that contain large amounts of water like cucumber or celery.
Saltwater flush: Another method is to mix tablespoons of salt into lukewarm or warm water and drink that before you eat breakfast in the morning. The saltwater should cause an urge to use the bathroom and often assists with constipation.
Detoxifying tea: Many people use branded “detox teas” to naturally detoxify their bodies. These teas often contain ingredients like psyllium, aloe vera, marshmallow root, and slippery elm that are used as laxatives to promote waste removal from the body.
Juice diets: Juicing diets or fasts have become a popular method of detoxifying the body. The increase in liquid intake can help with digestion. However, there is not much evidence to support that juice diets actually work.
Enemas: In this method, you push fluid into your intestine through the anus. Enemas are often used to treat constipation.
Colon Cleanse Benefits vs Colon Cleanse Dangers
People who are in favor of colon cleansing believe that toxins from your gastrointestinal tract can cause health issues and that by removing toxins through colon cleansing you will improve your immune system and increase energy levels. Still, little to no evidence exists to suggest that colon cleansing provides these benefits.
On the other end of the spectrum, those against colon cleanses argue that the body detoxifies itself naturally, minimizing the need for colon cleanses.
There are also risk factors associated with colon cleansing, including:
Dehydration
Potential to create tears in the rectum
Infection
Dizziness or fainting caused by lack of nutrients
Danger for people who have a history of gastrointestinal disease, including diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, or a history of colon surgery.
As with any type of at-home remedy or treatment, it’s important to speak with your doctor or colorectal specialist about the potential colon cleanse dangers, especially if you suffer from any gastrointestinal ailments that could further put you at risk.