Can You Cleanse the Colon with a Laxative?

Many believe that you cleanse the colon with a laxative - unfortunately not only is this not true, it is detrimental to the message of colon cleansing.

Cleansing, as it turns out, is big money. Selling supplements can bring big money for large companies, which is why you see the pharmaceutical companies joining in the health business. So, it is important tho know that a true cleanse will make your body stronger, not make it dependent.

Unfortunately, to feed many people's desire for immediate results, laxatives are added to many cleansing products, because this will bring what looks like quick results. This naturally leads one to believe the product really works! But a laxative, nature made or not, can be habit forming, and can bring the opposite effects desired by those who use it.

When you cleanse the colon, you goal is to help the body release the buildup of toxins and mucoid plaque in the small intestine. The fibers and herbs soften buildup while adding extra, specific nutrition for the organs to do their job. As you cleanse the colon, your body becomes "cleaner," stronger and more efficient. This leads to better health, naturally. A laxative will not lead to this result.

A laxative works because it is a mild toxin. This toxin enters your body, your body recognizes it as a toxin so treats it as such. Your body's response is to send "water" from all other parts of your body to your intestine or colon to dilute the toxin, then spasms to move the toxin out. This is why cramping often occurs, though some may not even feel the cramping. It can also be very dehydrating in the long run. This toxin in question may be a pharmaceutical or could be "natural," such as senna.

If you use a product with senna in it, it is best to slowly "wean" yourself off the product, not just suddenly stop using it. This could lead to constipation as your body has become used to a stimulant "forcing" it to work.

Herbs such as cascara sagrada, buckthorn bark and triphala work better at building strength while causing your body to work because it is in balance. These herbs stimulate the release of natural hormonal oils in the intestinal tract, which then leads to peristalsis (muscular contractions of the digestive tract). This is a way to "train" your body to work on it's own, instead of forcing it to work with a toxin.

When it is time to cleanse the colon, find a reputable product and check the ingredients. True colon cleansing will assist your body's natural ability to cleanse itself. The herbs will provide nutrition, which gives strength to your organs. It is a slow process since it can take 10-30 years to build up the excess waste. Knowing this, you see that it may take a year or two to undo the damage.

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