How to Colon Cleanse?

The question “How to Colon Cleanse?” has been raging in some of the online health groups recently and with good reason. There is no getting away from it, the colon is often the most neglected organ in the body. Of all our organs it is probably the most congested with toxins and toxic waste. It make sense then to give it a self-care sesh.

The liver is your major detoxification organ but the colon, aka large intestine,  is just as important. Your liver cleanses your blood of toxins and incorporates them into bile which is stored and concentrated in your gall bladder.

It then gets released into your intestines when you eat some fat in a meal.  Low fat diets are not good for this reason but that’s another story. The bile then gets mixed with the food and eventually makes it way out of your body in your stools or poop as it is better known. The faster it gets out the better barring diarrhea of course!

A highly refined and junk food diet such as is eaten in the Western world is notoriously bad at providing enough fiber that the colon needs to move the waste quickly through the intestinal tract. Bowel toxicity has been around since man met earth, so yes, colon cleansing is a priority!

Related reading: Effective Cleanses and Detox Methods for your Digestive System

Unhealthy eating habits play a crucial role in contributing to colon dysfunction. We munch like crazy on processed foods, starve our bodies of roughage, get fond of chemically preserved food, savor frozen meals, and look up to canned foods to save time.

The normal time that it takes for food to make its way through the digestive system from one end to the other should be only 12 – 18 hours. Many people have much longer transit times. 2 – 7 days is not unheard of!  I have even met people who only had a bowel movement once a month. If you’re not having at least two healthy bowel movements a day, you’re not functioning at 100%.

Poor elimination 

The longer the waste sits in your colon the more it becomes congested and clogged. The bacteria in your bowel soon break down the bonds that the liver uses to detoxify the harmful toxins.  They then get absorbed back into the blood stream and get taken to your liver to do its job all over again.

If your liver becomes overworked with toxins from the bowel as well as all the other toxins it has to deal with every minute of every day it can lead to symptoms in other parts of the body.

Although many mainstream doctors refute the suggestion that a clogged colon could lead to so many symptoms elsewhere in the body many health practitioner have proven otherwise. Bernard Jensen, the renowned chiropractor and Naturopath, showed how many symptoms and diseases could be cured with colon cleansing.

Some of the symptoms of a toxic colon are:

• Constipation or diarrhea

• Skin problems

• General aches and pains

• Bad breath or coated tongue

• Lung problems

• Memory problems

• Poor immunity

• Frequent headache

• Feeling dull headed
• Body odor

It is, therefore, crucial to stress the importance of colon cleansing. This ritual will help give yoru body’s digestive system a vacation from straining itself and aid in its purifying process. Let us see what the Colon Cleansing Before And After benefits are.

• Boosts the immune system from within
• The colon contains natural bacteria which detoxify food waste
• The liver neutralizes toxins
• Prevents foreign or unwelcomed substances from re-entering the blood
• Faster regeneration of intestinal lining
• It offers respite from bloating, cramps, and gas
• Prevents build up of toxic waste
• Ramps up the body’s energy
• Reduces the risk of colon cancer
• Helps in the weight loss journey
• Enhances your mood

So, how to colon cleanse?

For a week or two prior to a colon cleanse you should gradually reduce processed foods, sugar and foods containing it, caffeine and alcohol. Increase fresh fruits, vegetables and wholegrains.

Related reading: New Year Colon Cleanse 

Fantastic Fiber

Fiber is nature’s detoxifier. Fruit, vegetables and whole grains provide both insoluble and soluble fiber that scrubs the intestinal lining clean and softens the stool. Fiber speeds up the time that your food stays in your intestinal tract.

How to Colon Cleanse with Psyllium Husk

Herbs like Psyllium are an excellent form of fiber you can give to your body. This fiber has been derived from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds and helps in promoting digestive health.

This bulk-forming laxative, known as  “intestinal broom” by herbalists, has a reputation for absorbing all the water in your gut enhancing a smooth flow of bowel movement. People also depend on it to ease their constipation. This ingredient is often associated with helping you lose weight!

• Choose a form of psyllium husk which is extracted from the seeds of the plant itself.
• Consult with your doctor or Naturopath and take the dosage as prescribed.
• Rather than taking it before and after your meals, consume them in between. This does not hamper the digestion process.
• Hydration is vital, so make sure you drink at least 8 cups of good liquid daily. This will allow the harmful waste to go out of your body effortlessly and prevent any side effects.
• Give up on your sweet tooth cravings, as processed or sugar foods can spoil all the fun! Instead, focus on maintaining a full-fledged balanced diet. Don’t forget your fruit and veg with lot of greens, grass-fed meat, organic free range poultry, gluten free-grains and some healthy fat.
• Work out! Thirty minutes of exercise is a must to boost your digestion. You may decide to brisk walk, run, or play. It is your choice.

Flax seeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber and can be ground up just before use as part of a colon cleanse. It is a good alternative to psyllium for people who don’t like the texture of psyllium or find it bloats them too much.

Bentonite Clay Powder

Various types of natural clays have been used by many cultures in small amounts as a part of a daily diet. Primitive tribes have traditionally used clays for conditions of toxicity

Bentonite powder can absorb several times it’s own weight and is particularly good at removing toxic metals and pesticides as well as general toxins.

P & B  shake colon cleanse

You can make up your own colon cleanse with psyllium and Bentonite by thoroughly blending 1 – 2 teaspoons Bentonite powder and 1 tablespoon (15ml) Psyllium husk powder with 10 oz clean water and 3 oz fresh fruit or vegetable juice.

Alternatively you could make this colon detox mixture by putting it in a large container with a lid and shake it vigorously to mix it and avid any lumps in the mixture.

This mixture will start to swell to a gel like consistency fairly quickly so it’s best to drink it immediately. You can take this every morning and evening on an empty stomach. Bentonite can be constipating on its own so the psyllium helps to push it through with the toxins it attracts.

If you want you can do a two three day juice fast while taking the colon cleanse concoction. Just remember to introduce food very slowly after you have completed the fast. Introduce just fresh fruit on the first day and fresh vegetable salads on the second and/or perhaps a bowl of vegetable soup.

The following day introduce simple gluten free carbohydrates like brown rice or millet and finally light protein like mercury free fish or organic chicken.

Water, water, water

Drinking enough pure water is a very important addition to colon cleansing. It is essential to drink at least 8 x 8oz glasses of pure water or fesh juices if you are using psyllium husks as they absorb a lot of water from the bowel.

Herbs

A number of different herbs can be used to help to cleanse the colon of toxins and loosen old material. Although the existence of “mucoid plaque” has been ridiculed by the mainstream medical profession,  chiropractors have noted from patients x-rays that waste matter does cling to the bowel wall which is removed with colon cleansing of some sort.

Senna is a particularly irritant herbal laxative that is included in some colon cleanse supplements which I prefer to avoid.. It causes pain and cramps in a lot of people.

Cascara is a more gentle herbal laxative that triggers contractions of the colon and is believed to improve the tone of the colon walls.

Slippery Elm

Slippery elm powder is made from the bark of the slippery elm tree and is very soothing for the intestines. It can help with various digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcers.

Green foods

Green foods such as chlorella, barley grass, alfalfa, wheatgrass and blue-green algae contain chlorophyll known as the internal deodorant.  They also help detox heavy metals that are lodged in the colon.

Colonic Enema At Home

To flush out toxins from your colon, you might have to keep your options open. This could involve enemas, which are rectal injections of fluid that have been purposefully designed to cleanse your bowel, stimulating easy pooping.

Cleansing enemas include clean water or saline, Epsom salts, organic coffee, sodium phosphate, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and even soap suds.

The best of them is considered to be coffee with apple cider vinegar aclose second. If you mix this ingredient with warm, filtered water, your bowel will quickly clear of its baggage. It may also induce more antiviral effects, which will help in improving and healing your digestive system.

Risk/Downside of Colon Cleansing

All that is natural need not be safe! And colon cleansing is a burning example of this statement. You might be relying on everything natural to keep your digestive system happy but may overlook its actual needs. The FDA and Federal Trade Commission have given their statement that some colon cleansers might pose a threat to your gut.

This may induce nasty side effects like dehydration, vomiting, nausea, cramping, dizziness, mineral imbalance, lack of electrolytes, bacterial infection, bowel perforation, degradation of good probiotics, kidney failure, and potential disturbance in the smooth working of medication absorption on the day of the procedure.

Colonic Hydrotherapy

If, for example, you go for colonic irrigation aka colonic hydroptherapy it could compromise your colon health more if your therapist adds a substance to water during colon irrigation. This invites allergic reactions and will eat away the good bacteria present.

People are more inclined to these risks if they are already suffering from Diverticulitis, Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, severe hemorrhoids, tumors in your rectum or colon, recent bowel surgery, heart disease, or any kidney disease.

So, before you feel all smart and hop onto a new method of cleansing your insides, make sure you do your research and start with gentle procedures. When it comes to how to cleanse your colon no one likes a bad trip to the restroom!