Cleansing your colon, like any alternative health treatment, is subject to considerable debate by proponents and critics for many reasons: Lack of peer-reviewed medical research, the thought that the human body does a good enough job of its own cleansing your colon, and perceived benefits such as more energy and a healthier outlook on life.

While it is understandably difficult to sway opinion either way, one question that people considering this form of treatment naturally ask is How often do I need to cleanse my colon? There is no right or wrong answer because everyone is different, and you know your body better than anyone else. If you “listen” to your body telling you it is time to cleanse, then do it. But there are some scheduling recommendations to consider.

A Typical Colon Cleansing Schedule

The schedule you set is based on your current health and whether you have undergone colon cleansing before. If you are not in the best of health or have never tried it before, you may need to cleanse more frequently for the first two to three years, and then return to one or twice a year. At a minimum, many proponents and recommend twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. At a maximum, cleanse your colon once every two to three months, but remember to consult your healthcare provider if you elect to choose this more intensive path of cleansing.

How Long Does Colon Cleansing Take?

The process of colon cleansing varies depending on the option you choose. A natural colon cleansing method, where you consume a beverage or some other dietary supplement, may only take a few minutes to drink the beverage in question. But if you elect to undergo colon hydrotherapy, that process – undertaken in a medical facility or doctor’s or practitioner’s office – could take 30 minutes to an hour.

But once the treatment is over, the time that a body takes to release built up mucus or other toxins in the colon depends on each individual. In many case, you will see an increase in bowel movements within hours of cleaning your colon, but to adequately rid years of waste and hardened fecal material from your colon and 22 feet or large intestines will take some time, and may take multiple treatments – possibly over the course of one to two months.

The Benefits of Ongoing Health

While colon cleansing can lead to a number of health benefits, nothing means more than your personal commitment to a healthier lifestyle. That commitment includes:

• Maintenance of a healthy digestive system.
• Daily bowel movements.
• Ensuring you get enough restful, uninterrupted sleep.
• Detox your whole body, at least once a year which can reduce the effects of exposure to internal and external toxins.
• Eliminate or reduce exposure to toxins, such as the chemicals in tobacco and other harmful substances.

What to Expect When You Cleanse Your Colon

As you may imagine, the physical process of cleansing your colon is not pretty. In fact, it may be downright violent and could result in temporary physical discomfort.

After you have consumer the colon cleanser – something that you drink – or undergone colon irrigation, and the first dumping of your bowel happens, things may slow a little. Your body will continue to get rid of waste that has built up in your colon, often more than once a day, for a few weeks or longer. Initially, people who have undergone colon cleansing have reported feeling sick because built up toxins are being released for the first time.

Once the toxins have been expelled, your body will begin to heal itself. This means more energy, lighter moods and the feeling of less stress, and your skin may clear up and pains that you have had for years will disappear.

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Colon

To determine if colon cleansing is right for you, conducting research and asking questions should be part of that process. However, you also need to know that colon cleansing may not be necessary if you maintain a healthy colon, which is possible if you follow these tips:

• If you are having digestive problems, colon cleansing may be something to consider or talking about with your doctor. This is an alternative way or removing feces and non-specific toxins out of the colon and intestinal tract.
• Enjoy a fiber rich diet, with foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and bran. These will help keep your digestive system clean and functioning properly, and lead to regular bowel movements, which also keep your colon clean.
• Exercise, which helps stimulate and regulate bowel movements.
• Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water each day, but less than four ounces of liquids with meals. Keeping your body hydrated means it will function properly, and water also helps flush toxins out of your digestive system.

Foods and Nutrients for a Healthy Colon

Your diet and nutrient intake are important factors in making sure your colon stays healthy and functioning. A colon-healthy diet includes:

• A high fiber diet, but remember to include foods from the two fiber categories: insoluble fiber, and soluble fiber. Whole wheat flour, wheat bran, nuts, and many vegetables are good sources of insoluble fiber, while oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus, carrots, barley, and psyllium comprise soluble fiber.
• Plenty of drinking water, six to 10 glasses daily.
• Calcium, which you consume through foods like green vegetables, salmon, orange juice, almonds, cottage cheese, and other foods.
• Vitamin D, which is found in fish, eggs, milk, and synthesized via sunlight.
• Eat non-red, non-processed meats. Organic chicken and fish are good choices for keeping your colon healthy.
• Folic acid and vitamin B, these can be added to your diet through lentils, collard greens, chickpeas, asparagus, broccoli, strawberries, papaya, and oranges.

Ultimately, deciding how often to cleanse your colon is a very personal decision based on knowing your own body, employing common sense, and understanding the benefits and risks of each treatment option.

If you suffer from acne and have experienced the frustration, embarrassment and perhaps physical and psychological anguish of failed treatments, then where do you turn? While a doctor or dermatologist may prescribe a topical cream, face wash, or a pill for daily use, you may find yourself looking for alternatives. One such treatment you may want to consider is colon cleansing.

Because your colon is part of your digestive system, many proponents of alternative health treatments believe that flushing it regularly can lead to improved overall health and a more positive outlook on life.

What is Colon Cleansing?

Colon cleansing is the process of purging undigested meats and other foods that build up in your body, specifically as mucus in your colon, resulting in toxins accumulating that could lead to non-specific symptoms and general ill-health, such as fatigue, headaches, weight gain, or low energy. The two most prominent forms of colon cleansing are natural, where you buy products and administer a colon cleansing regimen on your own, or see a licensed practitioner who will perform colon irrigation, also known as colon hydrotherapy. The first type of colon cleansing is generally less expensive, while the second normally requires making an appointment with a licensed professional and can be costly.

Acne and its Causes

In order to decide whether you want to treat acne through colon cleansing, it is a good idea to first understand what acne is and what causes it. While many people look at someone with facial or forehead blemishes and automatically believe it is acne, the condition is more complicated that than.

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells, resulting in patches of scaly red skin, blackheads and whiteheads, pinheads, pimples, and possibly scarring. It most commonly appears on your face, neck, chest, back and shoulders, and can lead to varying degrees of physical and emotional discomfort. Acne can be extremely persistent and resilient to treatment, and can be caused by:

• Overproduction of oil within the skin.
• Irregular shedding of dead skin cells, which result in hair follicles becoming irritated and plugged.
• Buildup of bacteria is another well known cause and could be, unfortunately, symptomatic of other health issues.
• Hormonal changes.

Colon Cleansing as a Cure for Acne

Colon cleansing may be your ticket to rejuvenating not only your gastrointestinal system, but improving your skin and making it healthier and more vibrant. As with any alternative health treatment, you need to understand that it may work differently for each individual. Here are some tips to consider that could help make colon cleansing an even more effective treatment for acne:

• Understand your uniqueness, and tailor your expectations accordingly. Like a topical cream, face wash, or pill, no single treatment represents a “magic bullet” that will cure your acne in one fell swoop. No two instances of acne are similar, driven by different factors, such as family history, types of skin and skin tone, exposure to different environmental surroundings, and the bodily reaction to different foods.
• Know your acne treatment options, and keep track of what has worked or failed. This minimal information will help you consider the possibility of alternate treatments.
• Track your diet and have a clear picture of what toxins you may be adding to your body that could result in acne; if possible, change your dietary habits as a precursor to trying colon cleansing. Eat healthier (fruits, vegetables, and less red meat and processed foods), and drink more water.
• Consider whether other lifestyle changes may be in order. If you smoke, quit or cut back. If you consume alcohol, the same advice applies.

Why Use Colon Cleansing to Treat Acne

While acne is a common skin response to factors such as dietary or hormonal changes, you should be well aware of some of the drawbacks to acne: Decreased self esteem, embarrassment, physical pain, long term scarring, bodily rejection of treatments, and others when the condition is left untreated. Many proponents of colon cleansing feel that acne is a direct result of the colon not being able to absorb Vitamin A due to the presence of toxins, mucus, and other unhealthy products in the colon. Colon cleansing offers an approach to acne that does away with sometimes expensive medications, trips to the doctor, or other potentially invasive medical procedures. Colon cleansing also has a potentially greater benefit: flushing from your bowel accumulated and undigested waste that could cause other conditions and illnesses.

Dangers Associated with Colon Cleansing

Colon cleansing is not for everyone, as each person reacts differently to treatments and conditions which lead to acne. If you decide that you are going to try natural colon cleansing or colon hydrotherapy, be aware of the following dangers:

• Colon cleansing may disrupt the natural balance between bacteria and natural chemicals in your digestive system. In the case of colon hydrotherapy, it could result in an electrolyte imbalance due to your body being forced to absorb a higher amount of fluid than it normally would. An electrolyte imbalance also could lead to dehydration.
• Colon cleansing may interfere with your body’s ability to shed dead skin cells.
• The risk of infection, again with colon hydrotherapy. If you decide to undergo this form of colon cleansing as means to treat acne, make sure all of the equipment is sterilized and items that should be thrown out are not recycled.
• Bodily injury. Be aware that colon hydrotherapy requires the insertion of a plastic tube into your rectum, meaning there is a risk of your bowel being perforated during the process.
• Fooling you into believing that other treatments are inadequate or unnecessary. Again, everyone reacts differently to certain treatments, and you need to stay cognizant that other options are available.

Deciding whether to employ colon cleansing as a means to treat acne is not a decision you should take lightly. Be sure to research all options, and consult with a medical profession if you have questions.

Cleansing your colon is a touchy subject, to say the least. It certainly is not a conversation starter, or if it were, think of what you would say to a stranger at the bus stop:

You: “Hi, good morning. How are you?”

Stranger: “Umm, okay. Thanks for asking. And you?”

You, shrugging your shoulders: “Ehh, so so, I had one of those nights.”

Stranger: “Oh?”

You: “Yeah, I was a little plugged up. I ate a 12 ounce T-bone steak a week ago, and it hasn’t digested very well.”

Stranger, looking a bit embarrassed: “Sorry to hear that.”

You: “Yup, I haven’t been able to poop since …”

And that is where the conversation ends, not only with a complete stranger at the bus stop, but also with family and close friends. No one wants to talk about constipation, incontinence, or other bowel problems or their symptoms, so you are left with dealing with it on your own, researching your options, or talking with a doctor or other medical professional who could offer advice – or suffering in silence.

But it may boil down to a simple conclusion: You need to cleanse your colon, and soon.

Signs You May Need to Clean Your Colon

The need to cleanse your colon can manifest itself in many ways, unique to each individual. For some people, it means fatigue even when you get eight hours of sleep a night, mysterious headaches, weight gain even when you eat “right,” or low energy – and all without finding the root cause. But here is a possibility: Undigested lumps of meat and other foods could build up in your body, specifically as mucus in your colon, resulting in toxins accumulating that could lead to a myriad of non-specific symptoms and general ill-health. It is because of these non-specific symptoms and general ill-health that many medical professionals insist the need for and benefits of regular colon cleansing are over blow. In all honesty, that is probably up to you to decide.

Types of Colon Cleansing

There are two types of colon cleansing: Natural, where you buy products and administer a colon cleansing regimen on your own, or see a licensed practitioner who will perform colon irrigation, also known as colon hydrotherapy. The latter option can be expensive, as it involves making an appointment to see a doctor or other licensed professional, while natural colon cleansing is a less expensive alternative medical therapy you can pursue on your own.

The key is to choose which ever method is right for you, both of which will result in regular bowel movements and improved colon health.

Herbal Colon Cleanse vs. Oxygen Powder Colon Cleanse

In most cases, you can choose between one of two types of colon cleansing kits available at most pharmacies or retailers like Target, Kroger or others: Herbal colon cleanse, and oxygen powder colon cleanse.

Herbal Colon Cleanse

Herbs are a wonderful, all natural ingredient in your battle to cleanse your colon. But what do herbal colon cleansers do? Herbal cleanse recipes are designed to remove fecal matter, destroying the harmful bacteria and parasites in your digestive system, prohibiting the growth of toxins and improving the function of colon muscles to increase the regularity of natural bowel movements. These products also have added artificial or mild laxatives that help in the regulation of bowel movements.

Herbal colon cleansers help create long mucoid links through special ingredients that absorb water in the intestines like a sponge. This results in the expansion of intestinal walls, and the links fan out, getting into the folds and crevices within the intestinal walls. Think of it as creating a tidal wave in your intestines, with mucous plaques that may have been attached to walls getting swept away.

Of course, there is a downside. Herbal colon cleansing products tend to send their users to the restroom regularly – more so than if they were not using any product at all. In any case, the instructions also say to drink more fluids, meaning that even if you do not have a bowel movement, you will still find yourself urinating regularly. Other problems to be aware of are painful cramping and abdominal aches.

Oxygen Powder Colon Cleanse

A second type of natural colon cleansing is what it known as oxygen powder colon cleansing. With this method you use oxygen, rather than herbs, to help break down any compacted fecal matter, undigested foods, toxins or mucus that may have accumulated inside your digestive system. Usually, oxygen powder colon cleansers come in capsule form. Typical ingredients include citric acid and/or ozonated magnesium.

A good tip to follow is to drink more water after ingesting an oxygen powder colon cleanser, as water is one of the best natural colon cleansers anywhere. Basically, water helps oxygen to flow through your body, helping to break down any compacted fecal matter that has built up over time.

Benefits of a Healthy Colon

A healthy colon is critical to maintaining the general health of the body, but there are other specific benefits:

Immune Response

The colon plays a key role in absorbing nutrients, and in order to do that, the body has to allow nutrients to pass through the walls of the gastrointestinal tract without allowing any ingested microorganisms into your body tissues. In this way, the immune system is like a police car patrolling a store parking lot after dark – patrolling the colon with specialized cells that can mount an attack (an immune response) to protect the body from things getting into the colon that should not be there.

Nutrient Absorption

A healthy colon absorbs water, salts and vitamins K, B12, thiamin and riboflavin synthesized by friendly bacteria, with the contents meandering at a leisurely 5 cm per hour, and the colon absorbs everything of nutritional value that the body can use or recycle. For example, absorption of thiamin and riboflavin in the colon helps with energy metabolism in the body. A fruit, vegetable and whole grain-friendly diet means more nutrients get absorbed and move faster through a healthy digestive system. This means a healthy colon provides the benefit of absorbing important nutrients and disposing of waste that your body does not need.

Ultimately, a healthy colon leads to a healthier body and longer life, but you are the only person who can decide if colon cleansing is right for you.

Did you know that general ill health and non-specific symptoms like fatigue, headaches, weight gain, or low energy all may have a common root cause? Toxins building up in your colon in the form of mucus from undigested meat and other foods, possibly resulting in a myriad of health issues that may get worse before they get better. This is known as autointoxication, and the solution may be a practice known as colon cleansing.

There are two types of colon cleansing: Natural, where you buy products and administer a colon cleansing regimen on your own, or see a licensed practitioner who will perform colon irrigation, also known as colon hydrotherapy. Colon irrigation can be expensive, as it involves making an appointment to see a doctor or other licensed professional, while natural colon cleansing is a less expensive alternative medical therapy you can pursue on your own.

The key is to choose which ever method is right for you, both of which will result in regular bowel movements and improved colon health.

Natural Colon Cleansing

While the idea of natural colon cleansing was first promoted by ancient Egyptians and Greeks, it became popular in the early 20^th century before enjoying resurgence the last few decades thanks to late night infomercials and direct to consumer advertising.

Natural colon cleansing refers to a regimen whereby you ingest or administer a variety of dietary supplements, such as enemas, laxatives, strong herbal teas, enzymes, antiparasite capsules, or simple powders.

Basically, this method softens or otherwise breaks down stubborn fecal matter, toxins, and mucus that has accumulated in your colon, making it easier for your body to expel them through regular bowel movements.  The herbal method is often paired with a change in diet – eating less red meat and processed, high fat foods — that helps reduce constipation and restores the colon to its natural state. Besides herbs which are supposed to improve your colon’s natural function, people are often instructed by doctors and nutritionists to add fiber rich food, and fresh fruits and vegetables to their daily diet.

Though it seems amazing, the herbs are very powerful and can literally rid your colon of pounds of foul smelling food debris that have been stuck  inside your body for an extended period of time.  Natural colon cleaning has its pluses: It helps to maintain healthy gastrointestinal functions, promotes pro-biotic activity, helps keep your blood pressure at safe levels, strengthen your immune system, and promotes a healthy acid and alkaline balance in the body.

Many people favor the natural cleansing method because it can be self-administered using simple and inexpensive ingredients that will help improve your physical and mental well being, and is less invasive than other procedures.

Colon Cleansing with Colon Irrigation

The second major type of colon cleansing is called colon irrigation or high colonics, which took off in popularity with the invention of the first modern colonic machine about 100 years ago. What is a colonic machine? It is a device that allows a plastic tube to be inserted into the rectum, which is then flushed with water resulting in patients having a bowel movement and cleaning their colon of built up fecal matter. While you lie on a table, a machine or gravity-driven pump flushes up to 20 gallons of water through a tube inserted into your rectum. Today, the procedure is performed by colonic hygienists or colon therapists in a professional medical setting, such as a doctor’s office or other medical facility. Colon irrigations work somewhat like an enema, but with much more water and none of the odors or discomfort.

After the water is in the colon, the therapist may massage your abdomen to help loosen your bowels even more. Then the therapist will flush out the fluids and waste through another tube, sometimes repeating the process during a session lasting from 45 minutes to one hour.

Colon irrigation may involve using a variety of water pressures and temperatures, and may or may not combine water with enzymes, herbs, coffee, or probiotics. Probiotics are supplements containing bacteria beneficial to maintain health bowel movements and gastrointestinal health.

A third and least popular method of colon cleansing is a colonoscopy. With this procedure, you literally see inside your colon on a TV monitor as a therapist or colon hygienist inserts a flexible illuminated fiber optic or video camera into the large intestine through the anus. Technology plays a key role, as the camera is guided through your colon by a combination of visual and X-ray controls.

Follow These Cautions

• Check with your doctor first, especially if you take any medications or have any health problems.
• Find a reputable colon-cleansing practitioner, and do not be afraid to ask for references.
• Make sure your colon-cleansing practitioner uses disposable equipment that is not recycled.
• Do some basic research, starting with a list of specific herbal ingredients and amounts in any colon-cleansing products you use, as some herbal supplements can cause allergic reactions or other health problems.
• When consulting with a colon-cleansing practitioner, be sure to share your medical history, highlighting any conditions you have, other medical procedures you have undergone in the past, as well as any current or recent prescription medication you have taken.
• Be prepared to drink lots of water during the process and stay hydrated.

Colon cleansing may be your ticket to rejuvenating your gastrointestinal system, thereby purging harmful toxins from your body. This process has a number of benefits, such as improved mental outlook, strengthening your immune system, and more. Colon cleansing is something you can do on your own, and often with simple and inexpensive ingredients. Here are some recipes to get you started.

But remember that colon cleansing – whether natural, or through colon irrigation or a colonoscopy – is not for everyone. If you have any questions, consult your doctor, but also remember that simple changes each day can improve colon health and increase the chances of normal and regular bowel movements – things like diet and exercise.

Psyllium husks, also commonly known as isphagula is the covering of certain seeds that are produced by some kinds of plants. They are very effective in eradication of constipation related complications. The plants which produce these seeds in plenty can be found in the Middle East countries.  Psyllium husks have widely been associated with fiber. They are excellent sources of fiber.

Research shows that a small portion of psyllium capsules contain a very large proportion of fiber that is required by our bodies to prevent us from having constipation. For example, a third cup of psyllium husks will give more than 70 grams of fiber as compared to 5 grams of that can be produced by the same quantity of oat bran.

Psyllium Husks – Why is it so effective at remedying constipation

Studies have shown that consumption of psyllium husks greatly reduces chances of constipation. This is even enhanced if they are taken with lots of water. But why are psyllium husks so effective in the cure and prevention of constipation?

The answer lies in the nature of fiber contained in psyllium husks. Psyllium husks are rich in water soluble fiber. This means they are easily absorbed in the body and particularly by the digestive system. This is why almost every colon cleansing supplement has large amounts of psyllium husks in their ingredients. It is these psyllium husks that greatly improve bowel movements and also help in the removal of toxic substances from the body.

Psyllium Husks – How it gets rid of constipation

 When one takes supplements rich in psyllium husks, the body is given soluble fiber which is very essential in the digestive absorption functions.  This soluble fiber softens the stool that is formed after the normal digestion process has taken place. But how exactly do psyllium husks work? The psyllium substance extracted from psyllium seeds has a great capacity of swelling when it comes into contact with water.

This swelling results in some viscous gel. It is this gel that allows the softened stool to be easily passed through the large intestines and eventually out of the body. The psyllium husks’ gel makes you pass fecal matter without having to strain the internal intestinal lining.

When intestinal walls are stretched and strained, pocket-like ulcerations result. These ulcers complicate the whole process of absorption of foods and the vicious cycle is repeated. However, psyllium husks greatly prevent the formation of these pocket-like ulcers.  

Psyllium Husks – Where can I find it?

Psyllium can be obtained from whole husks. They come from the seeds of the herb plantago ovata. Many countries within the Middle East are known to have plenty of these plants. However, the best source for psyllium husks is through consumption of various colon cleansing products that are naturally produced. Examples of these herbal colon cleansing supplements include Bowtrol Colon Cleanse, Digestit Colon Cleanse, Oxygen based Colon Cleanse, Herbal Cleanse and the Colon Hydrotherapy.

These supplements are all over the internet and you just need to do some simple research to find the many companies that promote these substances. It is important, however to get them directly from the manufacturers by ordering online from their websites.

Conclusion

Every one of us suffers periodically from digestive complications – excess acid production, colitis and most frequently some uncontrollable bowel movement. The remedy for all these and very many other related ailments is the full cleansing of the colon.

It is therefore important to keep eating fiber rich diets as this will greatly enhance your body’s ability to eradicate constipation and other digestive caused ailments such as diarrhea, stomach cramps and stomach bloats.