5 Colon Cleaning Tips

Proponents of colon cleansing believe that toxins from your gastrointestinal tract can cause a variety of health problems, such as arthritis, allergies and asthma. They say that colon cleansing — also called colonic irrigation — removes these toxins, thus promoting healthy intestinal bacteria, boosting your energy and enhancing your immune system.

One concern with colon cleansing is that it can increase your risk of dehydration. A potentially more serious concern is that certain laxatives used in colon cleansing, such as those with sodium phosphate, can cause a rise in your electrolytes, which can be dangerous if you have kidney disease or heart disease.

If you choose to do colon cleansing, be sure to take these simple precautions:

• Check with your conventional medical providers first, especially if you take any medications or have any health problems;
• Make sure your colon-cleansing practitioner uses disposable equipment that hasn’t been previously used;
• Get a list of specific herbal ingredients and amounts in any colon-cleansing products you use — some herbal supplements can cause health problems;
• Beware of broad or inflated claims that colon cleansing will cure an illness; and
• Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of fluids while undergoing colon cleansing to prevent dehydration.

If you follow the above tips, you will be on your way to keeping your colon clean safely.