Happy Colon (to cleanse or not to cleanse)

I'm a holistic, hemeopathic kind of girl and I'm really excited to kick off my first Colon Cleanse! (applause)

Ok, maybe it's not applause worthy. But I'm excited. After a lot of research, I've settled on Colonix. It's supposed to be gentle and effective. We'll see.

I start on August 8th (because I have a long weekend and thought it was wise to allow myself a few days of...um...R&R just in case).

Has anyone else done a cleanse? I'm interested in other people's experiences before embarking on my own.

May I inquire as to why you wish to do a cleanse?

Sure - I'm gluten-intolerant and constantly bloaty and gross. I really want to flush out all this crap that I feel has built up in there, especially after years of not knowing my food intolerance.

I chose a cleanse that isn't unhealthy (like a lemonade fast) or harsh on my body (like things that claim to flush you out in 48 hours). Instead, I'm doing one that works with my current healthy diet and spans 2-3 months.

Yup...that's it. Aside from the yucky details, I basically just know my digestive system needs a bit of help.

I've never even considered it -- ick, but many have -- this is a previous thread regarding cleanses (the good, the bad, and the Mayo Clinic...)

Well, the thread is on Fad Diets, but there are a couple posts regarding cleanses.  Just passing info on, not making a judgment call on you

What makes you think you have a dirty colon?  LOL! Colons are usually the cleanest organs in the body.  If you have a gluten intolerance and you've stopped eating gluten then you shouldn't be feeling 'bloaty and gross' any more.  Perhaps there's something else in your dietary habits or lifestyle that is causing the problem?  Maybe you have a medical condition? 

Wouldn't it be more sensible to talk to your doctor rather than self-diagnosing?   If you're not actually constipated, over-the-counter laxative preparations (which is what most 'cleanses' are) can trigger a serious bacterial imbalance in the gut and lead to some horrible problems e.g. 'lazy bowel'. 

    

Were you just recently diagnosed as gluten intolerant? I have celiac's disease and I for one would NEVER EVER want to **** with my intestines. The only way to 'cleanse' whatever damage you have incurred is to eat gluten free for four to six weeks.

What sources of information did you consult? Really check out their credibility. If they're trying to sell you a program/book/tea/product, don't believe a word of it. It's very hard to find credible information advocating any kind of colon cleansing. Most people working in health food shops are not credible sources, either.

Your body will take care of detoxing itself, with or without a gluten intolerance. It is not "helping" your digestive system, but adding another stressor. Screwing up the normal flora (good bacteria) in your gut can have serious long-term consequences. It is VERY difficult to restore your bacterial balance if you mess it up.

skinnyogi, I'm right there with you on having a bowel disease and not EVER messing with intestines. Healthy people (myself included) take their bodies for granted.

Original Post by gonnagetthin:

I'm a holistic, hemeopathic kind of girl and I'm really excited to kick off my first Colon Cleanse! (applause)

Sorry to join the skeptics, but what about a colon cleanse is natural? Unless recommended by a doctor for health reasons (or prepping for a procedure like a colonoscopy), I don't see how messing with your colon's natural function is healthy or natural.

 

Wow, I have to say, I'm really surprised at the number of negative comments! A colon cleanse, if done naturally and herbally, is very good for you. Why? Because our bodies are bombarded with crap that it's not equipped to handle. We stuff processed foods into our poor gut on a regular basis, not to mention chemical medicines, airborn toxins, and parasites.

Most of my good friends have done natural cleanses and had great results. More energy, loss of weight, and much more regular bowls afterward. I don't think it's "messing" I think it's "helping".

The harsh cleanses, however, fall under the negative perspectives you all offer. The cleanse that requires starvation (like the Master Cleanse) or a doctor-induced cleanse that flushes out EVERYTHING including good bacteria. Bad, bad, bad, and I will stand with you all on that.

But an herbal cleanse is different. Healthy. Exciting!

If you're interested, I'll post about my own experience once started.

But with this post, I was more interested in hearing of other's experience. Has NOBODY done this???

I'd just like to comment on the statements in your last post. I'm not trying to attack you, but rather the propaganda that leads people to believe that their insides are somehow unclean and full of nasties.

"But an herbal cleanse is different. Healthy. Exciting!"

Why would a herbal cleanse be any different? Just because it's called "herbal" or "natural" or "organic" does not imply safety. Would you eat organically produced e-coli? Salmonella? How about some natural botulism? Make tea from poison ivy?

On the contrary, when it comes to health products, "natural" often implies "unregulated" and "untested" and "potentially harmful". If I'm going to take medicine to control epilepsy, for example, I want the one that's been thoroughly tested in real double-blind medical tests. I want the one that's regulated.

"We stuff processed foods into our poor gut on a regular basis, not to mention chemical medicines, airborn toxins, and parasites."

I don't know what you're eating, but I sure don't consume parasites! If I get an infection, my immune system takes care of it for me. Upsetting my digestive bacteria balance would just cause a larger burden on my system while it tries to adapt.

Your liver and kidneys are doing a fine job of getting toxins out. If they weren't, you'd be dead. If we weren't equipped to handle the "bombardment of crap", we'd all be dead or dying. We would not be fertile and the human race would die off.

Question: how do you define "chemical"? Can you please name one substance that is chemical-free? No one has ever been able to give me an example.

If cutting out gluten has not given you enough relief from your symptoms, you need to talk to your doctor. If you're healthy enough that you can wait until August 8th for "treatment", then the symptoms can't be all that bad. Maybe in the meantime you could really research the risks.

Sorry I can't give you a product review, like you've asked for. Please don't take this post as a criticism. I just want to give you some things to think about because I believe that any product/program that claims to "cleanse" your insides can cause real harm.

If you do a forum search you will find a lot of very long threads on colon cleansing. It's a controversial topic. Lots of people on this site have done various cleanses.

I don't feel attacked (but thanks for the clarification). I would feel attacked if somebody called ME names for the choices I'm making. But you're not. So thanks.

I've read the various threads on colon cleansing and yes, most are about the same. However, I was hoping to hook some of those people who HAD DONE ONE and could offer insight. (anyone? anyone?)

Most of the comments I've read here so far only offer opinions. Or, worse, your doctor's opinions. Now, before I DO get attacked for hating on doctors, let me open a window into my soul. As a former pharmaceutical rep, I got a front row seat to the Doctors Who Push Medicines On Unsuspecting People show. Chemical (meaning artificial, crafted in a lab) medicines were doled out to everyone for everything. Why aren't herbal medications regulated? Because the pharm. companies can't corner the market on them. 

And as for "regulated" the FDA is often paid off by the pharm. companies, offering a threashold of deaths before they'll yank things off shelves. They also force regulations to be cleared, if the money is right.

I don't trust my body to the US Government. I trust thousands of years of herbal training, Chinese medicine, etc. That's NOT to say that I'm an extermest, hippie-dippie who would rather die then get proper treatment for a serious illness. Not at all. BUT when it comes to natural remedies, like colon cleanses, that have proven beneficial for centuries....I'm on board.

Whew. (stepping off my soap box).

I hate to preach. Sorry. But I'm really surprised at the strong opinions based on little personal experience or data.

I'm not against traditional medicines, but where can you get them? The stores that sell them are out to make a buck, just like the pharmaceutical companies are. They are cut (diluted) with all sorts of stuff that's not necessarily on the label, and no one is checking up on their claims or ingredients. How can you be sure you're getting a quality product? How can be sure it's what the label says it is? Ick. It's scares me, so I avoid them.

Years ago I took echinacea for weeks or months before I learned it is harmful to people with my medical condition. The bottle didn't say so, nor did the store staff or the naturopath (who should have known better). I wasn't warned and I could have become very ill because I didn't do enough research.... and I thought I had done lots. Who is looking out for you?

Have cleanses really been proven beneficial? I haven't looked for a while, but I was never able to find anything compelling.  

Yikes, I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Really, I think putting ANYTHING in our bodies is scary. The truth is, because of various conditions and allergies, ingesting anything can be harmful (including natural things like nuts or, in my case wheat). So I do understand people's hesitation with ingesting something that seems unnecessary - like cleansing herbs.

In my case, though, I've done a lot of research and, more importantly, have consulted people who have actually done it. You asked if cleanses have proved beneficial, and I have to say a HUGE yes. Many of my friends have done them (one started after her mother died of colon cancer). HER doctor is both an MD and certified in homeopathic medicine...and he encouraged her to do a natural cleanse. She's felt GREAT. More energy, lost weight, etc, etc. And, most importantly, her colon is super healthy (confirmed though her doctor's tests).

I'm not saying to throw caution to the wind. Or that all things "natural" mean they are good. But, in this case, I'm all for a proven cleanse. Its a very good way to rid yourself of nastiness. And yes, there are MANY yucky things lurking in there. Parasites? Don't laugh. It's more true then you'd like to think - especially if you've spent any time in 3rd World countries. But even so, meat and dairy products are frequent carriers even in the Developed World.

Ew. Makes me squeemish just thinking about it.

And I'd STILL like to hear from anyone who has done a cleanse and can tell me,  from their OWN experience, what they thought.

I used to do cleanses all the time when I was teetering on anorexia. Crapping out three lbs in one day is like a dream come true! It's also draining, made me feel awful and it did nothing other than feed my desire to lose weight I didn't have to lose.

I was also a drug rep for a long while so nothing you can say about that is something I don't already know. Herbal meds are regulated to some extent. You can't just throw things up on shelves with a price tag. Also, pharma companies would have it bought up and patented if it actually worked.

Your body regulates itself, ok? If you put in garbage, you're working against it. If you eat a healthy, balanced diet you don't need to get rid of mysterious "toxins". It's like computers: garbage in, garbage out.

No one ever wants to hear their bodies will work perfectly fine if they take care of them. Why is that?

Original Post by spirochete:

I used to do cleanses all the time when I was teetering on anorexia. Crapping out three lbs in one day is like a dream come true! It's also draining, made me feel awful and it did nothing other than feed my desire to lose weight I didn't have to lose.

Your body regulates itself, ok? If you put in garbage, you're working against it. If you eat a healthy, balanced diet you don't need to get rid of mysterious "toxins". It's like computers: garbage in, garbage out.

No one ever wants to hear their bodies will work perfectly fine if they take care of them. Why is that?

 Ok, first off, just to clarify, my desire to do a cleanse has nothing to do with anorexic tendancies. Not to discount your own experience, but I felt the need to make it clear.

Second, your body regulates itself as best it can based on what's put in it. Without a proper balance, your body still struggles. We have to help ourselves. For me, using herbs and veggies and other things to flush out my system is a good thing. Many people attest to the energy they experience afterward.

Last, the key phrase in your statement s "properly taken care of." How many of us, honestly, eat all organic, all healthy, all perfect food ALL the time? Few. And, for many of us, our bodies DON'T work perfectly fine despite valient efforts. So why not lend it a helping hand and a boost of good-for-you things? As far as I'm concerned, what I'm doing DOES fall under the catagory of "properly taking care of."

It's your body, do what you want. What we're all telling you is that it doesn't need its colon cleansed. You don't have to eat perfectly organic foods 100% of the time, so I don't know why you used that hyperbole. I thought we were on the same page when you said we have to help ourselves, which means eating a decent diet. It really doesn't mean artificially flushing things out your butthole.

I only mentioned the ED thing because twice you mentioned weight loss as a benefit. Getting mono makes you lose weight, but I don't want to do that, either.

I DO think we need to help our body by putting good things into it. Which means, we're on the same page. However, what I'm doing isn't artificial. It's still putting good things into my body to aid it in the natural processes. I think that's where we have a disconnect. To you, this is a negative thing. To me, it's a positive. I think it's healthy. You do not.

And yes, I used that emphasis of not eating organic foods 100% of the time. Why? To draw attention to the fact that we all put garbage in at some point. Which means, our body must cleanse it out.

*shrug* agree to disagree. You've tried a cleanse and didn't like it. I appreciate you being the ONLY person so far to relate your own experience.

I have never done a cleanse, but I know a few women that have done them. I didn't really realize that there was such a negative connotation associtated with them!   I have considered doing a sugar cleanse in the past in an effort to kick that sugar craving.  My good friend had done it before, but I decided at the time it would be too drastic of a change for my body.  Now that I have been doing the cc thing and eating very well, I have cut out quite a bit of sugar anyway. 

I am surpised that there were so few people that offered you any actual experience.  I just wanted to let you know that I do know of people that have had positive results too.  I think you really have to be careful.  I don't know much about it, and I don't know that you need it, but I can apprecitate your desire to do it!

 Huh, parasites? Have you been reading this utter, utter loony's nonsense?

 Her "big secret" is making you eat a mixture of clay and cellulose, claiming that this will "cleanse your colon" of all sorts of things - the completely crazy health claims she makes are as bad as Kimkins' loony diet and probably as harmful to you over the long term.

 Drinking green tea, eating less industrially-produced crap from the center aisle, avoiding high-fructose corn syrup, and in general sticking to things your grandma would recognize as food is a good idea.

 Herbal "cleanses" and whatnots are not - if your colon and other body parts the "cleansers" claim need assistance weren't functioning fine on their own, you would be dead.

 It takes on average 48 hours to die from acture renal failure, approximately 7-9 hours to die from acute liver failure, anywhere from 5 hours to 7 days to die from an impacted colon.

 If any of your organs needed any help, you would be able to tell by the excruciating agony you'd be in while being rushed to the hospital.

I read that it isn't good to strip our intestines of the bacteria that is in there taking care of business.  That's when I learned that our Gallbladders are there to reboot thebacteria in our intestinal tract if they were wiped out by some disease.  I am not sure if taking out our own front line or in this case "back line" is a good idea. 

My question is this;

Does a colonoscopy prep clear everything out?  I am talking about this stuff people claim is stuck in there like spackle on a wall? 

I would like to say that a cleanse could be beneficial.  Its amazing to me to read all of these replies.  People seem so scared of anything natural.  Chemicals and toxics can build up in the body.  Ask any doctor.  And for the sceptics about parasites, I had parasites.  YES THEY DO EXIST.  I had to do a parasite clean and am now okay.  I did get them while traveling but what I found out from my doctor was that many people (in America) have them and dont know.  They have symptoms and problems that cant be explained like digestion problems, pains, skin problems, depression, forgetfulness.