Those trying to improve their health may actually be making it worse or even risking severe injury by taking colon cleansing products which are often costly & have dubious benefit.

A few months ago I wrote about my negative thoughts on colon cleansing products & how I felt they weren’t healthy, safe or cost effective treatment for digestive system problems. Of all the bogus health products out there colon cleansing is probably at the top of the list for deceiving people about it’s potential benefits.

Dr. Ranit Mishori from Georgetown Universities School of Medicine seems to agree in a recent article he wrote for The Journal of Family Practice. In the article he discusses two case studies where patients had severe reactions to colon cleansing products, he discusses the brief history of colon cleansing fads & also discusses different products.

With names such as Nature’s Bounty Colon Cleanser Natural Detox Formula, Health Plus Inc. Colon Cleanse, and 7-Day Miracle Cleanse, as well as endorsements by movie stars, these colon cleansing products are actively promoted as a natural way to enhance one’s well-being. Advertisements promising that colon cleansing will alleviate fatigue, headache, weight gain, and low energy are ubiquitous on the Internet and in newspapers and magazines.

I bolded the Nature’s Bounty product because I am actually a fan of most of their products. It is kind of sad that they stooped to the level of offering a “Colon Cleansing” product. In fairness, the “Nature’s Bounty Colon Cleanser Natural Detox Formula”(that’s a mouthful), is mainly Psyllium Husk, so I wouldn’t say it’s the worst offender out there, still sad though.

This does bring up the question of just what the heck is considered a “Colon Cleansing” product? There are many colon cleansing products that add weird things like clays or herbs that have a laxative effect, meanwhile others use a lot of fiber while still others offer kits that are essentially super enemas. There really is no consensus on what “colon cleansing” means & with no standards in place & one actually running any clinical trials(or wanting to run any clinical trials) you really do not know if any product actually has any benefit or dangers.

Given the dishonest nature of most of the companies offering such products you should never trust any anecdotes or testimonials on their website. Fake reviews can also be a problem on sites like Amazon.com or even on blogs or community forums, as posters often get a kick back if people buy the product. I’ve had companies contact me via e-mail asking me to promote their goods on this blog. Full disclosure: While I have affiliate links on this blog I have no intention of misleading people just to make a buck & I have no affiliate links to colon cleansing products.

Dr. Mishori also mentions FDA warnings regarding colon irrigation which is sometimes labeled as “colon cleansing” & especially warns against colon cleansing products usage for those those who have had serious digestive system problems such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or other health issues like kidney or heart problems.

If you’re thinking of trying a colon cleaning product, don’t. Save your money. If you have constipation try fiber, magnesium, prunes or Iberogast. If you’re just trying to detox or lose weight then adjust your diet & exercise, colon cleansing is no miracle cure. If you know someone who is thinking of it, then them Dr. Mishori’s article & my other colon cleansing article as well.