The Colon Cleanse: A Detoxification Protocol Necessary To Maintain Optimal Health

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Colon Detox for Healthy Digestion

Written by: Jon Barron
Baseline of Health Foundation

Death Begins In The Colon

There is an old saying that “death begins in the colon.” This is an oversimplification, to be sure, but more accurate than not. In fact, the road to health begins with colon detoxing -pretty much no matter what the disease or problem, be it via products you can find online (for more information click here) or other means.. Unfortunately, most people confine their understanding of the colon detox to its effect on fecal matter. And while it is true that cleansing programs do draw old fecal matter out of the colon, limiting the discussion to this misses the big picture.

It should be noted that the medical community probably has more trouble with the concept of detoxing than with any other aspect of alternative health and is frequently attacking it. Back in 2009, for example, a report by Voice of Young Science blasted detoxing and found it to be largely nonsense. But in fact, as I explained at the time, the report, was itself largely nonsense. The researchers chose the widest definition possible for detoxing including detox shampoos and spa therapies in their analysis, and they used very little science to back their claims–mostly personal opinion. The one valid point they did make is that the word “detox” has become so widely used that it has lost much of its meaning. That is true, and that’s why I always clarify what kind of detoxing I’m referring to such as:

  • Intestinal
  • Heavy metal
  • Kidney
  • Gallbladder
  • Liver
  • Blood

Each of these is unique, and each requires a different protocol. And they have nothing in common with “detox shampoos” and “detox water,” which are, in fact, nonsensical. Then again, can’t this same criticism be leveled at the medical community? Consider the term “evidence based medicine,” which the medical community loves to claim as its defining principle. Hasn’t it too been rendered largely meaningless considering that, according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, only 11% of physicians actually rely on evidenced based medicine for all their treatments?1 It would seem that the medical critics of detoxing are not familiar with John 8:7, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

The Many Roles of the Intestinal Tract

The digestive system in humans is essentially a continuous tube from mouth to anus. (Don’t think about that the next time you kiss someone.) As a system, it performs several critical functions, ranging from digestion to immune support, with each part of the tube performing a specific function, including:

  • Digestion of the food we eat.
  • Transferring the nutritional value of that food into the cells of your body.
  • Processing the waste from that food and eliminating it from the body.
  • Serving as a drain pipe for waste produced as a result of metabolic functions within the body.
  • Serving as a drain for toxic substances absorbed through our lungs and skin.
  • Serving as a home for beneficial bacteria that provide a number of essential functions, including aiding in digestion and supporting the immune system. It has been said that up to 60-70% of your immune system function comes from these bacteria. Consider that they:
    • Line your intestinal tract, thus preventing invading pathogens from gaining a foothold.
    • Actually identify, attack, and destroy many invading pathogens.
    • Produce a number of nutrients and biochemicals that boost your immune system such as B vitamins, lactoferrin, and Transfer Factor.

As you can see from this list, the digestive system is critical to your health and well-being. Any program of intestinal cleansing and detoxification, therefore, must address all of these aspects. Specifically, it must serve to:

  • Remove all old fecal matter and waste from the colon (to clear the drain, if you will).
  • Help remove all of the heavy metals and drug residues that have accumulated in the body and tissue of the intestinal wall as a result of having your drain plugged.
  • Strengthen the colon muscle so that it works again.
  • Repair any damage, such as herniations (diverticula) and inflammations of the colon and small intestine.
  • Eliminate the presence of polyps and other abnormal growths that have been allowed to flourish because of an unhealthy intestinal environment.
  • Rebuild and replenish the various “friendly” bacteria cultures that ideally should line virtually every square inch of the tract–again, from mouth to anus, excluding the stomach.

Problems in the Digestive System

Diseases of the digestive system have reached an all-time high in the United States and are still on the rise. In 1985, 60–70 million Americans were affected by digestive disorders.2 Today, it’s over 100 million. In fact, digestive diseases are among the leading causes of doctor visits, hospitalizations, and disability in the United States each year. These conditions span a wide spectrum of disorders that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, as well as obesity and other nutrition-related disorders. In 2004, more than 35 percent of all emergency and outpatient hospital visits–some 100 million, as already mentioned–were associated with a diagnosis of a digestive disease.3 The number two cancer among men and women combined is colorectal cancer, trailing only lung cancer. The incidence of diverticulosis has increased dramatically from just 10 percent of the adult population over the age of 45 who had this disease in 1952 to an astounding “Just about everyone who reaches age 90 has many diverticula” according to the latest home edition of theMerck Manual.4 In other words, according to the latest medical studies, virtually all American adults will eventually have diverticulosis of the large intestine if they live long enough. It has been known that marijuana can help with digestive problems, you can get medical marijuana from the state in some countries but not others, a medical marijuana card oklahoma is available but in other states it might not be. Marijuana is known to have great effects on both the mind and body – including digestive disorders.

To summarize: digestive disorders (including disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas) were responsible for over 50 million physician visits back in 1985–and more hospitalizations than any other category of medical problem in the United States5, fn] Burt, C.W., S.M. Schappert. “Ambulatory Care Visits to Physician Offices, Hospital Outpatient Departments, and Emergency Departments: United States, 1999–2000.” National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 13 (2004): 157. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_13/sr13_157.pdf and almost double that today. The total cost to the American public for all aspects of digestive disease is well over $100 billion per year.6 This is why majority of the time it’s important to purchase a health insurance policy. The most prevalent digestive diseases include:

  • Constipation and the attendant symptoms of self-toxification
  • Diverticular disease (herniations of the colon)
  • Polyps
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Colorectal cancer

It is worth noting that many other diseases that at first glance appear to have no connection with the digestive tract have actually been related by many doctors to functional bowel disorder. These include diabetes, gallstones and kidney stones, gout, hypertension, varicose veins, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and obesity. With diabetes, whatever is ingested will filter all around the body, including the feet. Quite often, those who suffer from diabetes also suffer from poor health concerning their feet too. Compression socks versus diabetic socks is often a popular debate, as both can help increase blood flow. Diabetic socks can help the foot in more ways than a compression sock, especially when the foot has sores and swelling.

And as if that were not enough, it has been estimated by some health experts that as many as 80 percent of Americans are afflicted with intestinal parasites. Many in the medical community would dispute this number, calling it far too high, and if you limit your discussion of parasites to things such as tapeworms and Chinese liver flukes, they are correct. But as soon as you open up to the true nature of the problem and include the lesser-known, but far more prevalent, parasites such asFasciolopsis buskii, the 80 percent figure begins to fall into line. And if you include pathogenic E. coli and Candida yeast overgrowths, then the 80 percent figure is decidedly conservative. Remember, the functional definition of a parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host’s expense.

Symptoms of parasites include nervousness, grinding of the teeth at night, aches and pains that move from place to place in the body, mimicked appendicitis, ulcers and various digestive pain, nausea or diarrhea, itching, acne, foul breath, furred tongue, jaundice, fatigue, menstrual irregularities, and insomnia.

And more doctors are becoming aware of how endemic yeast infections such as Candida albicanstruly are. Symptoms include chronic fatigue (especially after eating), depression, bloating and gas, cramps, chronic diarrhea or constipation, rectal itching, allergies, severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS), impotence, memory loss, severe mood swings, recurrent fungal infections (such as athlete’s foot), extreme sensitivity to chemicals (perfumes, smoke, odors, etc.), and lightheadedness or drunkenness after minimal wine, beer, or sugar ingestion.

Toxic Lymph

In addition to all of the problems we’ve already discussed, a sluggish bowel also has a major health impact on another body system: your lymph. Think for a moment, if you will, of your colon as your body’s drain pipe. If the drain is clogged, not only will waste not be eliminated but when you flush the toilet, the drain backs up and spills over befouling the entire bathroom. And that’s exactly the point which leads us to a discussion of waste removal from the body and the lymph system.

The lymph vessels are a network of capillaries that filter blood impurities; they contain a clear, colorless fluid called lymph. Lymph passes from capillaries to lymph vessels and flows through lymph nodes that are located along the course of these vessels. Cells of the lymph nodes phagocytize, or ingest, impurities such as bacteria, old red blood cells, and toxic, cellular waste. Lymph fluid can also collect other impurities such as heavy metals, pesticides, and drug residues stored in bodily tissue.

Once loaded with toxic waste, the compromised lymph must exit your body. What can’t be eliminated in your urine must pass out through your colon by way of the liver and bile duct. What do you think happens to all this waste if the plumbing is plugged or sluggish? It backs up into your bloodstream. Is it any wonder we get sick and keep on getting sicker? Is it any wonder that the incidence of lymph cancer is doubling every twenty years?

What’s Gone Wrong?

Our modern lifestyle has taken its toll on our digestive and elimination organs. Refined, processed, low-fiber foods, excessive animal fats, hugely out of balance Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratios, a lack of exercise, and an ever increasing level of stress all contribute to our current gastrointestinal health crisis.

Consider that a sluggish bowel can retain pounds of old toxic fecal matter (2–3 pounds is common, 10–20 pounds is not as unusual as you might think, and up to 65 pounds has actually been reported in exceptional cases). Often, the real cause behind sickness and disease is this retention and reabsorption of built-up toxic waste. Now, there are a number of skeptics such as Dr. Robert Carrol of the Skeptic’s Dictionary who have a problem with the assertion that a sluggish bowel can retain old fecal matter. With great finality, Dr. Carrol proclaims, “The idea that our bowels are retaining pounds or tens of pounds of ‘toxic and poisonous fecal matter’ is false, false, false.”7

To be sure, I’ve also read numerous emails from doctors who write into the Baseline of Health Foundation and say, “I’ve been doing colonoscopies for years, and I’ve never seen this mythical fecal matter.” But think about this for a moment. What is every patient required to do the night before they get their colonoscopy? They are forced to drink a literal gallon of purgative to blow every last trace of fecal matter out of their colons. So doctors do not see large amounts of fecal matter, they see only the damage that fecal matter has left behind — prolapsed colons, polyps, and diverticular disease for starters.

In any case, if you choose to look for the accumulated fecal matter, instead of purging it before you inspect, you will find it. Bernard Jensen probably did more documentation in this regard than anyone else, recording the photographic results of colon cleanses that he ran on a number of patients. These images are now widely available on the internet. Ah! But perhaps this graphical proof of stored fecal matter is not convincing. After all, Dr. Jensen is not part of the medical community. Perhaps he faked the pictures. So let’s turn to an indisputable mathematical proof.

The average American eats about 1,996 pounds of food a year, or about 5 ½ pounds a day — totaling about 2700 calories (and growing). Theoretically, about 2/3 of that consists of liquids, water, and “fuel” content that you urinate, sweat out, or burn up. But that still leaves about 2 pounds of solid waste per day that must pass out through your bowel. If that seems high to you, then consider that just one Burrito Ultimo® at Baja Fresh, a typical fast-food lunch item, weighs about 480 g, or just over a pound — and there isn’t a lot of water in it. At Sizzler, the steaks alone run 8-14 ounces, exclusive of any sides. So, bottom line, we have 2 pounds of fecal matter — give or take — produced every day in the average American. So what?

According to the medical community, it is normal to have a bowel movement anywhere from three times a day, to three times a week.8 Three times a week works out to once every two days. If you produce 2 pounds of fecal matter a day and you only go to the bathroom once every two days, that means — mathematically speaking — that you are regularly storing upwards of 4 pounds of fecal matter in your colon…mathematically speaking. Since we’re still in the average range for bowel movements, we’re talking tens of millions of Americans who regularly store 4 pounds of fecal matter in their colons. Let’s drop a pound off that in case we have a rounding error, and we’re still at the high end of my assertion that 2–3 pounds of fecal matter being stored in the colon is common.

But constipation is a severe problem in the developed world. According to a 2007 study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, the incidence of chronic constipation in the United States is just over 17 percent, or well over 50 million people.9 With a bowel movement once every five days (towards the low end definition of constipation), you’re talking about 10 pounds of fecal matter stored in the colon — at once every seven days it’s 14 pounds. And statistically, we’re still talking about several million people. So, my statement that 10–20 pounds is not as unusual as you might think, holds up…again, mathematically speaking. And let’s keep in mind, these numbers assume that 100% of this stored fecal matter is evacuated from your bowels during your once a week movements — a questionable assumption at best. As for the 65 pounds, I did say that has been reported “only in exceptional cases.” The simple mathematical truth is that the concept of people storing pounds of fecal matter is not “false, false, false” as Dr. Carroll asserts; It’s mathematically “true, true, true!”

Dr. Carroll may have been onto something, though. Saying it three times really does make it feelmore true.

How Can I Tell If My System Is Backed Up?

A normal bowel movement is soft and unformed. It should break apart when it hits the water– or at least when flushed. This is not to be confused with diarrhea, which is characterized by water.

There has been a great misconception among the public and most medical professionals about how often a normal healthy person should move their bowels. For years, doctors have thought that anywhere between one bowel movement a day and one a week was normal. (Unfortunately, that’s probably the norm for the doctors who think that.) However, what we have learned in the holistic community is that it is normal, and necessary, to have one bowel movement a day for each major meal (as opposed to a snack) you ate the day before. If you eat three major meals, you should have three bowel movements the next day. If you don’t, you’re not alone.

The key causative factor, of course, (aside from organic disease) is lack of fiber in your diet — the more fiber, the faster the transit time of waste through the intestinal tract. Even with all the attention fiber gets in relation to healthy evacuation, it is still MIA in many daily meals. So let’s look what you’re eating in terms of transit time:

  • A meal consisting of a beef patty, white flour bun, and French fries has virtually zero fiber — thus slow transit time.
  • What’s pizza made of? White flour and cheese. White flour and water is used to make wallpaper paste. And cheese (casein), at one time, was the primary ingredient in Elmer’s Glue (thus Elmer’s picture on the front). Ergo, when you eat pizza, you’re eating wallpaper paste and Elmer’s Glue — a real stick to your “ribs” kind of meal. Is it any wonder it doesn’t pass through your colon cleanly and easily?

If your diet consists of a lot of slow transit food, then you are essentially clogging your pipes. Once nutrients are absorbed from food, there is no reason to keep the waste in your body. In fact, the longer digested food stays in your intestines, the more it rots and ferments, causing long-term disruptions and toxicity.

Dead Men Tell No Tales

Consider that disruption in the pH of intestinal fluids causes ulcers and disturbs the balance of mucus. In his book Tissue Cleansing through Bowel Management, Doctor Bernard Jensen, DC, ND, Ph.D., shared:

  • One autopsy revealed a colon to be 9 inches in diameter with a passage through it no larger than a pencil. The rest was caked up layer upon layer of encrusted fecal material. This accumulation can have the consistency of truck tire rubber. It’s that hard and black.
  • Another autopsy revealed a stagnant colon to weigh in at an incredible 40 pounds.

Dr. Jensen also described the problem associated with mucoid plaque (thickened intestinal mucus) as: “The heavy mucus coating in the colon thickens and becomes a host of putrefaction. The blood capillaries to the colon begin to pick up the toxins, poisons and noxious debris as it seeps through the bowel wall. All tissues and organs of the body are now taking on toxic substances. Here is the beginning of true autointoxication on a physiological level.”

Thankfully, the story does not end there. Modern awareness of the impact intestinal health has on overall health has created a choice in treatment options. This leads me to the question of the day: what can we do about it?

Health Begins in the Intestinal Tract

Your intestinal tract is the source of all nutrient access to your body. If it isn’t working properly, you have two major problems. First, you have a hard time digesting food–breaking it down sufficiently so that your body can use it. And then, even if you can digest it properly, if the intestinal wall is covered with hardened mucous and/or colonies of hostile bacteria, you’ll end up absorbing only a fraction of the nutritional value of the food you eat.

In addition, the colon is the main elimination channel of the body. It is the means by which we eliminate the toxic waste of the digestive process, including massive amounts of E. coli bacteria. If that waste hangs around longer than necessary, its impact on the body is profound. We’ve already discussed how waste from the lymph system passes out through the colon, but so too does waste from the liver. The liver filters out dangerous drug residues, poisons, and excess cholesterol from the blood and passes them out of the body through the colon via the bile duct and gallbladder. Plug the colon and everything backs up–the net result is sickness and disease. The important point to remember here is that you can’t even begin to cleanse and repair the other systems in the body until you clean out the colon so that the toxic material will have a path out of the body.

Physically, the colon is not designed to store large amounts of old fecal matter. If you have pounds of extra garbage in there, there’s only one thing that can happen; the colon must distend and expand. This causes the walls of the colon to thin out (like blowing up a balloon more and more). As the walls extend out, they press on and compress other organs in the abdominal cavity. Also, old fecal matter is an ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria and dangerous parasites. And finally, as the accumulated waste builds up, so does the weight of the colon, which in some cases can cause it to drop down into the lower abdominal cavity, pressing down on the other organs and bulging out through the intestinal wall. This is the cause of prolapsed colons.

Any program designed to improve our health or to eliminate disease from our bodies, then, must begin with intestinal cleansing and detoxification. It is the “sine qua non” of health (literally, “without which, there is not”).

Ways to Cleanse the Intestines

In order to clean and detoxify the colon, it is mandatory that you address multiple key areas. To be effective, any intestinal rebuilding program must:

  • Help bring the colon back to life by stimulating the muscle movement of the colon, encouraging matter to move forward through the system and halting putrefaction.
  • Draw old mucoid plaque and fecal matter off the walls of the colon and out of any bowel pockets.
  • Disinfect.
  • Draw out toxins, leach out heavy metals such as mercury and lead from the intestinal walls, and remove chemicals, drug residues, and even radioactive residue such as Strontium 90.
  • Soothe and promote the healing of the mucous membrane lining the entire digestive tract.
  • Help stimulate the body to begin the healing and repair of herniated areas.
  • Increase the flow of bile to help clean out the gallbladder, bile ducts, and liver.
  • Optimize the growth of beneficial bacteria, which are a fundamental component of intestinal health.
  • Destroy and expel parasites and inhibit Candida albicans overgrowth.
  • Maintain regularity.
  • Decrease straining.
  • Speed up the transit time of feces through the large intestine.

Once you look at the requirements of a good intestinal program, it’s easy to see that no single formula or magic pill can accomplish it all.

What about Enemas and Colonics

During an enema, water is inserted into the rectum through a tube, causing the emptying of the lower bowel. Enemas are useful for a quick fix, particularly when you are “temporarily” backed up. However, they only flush loose fecal matter in the lower part of the colon, and they do nothing to restore normal functioning to the colon.

A colonic is a type of enema that injects large amounts of water, under controlled pressure, through the rectum and high into the colon for cleansing purposes. Some treatments add ingredients to the water, such as peroxide, herbs, or coffee, to bolster the cleansing action. Think of the colonic as a powered enema–it still only captures loose fecal matter, but goes higher into the colon and is more thorough.

Colonics do work to flush loose waste and sediment from rectum and large intestine, but they have several drawbacks. They can actually weaken bowel muscles over time. Colonics don’t draw toxins from bowel pockets or from tissue. They do, however, flush all bacteria out–the good as well as the bad. Colonics can also disrupt natural pH (acid/alkaline) balance) in the large intestine. Finally, depending on the skill of your therapist, you run the risk (low) that some water retained in the equipment from another patient’s previous use may be injected into your colon. Yech!

However, if you are so inclined, periodic colonics can be highly beneficial. They can definitely improve your health and sense of well-being. Regular colonics, on the other hand, may be too much of a good thing.

The bottom line is that if you really want to clean out and rebuild your intestinal tract, you’re going to have to use an effective intestinal cleansing and detoxification program.

Colon Detox Program

An effective intestinal cleansing program necessitates a three-pronged approach.

    1. A colon correction formula
    2. A colon detoxifier
    3. Supplemental probiotics to rebuild your intestinal flora

Colon Correction

A good herbal-based, intestinal corrective provides both cleansing and healing to the entire gastro-intestinal system. It stimulates peristalsis (the muscular movement of the colon). It halts putrefaction and disinfects, soothes, and heals the mucous membrane lining of your entire digestive tract. Entirely herbal, with no harsh, habit-forming chemicals, an effective activating formula will also help improve digestion, relieve gas and cramps, increase the flow of bile (which in turn cleans the gallbladder, bile ducts, and liver), destroy Candida albicans overgrowth and promote healthy intestinal flora, destroy and expel intestinal parasites, and increase gastrointestinal circulation. The herbs used in this type of formula are also antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal.

Colon Detoxification

In contrast with the colon corrective formula, a good detoxifier is cleansing and soothing. It is used periodically in conjunction with the corrective formula. The detoxifier formula is a strong purifier and intestinal vacuum. It draws old fecal matter and mucoid plaque off the walls of your colon and out of any bowel pockets. It also works to draw out poisons, toxins, heavy metals such as mercury and lead, and even remove radioactive residue such as strontium 90. A good detoxifier will also remove over 3,000 known drug residues. Its natural mucilaginous properties will soften old hardened fecal matter for easy removal and also provide an excellent remedy for any inflammation or irritation in the stomach and intestines. This formula is helpful in irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s and diverticular disease, and hemorrhoids. And on top of everything else, a good detoxifier will often eliminate the effects of food poisoning or stomach flu in 20-40 minutes–literally soaking them up.

The list goes on…

Using a colon correction/detoxification combination also:

  • Helps bring the colon back to life by stimulating the muscle movement of the colon, ultimately strengthening rather than weakening the muscle.
  • Encourages matter to move forward through the system.
  • Halts putrefaction.
  • Disinfects.
  • Soothes and promotes the healing of the mucous membrane lining of the entire digestive tract.
  • Helps stimulate the body to begin the healing and repair of herniated areas.
  • Increases the flow of bile to help flush out the gallbladder, bile ducts, and liver.
  • Promotes healthy intestinal flora.
  • Destroys and expels parasites.
  • Destroys Candida albicans overgrowth.
  • Maintains regularity.
  • Decreases straining.
  • Speeds up the transit time of feces through the large intestine.

Yes, Butt!

The colon detox program is not all roses and sunshine; you may experience some gas and bloating. But think about it for a moment. If you were to start a car that had been sitting idle in the garage for years, you wouldn’t expect it to start right up. You might have to crank it over several times. It might blow some smoke and backfire several times, maybe even shoot some flames out the tail pipe — but then settle down and begin to purr.

After years of abuse and neglect, your bowel is no different.

Gas and bloating are the smoking and backfiring of the bowel. Work through it. Once you have rebuilt your bowel function, your intestinal tract will begin to purr like a well-tuned engine. You may also experience muscular movement, along with occasional cramping and aching, but these effects are minimal if you use a properly designed formula.

What to Look for in a Colon Corrective Formula

In a colon corrective, I recommend you look for a formula that contains all organic herbs such as: Cape aloe, Senna, Cascara sagrada, Barberry rootbark, Ginger root, Cayenne fruit, Fennel, and Terminalia chebula. (The Cape Aloe gives it strength, while the fennel makes it gentle.) These are the ingredients that I use in my own colon corrective formula. Let’s look at them in a little more detail.


Cape aloe (Aloe ferox) is native to Africa and is renowned for its remarkable natural colon cleansing benefits. The main active ingredient is the anthraquinone, aloe-emodin, which works as an effective natural laxative and colon cleanser. Cape aloe is probably the strongest of the colon stimulating herbs. Also, laboratory experiments have shown cape aloe stimulates the growth not only of lymphocytes, which are an important part of the immunological defense mechanisms,10 but also of fibroblastic cells in skin and connective tissues11 and can thus help soothe and heal tissue in the intestinal tract. And an in vitro study published in 2014 shows that aloe-emodin induces apoptosis in human colon carcinoma cells.12

Senna is widely accepted as a stool softener and a short-term treatment for constipation. Senna leaf is approved by the World Health Organization for use in occasional constipation. It is approved in the United States by the FDA and in European countries as an ingredient in over-the-counter and prescription laxative preparations. And it is approved by the German government for any condition in which alleviating constipation or softening stools is desirable. Senna may be recommended for people with hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or those undergoing surgery involving the abdomen, anus, or rectum. Senna may also be used to clear the bowel in order to improve the visibility of abdominal organs during an ultrasound procedure.

Like aloe, senna contains naturally occurring anthraquinone glycosides, but in the case of senna they are primarily sennosides rather than aloe-emodin. Sennosides are strong stimulant laxatives that soften stools and increase muscle contractions of the intestines, thereby increasing bowel movements. Senna usually starts to work in three to nine hours. Anthraquinone laxatives, such as senna, work in two ways. First, they help assist with constipation by increasing the amount of water and electrolytes in the intestine. They also work by stimulating contractions of the colon muscles, which helps to accelerate the passage of stools. Senna is considered second only to aloe in terms of its laxative potential. Its effectiveness as a purgative has been supported by centuries of anecdotal reports as well as modern human and animal studies.

Cascara sagrada appears in the national formularies of most countries, and has been in the United States Pharmacopoeia since 1890. Early plant chemists identified the key active constituents in cascara sagrada bark as aloe-emodin, barbaloin cascarosides A and B, and emodin. These compounds stimulate peristalsis, the vigorous wavelike contractions of the large intestine that keep food moving through the digestive system. When cascara speeds the process up, the body produces a softer, quicker bowel movement because the intestine has had less chance to absorb the liquid from the stool. Several studies have shown that cascara sagrada is effective in easing chronic constipation in elderly people.

Special Note on Senna, Aloe, and Cascara Sagrada

In 1998, the FDA reclassified several herbal laxatives including senna, aloe, and cascara sagrada as category III, meaning they required further research. Research for senna proceeded, but no results or comments were forwarded to the FDA for aloe or cascara sagrada. As a result, in 2002, senna was once again listed as category I (approved for over-the-counter use), but aloe and cascara sagrada, despite hundreds of years of history and being driven by similar anthraquinones, are now listed as category II (insufficient data).13

In truth, there are very few reported complaints about herbal laxatives when properly used. Problems occur when people dramatically overdose on such products, or more significantly, when manufacturers promote them for inappropriate uses. For example, several years ago, there was an incident in which a healthy young woman in her 30’s used a “dieter’s tea” product (a senna based drink) to lose weight. She died for no apparent reason, and the doctor’s said it must have been the senna in the tea.

First of all, there is no proof that the senna was responsible. It was merely an assumption made by the doctors. The argument was that it disrupted her electrolyte balance. And yes, in her particular case, it may have. If you use senna or cascara sagrada or aloe, not as an aid to proper bowel movements (as in a corrective formula), but in large amounts as a purgative to stop from absorbing calories (as in a dieter’s tea), you will have diarrhea end up passing a lot of electrolytes — but probably not enough to affect the heart unless some other factors are in play.

The bottom line is that it is unlikely the senna was responsible, and on top of that, I am not advocating anything close to the amount of senna consumed when drinking multiple cups of dieter’s tea. In the colon corrective we’re now talking about, senna, along with the aloe and cascara sagrada, are merely colon cleansing stimulants for proper colon function. No one has ever suffered a problem from them when used in that regard.

The other claim sometimes made about herbal laxatives is that you become dependent on them to have a bowel movement. The evidence does not bear that out. Millions of people who did not have regular bowel movements before using colon cleansing products, have gone on natural colon cleansers, stayed on them for a number of months to build up colon function, and then weaned themselves off. The net result is that their colons are stronger and working better than before they started on the colon cleansing program. The trick is to wean yourself off, not stop abruptly. Just think how sensitive your colon is. Sometimes just taking a trip is enough to make you constipated. Your colon doesn’t like abrupt changes.

Note: herbal laxatives can cause temporary staining of the lining of the large intestine, a condition doctors have labeled melanosis coli — which produces no other symptoms or problems and goes away in time. At one time, doctors used to freak out when they saw it during a colonoscopy. Now, since so many people use herbal laxatives, they don’t even mention it when they see it.

Barberry rootbark contains berberine, a bitter alkaloid that aids in the secretion of bile and is good for liver health,14 acts as a mild purgative, helps regulate the digestive processes, and improves insulin sensitivity.15 The antibacterial properties of berbamine, another alkaloid found in barberry, have shown activity against Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli. It has anti-microbial properties that are especially beneficial for the skin and intestinal tract.16 And finally, barberry has a beneficial effect on blood pressure by causing a dilatation of the blood vessels.

Barberry decreases heart rate, depresses the breathing, stimulates intestinal movement for natural colon cleansing, and reduces bronchial constriction.

Fresh ginger Root has a long history of use in herbal medicine. Specifically, in this formula, it is used for its ability to help control temporary nausea,17, fn] Yekta ZP1, Ebrahimi SM, Hosseini M, Nasrabadi AN, et al. “Ginger as a miracle against chemotherapy-induced vomiting.” Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2012 Jul;17(5):325-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23853643 which makes it useful when stimulating intestinal activating and in liver cleansing programs as well as in morning sickness during pregnancy. Ginger root is also a strong COX 2 inhibitor, which means it can help reduce inflammation in the intestinal tract. As a side note, in the Far East and India, ginger root is renowned for its aphrodisiac properties.

Cayenne fruit, the potent, hot fruit of cayenne, has been used as medicine for centuries. Cayenne is helpful for various conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including temporary constipation (by stimulating peristalsis and speeding up orocecal transit time18), stomach aches, cramping, and gas. Cayenne is also extremely beneficial for the circulatory system, helping to improve the elasticity of the walls of both the arterial and venous systems, maintaining normal blood platelet function, and working to help maintain normal blood pressure. And finally, cayenne is used in many herbal formulas as a “driver” — to “push” the other herbs in the formula into the bloodstream more quickly.

Fennel seed is a carminative herb that helps reduce colic, gas, indigestion, intestinal disorders, nausea, and flatulence,19 while at the same time improving assimilation. It also can help break up kidney stones and uric acid in the tissues and is therefore used in treating gout. Fennel seed will help clear mucus and phlegm from the lungs, and it will also help rid the intestinal tract of mucus. Its tissue cleansing properties also have a cleansing effect on the gallbladder and liver. Fennel is very effective for cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy. It can even be used to quiet hiccups and effectively reduce or eliminate intestinal gas.

Terminalia chebula is called the “king of medicines” in Tibet and is one of the prime Ayurvedic herbs used in India because of its extraordinary healing powers. At the same time, it is known to promote tissue growth and health.20 Traditionally, it is used in natural colon cleansers to address constipation, digestive orders, irregular fevers, flatulence, ulcers, vomiting, colic, and hemorrhoids–as well as cancer.21

Modern research has found that Terminalia has a strong effect against the herpes simplex virus HSV,22 and exhibits strong cardio tonic properties. It also has antioxidant components, which indicates it can increase the life of tissues. Yet another study shows the anti-tumor activity of Terminalia and another study shows that it has considerable effect in inhibiting the HIV virus which ultimately results in AIDS.23 And it can help control diabetes.24

What to Look for in a Colon Detoxifier Formula

In a colon detoxifier, I recommend you look for a formula that contains all organic herbs such as: Psyllium seeds and husks, Apple pectin, Montmorillonite clay, Activated willow charcoal, Pau d’arco, Slippery elm inner bark, Marshmallow root, and Fennel seed. Each offers a unique benefit to the colon detox program as well as an overall effectiveness not available in a colonic. These are the ingredients that I use in my own colon detoxification formula. Let’s look at them in a little more detail.


Psyllium seeds and husks are rich in soluble fiber and have long been used to ease constipation and digestive system upset. As the University of Maryland Medical Center says, “Many well designed studies have shown that psyllium relieves constipation. When combined with water, it swells and produces more bulk, which stimulates the intestines to contract and helps speed the passage of stool through the digestive tract. Psyllium is widely used as a laxative in Asia, Europe, and North America.”25 Studies show that in addition to increasing stool weight, supplementing with psyllium seed husk produces stools that are slick and gelatinous. Psyllium is unique in contrast with other viscous fibers. It is resistant to fermentation, whereas other soluble fibers tend to ferment in the colon. That’s a significant advantage. Researchers also observed that psyllium seed gel provides lubrication that facilitates the propulsion of colon contents and produces a stool that is bulkier and moister than are stools produced when using comparable amounts of other bowel-regulating fiber sources. The bottom line is that studies have shown that an unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans.26

A number of studies suggest that psyllium may also be effective in lowering cholesterol,27promoting weight loss (it makes you feel full), and aiding in the relief of numerous other conditions. For example: studies have shown that psyllium can significantly decrease serum glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic outpatients.28 (Note: Psyllium can make tetracycline antibiotics less effective, so consult your doctor for guidance before using psyllium while on a regimen of antibiotics.)

Apple pectin can be used to remove unwanted metals and toxins, lower cholesterol29 and to help reduce the side effects of radiation therapy. In fact, it was used after Chernobyl to pull radioactive waste from victims.30 Apple pectin also helps to break down the build-up of mucus and binds to various toxic metals such as mercury,31 lead, etc. And apple pectin is also another good source of soluble fiber. It has the ability to form a gel that can bind water and toxins together, thus also bulking the stool and carrying the toxins out of the body.

Montmorillonite clay is medicinal powdered clay derived from deposits of weathered volcanic ash. It is one of the most effective natural intestinal detoxifying agents known, capable of absorbing up to 40 times its weight in fecal matter. It is also capable of absorbing a wide variety of toxins in the intestinal tract. Technically, the clay first adsorbs toxins (heavy metals, free radicals, and pesticides), attracting them to its extensive surface area where they adhere like flies to sticky paper. Then it absorbs the toxins, taking them in the way a sponge mops up a kitchen counter mess. According to the Canadian Journal of Microbiology, montmorillonite can absorb pathogenic viruses, aflatoxin (a mold), and pesticides and herbicides including Paraquat and Roundup.32 The clay is eventually eliminated from the body through the colon with the toxins bound to its multiple surfaces.

Activated charcoal (coconut shell or white willow) does essentially the same thing in your intestinal tract that a charcoal block does in your water filter. It attracts and traps thousands of times its own weight in gases, toxins, food additives, and other chemicals. As a side note, it can absorb over 3,000 known drug residues.33

Pau d’arco (Tabebuia heptophylla) comes from the rain forests of Brazil and other areas of South America. The active component is lapachol. Pau d’arco works well in the formula because of its proven ability to help control Candida.34 This amazing herb also nourishes the body’s defense system and helps protect against pathogenic organisms. It has been used for centuries to improve immune function, detoxify, and reduce pain throughout the body — especially in the joints. Research has shown that it contains a natural antibacterial agent, has a healing effect on the entire body, cleanses the blood, and kills viruses. Pau d’arco has been used as a treatment for AIDS, allergies, all infections and inflammations, anemia, asthma, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, as a blood builder, bronchitis, all types of cancer,35 colitis, cystitis, smoker’s cough, diabetes, eczema, fistulas, gastritis, gonorrhea, hemorrhages, hernias, Hodgkin’s disease, liver disease, leukemia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, osteomyelitis, Parkinson’s disease, polyps, prostatitis, psoriasis, rheumatism, skin cancer, skin sores, spleen infections, snake bites, ulcers, varicose veins, warts, and plain old wounds.

Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis) is particularly rich in mucilage and gets extremely gooey when wet, which makes it a great demulcent and emollient. This quality makes it particularly valuable for coating and protecting irritated mucous membranes in the mouth, throat, lungs,36 and, for our purposes in this formula, the gastrointestinal tract. It is used in this formula for treating inflammation and irritation of the alimentary canal–as well as to help regenerate the epithelial cells that line the intestinal tract.37 The active biochemicals in marshmallow are large carbohydrate (sugar) molecules, which make up the mucilage. This smooth, slippery substance can soothe and protect irritated mucous membranes throughout the body. Marshmallow has been known to relieve indigestion, kidney problems, urinary tract infections, and even external skin wounds such as boils and abscesses.

Slippery elm bark (Ulmus rubra) works with the body to draw out impurities and toxins, assisting with the healing of all body parts. It is beneficial for all inflammatory bowel conditions.38 And slippery elm’s coating action soothes the irritated tissues of the intestines, colon, and urinary tract, as well as stomach ulcers. The primary chemical constituents of slippery elm are mucilage (galactose), starch, tannins, calcium, vanadium, and zinc.

Licorice root stimulates the production of digestive fluids and bile, soothes ulcers, helps reduce intestinal inflammation, and supports the healthy function of the kidneys, liver and bladder. Its action in soothing ulcers is unique. Rather than inhibiting the release of acid, licorice stimulates the normal defense mechanisms that prevent ulcer formation in the first place. Specifically, licorice improves both the quality and quantity of the protective substances that line the intestinal tract; increases the life span of intestinal cells; and improves blood supply to the intestinal lining.39

Fennel is used for all the same reasons we used it in the colon corrective formula. When trying to heal the intestinal tract, doubling up on a good carminative herb that helps reduce colic, gas, indigestion, intestinal disorders, assimilation, nausea, and flatulence only makes sense.

General Recommendations

The Baseline of Health Program uses a four-pronged approach to cleansing and healing the intestinal tract.

  • A good source of soluble fiber to compensate for all of the fibreless processed foods, meat, and dairy that we eat is recommended. The three best sources of fiber are psyllium seed husks, freshly ground organic flaxseed meal (It should be freshly ground, or at the very least stabilized, so that it does not go rancid), and white chia seeds. One tablespoon of psyllium each day or 1.5 tablespoons of ground flax in the morning and evening with juice or 1-2 tablespoons of white chia seeds sprinkled on your food will keep you regular. Flax and chia also provide you with healthy omega-3 essential oils. And with flax, the sulfur-rich proteins and lignans present in the seeds work hand in hand with the omega-3 oils to reverse mutated cells and cancer in the body. But again, psyllium has the advantage of not fermenting in the colon.
  • Most people will need a stimulating herbal colon activating formula that provides both cleansing and healing to the entire gastrointestinal system (at least until their colon function rebuilds). This is the colon corrective formula that we’ve detailed above.
  • Periodically (approximately every six months), you will need a strong purifier and intestinal vacuum to help draw old fecal matter off the walls of your colon and out of any bowel pockets and to also draw out poisons, toxins, and heavy metals from your body. Such a formula will also remove over 3,000 known drug residues as well as radioactive residues. This is the colon detoxifier we discussed above.
  • Consistent use of a good probiotic formula is essential to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria colonies in the intestinal tract. Also, for some people, a good probiotic formula alone will serve to wake up their colon and get it working again.

Regular use of this four-part program will help keep your intestinal tract at peak health and vitality for as long as you live.

Regular Maintenance

I recommend a summer and winter liver and blood cleaning and a fall and spring intestinal cleansing combined with a heavy metal detox. Alternating these cleansing/detoxification programs promotes optimal wellness and vitality throughout the entire body, plus offsets disease and signs of aging. If it helps get you in the mood, think of these as seasonal cleanses: summer, spring, winter, and fall.

(Originally published 05/01/2001. Updated 12/01/2014.)

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Originally posted at: http://jonbarron.org/article/death-begins-colon#.VgvwfBNVhBc