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Is a Colon Cleanse Safe for People With Kidney Disease?

A colon cleanse may be promoted on the Internet as a safe and effective way of treating a variety of diseases, but those who are having kidney problems should proceed cautiously. Some ingredients in colon cleansers can stress the kidneys and lead to complications as severe as renal failure (a total shutdown of the kidneys).

  1. Kidney functions

    • According to naturopathic doctor Scott Olson in "Kidney Disease----Guarding Against the Silent Killer," the kidneys filter toxins out of our blood and balance water and electrolyte amounts in the body. The kidneys also maintain the body's acid/alkaline reading, regulate blood pressure and control blood volume.

    Kidney disease incidence

    • Kidney disease is one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States, according to Scott Olson, and affects around 13% of Americans. Kidney failure is rarely noticed until the later stages of the illness, so many people are unaware that there is a problem. Symptoms of possible kidney disease include lower-back problems, painful or cloudy urine and fevers or chills.

    Types of colon cleanses

    • There are two main types of colon cleansers: those that involve ingesting certain products through the mouth and those that involve inserting a tube into the anus and forcing waste out. Both types of colon cleansers are intended to remove years of accumulated fecal matter caked on the inside walls of your colon. Proponents of bowel detox, such as Dr. Richard Schulze of the American Botanical Pharmacy, claim that a colon cleanse will have wide-ranging health benefits.

    Effects

    • A colon cleanse may lead to kidney problems due to the potential for electrolyte disruption in your body and the drawing out of vitamin stores. Doing any type of colonic irrigation or enema may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, both of which aggravate weak kidneys. Ingredients such as sodium phosphate found in over-the-counter laxatives and senna found in herbal laxatives also disrupt electrolyte levels. According to Benedicte Vanderperren et al, acute kidney and liver failure occurred in a woman who drank senna tea every day for three years, but the condition was treated when she stopped using the product.

    Conclusion

    • Both colon hydrotherapy and oral colon cleansers are dangerous for people who have kidney disease, as both can cause electrolyte imbalance, vitamin deficiency and dehydration. If you want to do a colon cleanse but are concerned about the effects on your kidneys, take oral fiber/clay cleansing pills, while avoiding both medical and herbal laxatives. Eating foods high in fiber or taking fiber supplements is a safe way to push waste out of your colon. Remember to drink more water with the increased fiber intake, or you could become dehydrated.

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