Bowel Cleansing Therapies

Bowel cleansing if often recommended as a detoxification process to help clear the bowels of excess mucus and congestion. Bowel congestion may be caused through diet, poor digestion, colon sluggishness and poor elimination. Refined foods, pesticides and chemicals, sugar and hormone-laden meats add to the toxic load on the bowels. A number of bowel cleansing therapies are available to help restore health to the colon and aid in proper elimination.

Diet

• You can begin to aid your digestive system by making healthy changes in your diet by eating non-processed foods such as fresh vegetables, whole grain fiber and raw fruits, avoiding foods with hormones and antibiotics and becoming less dependent of cooked, processed foods. The addition of probiotics is often recommended to restore beneficial bacteria to your bowels. Drink plenty of water and natural vegetable and fruit juices to help keep your body well-hydrated and to aid in elimination.

Fasting

• Fasting is often recommended as a bowel cleansing therapy and is said to help purify and detoxify the body by eliminating the body's energy sources normally needed for digestion and focusing them on waste elimination, immune function and the rebuilding of healthy tissue. Pregnant and lactating women should not fast, nor should those who are elderly. Those suffering with diabetes, hypoglycemia or other health issues should only fast under the guidance of a physician. Most fasts are recommended for one to three days, with longer ones done under the supervision of a doctor. It is recommended to eat raw fruits and vegetables two days prior to beginning a fast, then follow with a live-juice fast which helps supply the body with enzymes, minerals and vitamins. Water-only fasts may cause toxins to be eliminated too quickly and cause headaches or other side effects. Break your fast with healthy broths, fruits and vegetables before resuming normal eating.

Bentonite Clay and Flaxseeds

• Bentonite clay is an edible clay that works as a bulk laxative in the body, forming a gel that binds toxins and helps escort them from the colon. It is available in liquid form and is often recommended to take in addition to flaxseeds or psyllium husks to aid in elimination. Part of a normal regimen may include taking 1 tbsp. of liquid bentonite with 1 tbsp. of ground flaxseeds in a glass of water both morning and evening. Constipation may result if you do not drink enough water to help eliminate the clay from your system, so be sure to drink a minimum of eight glasses daily along with your normal beverages. Many over-the-counter bowel cleanse therapies are also available online, or at your local health food store.