Bowtrol Vs. Oxy-Powder

Bowtrol and Oxy-Powder products are advertised as safe and natural colon-cleansing products. One contains as many as 14 ingredients (Bowtrol), while the other (Oxy-Powder) has only three. But other differences exist as well.

Colon Cleansing

• While colon cleansing is sometimes prescribed by a doctor in preparation for a medical exam or procedure (colon X-ray, colonoscopy) it shouldn't be done for cleansing, according to the Mayo Clinic. To purposefully cleanse the colon with an enema, pressure is used, which can damage the colon and create tears within its structure.

  Likewise, to attempt to clear the colon of toxins through fluid or supplement ingestion is not needed, since the digestive system and the colon are geared to maintain intestinal health, according to the Mayo Clinic. And using a colon cleanse to address constipation is the wrong approach as well, since it can only be a temporary solution to a medical problem or a need for diet or lifestyle changes.

Bowtrol Colon Cleanser

• According to the Bowtrol website and packaging label, it is an all natural product containing only herbal ingredients. These ingredients---14 in all---include cascara sagrada (an herbal laxative), aloes, senna (a stimulant) and bentonite clay, which also works as a laxative by using the water in the body.

  Bentonite clay pulls the water from elsewhere in the body to work as a laxative in the digestive system. This, however, can lead to dehydration if enough water is not consumed to aid in other bodily functions during the treatment period.

Bowtrol Ingredients and FDA

• According to the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center, in 1998 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reclassified three Bowtrol ingredients (cascara sagrada, aloes, and senna) from Category I to Category III (needs more research), since safety and effectiveness for use as a laxative had not been proven or confirmed.

  By November 2002, the FDA had issued a final ruling regarding aloes and cascara sagrada ingredients in any over-the-counter products: neither could be labeled or sold as a stimulant laxative.

Oxy-Powder

• According to the Oxy-Powder website, only three ingredients are contained in this colon-cleansing product: ozonated magnesium oxides, organic gernanium-132, and natural citric acid. And contrary to its name, it is only sold in capsule form, not powder.

  Since magnesium is an important element needed in the body---and a deficiency of it is much more likely than having too much---Oxy-Powder does not pose a danger in that regard to its user unless they suffer from heart or kidney problems or take more than 350 mg per day of it, according to the online website Rx List.com.

Potential Side Effects

• According to Rx List.com, the milder side effects possible due to magnesium can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach upset. If too much magnesium builds up in the body, it can lead to irregular heartbeat, confusion, slowed breathing, low blood pressure, coma and even death. So it is important to consult with a medical professional before beginning supplement use.