Herbal Colon Cleanse & Detox

Herbs have been used to cleanse and detoxify the colon for millennia. Ancient Egyptians, who thought the colon was the breeding ground of all illness-producing materials, prepared ritualistic herbal and mineral concoctions to help purify the body by flushing the colon each month. The methods used by the ancient Egyptians are still practiced by herbalists and other homeopathic, traditional healers in order to rid the body of toxins caused by residual waste.

Commonly Used Herbs in Colon Cleansing and Detoxification

• Herbs commonly used in colon cleansing range in potency. Milder herbs such as slippery elm only gently stimulate the bowels, while herbs such as cascara sagrada produces a stronger effect. Many aloe herbs, as well as senna, can provoke the bowels and so should be used only in cases of severe blockage or otherwise unresponsiveness to the milder herbs. Sweet clover and licorice root are also moderate herbs used to purify the bowels and decrease inflammation caused by dietary irritations. As herbs affect people in different ways, it's best to start with the mildest herbs to see whether they achieve the desired results before progressing to the more potent ones.

Most Common Methods of Colon Cleansing and Detoxification?

• The most rapid infusion of herbs into the colon is commonly referred to as a colonic irrigation, or enema. Mixing the proper dosage of the herbs specific to one's particular condition with purified water, then irrigating the colon via the rectum, can be daunting at first, but this method has been used and touted for centuries as efficient and effective.

  Herbs may also be ingested orally to cleanse and detoxify the colon. Sold in health food stores, the aforementioned herbs are available in capsule or tablet form.

  No matter which herbal process you choose, drinking plenty of water is crucial to the cleansing and detoxifying process. Replacing probiotics, or "good bacteria," that may have been flushed in the detoxification process is also necessary, so consider supplementing your diet with L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus and L. acidophilus, the cultures commonly found in yogurt, to complete the cleansing and detoxification process.