Active Ingredients in Colon Cleansers

Colon cleansing has become all the rage over the past couple of years, with supplements available from a wide variety of companies. Although the benefits of a colon cleanse are debated, doctors seem to agree that they work to relieve the body of a variety of issues in the short term. An awareness of the active ingredients in colon cleansers will prevent you from harming yourself in the long term, since these supplements are not controlled by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Senna

• Senna, one of the most popular active ingredients in colon cleansers, is an herb used in a variety of holistic remedies and modern health applications. One type in particular, Senna alexandrina, is an extremely powerful laxative that can clear out the lower bowel and relieve symptoms associated with constipation. However, senna is very dangerous when taken in high doses. It can be harmful or even fatal if abused, so contact your doctor for dosage recommendations (some colon cleansers recommend rather high doses) if you are unsure how much you should use.

Psyllium Husk

• Psyllium husk, another popular active ingredient in colon cleansers, is included with the idea that it will clean the colon of any contaminants. It does so by expanding within the colon--because psyllium contains a hydrophilic residue, it bonds with water to form a thick gel. Although psyllium husk is not particularly dangerous when taken properly, it can cause health problems if it is not taken with plenty of water to help "flush" its fibrous residue out of the system.

Cascara Sagrada

• The final popular active ingredient in colon cleanse supplements is the herb cascara sagrada, which historically has used as an ingredient in laxatives. (The FDA banned cascara sagrada as an ingredient in approved laxatives; however, it still enjoys popularity in colon cleansing supplements). As with many other active ingredients, cascara sagrada is safe, effective, and healthy when taken in low doses. However, if used for more than a week, it can result in rectal bleeding and kidney and liver damage. Cascara sagrada should be taken as directed by a doctor, not necessarily in accordance with the recommendations on the cleansing supplement label.

Pre-Colonoscopy Products

• Colon cleansing can be required before a colonoscopy. In this case, MoviPrep or a related FDA-approved drug is usually required. MoviPrep, which goes by the generic name polyethylene glycol 3350, is a solution made of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium ascorbate, potassium chloride, and ascorbic acid.