ColonClean is an herbal supplement formulated with probiotics used to eliminate toxins and waste from the large intestine. Chief ingredients in ColonClean known to have laxative effects include cascara sagrada, flax seed, psyllium seed and slippery elm. ColonClean can be purchased over the counter without a doctor's prescription. For your safety, however, note that supplements like ColonClean are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Cascara Sagrada
Known officially as Rhamnus purshiana, cascara sagrada comes from a shrub native to British Columbia in Canada, southern California, Idaho and western Montana. Cascara sagrada, in Spanish meaning sacred bark, is a stimulant laxative that is believed to irritate the bowel, force moisture into the intestines and encourage a bowel movement. People with gastrointestinal problems should not take products containing cascara sagrada. Taking a laxative with this ingredient should cause a bowel movement within six to 12 hours, however, because of the other colonic stimulants in ColonClean, you may have to empty your bowels sooner.
Flaxseed
Also identified as Linum usitatissimum, according to the National Institutes of Health, flaxseed is commonly used as a laxative. Flaxseed is similar to soluble fiber, which is the non-digestible portion of plant-based foods that when consumed helps move food through the digestive system. The Comprehensive Database of Natural Medicines indicates that flaxseed is used to relieve constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and other intestinal conditions.
Psyllium Seed
Psyllium is the seed from the Plantago ovata plant. Found in a variety of over-the-counter laxatives, including Serutan and Metamucil, psyllium is a good source of soluble fiber. The NIH indicates that psyllium can help improve the firmness of stool and is used to decrease gastrointestinal conditions.
Slippery Elm Bark
Slippery elm bark comes from a small tree native to North America. It is used medicinally in the United States as a diuretic. The University of Maryland reports that slippery elm has been used orally for centuries by Native Americans to relieve diarrhea and stomach problems. When combined with water, slippery elm contains an ingredient, mucilage, that soothes and coats the stomach and intestines. Its antioxidant properties treats symptoms associated with an inflammatory bowel. By increasing mucous production in the gastrointestinal tract, slippery elm is believed to protect the stomach against excess acid from ulcers.
References
- Oregon State University: Rhamnus Purshiana
- Drugs.com: Cascara Sagrada Facts
- National Institutes of Health: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
- Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database: Flaxseed
- HealthCastle.com: Fiber 101: Soluble Fiber vs Insoluble Fiber
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