Detox practioners claim that toxins in our bodies are at the root of many chronic conditions, from fatigue and impotence to cancer and irritable bowel disease. Colon detox treatment involves either laxatives or enemas to remove toxins and dried fecal matter from the colon. There is little evidence that colon detox is beneficial, according to the Mayo Clinic's Dr. Michael Picco, and he warns there are some risks associated with colon detox.
Dehydration
Some colon detox regimens involve high fiber supplements and laxatives. Picco warns that these can cause dehydration. Both laxatives and high fiber supplements can give you diarrhea, which can be debilitating as well as dehydrating. He recommends drinking a lot of fluid to keep yourself hydrated if you decide to go ahead with colon detox.
Electrolyte Imbalance
Colon detox can disrupt your electrolyte balance, according to an article in Harvard Medical School's HEALTHwatch newsletter. The National Cancer Institute reports that at least two deaths were attributed to electrolyte imbalance by patients undergoing the Gerson therapy treatment of cancer, which primarily involves colon detox. Picco states that electrolyte imbalance is particularly risky for people with kidney or heart disease, and urges people to check with their doctors before undergoing any type of colon detox.
Injury from Colonics
A colonic---where a practioner inserts a hose in your rectum and flushes your colon with water---carries risk of serious, even lethal, injury, states Dr. Stephen Barrett of the website Quackwatch. The tube can cause severe pain, and people have died from perforated bowels, Barrett warns. Don't try colonic irrigation if you have Crohns disease, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome or colitis.
Infection
Even if the equipment used in a colonic is clean, you still risk infection if bacteria enters any irritated skin or tissues, and that infection can be severe, states Barrett. Anything that washes away or destroys the bacteria in your colon and lower intestines, whether it's a colonic, an enema or herbal laxatives, can eradicate the good bacteria along with the bad, leaving you susceptible to infections. A healthy body regulates itself well and is designed to remove waste products and toxins without intervention such as colon detox.
Claims of Cures
Picco cautions that anyone considering colon detox should be skeptical of anyone promising that colon detox can cure disease. While there are legitimate reasons for colonic irrigation, enemas and laxatives, they should be done under the care of your doctor, and not used as an alternative to proper medical care.
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