Your colon and digestive system are designed to naturally expel waste and bacteria from your body, but some alternative health0-care practitioners advocate periodic colon cleansing as a means of enhancing this process. According to the Mayo Clinic, the common colon cleansing process known as colonic irrigation--which is similar to an enema--may pose risks of dehydration and specific dangers to kidney and heart disease sufferers. For a more gentle and natural approach, you can utilize certain herbal remedies that encourage more efficient colon cleansing.
Chickweed
Chickweed is an annual plant that is cultivated for its medicinal benefits, though it is considered a wild-growing weed that can be a garden nuisance. Nutritionally, chickweed is rich in calcium, potassium, vitamin C and other beneficial compounds. According to Holistic Help's Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed., chickweed promotes an efficient colon with both short and long-term benefits; ingestion typically produces a healthy bowel movement within hours, but it also tones the colon and stomach muscles, making future bowel movements easier and more productive. Chickweed is commercially available as its own herbal supplement and as an ingredient in multi-herb blends designed to promote colon cleansing and digestive health. If you can grow or purchase the fresh herbs, there are several ways to prepare them. They can be eaten as salad greens, processed in a juicer with other fresh produce or steeped in very hot water to make an herbal tea.
Cascara Sagrada
Cascara sagrada, also known as bitter bark and sacred bark, is approved as an OTC drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to The People's Pharmacy. Byproducts of the shrub have mild laxative qualities, often relieving constipation and producing a bowel movement in under 12 hours. One specific trait of this herbal laxative is that it stimulates the secretion of hydrating minerals into the stool, resulting in an especially soft stool that is easy to pass. This characteristic makes cascara sagrada a convenient supplement for maintaining normal colon function in the presence of other conditions that may make bowel movements uncomfortable, such as hemorrhoids, hernias or strained stomach muscles. Long-term use of this supplement should be avoided, as it may create a dependence issue. Cascara sagrada is available in tablet and capsule form, as an herbal tea and as a liquid extract that can be diluted in water and consumed orally.
Fennel
Fennel is a perennial herb, and both its stalks and its flavorful seeds are common ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine. It is a hearty source of fiber, which encourages regular digestive health and frequent bowel movements. According to The World's Healthiest Foods, a high-fiber diet can also purge carcinogens from the colon, which may reduce the risk of colon cancer. Terpenoid anethole, a naturally occurring compound in fennel seeds, may also reduce involuntary muscle activity in the digestive tract, which can reduce instances of unpleasant gas and abdominal cramping. Since fennel seeds have a pleasant taste, they can be consumed in a variety of recipes, but there are several other ways to ingest fennel for its digestive and colon health benefits. They can be steeped in tea, and fennel oils and extracts can be added to water or juice and consumed. The herb also is available as a commercial supplement.
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