According to a tutorial on the Tufts University website by Dr. Scott Bailen, the main functions of the colon are the storage and conversion of liquid stool into solid waste and its elimination from the body. Herbal teas, such as black walnut, rhubarb and cascara, used under the supervision and advice of a professional health care practitioner or certified herbalist, may help to cleanse the colon.
Black walnut
Black walnut, or English walnut, is native to the United States, some parts of Europe and in Canada. The nut, hull of the nut, inner bark and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. According to the American Cancer Society website, black walnut is used for a variety of conditions. Used as a mild laxative, it flushes the intestinal tract. Black walnut also helps digestion; it's an antiseptic, anti-parasitic, a laxative and a germicide. These properties make black walnut leaf tea a useful colon cleanser. Individuals who have an allergy to pecans or other nuts may also react to walnut products.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb root is highly respected in Chinese medicine. Rhubarb contains anthraquinones, tannins and bitters. It’s a laxative, a purgative, an astringent, an antiseptic, an antispasmodic and a stomach tonic. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, there is limited human clinical data to substantiate these claims. However, rhubarb is used to cleanse the colon, treat constipation, gastrointestinal ulcers, inflammation and diarrhea. Rhubarb tea should be used with the advice of your physician and not for more than seven days without medical advice. Do not take rhubarb when pregnant; it may cause uterine contractions. Individuals with arthritis, kidney or liver conditions, inflammatory bowel disease or bowel obstruction should not use rhubarb.
Cascara
The bark of the cascara plant is commonly used to cleanse the bowel and relieve constipation. Cascara contains cascarosides, which produce a laxative effect. Cascarosides contract and cause water buildup in the colon and promote the elimination of waste. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, cascara should not be used on a long-term basis; it may cause diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance and inflammation of the liver. Pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid laxatives with anthraquinone. So should individuals with undiagnosed abdominal symptoms or intestinal obstruction.
Food and Drug Administration Rule
After an ongoing, over-the-counter drug product review entitled “Status of Certain Additional Over-the-Counter Drug Category II and III Active Ingredients,” dated, June 2006, The Food and Drug Administration ruled that Cascara sagrada, including the bark and extracts in over-the-counter drug products are not generally recognized as safe and effective or are misbranded. These products were reclassified to category II and added to the list of stimulant laxative ingredients for which the data are inadequate to establish general recognition of safety and effectiveness for such use.
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