Maybe you were just on vacation, eating on the run, grabbing sandwiches and fast food in airports or at drive-thru greasy spoons and now you are irregular. Generally, any changes to your normal eating, work and sleep routine can upset digestion and elimination patterns. To get back on track, consider one of several therapeutic remedies for cleansing the colon. Check with your physician or other health professional to help you determine if a particular remedy is suitable for you.
Eat a High-Fiber Diet
Help prompt a daily bowel movement by drinking hot water and squeezing fresh lemon juice into it, advises Elson Haas, MD, author of "The New Detox Diet." Dr. Haas has helped many patients undergo a directed colon cleanse. In his book, he describes this simple remedy. He also recommends people eat a varied high-fiber diet of whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and non-saturated oils, such as olive, canola and flax seed oil, to get the body back to optimal digestion and elimination.
The Master Cleanse
If you are able to take a few days off from work or school for a directed colon cleanse, you might consider the Master Cleanse, designed by Stanley Burroughs. A simple lemonade made from organic lemons, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water is consumed for several days to cleanse the colon. As this is a very low-calorie lemonade, consult your doctor or nutritionist before trying it: it is not appropriate for everyone.
Juice Fasting
Juice fasting by consuming only freshly juiced organic vegetables and fruits for several days is another way to clear the colon. By drinking these fresh juices, you feed the body vitamin and minerals. According to Carrie L'Esperance, author of "The New Seasonal Detox Diet," remember to also drink herbal teas, such as those containing senna, buckthorn root or cascara sagrada to clear the colon. Juices do not provide the fiber to move waste through the large intestine and during a detox program, this is important. Juicing alone will not clear the colon.
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