What Is The Purpose Of A Colon Cleanser?

Colonic cleansing refers to the practice of cleaning the colon using a cleanser like an enema, a laxative or colonic irrigation. Traditional medical practitioners generally only use colonic cleansers to prepare the colon for study, while alternative medical practitioners advocate its use for a number of conditions. Colonic cleansing can carry side effects so should only be used under the advice of a medical doctor.

Medical Use

If you are due to have a colonoscopy, your doctor will often advise treatment to cleanse the colon beforehand. Laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol, sodium phosphate and magnesium citrate, are commonly used. These add water to the stool, quickening its exit from the bowel. Enemas may also be used to cleanse the colon. Your doctor will prescribe the most suitable laxative treatment.

Benefits

A cleansed colon is essential for an accurate colonoscopy. If fecal matter or other colonic debris is not cleared, a doctor may have a more difficult time in locating abnormalities, such as polyps. The doctor uses a small camera, known as a colonoscope, to examine the colon. This test is used to check for colon cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Although the increased defecation caused by colon cleansers is unpleasant, they do play an important part in ensuring accurate colonoscopies.

Alternative Medicine

As an alternative therapy, colon cleansing is used to treat conditions such as asthma, arthritis and allergies. Alternative therapists use colonic cleansing to detoxify the body. They believe that toxins build up in the body and can be harmful if not excreted in some way. The most common type of colon cleanse in alternative medicine is colonic irrigation. Advocates state that the the purpose of this type of colon cleanse is the treatment of a range of complaints, including irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, fatigue and multiple sclerosis.

Benefits

Despite what some alternative therapists believe, there are no proven benefits to colonic cleansers outside of colonoscopies. According to the Dr. Edzard Ernst of the Department of Complementary Medicine in the University of Exeter, such treatments are of little use. If you are considering using a colonic cleanser for any other purpose than a medical examination, discuss it with your doctor first.

Warning

Colonic cleansers are not suitable for a number of people. According to Mayo Clinic gastroentrologist Dr. Michael Picco, dehydration is a common risk of colonic cleansing. Those with heart disease or kidney disease may also be adversely affected by colonic cleansing. Colonic cleansing that is not prescribed by a doctor may be unnecessary. The procedure can be uncomfortable and unpleasant and the general medical consensus is that the body is more than capable of cleansing itself of toxins.