Harmony Formulas' Cleansing Complex with Herbs is one of the numerous products on the market promising to flush toxins from your colon and leave you feeling energetic and healthy. Like many of the products, it also makes claims not backed by medical research. For most people, such products help your body do something it's already quite capable of doing on its own.
Identification
Harmony Formulas' Cleansing Complex with Herbs is a part of the company's two-part Multi-Cleanse Total-Body Program. It designed the medication to be taken with its Cleansing Complex with Fibers. The company claims the herbal part promotes healthy digestion, and the fiber part cleanses the colon and other digestive organs, though the FDA has not evaluated these claims. While Harmony Formulas claims use of its product will leave you feeling healthier and rejuvenated, it does not market its product to treat any specific disease or condition.
Ingredients
Two ingredients in the formula provide nutrients per the FDA's daily recommended values. Calcium carbonate provides 6 percent of your daily calcium needs, and kelp provide 9 percent of your recommended daily iodine levels. Other ingredients are Harmony Formulas' "proprietary" blend of various herbs, such as alfalfa powder, dandelion, fennel powder and green tea extract. Among its other ingredients, the companion fiber product contains cascara sagrada powder, a bark that acts as a laxative, according to Quackwatch's Stephen Barrett.
Benefits
Like most colon cleansing products, Harmony Formulas markets its product as ultimately providing regularity while removing toxins from your colon. While doctors often recommend and prescribe cleansings before procedures such as colonoscopies, mainstream medical experts say this procedure is unnecessary for casual use. Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Michael Picco says your digestive system is capable of eliminating its waste without pills. Claims of benefits from colon cleansing generally are not backed with any scientific evidence, he said. While you may find yourself excreting more feces than usual when using such products, these might be the result of ingredients in the pills, according to Barrett. The pills might provide relief from constipation, but such results usually are short-lived, according to Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Mark Larson.
Warning
Using colon cleansers like Harmony Formulas' products too frequently can damage your ability to remove waste long-term, according to Larson. Because it makes the colon's muscles work less hard to remove waste, these muscles can weaken and become less effective. The laxative in the companion product also can increase your risk of dehydration, Picco said. Harmony Formulas itself recommends seeking a doctor's advice before using its product if you have chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Considerations
If you wish to try Harmony's herbal product, Picco recommends first running its ingredients by your doctor to be sure none will cause any problems for you. He also suggests drinking plenty of water when taking the pills to avoid dehydration. If you are considering the pills because of problems with constipation, Picco recommends first trying to correct the problem through drinking more water, eating more fiber and exercising regularly.
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