Toxic Colon Cleaners

Numerous "colon cleaner" peddling infomercials and websites want you to believe that your colon is a dumping bin for toxins that threaten your health. If you're tempted to use a product to cleanse your system, think twice before you buy. You may be better off investing your time and money in more traditional health-supporting methods such as eating a healthy diet and visiting your doctor when you feel ill.

Methods

One popular colon cleansing method is colonic irrigation, or colonics, which involves using a tube to flush water into the rectum and draining it out through another tube. Another method involves taking supplements that allegedly trigger hardened material to shed from the walls of the colon and escape the body through bowel movements. Some choose to "detoxify" their colons through diets that often involve avoiding all solids or eating only raw fruits and vegetables while taking supplements and laxatives, according to Health Services at Columbia University.

Effects

According to supporters of colon cleansing methods, the colon contains toxins that can cause health issues such as asthma and arthritis. "Cleaning out" the colon involves getting rid of these toxins, allowing healthy bacteria to flourish in the intestines, giving you increased energy and improving your immunity, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Support

Little evidence supports the alleged benefits of toxic colon cleaning, and some believe that colon cleansing can actually cause your body more harm than good. The only time a doctor might prescribe colon cleansing is if you are about to undergo a medical procedure such as a colonoscopy, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Risks

Colon cleansing can damage your body by wiping out beneficial colon bacteria. It may also strip your body of minerals such as potassium, which could lead to an imbalance of electrolytes, according to Health Services at Columbia University. Colon cleansing methods can also lead to serious dehydration because they typically trigger numerous soft or liquid bowel movements. A potential risk of colonic irrigation is infection, which could occur if the practitioner doesn't properly sterilize, insert or remove the tubes.

Bans

In 2008, the Federal Trade Commission charged marketers of a "detox" program known as the 7 Day Miracle Cleanse Program with falsely advertising that their product could aid in weight loss and help cure or prevent diseases such as cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease and arthritis. The marketers were thus banned from advertising health-related products or being involved in further infomercials about products and services other than informational publications. In 2010 --- at the Federal Trade Commission's request --- a U.S. district court ordered makers of "colon cleansers" such as Colopure to temporarily stop an Internet sales scheme that not only spread false information about its benefits but also scammed customers out of money.