What Is A Dual-cleansing Colon Cleaner?

A dual action colon cleanser is touted to not only rid your digestive tract of accumulated toxins but also help purify your body. A dual-action cleanse is advertised as a two-part herbal colon cleansing system that will increase your energy level and help your body operate at peak performance. Critics charge the purported benefits of the dual-action cleanse are bogus and potentially unsafe.

Theories/Speculation

A dual-action colon cleanse is purported to be specifically designed to help eliminate the buildup of undigested matter and mucus in the colon, according to the website DualActionCleanse.com.

Removing impurities from the digestive tract and colon with the herb cascara sagrada is the first step of the dual-action cleanse. Cascara sagrada is suggested to promote regular bowel movements. Phase two involves the use of detoxifying herbal tonics such as milk thistle.

A dual-action colon cleanse will supposedly boost your energy levels, diminish bloating and gas, and even give your stomach a flatter appearance. Proponents of colon cleansing also claim health problems such as allergies, asthma and arthritis can be prevented or cured by ridding the body of accumulated toxins.

Misconceptions

Claims that dual-action colon cleansing can actually remove toxins for the body is preposterous, according to the website InfomercialWatch.org. Little scientific data exists to confirm or refute the alleged benefits of colon cleansing, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Critics insist colon cleansing is unnecessary because the body is designed to naturally eliminate bacteria and toxins without special tablets, drinks, diets or enemas. The colon is cleared of its impurities when you have a regular bowel movement, notes Carol Burke, M.D., director of the Center for Colon Polyp and Cancer Prevention in Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease Institute.

Warning

Colon cleansers can be unsafe and may lead to complications, notes Dr. Burke. Some users of dual-colon cleansers have complained of severe abdominal pain that required hospitalization, reports the website InfomercialWatch.org.

Considerations

The colon discards old cells about every 72 hours, which prevents harmful material from accumulating. The only time colon cleansing may be justified is to help prepare your body for medical procedures such as a colonoscopy, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Prevention/Solution

Constipation can be relieved by eating high-fiber foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, brown rice, popcorn and whole grains and drinking plenty of water, reports the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or UPMC.

Regular exercise can help promote regular bowel movements. Get 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise at least five days a week. Walking, jogging, tennis, swimming and bicycling are all good choices.