What Are The Dangers Of Taking Herbal Colon Cleansers?

Part of the digestive tract, the colon is the final checkpoint for waste leaving the body. Herbal colon cleanser users advocate that to maintain health and well-being, people should routinely clean out their colon and detoxify it of waste buildup. However, experts at the Mayo Clinic's health education website assert that the body naturally does this, and interfering with this process can be dangerous. Discuss herbal colon cleansing agents with a health care provider before initiating use.

Dehydration

The small and large intestines remove water from the stool before it leaves the body in the form of a bowel movement. Herbal colon cleansers rush stool through the small intestine and colon and may interfere with this process. Stimulating the body to have a bowel movement before it is ready may lead to a condition called dehydration, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Dependency

The human colon is full of tiny, finger-like projections called cilia that move stool through the structure. Then, nerves in the colon signal the brain of the need for a bowel movement. Consistent use of herbs for colon cleansing may decrease this natural motility and need to defecate, possibly leading to loss of bowel function according to Mercy Popoola, RN, PhD.

Obstruction

Bowel obstruction occurs when stool cannot move through the bowels and effectively blocks off the passage. People with chronic constipation are warned not to use fibrous herbs, such as psyllium, as they can lead to obstruction. Obstructions may require surgery for correction and can be a life-threatening bowel complication.

Electrolyte Imbalance and Malnutrition

Herbal colon cleansers may alter the body's ability to absorb nutrients and balance electrolytes. Protein, vitamins and fat are absorbed during digestion in the small colon. By artificially stimulating frequent bowel movements, the ability to completely absorb these nutrients is impaired. The Mayo Clinic experts warn that colon cleansers can cause a dangerous rise in electrolyte levels that can adversely affect those with known cardiac or renal disease.