Alternative medicine like naturopathy maintains and treats the body partly through the use of nature-based tinctures, teas, ointments and methods, many of which are not scientifically proven. One such practice is colon cleansing enemas. The hypothesis is that fecal matter can get impacted in your colon and intestines, requiring you to forcibly remove it through enemas or taking laxatives. One of the more popular and effective nature based cures is white willow bark. This particular substance has proven health benefits, but not necessarily for your colon.
White Willow Bark Facts
White willow bark contains salicin, which is chemically similar to aspirin. The practice of chewing white willow bark to alleviate fever, pain and swelling dates back to 400 B.C. when Hippocrates prescribed it. White willow bark works in the body much the same way aspirin does, so people who have any sensitivity to aspirin or who are taking medications that are contraindicated with aspirin, like blood thinners, should also avoid white willow bark.
Colon Cleansing Facts
Eating an unhealthy diet supposedly causes mucus and fecal matter to cling to the walls of your colon, blocking its proper function and leading to cancer and other diseases. Cleansing the colon is accomplished through the use of colon cleansing herbs, or by a high colonic which, according to Columbia University's Internet Health Q&A, involves water being introduced into and then drawn out of your colon via a tube in your rectum. Herbs and minerals are sometimes added to the water, though white willow bark is not commonly used for this.
Misconceptions
The idea that your body can become "clogged" and require you to forcibly flush it out resurfaces every few years, only to be debunked by a new generation of scientists. Your liver and kidneys are perfectly capable of cleansing your body of toxins. According to bodybuilding expert Tom Venuto, the best way to ensure that your colon doesn't "need" to be cleansed is to put only whole foods into your mouth. A diet containing 25 g to 35 g per day of natural dietary fiber should be all you need to keep your colon functioning. White willow bark has not been linked to colon health, either by Western medicine or by alternative and complementary medicines.
Expert Insight
There is no proof that either fecal matter or mucus accumulate in the colon. But, according to a 2006 "Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy," a high colonic can help treat the symptoms of leaky gut syndrome and intestinal inflammation. Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where your intestines become overly porous, allowing toxins to be absorbed through them into your bloodstream. White willow bark is used to treat joint inflammation and to aid in microvascular flow, but it has not been proven to have any affect on colon health.
Conclusion
Anyone searching for a more natural way of treating pain and inflammation than aspirin or other pain relievers should consult their physician rather than treating themselves with white willow bark. If you are concerned about fecal matter or mucus building up in your colon, increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables you drink, or talk to your doctor about taking a fiber supplement rather than seeking out a colon cleanse. White willow bark is not commonly used for colon cleansing. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it has been linked to stomach bleeding and inflammation, ulcers and kidney inflammation, so introducing it directly into your excretory system is not a good idea.
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