Colon cleansing is big business in some corners of the alternative medicine world, though there is no medical reason for it. Colon cleansing methods vary, from taking supplements to submitting to high colonics, in which water is used to wash out your excretory system from the inside. One colon cleansing supplement is Oxy-Powder, which was developed and is distributed through the Global Healing Center. Psyllium is a natural fiber that is often prescribed as a bulk laxative, so mixing them may produce more dramatic results than you expected.
Psyllium Facts
Psyllium comes from an herb called Plantago ovata, which is most commonly found in India, though it grows throughout the world. Psyllium husk is collected from its tiny seeds. Contact with water causes psyllium husk to expand into a semi-solid flexible clump that stimulates contractions and helps push fecal matter through your intestinal tract. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, preliminary studies suggest that psyllium seemed to show that a fiber diet helped to prevent colon cancer, though later studies were inconclusive. Psyllium is prescribed both for diarrhea and constipation.
Oxy-powder Facts
According to Globalhealingcenter.com, using Oxy-Powder can clean out and detoxify your system and support your immune system. The main ingredients in Oxy-Powder are ozonated magnesium oxide, organic germanium-132, citric acid and a binding gum. Magnesium oxide is magnesium that has been bound to oxygen. Dr. Edward Group at Globalhealingcenter.com claims that this oxygen bubbles waste out of your intestines similar to the way oxygenated detergent bubbles stains out of your clothing. Germanium-132 is also a mineral. Dr. Group claims that it supports your immune system.
Misconceptions
The idea that anything builds up in your colon to the point that you need to forcibly clean it out has not been proved. According the experts at New York University's Langone Medical Center, food does not get stuck in your colon or intestinal tract making your colon toxic as Dr. Group claims on his website. Psyllium is a recognized bulk laxative, but the only time you need a laxative is when you are constipated. If your pattern of bowel movements hasn't changed, it is not necessary to subject your excretory system to colon cleanses or laxatives.
Expert Insight
According to New York University's Langone Medical Center, the cells inside of your gastrointestinal tract are replaced every three days, making it impossible for any digested food to adhere to them and grow toxic. Your colon contains bacteria whose purpose is to detoxify waste, and your intestinal wall is lined with a mucous membrane that keeps toxins from penetrating it.
Warning
Magnesium has known laxative properties, so using it in conjunction with psyllium could lead to cramps, diarrhea, and dehydration, and could result in a dependence on laxatives. Of more concern is the organic germanium-132 in the Oxy-Powder. According to the American Cancer Society, inorganic germanium is toxic and can lead to permanent damage. Organic germanium-132 manufacturing is not well-regulated, and there is a chance of contamination. At least nine deaths have been reported.
Conclusion
The ingredients in Oxy-Powder are not proved to be either effective or safe. Using psyllium with Oxy-powder would increase the amount of laxative you are taking, which can lead to serious health problems. If you are constipated, you should contact your doctor.
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