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Doctor insights on: Best Over The Counter Colon Cleanse

Do not favor this: I do not recommend colon cleansing as a routine procedure. ...Read more

Good hi fiber: diet, 80-100 oz caffeine free/alcohol free fluid daily; more if you do strenuous activity. Do NOT waste your money on colon cleansers as they are not needed and potentially harmful in the short and long term. ...Read more

Depends: If you were looking just to clean out your colon a cheap treatment would be magnesium citrate which is available over-the-counter at any Wal-Mart or drug store. Usually 2 bottles of magnesium citrate will clean you out. If you were looking for a complete cleanse you can try GoLYTELY (polyethylene glycol) which is a prescription. The better question is why are you doing the colon cleanse? ...Read more

No colonic cleansing: As a pediatrician we normally don't recommend colonic cleansing. I would like to know exactly what the root of the problem and what causes it before I suggest any treatment ...Read more

Colon cleanse: First, a 16 year old should not be having a colon cleanse and second there is no association between colon cleansing and acne. ...Read more

Miralax (polyethylene glycol): Very safe

Can you clarify?: "Colon cleanses" are scams that target good, ordinary people and give them the idea that they need to remove "toxic bowel settlement" or something equally imaginary. If you had a bad experience after one of these, and still feel sick, a visit to a mainstream physician is in order. You'd do yourself a favor to find an evidence-based holistic practitioner in your community as wel. ...Read more

It doesn't.: The idea of colon cleansing is based on a misunderstanding of anatomy & physiology. Your colon is actually outside of you. You actually surround a space through which foods pass & excrement is produced. The body takes care of its own cleansing if you have a proper diet & fluid intake. Colonic treatment is outlawed in certain states because in the wrong hands has led to bowel perforation & death. ...Read more

Nothing: It is not necessary nor recommended. It is just a money maker for those selling it and has no scientific evidence for benefit. Eat a high fiber diet, drink plenty of fluids and your colon will work exactly as it was intended. ...Read more

100 or more: Colon cleansing is a waste of time at any age. ...Read more

Yes and No: It can help release toxins, but please realize that your body naturally wants to get toxins out. When you have enough fiber in your diet, the toxins will bind and be eliminated. Make sure your liver has what it needs to detox appropriately. I do not believe colon cleanses are necessary. You can get bloating, cramping. Don't force a detox. Support the body and it will detox on its own! ...Read more

Bad Medicine: Amazing. Here is your question as a physician see's it. I want to live healthy and I am undergoing a colon cleanse to get rid of toxins and such. But, I have to drink.

I think that drinking alcohol is going to counter balance any thing you are attempting to do with a cleanse.

If you cannot go for even one day without drinking perhaps we should start there and not with a colon cleanse. ...Read more

No: That defeats the purpose. The colon cleanse is supposed to cleanse the colon. If you eat while on the cleanse, you're undoing what the cleanse is doing. You stop eating before starting the cleanse. You resume eating and drinking after the colon test or whatever other reason for the cleanse. ...Read more

Don't waste health: Healthtap physicians have repeatedly addressed this subject with a clear "no" answer to your question. There is virtually no value to colon flushes, cleansers, enemas, irrigation machines when the technique is accomplished to "detox" or eliminate "accumulated waste." the "no" response also applies to liver detoxes! There are few real health benefits, but sigificant unjustified risk. Don't "cleanse" ...Read more

See details: People give themselves various laxatives and enemas in the erroneous belief that it serves some useful purpose. ...Read more

Likely just laxative: Most of these teas contain senna (cascara), which is a natural stimulant laxative. It is fine to use once in a while for occasional constipation, but chronic use can cause your colon to become dependent on the chemical to move at all. There really isn't anything in there "cleansing" your colon. Just making you have a bowel movement. ...Read more

Never: Good diet and fluid intake are all that your colon needs to stay healthy. Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol. Get colonoscopy after 50 yrs old. Artificial cleansing techniques such as enemas or laxatives are useless biologically in a healthy person, and may be quite dangerous. ...Read more

None: It is a waste of time and serves no useful purpose. ...Read more

Lose=yes healthy=no: Your colon may hold a few pounds of waste (stool) normally, although severely constipated people may hold more. Evacuating the colon will thus drop some pounds, but they come back as soon as you eat and make more waste, so very temporary. "colon cleansing" is frowned upon, unnecessary and likely often harmful to your body so don't do it! ...Read more

No: Colon preps are carefully studied to get the colon clean enough that the endoscopist can carefully examine the lining of your colon and not miss a polyp or tumor. Colon cleanse does not get that kind of study and may or may not work. If your colon does not get clean enough for a thorough then you need to do it again...Neither you nor your endoscopist will be happy about that. ...Read more

Fiber!: Metamucil is basically a kind of fiber. Other colon 'cleanse' products work by pulling fluid out of the colon, and this fluid brings other stool with it. ...Read more

Not Really: No it will not make you loose real weight. ...Read more

No it does not: A colon cleanse has no value.

I can tell: You one thing. DON"T DO IT!! these colon cleansers are a bunch of hooey. They only make money for those selling the stuff. Eat and drink properly and your colon will function the way it was designed to function and don't waste your money and put yourself at risk for colon damage with these snake oil salesmen. ...Read more

Never: Colon cleansing is a scam. It proposes to remove "toxic bowel settlement." There is no such thing. Worse, if you buy into this stuff, you'll worry constantly and never feel well again. Be discerning. If you're interested in natural healing, get with an evidence-based holistic practitioner in your community. And be very careful. ...Read more

I am not aware: Of any medical evidence that relates colon cleanse to acute diverticulitis. There is evidence that chronic laxative use can lead to colon motility problems, however. ...Read more

Not recommended, but: I'M ALL FOR IT IF by "cleanse" you mean adopting a healthy lifestyle with routine exercise, cutting out tobacco, reducing alcohol & sugary drinks, minimizing highly processed foods & fats, & adding in lean proteins, whole fruits, vegetables, & nuts. DON'T DO IT IF instead you mean taking some fad diet, enema, colonic, or purgative to lose weight or supposedly rid your body of unspecified "toxins." ...Read more

Depends: It depends upon the colon cleansing solution. If it is one of the cleansing solution given by your physician prior to colonoscopy, then it is mostly safe. ...Read more

Metamucil: Metamucil in my opinion. It is natural, contains fiber, can be taken daily, also help bring your cholesterol level down. ...Read more

That's fine: That would not cause any harm.

Neither: Colon cleansing serves no medical purpose.

Supplements OK: Most supplements are OK. I'm assuming you are talking about protein powder, branched chain AAs etc. I would avoid the colon cleanse as it may decrease the absorption of the Amoxacillin. ...Read more

You don't need it: Your colon keeps itself clean naturally. If someone tells you that you may feel sick because of "toxic bowel settlement" or something similar and that you need a fancy laxative or bizarre enema, ignore that person. Please be careful. If you buy into the idea of needing to do weird things to "cleanse" yourself, you'll never feel well again. Find an evidence-based holist instead. Best wishes. ...Read more

See below: Bottle of mag citrate one time followed by a fleets enema 4/5 hrs later. ...Read more

Colon Cleanse: You have posed a great question which I commonly get asked in my practice. Colon cleanses are not necessary to cleanse your colon. In fact, some over the counter colon cleanses may lead to a condition called Melanosis Coli which is seen during a Colonoscopy. Eating a nutritious high fiber diet will help with proper bowel function. Consult with your Proctologist about your specific condition. ...Read more

Colonoscopy: Only in preparation for colonoscopy or prior to surgery on colon. There is no health benefit from "colon cleanse" procedures. ...Read more

Not recommended: Why are you in need of colon cleansing at your age if you are constipated there are medications you can take or diet modification you can undergo. If its for weight loss a little hard work will help. ...Read more

No: Colon cleanses are not medically indicated and just give you diarrhea from laxatives in them. Metamucil is a fiber suppliment and bulking agent ...Read more

Depends: Depends on what you mean by "natural colon cleanse." technically, the colon is cleansing itself all the time, as long as we eat enough fiber to give our stool bulk and insure that toxins are bound and carried out. Some people take various products for colon cleanses. Many of these contain senna or other laxative. I discourage these products unless you are constipated. ...Read more

Not helpful: Cleansing of the colon is a common prescription by alternative medical practitioners for a variety of GI and other problems. The colon is very effective at self cleaning and really does not need this preparation. There are no clinical studies showing any positive effect of 'cleansing' although many show no effect at all. ...Read more