by Health Dr. 1 on Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:00 am
This is an excellent question! The core of the question is really whether oxygen-based cleansers or fiber/herbal-based cleansers are more effective. Let us put aside the quality issue for the sake of simplicity and focus just on the general categories.
Oxygen-based cleansers, Oxy-Powder, work by introducing nascent oxygen into the small and large intestine. This reacts with the compacted fecal matter breaking it down into a liquid and some gas. This process does not stimulate or irritate the muscles of the colon. It also has the added benefit of oxygenating the tissues. Bowel movements tend to be very soft to completely liquid and very easy to pass. These can be used for long periods of time on a maintenance protocol in order to effect long-term cleanses.
Fiber/herbal cleanses primarily perform a couple of actions. The fiber can bulk up the stool and scrape the outer layer of fecal compaction. Fiber is, of course, a healthy part of everyone’s diet, but, used in this way, it can cause problems for some people. Psyllium husk, for example, can bulk the stool; however, if it does not move quickly through the colon, it can ferment and cause bloating. In some people it can actually aggravate constipation. Many of the herbs that are used in these cleansers, including the rhubarb and possibly the aloe in Colonix, contain compounds that stimulate peristaltic action in the intestines. While many of these herbs have a long history of use and can be beneficial in certain situations, they can cause dependency and irritation of the colon when used for longer periods of time. In my opinion, this makes them much less desirable for regular or long-term cleansing, the kind that most people really need.