Although they are widely touted on TV, on the Internet, and in newspaper and magazine ads, colon cleansing regimens have
- No proof that they are effective in promoting general health or well-being.
- Lots of evidence that they are actually harmful, even potentially life-threatening.
Administered either orally as teas, pills, or powders or through the rectum as high-powered enemas or colonic hydrotherapy, colon cleansers promise to “detox” the body and eliminate fatigue, weight gain, and headaches. Using informercials and celebrities, they say they will “boost the immune system” and promote weight loss.
The problem is that there is not a shred of evidence that colon cleansing does any of these things.
And there is evidence that it can make holes in the colon requiring surgery, cause serious infections, lead to dehydration and heart and kidney damage, and sometimes kill.
