About the colon
So as to fully understand the role of the colon, it is necessary first to understand that the digestive tract is the group of organs in the human body through which food and liquids pass when they are swallowed, digested and eliminated. These organs include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus.
The large intestine consists of the colon and the rectum. The colon is approximately 5-6 feet long and has an ascending, transverse and descending portion. From there, it joins the rectum. It takes food 18 to 24 hours to pass along the full length of the colon.
The main functions of the large intestines are the formation and excretion of faeces, the absorption of water and minerals and beneficial bacteria in the colon manufacture vitamins B1, B2, B12 and K. They also help to prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria.
Cells of the colon secrete mucus, which lubricates and protects the walls. Inflammation or irritation of the intestinal wall results in the release of large amounts of mucus, as well as water and electrolytes. In these circumstances, mucus can commonly be seen in the stools and there may also be diarrhoea.
On the other hand, if faeces sit in the colon for longer than is desirable, causing constipation, significant amounts of toxins are likely to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. This is called auto-intoxication or self-poisoning.
Waste matter contains bacteria, so it is important to get it out of your body as quickly as possible. If your colon or rectum isn’t working efficiently, it is likely you will experience issues such as bloating, gas and pain.
The digestive system is under pressure to perform vital physiological functions on a daily basis. Broadly speaking, digestive problems are caused by a toxic build-up in the body, so it can be highly beneficial to “flush” the body of all toxic chemicals and waste from time to time. It is widely held by many health practitioners that one of the best means of achieving this is with so-called “colon cleansers”.
What are colon cleansers?
Colon cleansers are a collection of remedies that fall into two overarching categories: oral/rectal supplements and colonic irrigation. As the name implies, they are all meant to “cleanse” the colon of toxins and substances that can result in disease and/or accumulation of fat. They are simply food / food form supplements, laxatives or procedures used to stimulate the bowels into action, producing a bowel movement. The thinking is that, by encouraging the colon to expel its contents, this helps to rid your body of all the toxins and wastes that have accumulated in the colon.
As explained above, the colon is the part of the digestive tract that stores the waste material that most of us would rather not think about (and often don’t), until our health begins to deteriorate. In due course, the colon has a proposensity to get clogged with food particles, especially if you eat a lot of junk foods and low amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables. This can lead to an accumulation of parasites and toxins that can have a negative effect on your health.
If the colon is repeatedly abused and neglected, it can become a cesspit of toxins. If these are not removed from our bodies, they can keep accumulating over time and may even be reabsorbed into the body! This can lead to bloating, constipation, irritable bowel symptoms and fatigue.
It is thought by many that colon cleansers can help to manage symptoms of conditions such as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, chronic fatigue, acid reflux and even skin and hair problems. Fans of colon cleansers also say that they feel “cleaner” and healthier after cleansing, that they experience weight loss and increased bowel regularity.
Colon cleansing is not a new therapy. In fact, colonic irrigation was used by the Egyptians as far back as 1500 BC, was taught in Ancient Greece’s medical schools and was practiced by Chinese medicine more than 3000 years ago. Even then, it was already understood that water can be a very effective cleansing agent that purifies, softens and neutralises.
In more recent times (and particularly as a result of the increased pressure placed on our digestive systems by the modern diet), colonics and colon cleansing health supplements have seen a spurt in popularity, as possible remedies that can support digestive health and general well-being.
It is widely accepted that the colon is an important digestive organ in terms of its effect on our overall health. Colon cleansers have thus become a popular means of detoxification, ridding the body of harmful parasites that may have found a home in the digestive tract and promoting colon health and a healthy balance of good intestinal flora (probiotics).
With the wealth of products on the market, it can be challenging to be sure that they are safe and contain only high quality ingredients. If you are contemplating buying a colon cleanser, which is supposed to help you detox and clean the body, make sure that such products do not contain any artificial ingredients – which would defeat the whole point!
Specialist Supplements Ltd has a fantastic range of colon cleansers (containing no artificial or synthetic ingredients) for a healthy colon and digestive transit support. The range includes both herbal colon cleansers and powerful, yet gentle oxygenated colon cleansers. Check them out now!


