Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Movie stars and celebrities may swear by them, but medical experts agree that colon cleansing should only be done when medically necessary.

“Sometimes it is necessary for people preparing to undergo a medical procedure or examination, such as a colonoscopy or a colon x-ray,” says to Dr. Mark Larson, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in the Hartford Courant. “But unless a doctor has recommended it as a preparation for such procedure, I strongly discourage people from colon cleansing. It can cause traumatic injury to the colon and result in long-term medical problems.”

Colon cleansing is the process of releasing the contents from the bowel and intestines. It is a required preparation prior to colonoscopies and other medical procedures so that the physician has a clear view of the bowels. The process usually takes at least a day. Common methods of colon cleansing include enemas or the swallowing of a pill or solution that induces the colon to purge its contents. While the process is prescribed by physicians, some people believe that there are benefits to regularly cleansing the bowel to rid the body of toxins.

However, Dr. Larson explains that the colon and intestines naturally eliminate waste material and bacteria. Excessive colon cleansing may actually harm the bowel’s ability to function properly by weakening the colon muscles, thus making them less efficient. And the argument that the process eliminates nasty toxins? Dr. Larson says there is simply no scientific data to back up that claim.

Another concern is that some products used to cleanse the bowel may actually cause serious kidney problems. Oral sodium phosphates, also known as OSPs, have been linked to a serious form of kidney injury known as acute phosphate nephropathy. Prescription OSP brands Visicol and Osmo Prep made by Salix Pharmaceuticals now carry an FDA black box warning about the serious kidney injury. Over-the-counter OSP brands, such as Fleet Phospho-soda and Fleet Accu-Prep, were promptly pulled off the market for similar concerns.

The safest bet, Dr. Larson says, is to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet with plenty of fluids and fiber. If constipation is an issue, talk to your healthcare provider. And if ordered by your doctor to cleanse your bowel for a medical procedure, be sure the laxative you are taking is safe.

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