7 Home Remedies for Natural Colon Cleansing

The colon is the tail end of your large intestine, and it works to pull excess water from food waste and prepare your body for a bowel movement.

If you have ever had a colonoscopy, you no doubt remember drinking that nasty laxative beverage and spending the next 10 or so hours running to the bathroom. Somewhere in the middle of it, you may have marveled that there could actually be that much waste inside you.

No question about it, your colon does a big, dirty job. For that reason, occasional cleansing is good for your colon and your overall health. It relieves constipation and helps you be more regular. There is also some evidence that having a couple of colon cleanses per year can reduce your risk of developing colon cancer.

You don’t always have to drink the nasty colonoscopy drink, though. There are gentler, natural ways to get the job done. Here are 7 methods to try – just don’t overdo it. Colon cleanses are best done a few times a year or as needed.

1. Herbal Teas

Many of the cleanse options on our list simply help regulate digestion to keep your bowels moving consistently. These herbal teas, however, have a true laxative effect. Herbs including aloe vera, slippery elm, psyllium, and marshmallow root are often used to manage constipation.

You should ask your doctor before using these, but if you get the go ahead, one cup per day is sure to keep you regular.

2. Saltwater Flush

A saltwater flush is also great for getting things moving. It works best when taken on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Mix 2 teaspoons of salt with lukewarm water and drink the beverage quickly. Sea salt or Himalayan is best; you can also use Epsom salt. Within a few minutes you’ll feel the urge to go to the bathroom.

The process can be helped along by a series of yoga poses called Shanka Prakshalana. These moves are designed for the specific purpose of cleansing the bowels. If you’ve been constipated for some time, stay near the bathroom after drinking saltwater as you will likely have to go a few times.

3. Dietary Adjustment

Foods that are high in fiber, calcium, and vitamin D support your digestive system and help prevent constipation. Great choices include broccoli, milk, raspberries, oatmeal, and dark leafy greens. To cleanse properly via diet, add in more of these foods gradually. Eating them all at once is likely to overload your system and “cleanse” in the form of diarrhea with a side of bloating.

Fiber in particular adds bulk to your stool and may even nourish good bacteria as a prebiotic. Fiber is found in fruits and vegetables as well as grains, seeds, and nuts. Another good addition to a colon diet is food high in water, such as lettuce, celery, watermelon, and tomato.

4. Probiotics

Probiotics are found in fermented foods like kimchi, pickles, and yogurt. They are essentially good bacteria that reduce inflammation and support regularity. Probiotics are different from prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that help feed the friendly bacteria already in your gut. Both can be helpful for digestive support.

You tend to lose probiotics during a colon cleanse so it’s good to push foods with a lot of them after a cleanse. A smaller daily dose can keep you regular.

5. Castor Oil Cleanse

This one is just the ticket if you want to kick back at home with a brew and clean your colon at the same time. Mix 1/3 cup of castor oil with 1/3 cup of beer and drink the mixture quickly. Then finish that can of beer within the next 30 minutes to get the full effects. If you don’t drink alcohol, use orange juice instead and add a teaspoon of baking soda along with the castor oil.

Users have suggested that this method is very thorough, so be prepared to stay home for several hours after you take it. If you do drink beer, we suspect that it could help you relax during the long process.

6. Apple Juice Cleanse

Apple juice can form the base of a pretty powerful colon cleanser, but it needs to be the raw form. Highly processed juice has none of the fruit’s original fiber left. Add to the juice one tablespoon of powdered bentonite clay and a sprinkling of psyllium. Psyllium is used as a bulk-forming laxative, which means that it absorbs excess water and makes defecation easier and more regular.

Bentonite clay is a compound that comes from volcanic ash deposits that have settled on Earth over thousands of years. It contains calcium, magnesium, and other trace minerals. When consumed, the clay has the ability to detoxify the body from heavy metals, pesticides, and pathogens.

7. Water Cleanse

And finally, you can’t get more natural than water. Obviously you should be drinking plenty of water every day along with your meals and in between when exerting yourself. But plain water on an empty stomach often has the effect of stimulating a bowel movement. Water ordinarily transports waste through the colon, but the effect is greater when you drink a lot of H2O on an empty stomach.

This frees up all of the resources of your digestive system to work on eliminating built-up waste. Colonic hydrotherapy treatment works by the same method; it just starts from back end rather than the mouth end. Drinking the water is ultimately safer; plenty of people have experienced punctures in their colon from having a tube shoved up the rectum.