A healthy colon is vital for the absorption of essential vitamins in the body and for the elimination of waste products and toxins out of the body. A healthy colon requires a healthy diet with high fiber, lots of fluids and exercise. In addition, there natural herbs are available as capsules, teas or soups, or in a natural form to help in the cleansing and elimination of waste products from the colon.
Black Walnut Hull
Black walnut is a round, blackish nut with a hard, ridged shell enclosing an edible, rich and oily, nutritious kernel. Ingredients in black walnut hull include omega-3 fatty acids, sterol and tannin, as well as iodine. According to the Vitamins & Health Supplements Guide website, the hull or the dry outer covering of the black walnut helps in reducing constipation and rids the body of parasites and tapeworms. Black walnut hull has antiseptic and germicidal properties; it’s a laxative that stimulates peristalsis (organized muscular contraction of the intestinal tract) and the elimination of waste and toxins from the colon.
Rhubarb
The scientific name for rhubarb is “Rheum palmatum.” According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), rhubarb may be used for a variety of conditions, such as constipation, diarrhea and gastrointestinal ulcers. Tannins and anthraquinones are the two active ingredients in rhubarb. Tannins have astringent qualities and may cause constipation, and anthraquinones have laxative effects. The anthraquinones act to clean the gastrointestinal tract of waste products and toxins, promoting a healthy colon. According to MSKCC, rhubarb may cause uterine stimulation and should not be used during pregnancy. Stimulant laxatives, such as rhubarb, should not be used for more than seven days without medical advice and supervision.
Psyllium
Psyllium is an herbal fiber supplement obtained from the husk of the seeds of the Plantago ovata, or Desert Indianwheat. Psyllium is a popular ingredient used in bulk laxatives, such as Metamucil and Serutan. The mucilage (thick gelatinous substance that swells but does not dissolve in water) in psyllium absorbs water in the digestive tract and swells, adding bulk to the stools in the colon and promoting peristalsis and the elimination of the waste products and toxins from the colon. It’s important to drink plenty of water when taking this supplement since the product works by absorbing water. Gastrointestinal obstruction has been reported particularly in patients with prior bowel operations or anatomical abnormalities, or when mixed with too little water, according to MedlinePlus.
About this Author
Norma Chew is a retired registered nurse who has been a freelance writer since 1978. Chew’s articles have appeared in the Journal of the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), “Point of View Magazine” and “Today’s OR Nurse.” Chew has a master’s degree in health care administration from Nova Southeastern University.
