Colon Cleanse for Flatulence and Abdominal Pain?
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Helen
Posted on: July 30, 2001

Could you please help me to know how much of each of these herbs to mix together to give me the right ingredients for a Colon Cleanser? I was recently in California and was given this after being so much in pain. I have suffered with severe gas and pain for years. The ingredients are: Pysllium, Rose Hips, Slippery Elm, Cinnamon, & Papaya. I do have an herb store where I’ve purchased these items, but am not sure of the correct amounts of each. Also, would there be any side effects, and any medicine that I should not take with them?

I advise you to consult with a medical practitioner to assess the cause of your gas and pain. A colon cleanse may not be the solution to your problem.

Psyllium seeds are soothing, laxative and nutritive. Dosage: One teaspoon of seeds, morning and evening, taken with 8 ounces of water. If water is not taken, the seeds can block up the colon, creating more problems.

Rose hips are diuretic, astringent, a mild laxative, and provide vitamin C. Dosage: one teaspoon per cup of boiling water, covered and steeped for 15 minutes to make a tea.

Slippery Elm bark powder soothes inflammation along the digestive tract, and protects it from the effects of acid. Dosage: 1/2 to one teaspoon, mixed with a little water to make a paste, mashed in banana or sprinkled on cereal, three times a day. It may be difficult to mix this into a tea.

Cinnamon is astringent, antimicrobial, anti-flatulent and anti-spasmodic. Dosage: one quarter of a teaspoon of the powdered bark in one cup of boiling water, steeped for 15 minutes and taken as a tea.

Papaya is antacid, anti-flatulent and provides support to digestion. It can be taken as the whole fruit, the juice, a powder or dried papaya fruit. If you have the dried fruit, mix 2 teaspoons into your tea mix.

The above doses of Cinnamon, Papaya and Rose hips can be mixed to make 3 cups of tea, one cup taken before each meal. The slippery elm and psyllium do not mix well into teas. There are no known side effects or contraindications for these herbs.

The colon is supported by a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains, providing the fibre required to stimulate the bowels and eliminating foods such as red meat and dairy products, that are difficult to process. Daily exercise supports effective elimination.

The detoxification process will be aided by avoiding processed foods and any foods with additives, chemicals, sugar or salt . Avoid smoking, coffee, tea and alcohol. An organic, vegetarian diet is your best bet, as meat takes longer for the body to process, providing more work for the organs of detoxification. Exercise and hot baths promote circulation and sweating to help clear toxins. Drink 8 cups of spring water or herbal tea a day to help the kidneys flush out toxins.

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