Autointoxication or self-poisoning is said to be the result of the body’s absorption of the toxins produced within the body. This belief that diseases are caused by rotting or decaying uneliminated waste or stool in the body dates back to Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Greeks extended this belief in their humoral theory of disease.

They believed that health is a result of the balance of the bodily liquids or referred to as humors. When the humors are imbalanced, disease occurs.

The humors (according to Ancient Greeks) include the phlegm, blood and bile, secretions from the kidneys and spleen and the liver. Modern medicine has since debunked this belief on humors except for the fluids or aqueous and vitreous humors of the eye.

But the idea of intestinal autointoxication still persists to this day with books and websites showing black rubbery bowel movements as proof.

Though care for the colon should be an essential part of health, ingesting harsh laxatives or doing frequent enemas in an effort to clean the colons or intestines can sometimes do more harm than good.

An alternative to this is to take and choose the best colon cleanse supplement that does not contain harsh stimulant laxatives. Some effects of harsh laxatives are bloating, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and rectal irritation.

Frequent use of laxatives can even cause spastic or sluggish colon due to long term stimulation leading to nerve damage in the colon. Signs and symptoms of a spastic colon include bloating, pain in the abdominals, and constant and chronic constipation since the damage would produce lesser force in the contraction.

As with laxatives, even the best colon cleanse supplements are meant to be used occasionally and not for long term use for colon cleansing.

Numerous spa treatments have sprung up offering colonics and colon hydrotherapy which is another popular form of colon cleansing. Liquid is slowly introduced into the rectum in order to purge the fecal matter inside the large intestines.

Expensive and potentially harmful, colon hydrotherapy has been known to cause vomiting, nausea, dizziness and diarrhea and for some extreme cases, caused heart failure due to electrolyte imbalance.

Care for the colon should always be part of the daily regimen of a healthy lifestyle and it involves addressing the cause of constipation and taking steps to prevent it from happening.

To prevent constipation, include more fiber in the diet found in fruits and vegetables, drink 8 to 10 glasses of water and juices to add liquid to the colon for softer bowel movements.

Exercise to help the digestive system stay active and healthy and manage stress. When taking a laxative, opt for the best colon cleanse supplement that has gentle and natural laxative in its formulation, contains fiber, nutrients and probiotics to help maintain the natural balance in the digestive system.

Read More: Digestive Science Intensive Colon Cleanse Reviews.