Native to Africa, cape aloe is renowned for its remarkable natural colon cleansing benefits. As an effective natural laxative and colon cleanser, it is probably the strongest of the colon stimulating herbs. Also, laboratory experiments have shown cape aloe stimulates the growth not only of lymphocytes, which are an important part of the immunological defense mechanisms, but also of fibroblastic cells in skin and connective tissues and can help soothe and heal tissue in the intestinal tract.
Cascara sagrada is recognized as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration. It appears in the national formularies of most countries, and has been in the United States Pharmacopoeia since 1890.
Early plant chemists identified the active laxative constituents in cascara sagrada bark as anthraquinone derivatives. These compounds stimulate peristalsis, the vigorous wavelike contractions of the large intestine that keep food moving through the digestive system. When cascara speeds the process up, the body produces a softer, quicker bowel movement because the intestine has had less chance to absorb the liquid from the stool. Several studies have shown that cascara sagrada is effective in easing chronic constipation in elderly people.
Barberry rootbark contains berberine, a bitter alkaloid, that aids in the secretion of bile and is good for liver health, acts as a mild purgative, and helps regulate the digestive processes. The antibacterial properties of the alkaloid berbamine have shown activity against Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Salmonella, Shigella and Escherichia Coli. It has anti-microbial properties that are especially beneficial for the skin and intestinal tract. And finally, barberry has a beneficial effect on blood pressure by causing a dilatation of the blood vessels.
Barberry decreases heart rate, depresses the breathing, stimulates intestinal movement for natural colon cleansing, and reduces bronchial constriction.
Fresh ginger root has a long history of use in herbal medicine. Ginger root helps control temporary nausea, which makes it useful in morning sickness during pregnancy, as well as in intestinal activating and detoxing formulas, and in liver cleansing programs. Ginger root is also a strong COX 2 inhibitor. In the Far East and India, ginger root is renowned for its aphrodisiac properties.
Fennel is a carminative herb that helps reduce colic, gas, indigestion, digestive disorders, assimilation, nausea, and flatulence. It also can help break up kidney stones and uric acid in the tissues and is therefore used in dealing with gout.
Fennel will help assist in the removal of mucus and phlegm from the lungs and it will also help rid the intestinal tract of mucus. Its natural colon cleansing properties also have a cleansing effect on the gall bladder and liver.
Fennel will help improve digestive health and quiet hiccups. This herb is useful in reducing intestinal and stomach gas—a key necessity for colon cleansing products.
Terminalia chebula is called the "king of medicines" in Tibet and is one of the prime Ayurvedic herbs from India because of its extraordinary healing powers. At the same time, it is known to promote tissue growth and health. Traditionally, it is used in natural colon cleansers and used to address constipation, digestive orders, irregular fevers, flatulence, ulcers, vomiting, colic, and hemorrhoids.
Modern research has found that Terminalia has a strong effect against the herpes simplex virus HSV, and exhibits strong cardio tonic properties. It also has antioxidant components, which indicates it can increase the life of tissues. Yet another study shows the anti-tumor activity of Terminalia and another study shows that it has considerable effect in inhibiting the HIV virus which ultimately results in AIDS.
Senna is widely accepted as a stool softener and a short-term treatment for constipation. Senna leaf is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for short-term use in occasional constipation. Senna is also approved in the United States and in European countries as an ingredient in over-the-counter and prescription laxative preparations. The herb is approved by the German government for any condition in which alleviating constipation or softening stools is desirable. Senna may be recommended for people with hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or those undergoing surgery involving the abdomen, anus, or rectum. Senna may also be used to clear the bowel in order to improve the visibility of abdominal organs during an ultrasound procedure.
Senna contains naturally occurring chemicals called anthraquinone glycosides. They are strong stimulant laxatives that soften stools and increase muscle contractions of the intestines, thereby increasing bowel movements. Senna usually starts to work in three to nine hours. Anthraquinone laxatives, such as senna, work in two ways. First, they help assist with constipation by increasing the amount of water and electrolytes in the intestine. They also work by stimulating contractions of the colon muscles, which help to accelerate the passage of stool. Senna is considered among the strongest of the anthraquinone laxatives. Its effectiveness as a purgative has been supported by centuries of anecdotal reports as well as modern human and animal studies.
Special Note on Cascara Sagrada & Senna
There are rumors circulating about that Cascara sagrada and Senna detox supplements might be dangerous. Virtually all of the complaints center around a single incident several years ago where a healthy person in their 30's used something called Super Dieter's Tea (a senna based drink) to lose weight. She died for no apparent reason and the doctor's said it must have been the senna in the tea.
First of all, there is no proof that the senna was responsible. It was merely an assumption made by the doctors. The argument was that it disrupted her electrolyte balance. In her situation, it may have. If you use Senna or Cascara sagrada, not as an aid to proper bowel movements (as we do), but as a purgative to stop from absorbing calories (as in Super Dieter's Tea), you will end up passing a lot of electrolytes -- but unlikely enough to affect the heart.
The bottom line is that it is unlikely the senna was responsible, and on top of that, we don't use nearly the amount of senna consumed in Super Dieter's Tea. In the Colon Corrective, it is merely a colon cleanser stimulant for proper colon function. No one has ever suffered a problem from it when used in that regard.
The other claim sometimes made about Senna and Cascara sagrada is that you become dependent on them to have a bowel movement. The evidence does not bear that out. Tens of thousands of people who did not have regular bowel movements before using Jon Barron's colon cleansing products, have gone on his colon cleansers, stayed on them for a number of months to build up colon function, and then weaned themselves off. The net result is that their colons are stronger and working better than before they started on the colon cleansing program.
Note: both Senna and Cascara Sagrada can cause temporary staining of the lining of the large intestine, a condition doctors have labeled melanosis coli -- which produces no other symptoms or problems and goes away in time.
The potent, hot fruit of cayenne has been used as medicine for centuries. Cayenne is helpful for various conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including temporary constipation (by stimulating peristalsis), upset stomach aches, cramping, and gas. Cayenne is also extremely beneficial for the circulatory system, helping to improve the elasticity of the walls of both the arterial and venous systems, maintaining normal blood platelet function, and working to help maintain normal blood pressure already within a normal range throughout the body. And finally, cayenne is used in many herbal formulas as a "driver" -- to "push" the other herbs in the formula into the blood stream more quickly
Wild crafting is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural, or wild" habitat, for food or medicinal purposes. It means the plants are uncultivated, and harvesting takes place wherever they may be found. Ethical wild crafting means that the harvesting is done sustainably.