Re: Bloating caused by colon cleanse?

 I took a colon cleansing product about four months ago and I believe it caused me persistent bloating even up until now. Ever since I started that colon cleanser, my belly is still as large as it was. Is this a cleansing reaction? What exactly happened to my gut and how can I get the bloating to go away?

Here are the ingredients of the colon cleanse:
Psyllium Seed Licorice Root
Fennel Seed Rhubarb Root
Cascara Sagrada Ginger
Buckthorn Bark Golden Seal

Other ingredients: Calcium carbonate, gum acacia, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium, and modified cellulose.


Should I continue taking this?

Part of the problem is the psyllium, which is well known for causing bloating.  The calcium carbonate can also contribute to bloating due to neutralizing stomach acid and creating gas in the process.

Other problems with the formula are the rhubarb root and cascara sagrada, which both contain a high level of intestine stimulating anthraquinones.  For this reason they should not be taken for more than 2 weeks without a break to prevent these herbs from creating a laxative dependence.

The final problem is the goldenseal, which kills the intestinal flora and will damage the intestinal lining with long term use.  Killing the flora off leads to even more constipation as the flora generate serotonin, which regulates intestinal peristalsis.

Triphala is a better choice for a colon cleanser, and it also cleanses the liver.  For fiber I prefer rice bran or oat bran, which are both high in B vitamins and will feed the flora.