ColonAid 2000:  Nature’s cleansing formula

Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D.
 

Constipation results when food moves too slowly through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. No exact frequency of bowel movements, or amount of symptoms associated with constipation (such as hard stools and excessive straining), precisely defines constipation. The most common cause is probably dietary, not getting enough fiber in the diet. However, constipation can be a component of irritable bowel syndrome, or can result from a wide range of causes, such as a drug side effect or physical immobility.  Serious diseases, including colon cancer, can sometimes first appear as bowel blockage leading to acute constipation. Therefore, a physician should diagnose particularly constipation of recent onset.  People with constipation should use dietary and other natural approaches, such as ColonAid 2000, only when there is reason to believe no serious underlying condition exists.  Senna a leading natural laxative alone can be harsh. That's why ColonAid 2000 contains a balanced blend of lab-tested herbs known to effectively help promote regularity, while gently cleansing the internal environment.  In addition, ColonAid 2000 offers special herbs that soothe the digestive tract and help ease elimination.  Here are some of the key herbs used in ColonAid 2000:

Senna

People in northern Africa and southwestern Asia have used senna as a laxative for centuries. It was considered a "cleansing" herb because of its cathartic effect.  Senna contains anthraquinone glycosides, known as sermosides.  These molecules are converted by the normal bacteria in the colon into rhein-anthrone, which in turn has two effects.  It first stimulates colon activity and thus speeds bowel movements. Second, it increases fluid secretion by the colon. Together, these actions work to get a sluggish colon functional again. Several controlled studies have confirmed the benefit of senna in treating constipation. Constipation induced by drugs, such as the anti-diarrhea medicine Imodiurn (loperamide), has also been shown to be improved by senna in a clinical trial. 

Cascara

Northern California Indians introduced cascara, which they called sacred bark, to sixteenth-century Spanish explorers. Being much milder in its laxative action than the herb buckthorn, cascara became popular in Europe as a treatment for constipation. Cascara has been part of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia since 1890.  Cascara bark is high in hydroxyanthraquinone glycosides called cascarosides. Resins, tannins and lipids make up the bulk of the other bark ingredients.  Cascarosides have a cathartic action, inducing the large intestine to increase its muscular contraction (peristalsis), resulting in bowel movement.

Slippery elm

These preparations are derived from the ground inner bark of an embattled tree, recently ravaged in the United States by Dutch elm disease. Slippery elm was once a medicinal food eaten for its beneficial effects on the digestive system. Even the FDA calls it an "excellent demulcent," or pacifying agent, to soothe and protect irritated mucous membranes in the intestines, or to treat diarrhea.

Aloe

Aloe has been historically used for many in history for such ailments as constipation and minor cuts and burns.  In India, it was also used to treat intestinal infections and for suppressed menses.  The constituents that cause the cathartic laxative effects of aloe latex are known as anthraquinone glycosides.  These molecules are split by the normal bacteria in the large intestines to form other molecules (aglycones), which exert the laxative action.  Various constituents have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects as well as to stimulate wound healing.

Valerian

The Greek physician, Dioscorides, recommended valerian for a host of medical problems, including digestive problems, nausea, liver problems and even urinary tract disorders. Use of valerian for insomnia and nervous conditions has been common for many centuries.  By the eighteenth century, it was an accepted sedative and was also used for nervous disorders associated with a restless digestive tract.

Yellow Dock and Rhubarb

Bitter herbs are single herbs, or combinations of herbs, whose pungent taste helps to stimulate appetite and promote complete digestion. The most prominent bitter herbs include rhubarb and yellow dock.  A number of clinical studies have confirmed that bitter herbs are effective at relieving digestive problems such as flatulence and heartburn. Exactly how bitters promote digestion is not clear, but a popular explanation is that these herbs activate the bitter-taste receptors on the back of the tongue. This encourages salivation and increases secretion of digestive juices, thus promoting the functions of the stomach, small intestine and gall bladder.  Bitters are thought to assist in naturally cleansing the liver, intestines and other organs.

Beyond Herbs and Supplements

Maintaining a healthy digestive system takes more than merely using natural substances to establish the proper intestinal flora. Digestion can be affected by individual foods and overall diet, attitudes and emotions, and exercise and fitness. Here are some of the basics to keep in mind:
Eat a balanced, high-fiber, low fat, primarily plant-based whole foods diet. This is an essential element in regulating your digestion and preventing constipation and heartburn. 
Chew your food thoroughly. Proper chewing is the first step in digestion and makes subsequent steps proceed more smoothly.  Avoid eating meals while you are anxious or emotionally upset.  Digestion benefits immeasurably when you eat in a relaxed, unhurried manner.  If you suffer from such problems as heartburn, constipation or peptic ulcers, avoid the foods that are most irritating to the digestive system.  Fatty, greasy and fried foods slow digestion; caffeine and chocolate can irritate the esophagus; and alcoholic beverages, refined sugar and the drugs tobacco and aspirin increase stomach acids.  Do something restful after a meal.  Your body responds to food in the stomach by diverting blood and energy toward the digestive organs.  Allow this natural process to happen rather than jogging, swimming or doing something else that requires blood and energy in the major muscles of the legs and arms.  On the other hand, you may find that your digestion benefits when you take a leisurely walk after a large meal.  Get plenty of exercise, or physical activity, between meals; lack of exercise can lead to digestive sluggishness.

Suggested use:  Take one or two capsules a day.  Best taken at bedtime.
 

Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D.