Q. My son is taking a product to cleanse his colon every day. He says it’s working. Is there any downside?
A. We don’t know what is in the product your son is taking, but often OTC colon cleansers contain senna or other harsh laxatives. When the colon occasionally needs to be cleaned, before a procedure such as colonoscopy or surgery, the doctor prescribes a preparation that does this job very effectively.
If your son is constipated, there are better ways to address that problem. Overreliance on laxatives can lead to dependence and make matters worse. We are sending you our Guide to Constipation with recipes for Power Pudding and dynamite pumpkin bran muffins so that he will be able to stay regular safely.
