The efficacy and function of Detoxification and Intestinal Cleansing Tablets

The clearest effect of Detox Intestinal Cleansing Tablets is to improve occasional constipation in the short term and relieve abdominal distension and discomfort caused by food hoarding. It does not have the effects of "removing deep intestinal toxins", "beautifying skin and lightening spots", and "reducing fat and weight" as advertised by the merchants. Long-term abuse may damage the normal function of the intestines.

Not long ago, my best friend went on a business trip to Chongqing for a week. She ate hot pot and iced Coke. After coming back, she didn’t have a bowel movement for three days. Her belly was so bloated that she couldn’t even button her jeans. She took out the intestinal cleansing tablets she had stored at home and ate one. She felt better that afternoon. The first thing she said after squatting in the toilet was, "Can this thing really remove all the toxins in my stomach?" ”

In fact, she is not the only one. Many people’s impressions of bowel cleansing tablets have been misled by the commercial propaganda, and they have to be broken down to explain clearly. The main ingredients of the mild bowel cleansing tablets currently on the market are soluble dietary fiber and prebiotics, combined with a small amount of natural cathartic ingredients such as low-dose aloe glycoside and sennoside. They essentially increase the volume of stool by absorbing water and swell, slightly stimulating intestinal peristalsis, and save you The feces that have not been passed for several days are pushed out, and the bulging belly quickly deflates. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is an emergency tool for occasional constipation. The bowel cleansing medicine prescribed by the doctor before I had a colonoscopy has a similar core function logic, which is to clean the intestines for easy observation.

But when it comes to "detoxification", the differences between different fields are actually quite large. There is no concept of "feces" and "intestinal toxins" in the Western medicine system. The intestinal mucosa itself has a complete barrier function, and the waste produced by normal metabolism will be excreted regularly with the feces. There are no "toxins accumulated for more than ten years". What you excrete after taking intestinal cleansing tablets are feces and excess water that are not excreted in time, and have nothing to do with "detoxification". The “detoxification” mentioned in Chinese medicine actually refers to the elimination of the waste produced by metabolism. It is only recommended to use a small amount of purgative ingredients when constipation is severe. It is absolutely not supported to rely on bowel cleansing tablets for long-term laxatives. It is said that it will deplete the body's healthy energy, and instead, the more you eat, the more you will become weak.

Nowadays, the evaluation of intestinal cleansing tablets on the Internet is extremely polarized. Some people say it is a savior, while others say that taking it will cause black intestine disease. In fact, the difference lies in the usage and dosage. My cousin who has worked as a pharmacist in a chain pharmacy for five years said that she also keeps a box of mild bowel cleansing tablets at home, but only takes half a tablet when she has not had a bowel movement for more than two days in a row and her stomach is uncomfortable. But many people regard it as a weight-loss tool, taking it every day, or even two or three pills at a time, just to lose more weight. It would be strange if nothing happened - she met a little girl before who took intestinal cleansing tablets for a month to lose weight, and finally passed out due to dehydration and was sent to the hospital. It was found that the intestinal flora was seriously disturbed, and there was also slight colon melanosis, and it took more than half a year to recover.

I've been through this trap myself before. Two years ago, I saw a blogger saying that taking bowel cleansing tablets can help relieve constipation and lighten acne marks. After taking it for three days, the acne didn't go away but I developed several large red and swollen pimples. I went to see a dermatologist and found out that frequent diarrhea will affect the intestinal absorption of vitamins and trace elements, and will instead aggravate skin inflammation. Where does the beauty effect come from? It's purely a marketing gimmick for merchants.

To put it bluntly, detoxification and intestinal cleansing tablets are just for emergency use, just like the antipyretics you take when you have a fever. They can only provide emergency relief but not cure the disease, let alone be taken as a daily health supplement. If you really want to make your intestines comfortable, eat more whole grains such as celery and corn, and take a walk for 10 minutes every day. This is better than expensive intestinal cleansing tablets. If you have constipation for more than a week in a row, don't just take intestinal cleansing tablets to cope with it. Go to the gastroenterology department of the hospital for a checkup quickly, so as not to delay serious problems.