For a variety of reasons, most people who subscribe to alternative medicine have a positive view of the 7 day colon cleanse program. Many of them believe that through auto-intoxication, the body manufactures its own toxins and must eliminate them to keep the body healthy. Most people eat diets low in fiber, which impairs bowel function and thus makes a colon cleanser necessary.

The best way to maintain colon health is by eating the right diet. Unfortunately, current diet trends and the tendency towards fast foods and processed foods are leading people away from the healthy eating practices of our ancestors. Since modern diet is so integrally linked to lifestyle, people are finding that having a colon cleanse is a better option than trying to radically change their lifestyles. A 7 day colon cleanse fits into current lifestyles and doesn't total, life-long modifications.

There are many colon cleanser products available on the market. Some are stand-alone products, while others are kits containing several different items meant to be used together. Many colon cleansing protocols require colonic irrigation and/or enemas to completely empty the bowels. Some plans require occasional fasts or special diets, with a few allowing no solid food intake during the seven days during which the cleansing is to occur.

Why is it that so many colon cleansing products use a seven day period? It may be as simple as the familiarity of a one-week schedule. Seven days is not a long enough commitment of time to daunt many people. Some people believe that a natural seven day cycle, linked to the menstrual cycle or the phases of the moon, governs health. Some believe that it takes seven days to remove toxins from the lymph or blood. Whatever the reason, a 7 day colon cleanse cycle has become the standard used by many such products.

It is sensible to discuss any health program or treatment with your regular physician before beginning it, but the 7 day colon cleanse is normally safe for most people, especially one that relies on gentle bulk-forming materials to encourage the bowels to empty. It's prudent to be careful whatever the products used because any person might have special health concerns. Be aware that a traditional physician may dispute the idea that the colon can even have large amounts of fecal material built up or that there is any need to cleanse at all.

Along with being the primary ingredient of common laxatives and fiber dietary supplements, ground psyllium seed is the active component of most seven-day colon cleansing regimes. It functions as bulk when it has expanded in the presence of water within the large intestine, thereby inducing the organ to evacuate. Other formulas include additional homeopathic remedies such as herbs or bentonite clay, an agent claimed to purge the body of toxins. Some involve the augmentation of the regime with laxatives and purgative mixtures, which could be less safe as they can elicit cramping and diarrhea.