# Is "NATURECLEANSE" Legit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 30, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266 "2008-03-30T13:02:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/1 "2008-03-30T13:02:20Z")
I keep hearing radio ads for this crap, er, alternative medicine. It is supposed to remove the “40 pounds of impacted fecal matter and grease that many experts say is stuck to the walls of your intestines”. You are supposed to take this crap for 6-12 weeks, and then, you will lose weight, fell more healthy, and be free of all that impacted crap and grease! Anyone have any experience with this? ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/2 "2008-03-30T13:22:10Z")
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_cleansing) on body cleansing to get you started. Colon cleansing is a subset of body cleansing, and colon cleansing by dietary supplements is again a subset of a subset. The appeal of colon cleansing is the removal of black bowel residues like this stuff (TMI [warning!](http://constantstateofflux.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/fecal-waste.jpg) !). But the Wiki article says: > [@](#): > > Quackwatch describes body cleansing and detoxification as an elaborate hoax used by con artists to cure nonexistent illnesses. The ‘toxins’ that are removed have been described as invented to give promoters something pretend they can fix.[1] Medical experts state that the body cleansing is unnecessary since the body is actually very good at maintaining itself, with several organs dedicated to cleansing the blood and gut.[2] ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/3 "2008-03-30T13:45:39Z")
Since the correct long answer has already been given here, I’ll give the short one. No. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/4 "2008-03-30T14:03:20Z")
As Qadgop confirmed, these “colon cleanse” things are just a scam. If you are constipated, you would do your colon a much bigger favor by simply drinking a lot of water and eating a lot of fiber-rich foods than trying this junk. And if you really want proof that there’s no massive blockage of feces in your colon, ask your doc about getting a colonoscopy (which everyone over 50 should get anyway). The bowel prep they give you for that (which only takes a few hours, not 6-8 weeks, to work) would be enough to clear out whatever stool is hanging out in your colon (I guarantee you it is not 40 pounds of grease and feces, though). They may even print out some photos for you to prove to you that your colon is squeaky clean. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/5 "2008-03-30T14:09:18Z")
Colon cleansing, whether through herbs, chemicals or liquids inserted anally, is a complete scam directed at “dirty Puritans” and those with pathological fears of bodily functions. While there are some medical reasons to take laxatives or purgatives, recreation is not one of them, nor is weight loss. Taking them needlessly just screws up your intestinal flora and gives you more digestive problems than it prevents. WhyNot, [del]crapalist[/del] herbalist ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/6 "2008-03-30T14:59:27Z")
I don’t know if it’s cheaper than NatureCleanse, but I take some generic fiber pills (psyllium husk, i.e. “Metamucil”) and they do a fantastic job of clearing me out. Wouldn’t be surprised if NatureCleanse is basically the same stuff, but marked up in price. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/7 "2008-03-30T16:22:32Z")
Bullshit did a great episode on colon cleansing, though I really have to admit, sometimes I am seriously tempted to go in for one after I do some heavy legume in the diet periods… I swear last time I did lentil soup I farted for 3 days … I was seriously considering doing the remaining liquiprep kit and fleet enemas from a run through radiology a few years ago … it has to have been faster than tolerating the 3 day farts … ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/8 "2008-03-30T18:36:26Z")
**Quadgop** and others, with all the above in mind, there are pictures floating around the Internet like the ones I linked to: black, tarry residues clinging to colon and intestines. [Like](http://www.avenaoriginals.com/_images/Colon_image_dec_news.jpg) [these.](http://constantstateofflux.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/fecal-waste.jpg) . If the bowels can cleanse themselves, what is happening in those cases? Are those spectacular tarry things associated with a specific disease? ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/9 "2008-03-30T18:43:54Z")
Coincidentally enough, I too have been wondering this same thing. I have a friend who swears by colon cleansing, and he’s very convincing. Many of these products have online [testimonials.](http://www.drnatura.com/picture_gallery.html?osCsid=78b987788ddf510a9a55b139a862bad8) If it’s all… er, bullshit, what _is_ that stuff in the pictures? Are all those photos just faked? ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/10 "2008-03-30T19:09:33Z")
I will defer to Qadgop if he knows of something that could cause stools that look like that, but based on what I know after three years of med school, I think those pictures of stool are just faked (and that would make more sense to me than the idea that there are tons of people out tehre who like to fish their feces out of the toilet and line them up for photos 😛 ). This webpage has a photo from a colonoscopy of what a normal colon looks like (even in the polyp photos, you can still see the wall of the colon is pink and slippery): > **[What Is a Colonoscopy?](https://www.everydayhealth.com/colonoscopy/guide/)** > > A colonoscopy uses a camera to see inside your large intestine and can help screen for colorectal cancer. Here’s what happens when you have one — and how to prep for it. Notice that the walls of the colon are not coated with anything remotely like that tarry black stuff. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/11 "2008-03-30T19:25:20Z")
Wow. Good point. My only other question would be, do they normally have you take anything to clean out your colon before colonoscopy? Or, would they have someone do that for the purpose of medical photographs? ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/12 "2008-03-30T19:42:30Z")
I checked out one of the colon cleansing web sites, and the stuff on there is just incredible. As in UNbelievable. This particular one involved water with pure maple syrup and lemon juice. I think that is all that you have, this water/lemon/maple syrup drink several times a day. At any rate, they tell about after a while, movements will start burning - that is supposedly when the worst toxins are being released. Now as I sat there reading and shaking my head, I did wonder, for a fleeting moment, could there -possibly- be any truth to that?! And oh yes, before you get a colonoscopy, you must clear out what is in there. Two days before, you have clear liquids/jello, then day before you drink the stuff … I’ve heard that there are pills you can take instead, but … well to be honest, I haven’t even had the courage yet to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/13 "2008-03-30T19:46:51Z")
Some of the colon cleanse products contain bentonite, a clay that expands many many time upon the absobtion of water. The, um, ‘snakes’ that come out are basically just soft clay molds of your colon. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/14 "2008-03-30T19:49:20Z")
[QUOTE=tarragon918] I checked out one of the colon cleansing web sites, and the stuff on there is just incredible. As in UNbelievable. This particular one involved water with pure maple syrup and lemon juice. I think that is all that you have, this water/lemon/maple syrup drink several times a day. At any rate, they tell about after a while, movements will start burning - that is supposedly when the worst toxins are being released. Now as I sat there reading and shaking my head, I did wonder, for a fleeting moment, could there -possibly- be any truth to that?! [/QUOTE] Sure! It works the same way my 5 alarm chili cleanse does! “The burning means it’s working!” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/15 "2008-03-30T20:02:04Z")
[QUOTE=tarragon918] I checked out one of the colon cleansing web sites, and the stuff on there is just incredible. As in UNbelievable. This particular one involved water with pure maple syrup and lemon juice. I think that is all that you have, this water/lemon/maple syrup drink several times a day. At any rate, they tell about after a while, movements will start burning - that is supposedly when the worst toxins are being released. Now as I sat there reading and shaking my head, I did wonder, for a fleeting moment, could there -possibly- be any truth to that?! [/QUOTE] Nah, the increase in bowel movements comes from the salt water you drink every morning. The lemonade made of water, maple syrup and a pinch of cayenne power is just a way to get calories into you so you don’t starve. Google “The Master Cleanse” for more information. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/16 "2008-03-30T20:37:12Z")
Is it true that when John Wayne died, they found enough impacted matter in his intestinal tract to make an entirely new John Wayne? ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/17 "2008-03-30T22:21:42Z")
We’ve done this thread a couple other times before. What **Pork Rind** said is what has been said before. These pills/supplements are basically just kitty litter. When you ingest them, they expand and make a mold of your pooper. You then poop out the mold. It’s a brilliant scam. [Here’s the last GQ thread on it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=456249) ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/18 "2008-03-31T02:55:49Z")
TMI anecdote on the matter: I had to do bowel prep for a sigmoidoscopy. The prep involved taking three enemas. The enemas were simply saline, I believe. While the doctor was performing the sigmoidoscopy, I could see the camera footage on the monitor. After those three enemas, my (sigmoid) colon was _gleaming_. It was like shining a flashlight down a copper pipe clean. I imagine the more thourough bowel preps for full-blown colonoscopies (Magnesium Citrate) do the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naturecleanse-legit/443266/19 "2008-03-31T03:02:38Z")
Well, **Incubus** , I’m convinced. Those above were quite persuasive; your firsthand personal experience is indisputable. I shall return to feeling that my eating lots of cabbage and whole grains and etc. is probably adequate.