The way we lead our lives these days and the kind of food we have, it is no wonder that our colon is burdened with more than it can cope with. With the tendency towards having highly processed food, one of the most critical elements of our diet - fiber is being left out. The result has been in many cases irregular bowel movements, constipation, severe stomach aches etc. to counter such problems many people are seeking an alternative in colon cleansing. And with rising interest from common men, a lot of people has seen this as a business opportunity. Hundreds of new products are being launched each claiming to be the best solution for colon cleansing. Among these products are the colon cleanse herbs and herbal laxatives.

The colon cleanse herbs and the herbal laxatives claim to be harmless and position themselves as alternatives to commercial laxatives. The bone of contention is that whether they are justified in their claims.

It is a fact that most of the popular colon cleanse herbs do contain substances which fall under the category of anthraquinones. These would include cascara sagrada, rhubarb, and senna. That the herbs have laxative effects can be attributed to the presence of the anthraquinone substances. But at the same time they are also source for several other side effects. Here, we provide a list of some of the side effects that you can face after the consumption of a colon cleanse herb or herbal laxatives.

Muscle contractions in the stomach region leading to strong and acute pains. The pain is cramping and gripping in nature.

Balance of electrolyte inside our body getting disturbed due to loss of potassium and body fluids.

Nausea accompanied by diarrhea and occasionally rashes.

If the herbs are used over a period of time then there can be a dark pigmentation of the colon. This is called melanosis coli.

Herbs taken may actually not suit well with any heart medication the individual is taking.

Pregnant or nursing women and children should never use laxatives.

So we can well imagine what kind of risks one is taking in going for a colon cleansing herb. It should not be tried until absolutely necessary. One should also take care to inform his physician about the new herb so that he can prescribe his medications accordingly. So the final word would be, be sure if you really need any herbal laxative.