What are the efficacy, functions and contraindications of Detox Cleansing Tablets?

The common detoxification and intestinal cleansing tablets currently on the market are actually used to relieve functional constipation in the short term and improve problems such as bloating, heavy breath, and bulging lower abdomen caused by the accumulation of feces. As for the effects of "detoxification from the five internal organs", "whitening and lightening of spots", and "fat reduction and slimming" promoted by the merchants, there is no clear clinical basis and the controversy is high. Moreover, this type of product has many contraindications and must not be used as a daily skin care product for a long time.

I have been doing intestinal health science popularization for almost five years, and the biggest pitfall I have encountered is that little girls take Internet celebrity intestinal cleansing tablets as weight loss pills. There was a 22-year-old girl who took a popular intestinal cleansing tablet for three weeks in a row in order to wear a small-size skirt. In the first few days, she was able to pass a lot of bowel movements every day and lost three kilograms of weight. But then she couldn’t pass it out without using it, and her belly was even bigger than before. She went for a colonoscopy and found that she had developed mild melanosis, with dark brown patches on the intestinal wall, which was scary to look at.

If you really catch up on overeating for three or four days with heavy oil and spicy food, or you have been sitting for a week without defecation, and your stomach is so bloated that you can’t even bend down, choose a mild version that only contains dietary fiber, prebiotics, and fructooligosaccharides. Eating it once in a while can really relieve your discomfort quickly. It's like applying a layer of lubricant to a jammed conveyor belt to help expel the accumulated feces. It makes the whole person feel more relaxed. A reader who often travels on business told me that he gets constipated every time he changes the environment. I always have this kind of mild bowel cleansing tablet in my bag. It is really more comfortable to use in emergencies than to carry it.

However, I have to throw some cold water on it. Don’t believe the nonsense marketed by the merchants that “eating intestinal cleansing tablets can expel blood toxins and nourish the liver.” What we call “intestinal cleaning” is at best removing unexcreted feces from the intestines. It has nothing to do with the toxins metabolized by the liver and kidneys. Some people feel that their skin becomes better after taking it. Most of them are dull and yellow caused by long-term constipation. It will naturally improve after defecation. If you really have problems such as chloasma and acne, taking intestinal cleansing tablets is of no use.

In addition to the controversy over its efficacy, it also has many more contraindications than many people think. Not everyone can take it. Intestinal cleansing tablets containing stimulating laxatives such as rhubarb, senna, and aloe glycoside, no matter how "purely natural herbal" the merchants claim, must not be taken for a long time. The intestine itself has its own peristaltic rhythm. If you rely on external force to stimulate it to defecate every day, the nerves in the intestinal wall will be damaged over time, and you will be "too lazy" to move. In time, more serious stubborn constipation will occur, and even colon melanosis will be induced.

There are also several categories of people who are not recommended to touch even the mild version: pregnant women must not eat indiscriminately. Before, a pregnant mother did not know that she almost had a miscarriage after taking intestinal cleansing tablets containing senna leaves, which stimulated uterine contractions.； Breastfeeding mothers should also be aware that some ingredients will be passed on to the baby through milk, which can easily cause diarrhea in the baby. ； People with underlying intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis, intestinal polyps, and intestinal obstruction should not eat blindly. The irritating ingredients will damage the intestinal wounds and may induce intestinal bleeding and perforation in severe cases. ； Children's intestinal tracts are delicate, and they must not be fed adult intestinal cleansing tablets casually. If they are constipated, see a pediatrician for treatment, and do not try random home remedies.

After all, this thing is an emergency product. If you really have long-term constipation, don't rely on intestinal cleansing tablets. Eat more whole grains and vegetables, exercise more, and adjust your own intestinal rhythm. Otherwise, you will always rely on external help, and you will be the one who suffers in the end.