Colon Cleanse

What this is. A fibre and herbal blend taken as a short digestive reset, usually for regularity and bloating.

600 mg of senna leaf powder per two-capsule serving. Senna is a stimulant laxative — not a fibre supplement, not a daily tonic. Products built on it are for short-term use, and that belongs at the top of the page rather than buried in the small print at the bottom.

What you are actually getting, per 2 capsules

• Senna Leaf Powder — 600 mg
• Oat Fiber — 200 mg
• Psyllium Husk — 200 mg

Senna's strength comes from its sennosides, and the sennoside content is not stated on this panel. This is ground leaf powder rather than a standardised extract, so 600 mg tells you the weight of the leaf and not the size of the dose. Two bottles printing the same 600 mg can differ in strength.

Worth knowing before you buy

Senna is a stimulant laxative, and the standard labelling for that class says not to use it for more than about a week unless a doctor tells you to. Prolonged daily use is a real problem, not a theoretical one: it is associated with fluid and potassium loss, with cramping, and with the bowel becoming reliant on it. This is not a supplement to take every morning indefinitely. We would rather lose the repeat order than let you think otherwise.

The other two ingredients are fibre, and they are small. Psyllium research uses roughly 5 g to 10 g a day; there is 200 mg here, about one fortieth of the low end. Oat fibre is the same story. Whatever this product does, the fibre is not the reason — 400 mg of fibre across two capsules is a rounding error next to a slice of wholemeal bread.

It is filed under gut and digestion, which is where you would look for it. It is not in our weight and metabolism collection, and we will be blunt about why. A laxative moves water and stool, and the number on the scale can move with it. That is not fat loss, using laxatives to control weight causes real harm, and we are not going to shelve it that way to catch the search traffic.

How to take it

Two capsules a day with water — a full glass, because of the psyllium. Sixty capsules in the bottle, which is 30 servings, but read the section above before you take it end to end: this is a short-term product in a 30-day bottle.

Other ingredients

The Supplement Facts panel supplied with this product does not list other ingredients, so the capsule shell is not stated. Gelatin shells are animal-derived and are not suitable for vegetarians or vegans; cellulose shells are. Because the panel is silent on which this is, we cannot tell you this product is suitable for vegetarians or vegans, and we are not going to guess. There is no allergen statement on the panel either. If either point decides the purchase for you, ask us before you order and we will read the bottle.

Cautions

Do not use senna if you have abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, a blocked or narrowed bowel, inflammatory bowel disease, or an unexplained change in bowel habit — see a doctor instead. Because stimulant laxatives can deplete potassium, they interact with diuretics, corticosteroids, digoxin and warfarin; speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this if you use any of them. Psyllium can slow the absorption of medicines taken at the same time, so leave a couple of hours either side of your other medication and take it with plenty of water. Senna can darken the colour of urine, which is harmless. Do not use for more than a week unless your doctor tells you to. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not use if the safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not exceed the recommended dose. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, taking prescription medication or living with a medical condition, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting this or any supplement.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.