Buyer's Guide To
Colon Cleanser Products
What Everyone Needs to Know About Colon Health

• Triphala

• Rating: C
• Company: Himalaya Herbal Healthcare
• Specs: Lab Report
• Site: www.himalayahealthcare.com

Triphala is an Ayurvedic herbal medicine primarily used in India, where it is purported to have numerous health benefits. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, it has been used to treat digestive and stomach ailments, such as inflammation, ulcers and constipation because of its potent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activity. In India, triphala reportedly helps cleanse and detoxify the entire body, alleviating abdominal pain, bloating and poor bowel function. Although there isn't any definite proof it can prevent constipation, it may help treat the symptoms caused by the condition.

What ingredients does triphala contain?

Triphala contains emblica officinalis (gooseberry), terminalia chebula and terminalia belerica.

Do the ingredients in triphala help cleanse the colon? Although there is little proof it can detoxify the colon, evidence suggests it can help treat the symptoms of constipation. According to a 2005 study reported by the Iranian Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (IJPT), triphala helped relieve symptoms caused by constipation--namely, the increased flatulence and abdominal pain caused by the condition. The study evaluated the effects of triphala in 160 patients between the ages of 16 to 52 years for 45 days.

"Triphala was found to have good laxative property, help in management of hyperacidity and also improve appetite," reports the study's researchers. "Triphala can be used effectively in the treatment of constipation and other gastric problems."

While this could potentially make triphala an effective supplement for the treatment of constipation, this doesn’t necessarily make it an effective colon cleanser.

Is it safe?

Recent reports show none of its key ingredients contain any serious adverse effects. Some health experts claim it could cause gastrointestinal upset, but none of these effects have ever been observed. Verdict: Although triphala may help relieve constipation, it isn't necessarily effective for colon cleansing. It is safer compared to most laxatives on the market, however.