Constipation is not the only symptom that indicates you might benefit from a natural colon cleanse. It is not uncommon for hard material made of a mixture of mucous and fecal matter to become impacted on the inside walls of the colon and intestines. This causes a variety of health problems. For one thing, nutrients have a harder time absorbing into the bloodstream from the intestines. This situation, in turn, can cause a person to feel tired, depressed, and bloated.

A colon cleanse works to soften and remove this material. A herbal colon cleanse is a natural version of a laxative basically. Herbs that help you move wastes through your system include cascara sagrada bark, aloe vera leaf, and fenugreek seed. These are often found in herbal formulas for constipation.

Other herbs that support the laxative effect of the above botanicals are fennel seed, which helps with gas and cramps, and peppermint, which aids the digestion. Along with laxative herbs, a colon cleanse is likely to include herbs like dandelion root or red clover, which are cleansing to the blood and the urinary tract, so that the whole system gets cleansed of toxins.

Unfortunately, herbs can be as harsh to the system as conventional laxatives. There is another type of natural colon cleanse on the market. This is an oxygen based formula that reacts chemically with the hydrochloric acid in your stomach. This chemical reaction causes the fecal material, sometimes called plaque, to melt into liquid and gas so it can be expelled easily.

The herbal colon cleanse will cause you to pass rubbery dark material with the consistency of tire tread, while the oxygen based natural colon cleanse will give you liquid or soft stools.

Another aspect of natural colon cleansing is to add fiber to the diet. This can be in the form of bran, psyllium seed husks, prunes, and many other natural foods. It is sensible, if you have problems with constipation anyway, to eat a fiber rich diet. Fiber alone, however, will not give you a complete colon cleanse. Still, it makes sense to eat more fiber rich fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and less junk food.

Colon cleansing can also include enemas. In fact, during a colon cleanse, you might be advised to have an enema on any day that you do not have a bowel movement. The goal is to have three or four bowel movements on any given day, which are likely if you choose an oxygen based cleanse.

Removing the fecal matter from the digestive tract will eliminate many toxins from your system. This can result in clearer skin, more energy, fewer headaches, improved allergy symptoms, and many other benefits. Of course, results vary from individual to individual, but there are many reports of multiple benefits from doing a colon cleanse.

There's a lot more to learn about colon cleansing, and you can do it at http://www.colon-cleaners.com