This article looks at the benefits of colon cleansing for acne and whether it can help with chronic constipation when nothing else has worked.
In my previous article, I went into huge detail about my life long struggles with constipation. I detailed all the natural treatments I’ve tried over the years and despite being totally committed to curing my constipation, I was never able get to find a treatment that worked.
I also spoke about how important it is to address your constipation before you try ‘fixing’ your hormones with potent herbs and supplements. When faecal matter (poop) sits in your digestive system for too long, some of the toxic matter that’s supposed to be eliminated via the bowel gets reabsorbed into the blood stream and gets eliminated through your pores instead. These impurities in the blood cause the sebaceous glands to go crazy and result in red, inflamed skin. See how easy it is for constipation to trigger acne? If constipation is something you struggle with on a daily basis or even just now and again, improving your bowel habits should be your #1 priority.
Why an oxy powder colon cleanse?
I was first introduced to oxygen cleansing by a client about 2 years ago. However, I wasn’t aware of the importance of the initial ’cleanse’ part and just took 1-2 tablets a day and didn’t see a huge improvement so once I ran out, I never repurchased.
Having tried so many natural treatments for constipation and having very little success, I was will to give anything a go! After making some major diet changes to beat my blood sugar issues, I found myself even more constipated than normal. I started researching and came across a lot of other people who struggled with similar issues and all swore by a product called Oxy Powder. The more I researched, the more Oxy Powder or ‘oxygen colon cleansing’ kept cropping up so I decided to give it another go.
How does oxygen colon cleansing work?
Unlike any other intestinal cleansing agent, oxygen colon cleansing works by suppling time-released oxygen into digestive system to break down impacted waste matter that accumulates over time and causes a ‘toxic colon’.
In an ideal world we should be practising more or less a ‘one in, one out’ method when it comes to eating vs bowel movements. However, it’s very rare that this actually happens so when we eat more food than we can eliminate, things very easily become clogged up and cause constipation, bloating, irritation and overall poor intestinal health.
Our digestive tract is 25-30 ft long, that’s a lot of space for waste to accumulate! Oxygen colon cleansing turns that impacted waste into liquid and allows for the gentle elimination of old waste via multiple, effortless bowel movements the following day.
What are the benefits of colon cleansing?
As well as eliminating old toxic matter from the digestive tract, there are also some other benefits of a regular colon cleansing:
- Uses oxygen for gentle and safe cleansing of impurities, toxins, and harmful organisms
- Aids in oxygenating both small & large intestine for improved gut function
- Promotes optimal colon health by killing anaerobic bacteria
- Dislodges waste matter without harming the natural flora in your intestines
- Reduces uncomfortable bloating and excess gas
- Can be used safely 2-3 times weekly to maintain normal bowel function without any long term side effects
For more information and all the FAQs on oxygen colon cleansing and the 7 day cleanse, visit this post here.
7 day colon cleanse for constipation and acne
I really wish I’d read someones day-by-day diary of when they performed an oxygen cleanse before I did my own – just so I knew what to expect! So you I thought I’d do my own so you could read all the details of my colon cleanse and not make the same mistakes I did! The original ‘Oxy Powder’ is this one by Global Healing Centre but I used the Mag 07 by Aeorbic Life with great results and you can also get this vegan version here.
**You can also pick up the Mag 07 and vegan version from iHerb, plus get 5% discount using the code FZL820.
Day 1: Ok, I shouldn’t have played it safe last night and taken half the recommended dose. The label stated to take 4-5 capsules just before bed and I freaked out and just took two…BIG mistake! I needed the loo as soon as I got up but then had the worst cramps for the majority of the morning and only managed to go to the loo once more that day. As I mentioned earlier – you need to build up your dose till you’re eliminating 3-5 times a day – then you start the 7 day cleanse.
Day 2: Last night I took 4 capsules and thankfully had NO cramps so it was definitely the half dose that caused the terrible cramping! I only just managed to go 3 times today so I think I’ll have to up the dose to maximum of 5 capsules!
Day 3: I upped my dose to 5 capsules last night and woke up at 6am really needing the loo, then again at 9, then at 1pm, 6pm and finally at about 10pm so I think 5 is my lucky number and now I can take 5 capsules a night for the next 6 days to breakdown all the hardened crap thats lodged in my intestines!
Day 4: I went to the loo 5 times today again. It’s been really easy with absolutely no cramps which is great as I was a little worried at how strong these would be. I mentioned in this post that I’d tried the Andrea Mauritz Liver Cleanse a few times and that was horrific so I had this fear that this may be the same kinda thing…but it’s not at all! So easy and comfortable and for someone who struggles with severe constipation – pretty damn satisfying!
Day 5: Today I had really bad reflux in the evening for a couple of hours but it seemed to pass after I had a steak for dinner! Ha! Skin still looking great considering I’m in the danger PMS zone… Apart from the first morning bowel movement, I’m not desperately rushing to the loo – it’s literally just the normal sensation of needing to go so I’ve not felt like I’m going to crap myself if I’m out and about all day.
Day 6: No more acid reflux today so no clue what that was all about. Pretty much the same as the last couple of days so nothing really to report – skin isn’t breaking AT ALL out despite the fact that it’s just 2 days till my period’s due. MIRACLE.
Day 7: I don’t want to be graphic or anything, but I feel it’s my duty to give you as much information about my experience as possible…. OK, so let just say my butt isn’t used to all this action so it’s a little bit…lets just say sensitive today! However, my skin is looking amazing so I literally don’t give a crap about my butt hole. My skin just looks so much better overall, the inflammation is minimal and my skin tone is really even – I took a bare faced selfie this morning and it looked like I was wearing tinted moisturiser!
Day 8: Woo! My butt is feeling much much better today! No more ‘ring sting’ as my boyfriend likes to put it (sorry, sorry TMI!) I’m really struggling to think of anything more to say, apart from it’s been so much less hassle than I thought it was going to be. Apart from that first day where I was cramping till lunchtime…there’s been no side effects that have made me questions why the hell I’d be doing something like this! That’s got to be a good thing right? I’m kind of a bit bummed that tomorrow’s my last day…although they say you should carry on with a maintenance dose indefinitely if your bowels continue to struggle once you finish the cleanse. I think I might give it a couple of days and see how I go, the good thing about Oxy Powder is that it is totally safe to take it regularly. Perhaps it’s going to be something I do need to take to keep me more regular. It’s definitely the most effective natural treatment I’ve ever tried and as much as I would love to be as regular as clockwork without even thinking about it…I also appreciate that the damage to my gut may be too far gone…at least for now anyway!
Day 9: Not a huge amount more to say, things seemed to be a little slower today as in I only went 2-3 times today despite taking 5 capsules last night. I have a feeling I’m really going to miss going to the loo first thing in the morning – I think that was definitely my favourite thing about the cleanse! I’ve decided I’m going to give it 3 days and see if I manage any BMs without help then reassess the situation! I’m remaining hopeful that things will be better after my colon cleanse 🙂
One week post 7 day oxy powder colon cleansing
So I waited 3 days and had NO bowel movements and it all felt quite strained and uncomfortable so on the evening, 3 days after the end of my colon cleansing experiment, I took 4 capsules before bed. The following day I needed the loo first thing in the morning as usual but it wasn’t anything like the BMs I had during my cleanse. Even when I took just 2 capsules the first night it was very liquidy the following morning, but that morning it was a little strained and my BM was solid..however I had no cramps and had a good BM at about 3pm the same day – which incidentally seems to be the time I often find myself needing the toilet…again this BM was solid. However, I felt the need to go at about 7:30 that evening, but nothing happened. I’m not sure if this is normal or not but I’ll definitely stick to a maintenance dose of 4 capsule 2-3 times a week just to help my get rid of any excess crap (pun intended!) My skin is still improving everyday and I really want to keep the momentum up and not let my digestive system get backed up and toxic again so the maintenance dose might be just what I need for a while…
The following day I had a good BM at about 3pm again, this definitely seems to be my ’magic hour’ and another good bowel movement at about 8pm…perhaps something is finally working eh!?
The next day I had two smaller BMs during the day (one first thing and one again at around 3-4pm!). I was in two minds whether I was going to take the Oxy Powder supplements before bed that night but decided against it as even though my BMs were small, they were smooth and NOT pellet like so was keen to see how my digestive system coped with another day (which will make it 4 days since my previous dose).
Nothing happened the next day so I took 4 capsules in the evening and to my surprise…nothing happened the following day either! Ok, so at this point I’m starting to panic… is this just another one of those hopeless supplements that works for a couple of weeks then everything just stops and I’m back to square one? I decided to go back to my original dose of 5 that night and see what happens…
Ok, so it’s safe to safe the product still works! Although the consistency was the same as during my colon cleansing experiment (i.e liquid), I managed to have 4 great BMs the following day. Looking forward, I’m just going to have to play it by ear – if I go the whole day with no movements I’m just going to pop 5 oxygen tablets before bed and enjoy the flush the following day! However, it’s great to know that I can take a few oxygen capsules when I need to and it’s not going to cause me any long term side effects or bowel dependancy which has always been my main concern regarding treating constipation naturally.
One month post 7 day colon cleansing
I’m pretty pleased with how things have been! At the moment, it’s not uncommon for me to have 3/4 days of good bowel movements before things start slowing right down again and I need to take 5 oxygen capsules before bed so I’m doing around 2 maintenance doses a week. I’m more than happy with this for now, and at this current dose I’ll get through a bottle of 120 capsules every 3 months which I don’t think is unreasonable at all… (I hate having to restock on supplements every single month!)
Three months post 7 day colon cleansing
So it’s been about three months and things are still going really well which I’m pretty surprised at – usually after 6 weeks or so, natural digestive aids just stop working for me! My bowel movements have actually gotten BETTER over the last couple of months and now I’m only needing 1 maintenance dose a week instead of the 2 doses I was taking in the month after my colon cleanse. I’m still just playing it by ear and listening to my body – as soon as I go a day without a full BM, I know it’s time for a maintenance dose and I’m good again for another 6-8 days! I also noticed that now, the first 4 days after a maintenance dose I’ll go to the toilet as soon as I wake up then again in the afternoon – however on days 6/7 it’s more random and ‘the urge’ hit at all sorts of times! Hopefully in time things will keep improving and I’ll develop more regularity throughout the full week.
For more information and full instructions on how to perform a 7 day colon cleanse, visit this post here.
Unless you suffer with chronic constipation then I’m not expecting you to fully understand this post – you’re probably reading this and thinking I’m totally mental for putting my body through this, but for the rest of your that do struggle on a regular basis I urge you to find whatever it is that makes you ‘go’! Since I started taking oxygen capsules, my health and skin are going from strength to strength due to the fact that I’m keeping my digestive system clear, reducing inflammation from built up waste and not reabsorbing hormones and toxins back into my blood stream. It wasn’t the quick, one-time fix for constipation I was hoping for but I’m definitely going to keep it up for a while as it’s had such a positive impact on my skin and overall health. Constipation is something I’ve been struggling with my whole life, so I’m also very conscious that I need to practice a little more patience and less pressure when it comes to getting my digestive system to peak performance.
Do you struggle with constipation and believe it to be the cause of your acne? Have you ever tried colon cleansing? Let me know your stories in the comments below!
Peace, Love & Clear Skin
Is this product safe during pregnancy?