Generally speaking, there are two different types of colon cleansers and the ingredients differ between them.
Oxygen based colon cleansers are a new form of product. These cleansers use an oxygenating action to slowly liquefy and break down the waste in the colon. Typically, they contain ozonated magnesium oxides and organic germanium-132. Ozonated magnesium is an essential mineral which releases oxygen into the digestive tract and relaxes the muscles of the colon. Germanium-132 promotes the absorption of oxygen by human cells, boosts the immune system and helps in resisting bacteria.
The more traditional cleansers are formed using colon cleansing herbs. Most herbal based cleansers have Cascara Sagrada – an effective but mild herbal laxative – as their main ingredient. Psyllium seed husks are also a common ingredient and are used as a bulking agent which scrubs the walls of the intestine and pushes out impacted waste.
Bentonite is another popular herbal ingredient. It is a form of clay which can be safely consumed and works both as a mild laxative and an absorber of toxins. Finally, Senna is a commonly used herb which stimulates the increase in secretion in the bowels and smooth out the muscle contractions of the colon. This increases the movement in the bowel, improving regularity.
Of course, the list of ingredients on the bottle’s label is only the first thing you need consider. The next is the quality of ingredients. Higher quality ingredients will mean a better response with less side effects. Quality can be a hard thing to judge but you can get a relatively good idea from the reputation of the company and the reviews from customers. Avoid those products where many customers complain about side effects as this could be an indication of poor quality ingredients. Also avoid companies with poorer reputations or discounted or very cheap products as they will tend to use poor quality ingredients which are cheaper to purchase.