What Is a Parasite Colon Cleanse?
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), parasitic infections are more problematic in developing nations, causing disease in both the tropics and more moderate climates. The parasite that causes the most deaths globally is malaria, which kills about 1 million people each year, most of whom live in Africa.
Four parasitic infections are endemic to the United States: Trichomonas, a sexually transmitted parasite; Giardia and Cryptosporidium, which affect campers and hikers who do not treat drinking water appropriately; and Toxoplasma, a food-borne illness. Of particular concern is Trichomonas, which is typically asymptomatic in men, therefore making it easy to infect or reinfect female sexual partners. While most people recover from Toxoplasmosis without medical intervention, the remainder of these parasitic infections require a visit to the doctor to identify the presence of the parasite by taking stool, blood or other samples. The parasitic infection must be treated with prescription medications (antibiotics) or it will not resolve. - Because false parasite colon cleanse cures vary with respect to ingredients, it is not possible to relay the ingredients common to all. According to Quackwatch.com, a group of physicians, scientists and medical specialists dedicated to informing the public about health scams, many colon cleanse products are powders that are added to water. Some basic ingredients in parasite cleanse products include fiber (psyllium, flaxseed and bentonite) and laxatives (cascara and magnesium oxide). The colon cleanse might include any number of vitamins, minerals, herbs and probiotics that you can find at any health food store. Sometimes the laxative ingredients will be part of an "herbal tea." Ingesting large quantities of water is common to parasite colon cleanse scams. Consumers report expelling an inordinate amount of stool that has purportedly "accumulated" inside their colon. This is a side effect of ingesting the fiber in the colon cleanse product. Parasite colon cleanse products have no health benefits and can produce unnecessary gas, bloating, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
- Parasite colon cleanse scam pose a particular difficulty to the FTC, which routinely acts to shut down the more dangerous scam operations. The FTC has issued an injunction against Dr. Hulda Clark's Complete Herbal Parasite Program (also called the Herbal Parasite Cleanse). However, because of the popularity of the scam amongst affiliate marketers, as soon as one website is shut down, another parasite colon cleanse scam site opens, often operating under a different name. Because parasite colon cleanse companies are incorporated in another country---Switzerland, in the case of the Clark colon cleanse scam---this adds yet another hindrance to the FTC's ability to act swiftly.
- When apprised of a parasite colon cleanse product, the FDA issues warning letters to scam marketers, as it did in the case of the ParaZap Parasite Cleanse, an incarnation of the Clark colon cleanse scam, as well as numerous other "cleanse" products the FDA has deemed dangerous to consumers, including the 7-Day Miracle Cleanse, Zinera Cleanse, Whole Body Cleanse and Hydroxycut Cleanse. All of the actions taken by the FDA can be viewed on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' official website. To see a list of actions taken against parasite colon cleanse actions by the FDA, check the FDA website.
- The FTC wants to know about parasite colon cleanse products that promise consumers a cure for a nonexistent ailment. What parasite colon cleanse products might these be? Quite simply, all of them---true parasitic infections require prescription treatment and cannot be cured simply by taking fiber and laxatives. Report parasite colon cleanse sites to the FTC at ftccomplaintassistant.gov. Additionally, if you have had personal experience with a parasite colon cleanse scam, Quackwatch.com wants to hear your side of the story.
