A recipe for cleansing the intestines with a solution of magnesium sulfate /oxide/ is being spread on TikTok. The authors claim that it can help remove accumulated toxins and harmful substances from the body.
But what is the reality?
Magnesium sulfate is a salt with an osmotic effect. When it enters the intestines, it attracts water, softens the stool, increases peristalsis and has a laxative effect. It is used in preparation for surgery and for gastric lavage in cases of heavy metal poisoning. However, this drug has significant side effects and contraindications - it should not be taken by people with gastrointestinal diseases or by children under 18 years of age.
There is no scientific evidence that the intestines, liver and kidneys need cleansing or detoxification. These organs are capable of eliminating harmful substances on their own. Doctors do not recommend cleansing diets, enemas, teas and supplements to healthy people and especially to patients with chronic diseases, as they can only worsen their condition. The use of laxatives without a doctor's prescription can cause diarrhea and dehydration.
According to gastroenterologists, cleansing the colon is not necessary. If a person has regular bowel movements, cleansing is precisely through them and no additional measures are needed. If a person has constipation, he should be treated by a doctor. Recommendations for detoxification, advice on regular colon cleansing and similar prescriptions have no scientific basis - they are retrograde and deceptive, experts emphasize.
Magnesium sulfate was once used as a laxative. Nowadays, however, it is most often used to treat eclampsia and preeclampsia in pregnant women to relieve seizures and other symptoms of this condition. Magnesium sulfate is a powerful laxative, which can lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes (potassium and sodium), which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease, especially in the elderly, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, experts warn.
Source: TASS