Probiotics do not cleanse, they simply introduce additional beneficial bacteria (much of which does not make it past the digestive system unless you use the encapsulated ones). They may "appear" to have a cleansing effect if there is die-off of bad bacteria being crowded out by the beneficial ones, but I rather doubt that will happen.
http://www.tbyil.com/Liver_and_Bowel_Cleansing.htm
Once you have done one or more thorough cleanses to get out the impacted material, I might add that an occasional daily fast of consuming nothing but watermelon or one where you consume nothing but dark grapes WITH seeds, pretty well clean you out too and have many other benefits as well. Watermelon is a great kidney cleanser and it dissolves kidney stones too.
If you do those fasts once a week, perhaps also alternating with water fasts, juice fasts and juiced vegetable fasts you will also find it a wonderful way to reach and maintain your optimum weight - especially when combined with a sensible and healthy overall diet and lifestyle.
All the best,
Tony
If I want to do a colon cleansing, can I just go with a good probiotic to colon cleanse instead of doing the harsh psyllium drinks? Do good probiotics clean the gut of impacted waste?
The answer is yes and no. Probiotics do help to maintain regular bowel movements, which helps to keep the intestines clean. And they help to detoxify various toxins such as hormone metabolites. But the "fossilized" mucoid plaque thing is a myth. The only time you are going to see something like this is with an overdose of iron salts.
In general to keep the intestines clean make sure you are getting plenty of fiber in your diet. I don't like psyllium at all, but there are excellent sources of fiber including fruits, vegetables, and brans like rice bran and oat bran. These fibers will also feed the flora. You also need to make sure you are getting plenty of water throughout the day. Spring water is the best. If you need a mild laxative I recommend the herbal formula triphala, which also cleanses the liver and boosts the immune system.
Yes, inquiring minds want to know what that black-rubbery stuff is, that comes out when doing a Colon Cleanse for the first time or two?
So send some to a lab and have it analyzed to find out what it really is. Simple!!!