Dual Action Cleanse, Part I: The Product
This is the first installment of a three-part series on Dual Action Cleanse. Part I will analyze Dual Action Cleanse, providing insight into the claims and effectiveness of Dual Action Cleanse.
Dual Action Cleanse is a colon cleanser developed by Klee Irwin that’s marketed to people who feel bloated and/or clogged. The fancy ”Dual Action” qualifier means nothing more than there are two seperate formulas packaged together that you have to take.
The first is the Colon Clear formula, which contains a “proprietary blend of 22 fibers and herbs to enhance peristaltic action and support your digestive function (promoting 2-3 bowel movements per day). This natural action tones and cleanses the colon while eliminating unnecessary toxic build-up.” The second is the Total Body Purifier formula, which “contains 33 powerful cleansing herbs that target 15 specific body parts. Among these powerful herbs are Milk Thistle to support the liver, Red Clover and Beet Root to purify your blood, Hawthorne Berry to enhance blood flow, Licorice to support digestion of other herbs, along with 24 other nutrients to stimulate cleansing.”
It’s important to note that one of the active ingrediants in the Colon Clear formula is Cascara Sagrada bark (rhamnus purshiana) in a powdered form. On June 19, 1998, the FDA “reclassified the stimulant laxative ingredient [...] cascara sagrada (including casanthranol, cascara fluidextract aromatic, cascara sagrada bark, cascara sagrada extract, and cascara sagrada fluidextract) [...] from category I (monograph) to category III (more data needed).” Their major concern at the time was the potential carcinogenicity/toxicity of Cascara Sagrada. And in 2002, the FDA issued a final ruling, determining “that the stimulant laxative ingredient [...] cascara sagrada (including casanthranol, cascara fluidextract aromatic, cascara sagrada bark, cascara sagrada extract, and cascara sagrada fluidextract) should be deemed not generally recognized as safe and effective for OTC use.” But because DAC is NOT a drug, but rather a “dietary-supplement,” the FDA’s ruling doesn’t apply.
ChiroFind has a great summary of the health risks of taking Cascara Sagrada: “Prolonged use of cascara sagrada may result in a variety of side-effects, including spastic colon, heart arrythmias, nepropathy and edema. Long-term use can lead to loss of electrolytes, particularly potassium ions. Conditions such as hematuria, muscle weakness and albuminuria may result from long-term cascara use. In addition, cascara may interact negatively with a number of pharmaceuticals, including thiazide diuretics, corticoadrenal steroids, antiarrythmics, digitalis and indomethacin. Cascara sagrada should not be taken by patients with intestinal obstructions, colitis, Crohn’s disease, appendicitis or unknown abdominal pain. It should not be administered to children under the age of 12.”
And although the instructions are to take it “every other month,” and that it’s “not intended for long term use,” taking Dual Action Cleanse for one-month is long enough to pose health risks. Medical professionals warn against taking Cascara Sagrada for more than 7 days, because “excessive use of Cascara Sagrada can cause your colon to become dependent on it’s use, and you will only be able to have a bowel movement with the assistance of some form of laxative.”
Check out these pictures which lists all of the ingrediants of DAC (incl. Colon Clear and the Total Body Purifier):
It’s interesting to note how many of the ingrediants are common to BOTH formulas. Both the Colon Clear and the Total Body Purifier contain: Alfalfa powder (leaf), Fennel powder (seed), Peppermint powder (leaf), Red Raspberry powder (leaf), Ginger powder (root), Slippery Elm powder (bark), and Beet powder (root), which amounts to 7 herbs and fibers that are recycled between the two formulas.
Once you open up your package of Dual Action Cleanse, you’ll see a “message from Klee,” chock-full of grammatical errors, that essentially solicits you to buy MORE stuff that Klee deems “necessary” to achieve the most healthy digestive system possible. Check it out:
Furthermore, there’s an FAQ section on the back, that not only tries to sell Klee’s “Maximizer” kit by making it seem absolutely necessary, but also provides some information that’s inconsistent with the official DAC website. Check it out:
Specifically, the FAQ that comes with Dual Action Cleanse states that “Dual-Action Cleanse is not intended for use by anyone under 14.” On the website, it states that “Dual-Action Cleanse and the Maximizer Kit is not recommended for children under the age of 18.” It bothers me that Cellular Research, the company that makes DAC, can overlook both factual inconsistencies, as well as the numerous grammatical issues that plague its pamphlets.
Finally, on the end of the pamplet is a plea to subscribe to Klee’s newsletter (read: spam list), at a website that no longer exists:
The Bottom Line
Dual Action Cleanse contains a lot of herbs that are natural laxatives and stimulants (including the dangerous Cascara Sagrada), which means that while DAC may provide temporal relief by inducing peristaltic action, in the long-run, it will probably create dependency and exacerbate whatever problem you’re having. Furthermore, Dual Action Cleanse comes in tablet form, which is more difficult to digest than gel-capsules or powder that you mix in a drink, so it’s not as effective as it should be. Lastly, the grammatical errors and inconsistencies between the official DAC website and the pamphlet don’t reassure me at all that this is a product worth buying.
| This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 at 1:27 am and is tagged with stimulant laxative, klee irwin, cascara sagrada bark, hawthorne berry, beet root, colon cleanser, milk thistle, casanthranol, red clover, target, digestive function, ingrediants, category iii, dual action, proprietary blend, bowel movements, first installment, licorice, monograph, blood flow. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback. |
17 Responses to “Dual Action Cleanse, Part I: The Product”
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This company is a total scam. Not only are their products questionable in qualitity, but they pull a bait and switch.
I ordered a free trial and wound up being billed 129.00 after 30 days! They gave me the run around at the customer service center and never was a supervisor available.
They are not a part the BBB, I checked all of their company names.
Proceed with caution, it’s an infomercial, telemarketing scam!
Not only are their products questionable, but htye pull a bait and switch. I ordered a free trial and wound up billed for 129.00 after 30 days!
They are not a part of the BBB, I checked al of their business names.
Proceed with caution, they are an infomercial, telemarketing scam!
This product is a total scam and their customer service department is deplorable. Not only is there no supervisor around, but they’ll hang up on you. The pamphlet doesn’t give any kind of useful instructions…they just want you to buy more.
Thumbs way down for Dual Action Colon Cleanse.
Yep – this company certainly sounds dodgy.
However, I don’t agree that because the FDA downgraded Cascara that it is necessarily dangerous. I know of thousands of people who have used cascara with no reported deleterious effects.
Try saying that for the majority of drugs.
Which is to say that the reaction to reports of potential harm should be proportionate.
You can just look at that guy and tell that he is fixing to take you for a ride. He just looks shady.
This guy is a “Butt-Munger” Totally obcessed with the GIRTH of Turds and multiple daily dumps.
He’s A Totally Sick BUTT LOVER!!
And
. Of course its a SCAM!
ALL INFO-mercials Are SCAMS!!!
I actually bought a 90 day supply from walgreens and after a week of taking it I have lost 10 pounds. I have had bowel troubles and this is working for me. I understand that the herbs are laxatives and that was the whole point. It it makes me go to the bathroom it is worth it!!! I also feel lighter and my stomach isnt as protruding and hard like it was.
I have been using this product for at least a year. I really like it. I ordered it from the website but then I saw it in Sam’s club for a lower price, I also didnt like the idea of the whole automatic shipping. So I called and the salesperson was very nice and canceled me with no problem. So I have been purchasing it when ever I feel I need it.
It has been working for me with no side effects. I really do feel better and lighter have lost about 5 lbs.
This is a good review of what you are getting…
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4083
Just chant the following incantation as you perform very own “Cleansorcism” on yourself:
“The power of Klee Chappells you!”
“The power of Klee Chappells you!”
“The power of Klee Chappells you!”
(Unfortunately, this ritual hasn’t worked on both Klee Irwin and (the so-called) Dr. James Chappell, who are, obviously, SO FULL OF ****…!)
Wow. Who is the least well-informed—the person who wrote this critique or the guy being critiqued. By the way, the writer of the critique misspelled a word also. The bottom line for me is that the indiscriminate combining of so many herbs is unnecessary and potentially harmful or neutralizing in the sum effect. And I don’t give a damn about what the FDA says about anything.
After following the program to the letter, I now have bladder/prostate problems. After the thied week I started passing a brown powder with strong cloudy urine that has irritated my urinary tract to the point that I have to seek medical attention. As far as the bowel cleaning, I noticed nothing impressive. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT.
Just about all products and services advertised via infomercials are scam of some sort. Kevin Trudeau is a prime example of a criminal who pushes his fraudulent ‘products’ via infomercials. Personally I think the FCC and the FTC should shut down the whole infomercial ‘industry.’Stay away from any product advertised via infomercials.
I used this product several years ago after being tired of being tired and overweight. The product worked wonders just using the two bottles in the package. They do suggest other products to take with it if you want to maximize results, but there is no need. My system became regular, I felt awesomely energized, and of course lost weight after my system started working like it should with the help of this product and I only purchased one time. As far as Kevin Trudeau, I am thankful we have such a caring human being advocating for us consumers. Why is someone who puts himself in the line of fire with all kinds of organizations in opening our eyes to hidden information be considered a fraud? You should be thankful, unless, of course, you are part of what he exposes.
I sincerely hope you were being sarcastic in your remarks Martha. Kevin T. should be considered a fraud because most of the stuff in his books is widely available for free elsewhere, not nearly as easy as he claims, or maybe you should also consider the fact that he has a criminal record, involving of all things… fraud.
I just recieved this product in the mail with a bill for $59.90 and I have no idea how it got ordered. There must be some kind of convoluted way they have of charging people for ordering it that is buried somewhere in an online order form. I’m going to track down where and how it was ordered and blow the whistle on them.
I know there is only 30 days to return the product and luckily I am within that limit. I also found another online site that has an entry stating a person received it without ordering it and couldn’t get their money back. Here’s the link:
http://www.publichealthforums.com/prodc-13-dual-action-cleanse-complaints.html
I ordered it and have been using it for 2 weeks, then suddenly my lower right abdomen began to hurt, especially after I ate. I googled about side effects. Im off of it now and feel so much better. Be careful. A week seemed fine. I actually thought it worked. Beyond a week is just too much.