Fecal body odor is a horrible and hugely stressful issue for those who have it. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a simple case of bad hygiene. As those who contend with this issue will tell you, we can take a thorough shower, scrubbing every part of ourselves, step out of the shower, dry off, and still have an unpleasant, fecal odor about ourselves. It is enough to drain the self-confidence of anyone, and sends many into depression. This is why finding a cure for this problem is so very important to those who suffer from it.

Many folks with fecal body odor notice this early on, but just in case it has yet to become evident to you I will state it here: covering this smell will not work. There is no deodorant, body wash, perfume, cologne, after shave, shampoo or similar product that will remedy true fecal body odor. If you are trying to cover it with any of these (or anything similar), do yourself a favor and stop wasting money on such products. This is almost always an internal problem, and can only be resolved with products or processes which treat the issue from the inside out. The five most successful such treatments are as follows:

5. Herbals: Cayenne and goldenseal are the most widely recommended herbs for combating body odor, and some fecal body odor sufferers have reported very good results with them, both separately and in combination. Try goldenseal alone first, and if that does not produce a measurable improvement, add the cayenne as well (be sure to purchase a commercially prepared cayenne supplement, however; some have made the mistake of preparing their own, and learned the hard way that cayenne seeds can be toxic). Most people tolerate both goldenseal and cayenne very well, though neither is recommended to be taken over a prolonged period. Still, supplementing with these herbs may make it possible to restore balance to your system, and enable you to eventually discontinue their use. Please also note: if you are allergic to latex, bananas, kiwi, chestnuts or avocado, you may also react poorly to cayenne.

4. Chlorophyll tablets: Chlorophyll is the pigment which gives plants their green color, and chlorophyll tablets are simply made from this extracted pigment. While chlorophyll alone is, on rare occasions, sufficient to treat the problem, most people reported that chlorophyll tablets produced an even more noticeable reduction in their unpleasant odor when used in conjunction with other products and processes.

3. Zinc supplementation: Again, not usually a solution by itself, but coordinated with other methods zinc is reported to bring perceptible relief to sufferers of fecal body odor. If you choose to try this type of supplementation, however, be certain to purchase a zinc supplement which also contains a balancing dose of copper. This will prevent the zinc from lowering your copper to an unhealthy level (which can easily contribute to anemia and other undesirable side effects).

2. Probiotics: These are currently a popular product being touted as able to restore normal bowel movements. What fecal body odor victims have discovered, however, is that their use can also help alleviate the symptoms from which they are suffering. Probiotics work by restoring balance to your “intestinal fauna,” which is just a fancy way of saying the bacteria and other organisms living in your gut. When these organisms are out of balance, their waste products can have a terrible odor and that smell, because it is contained within your body, must find somewhere to escape, leading to not just body odor, but unpleasant flatulence as well. Probiotics come in many different forms, from yogurts to capsules to tasty drinks, so there is sure to be a type that suits you.

1. Colon cleansing: This is a common treatment for many ailments, including irritable bowel syndrome, obesity and various types of toxicity, including those which may be causing your fecal body odor. There are two types of colon cleansing: dietary and hydrotherapy. It is recommended that if you wish to attempt dietary colon cleansing that you consult with your medical practitioner so that you may do it safely. Usually, however, it involves some sort of fasting, as well as intake of specific foods and juices which are high in fiber, since fiber has an effect of “sweeping” the residue of other foods out of the intestinal tract, much like a broom. Colon hydrotherapy must be performed by a trained professional with special equipment, and uses water to directly flush toxins out of the colon.