Cleansing the Colon

Colon cleansing (also known as colon therapy) encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies claimed to remove nonspecific “toxins” from the colon and intestinal tract. Colon cleansing may be branded colon hydrotherapy, a colonic or colonic irrigation. People who practice colon cleansing believe that accumulations of putrefied faeces line the walls of the large intestine and that these accumulations harbor parasites or pathogenic gut flora, causing nonspecific symptoms and general ill-health. The symptoms that are attributed to auto-intoxication—headache, fatigue, loss of appetite and irritability—are actually caused by mechanical distention within the bowel, such as irritable bowel syndrome, rather than toxins from putrefying food.

Colon cleansing with powdered or liquid supplements

You take some supplements used for colon cleansing by mouth. Others you take through the rectum. Either way, the idea is to help the colon to expel its contents. You can find these products on the Internet or in health food stores, supermarkets, or pharmacies. They include:

• Enemas
• Laxatives-both stimulant and non stimulant types
• Herbal teas
• Enzymes
• Magnesium

Colon cleansing with colon irrigation

Colon irrigations work somewhat like an enema. But they involve much more water and none of the odors or discomfort. While you lie on a table, a low-pressure pump or a gravity-based reservoir flushes several gallons of water through a small tube inserted into your rectum. After the water is in the colon, the therapist may massage your abdomen. Then you release the water like a regular bowel movement; the process flushes out the fluids and waste. The therapist may repeat the process, and a session may last up to an hour.

The other option is to drink a lot of water. It is recommended that one should drink hot water before having breakfast and drink a lot of water during the day but keep in mind that overdoing anything does harm to the body. There has been a belief that one should not drink a lot of water as it can lead to water retention but the opposite is true. If the body does not have enough water then it tries to retain the water present in the body and that leads to water retention.

The health claims made by producers of colon cleansing products and colon irrigation practitioners are broad and wide-reaching. Their main goal is to clear the colon of large quantities of stagnant, supposedly toxic waste encrusted on colon walls. Doing so, they claim, will enhance the vitality of the body. It also helps in –

• Improving mental outlook
• Improving the immune system
• Losing weight
• Reducing the risk of colon cancer

One should always remember that “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean safe. The government doesn’t regulate natural colon cleansing products, so their potency, safety, and purity can’t be guaranteed. If you do decide to see a colon-cleansing therapist, choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization and who follows that organization’s standards. It’s always a good idea to talk with your primary health provider before starting a new practice such as colon cleansing.