The colon is an essential part of the digestive tract. In addition to aiding in the digestion of food, it also removes waste products. However, with many tempting foods on the market, it is very easy to go off the healthy diet. Poor diet causes constipation and other gastrointestinal problems. When the colon becomes clogged with accumulated feces, it can’t do its job properly.
In fact, an unhealthy colon could poison all your other organs. If feces is not eliminated from the body within twenty-four hours, it is deposited on the walls of the colon. This would release harmful toxins and poisonous gases. The blood would then become contaminated, which would eventually infect the organs it passes through.
An ancient practice to cleanse the colon of this toxic waste is colon hydrotherapy. Some may call it colonic irrigation or simply colon therapy. Basically, it is the process of safely injecting determined amounts of water at defined intervals. The entire treatment can take a while depending on the severity of the colon problems.
Colon hydrotherapy is similar to an enema. The enema is also a treatment to cleanse the colon. Its only difference is that colon hydrotherapy is much more extensive. While the enema only cleanses the bottom, colon hydrotherapy aims to cleanse the entire colon, which is about five feet long.
Enema has been around for several centuries already. However, complete colon cleansing did not gain importance until the late 19th century. This started with the popularity of the idea of ​​autointoxication. It has been suggested that the body could be poisoned by the release of toxins from fecal matter accumulated in the colon into the bloodstream.
During colon hydrotherapy, the patient is asked to lie on their side or on their back. The therapist will then insert a soft plastic tube into the patient’s rectum. Then a measured amount of filtered water is pumped into the colon. Depending on the doctor, the water may also contain “purifying” substances such as herbs and natural enzymes.
The colon hydrotherapist may begin to gently massage the patient’s abdomen to help release fecal deposits on the intestinal walls. When you are done, the water would be sucked up again using the same tube and into a closed waste container. The whole process is done with care and there is no mess or bad smell during and after the treatment.
With several repetitions of this process, the entire treatment can take up to an hour. The total water used in these numerous treatments is approximately 20 gallons. Almost all of the water pumped out is removed last, so there’s no need to run to the toilet afterwards.
If you decide to have an extensive colon cleanse, you will need to choose your doctor carefully. The treatment is delicate and therefore you must ensure that the premises and the equipment to be used are clean. Generally, all equipment used is disposable and well sterilized to prevent infection.
It should be noted that colon hydrotherapy is considered an alternative medical treatment. Some colon hydrotherapists voluntarily go through a certification process. There are also several organizations for colon hydrotherapists. An example is the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy or I-ACT in the United States.
For general health checks, getting colon hydrotherapy once a year should suffice. However, pregnant women in their third trimester should not undergo this treatment. Colon hydrotherapy is also not recommended for people with severe hemorrhoids, abdominal hernia, heart disease, amoebic dysentery, and diverticulitis, among other health problems. You would need to discuss your current medical condition first with your colon therapist to make sure there are no complications.
Currently this alternative medical practice is regulated in some states. Several orthodox medical establishments insist that colon hydrotherapy is just an expensive laxative. It usually costs around $65 to $80 in the United States.
However, there are no scientifically proven therapeutic claims for colon hydrotherapy. In fact, several patients have reported feeling much more energized and lighter after the treatment. There is also evidence to suggest that colon hydrotherapy helps in the treatment of numerous ailments such as indigestion, headaches, allergies, skin problems and even joint problems.
Complementary colon cleansing treatments include aerobic exercise and a low-fat, high-fiber vegetarian diet. Even licensed doctors agree that red meat and fatty foods are major contributors to colon health problems.