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About Professional Colon Cleansing
by Angela Atkinson
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Overview
About Professional Colon Cleansing
For the last decade, colon cleansing has been gaining popularity. Celebrities tout its benefits, some even bringing their hydrotherapists with them on tours or to movie sets. Colon cleansing advocates claim that it offers many health benefits---including clearer skin, weight loss, more energy, better mental health, and even better overall health.
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Identification
Colon cleansing is essentially flushing out the colon with several gallons of water using special equipment. Like an enema, it cleanses the bowels, but while an enema covers only the lower bowel, colon cleansing covers the entire bowel. The goal of colon cleansing is to remove bits of fecal matter, toxins, mucus and any other waste or parasitic matter residing in your bowel. Colon cleansing should only be performed by a qualified professional. Colon cleansing is also called colonic hydrotherapy, high colonic and entero-lavage.
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History
People have been practicing colon cleansing for hundreds of years. Enemas were first documented as early as 1500 BC, when the Egyptians published a medical document on the subject. People used thin reeds to introduce water flow into the colon. Early medical practitioners used mineral oil in their enemas. In early America, enemas were thought to help prevent and even cure disease. Prior to their famed expedition, Lewis and Clark consulted with a physician, who advised them to use colon therapy to treat fevers and other illnesses. In the 1700s, Dr. John Kellogg used hydrotherapy on thousands of patients, reporting to the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1917 that he successfully treated all but 20 without surgery.
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Function
So what happens during professional colon cleansing? First, the client is asked to change into a robe or gown. Then, the client lies back on a special table, which is made specifically for this purpose. The hydrotherapist uses a colon hydrotherapy instrument to insert a tiny speculum through the rectum, which passes warm water through the colon. This procedure is then repeated several times to ensure proper cleansing, along with various types of massage to aid the cleansing process. The water pressure is also manipulated to help induce peristalsis, which helps the body naturally eliminate waste. Sessions generally last about 45 minutes.
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Features
Surprisingly, each colon cleansing session can utilize up to 35 gallons of water. Therapists who also employ the use abdominal massage, reflexology, and other types of relaxation tools often have more success in fully cleansing the bowels. In fact, the Colon Therapists Network says that one colon cleansing can remove as much waste from your body as 20 to 30 regular bowel movements. Plus, they state, with continued therapy, sessions can become even more beneficial in eliminating waste as harder to remove toxins begin to clear out.
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Warning
Colon cleansing is the subject of a bit of controversy among experts. The consensus among critics is that colon cleansing interferes with the body's natural ability to eliminate wastes. In fact, they say, there are several dangers involved, including risking physical injury with insertion of the speculum into the rectum, increasing chances of later dependence on laxatives or enemas, and more. According to health writer Melissa Tennen, the risks outweigh the benefits. She says that drinking enough water and taking in adequate fiber is the safest way to ensure that your body eliminates excess waste. In fact, the American Cancer Society seems to agree with her, adding that eliminating smoking, getting regular colon screenings, and regular exercise (in addition to proper water and fiber consumption) is the key to colon health.
