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About.comWhat is a Colon Cleanse?Those interested in performing a
colon cleanse (also referred to as colonic irrigation,
colon hydrotherapy and
herbal cleansing) may go about it one of several ways. Taking herbal
supplements with laxative effects or over-the-counter laxatives may be considered a colon
cleanse. Self-administering an enema is another form. Finally, there are clinics where you
can go to have water flushed through your rectum and colon.
Should I Colon Cleanse?A colon cleanse may seem like just the ticket if you’re looking to "cleanse" your body, or
if you’re constipated. Likewise, you may have heard that a colon cleanse is a great way to
"jump start" weight loss and put you on the path to better health.
While all of this sounds good, there simply isn’t any truth (or research) behind these
claims. Worse yet, there is evidence that colon cleansing can be harmful to your health.
What is the Origin of the Colon Cleanse?If colon cleansing is such a bad idea, how did it become so popular? The notion that our
colons need help to rid our bodies of waste is accepted as medical fact in some alternative
medicine communities. According to the Guild of Colon Hydrotherapists, colon cleansing dates
all the way to 1500 BC in ancient Egypt, and reached it’s highest level of popularity in the
1920s, 30s, and 40s.
Some practitioners of colon hydrotherapy believe that accumulations of rotting stool and
improperly digested food line the walls of the colon (large intestine) and that this
material causes autointoxication. Autointoxication, which means self-poisoning, is a theory
(now discredited) based on the ideas of ancient Egyptians and Greeks.
In discussing the benefits of this therapy, the Guild of Colon Hydrotherapists offers up
that our grandparents and great-grandparents, "grew up with the use of enemas as a widely
accepted procedure for reversing the onset of illness." They also put butter on burns.
"Grandma did it" does not constitute medical evidence.
Does a Lack of Colon Cleansing Cause Ill Health?The Guild states that, "the widely held belief...that such treatments are no longer useful...may be the single most important factor in the current ill-health of our population."While this sounds exciting, the truth is that it's a myriad of other factors that account for most of the ill health issues in the United States -- not the lack of colon cleansing. Some of the main ones include high rates of overweight and obesity, poor diet (high-fat; high-sugar; low in fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans and peas) and whole grains); tobacco exposure and use; low levels of activity; and exposure to toxins.Problems with the Colon CleanseColon hydrotherapy is not as safe as some practitioners would have you believe. Case reports in medical literature have linked colon cleansing with parasitic infections, development of abscesses in the digestive tract, perforation of the rectum and colon, and heart failure due to electrolyte imbalances (brought on by the absorption of excessive amounts of fluid during the colon cleansing procedure).Colon cleansing by taking laxatives, either herbal or over-the-counter medication, is not such a good idea either. Besides the fact that violently purging your digestive tract may disturb healthful bacterial (probiotic) populations in the gut, which are needed for proper digestion and immunity, these efforts cause you to lose important electrolytes and minerals including sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
