Alternative Medicine

Colon cleansing encompasses a number of alternative therapies intended to remove feces and nonspecific toxins from the colon and intestinal tract. One such therapy includes colon hydrotherapy also known as colon cleansing or irrigation. Most people tend to choose the less expensive oral regimens such as dietary supplements.

From the year 2000 until today the presence of cleansing supplements via internet marketing and infomercials were on the rise and seemingly continue to rise.

Some forms of colon hydrotherapy use enema’s to inject water, sometimes mixed with herbs or with other liquids to enhance the effect, into the colon via the rectum using specialized equipment.

Oral therapies use such products as dietary fiber, herbs, dietary supplements, or laxatives.

Practitioners of cleanses refer to the accumulations of putrefied feces lining the walls of the large intestine. It’s thought that these accumulations are toxic and harbor parasites or pathogenic gut flora, causing nonspecific symptoms and generally speaking ill-health. This is known as the “auto-intoxication” hypothesis and is based on the medical beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks.

There is no scientific evidence that supports the benefits of colon cleansing although the results that people report seem to speak for themselves. The main stream medical stance is that the bowel itself isn’t dirty and with the exception of drugs, disease or mechanical blockage cleans itself naturally without assistance.

Some concern involving certain enema preparations, have been associated with heart attacks and imbalances in the electrolyte of patients. Other concerns involve improperly prepared or used equipment that can cause infection or damage to the bowel.

It been reported that frequent colon cleansing could lead to dependence on enema’s in order to defecate. In addition to that claim it is thought some herbs that are used may reduce the effectiveness of prescription drugs.

The basic rationale for colon cleansing is what is called “auto-intoxication”, which basically refers to the idea that food that enters the intestine can rot. Ancient Egyptians believed that toxins formed as a result of the food decomposing within the intestines, and entered the circulatory system poisoning the system.

The Ancient Greeks expanded on the idea, adding their belief in the four humors. In the 19th century, studies in biochemistry and microbiology seemed to support the auto-intoxication hypothesis, and mainstream physicians promoted the idea.

Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov, winner of The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1908, was one of the strongest supporter of the auto-intoxication theory, who thought that toxins in the bowel had such a negative affect they could shorten your lifespan. Over time, the concept became “auto-intoxication” inferring that the body couldn’t fully rid itself of the waste products and toxins, which accumulate in the intestines.

Today most doctors use colon hydrotherapy to cleanse the colon prior to surgery, colonoscopy, or similar procedures. The colon is cleansed of solid matter with a regimen of liquid foods then a day before the procedure a whole bowel irrigation can be performed.

Symptoms that are related to auto-intoxication are thought to be headache, fatigue, loss of appetite and irritability, are also caused by mechanical distention within the bowel, such as irritable bowel syndrome, rather than toxins. The benefits attributed to colon cleansing are vague and the claims made by manufacturers and practitioners are based on an alternative understanding of the body.

Much of the evidence of actual benefit to the colon hydrotherapy is based on testimonials of the benefactors, however, there is no substantial medical evidence that it can alleviate the symptoms thought to be related to toxins in the bowel. So far there haven’t been any surgeries, autopsies or other observations of colons that have discovered any evidence of compacted feces or other evidence to support the theory of auto-intoxication.

What about the effectiveness of supplements? A consumer trial was conducted with 3 women on the effectiveness of two colon supplements versus fiber. The results showed the supplements did not assist in weight loss and provided no additional benefit over a basic fiber supplement.

So what does all this mean? It means just like anything, it can be over blown and abused to make money, on either side of the debate really. Good health is a lifestyle, so jumping to some radical colon cleanse to fix your poor health lifestyle won’t work – it never has. A realistic colon cleanse is one that is set to cleanse your system while changing your eating habits. If you are eating the right amounts of fiber, exercising and taking care of yourself you will be happier and healthier as a result.