Colon Hydrotherapy

History

The practice of using water to flush waste from the colon as a form of therapy dates as far back as 1300 B.C. An ancient Greek medical text called the Eber Papyrus (named after George Eber, a German professor who had the text translated in 1873) extols the virtues of cleansing the colon via the rectum. Early fathers of medicine Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) and Galen (129-210) were strong proponents of colon cleansing as a medicinal tool. Ambrosio Paré (1517-1590), a French physician, was the first to describe colon hydrotherapy (also known as colon irrigation or colonics) in detail and to differentiate it from an enema.

The 1906 edition of the Larousse Illustrated Medical Dictionary includes information on the uses of enemas and colon hydrotherapy.Into the 20th century, pioneering physicians including Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (of Kellogg's cereal), Dr. Norman Walker and Dr. Bernard Jensen stressed the importance of receiving regular colonics as part of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, until the 1930's, colon hydrotherapy was commonly practiced in many hospitals and doctors' offices, attesting to its legitimacy. Regrettably, the advent of pharmacology and the ensuing ubiquity of pharmaceuticals relegated colonics to virtual obsolescence for several decades.Our grandparents and great-grandparents grew up with the knowledge and use of enemas, as a widely accepted procedure for reversing the onset of illness.“Proper bowel management which is conducive to excellent health, can never beachieved through continuous use of drugs and surgery.”

What is Colonic irrigation?
Colonic irrigation (colon hydrotherapy) is the gentle infusion of warm filtered water into the large intestine (colon) via the rectum. The water is infused under carefully regulated pressure through modern equipment. When the colon has taken enough water, the therapist will gently massage the area to encourage the water to move through the length of the colon. The water will then be emptied from the colon, again through the equipment, bringing with it the impacted waste matter, which has accumulated over the days, months, and even years!

Who needs the treatment?
Just about everyone! Health begins in the colon and so does illness.Taking colonic irrigation will help Irritable Bowel Syndrome, flatulence, bloating, digestive problems, headaches and migraine. You will feel more energized; your skin will become clearer. Often pre-existing conditions that appear to be unconnected will disappear. Recent research has found colonics to be most beneficial for those suffering from M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) and Candida. As you can see; health really does begin in the colon.Colon toxicity can be the underlying cause of many of these commonly reported health problems:

Constipation	Headaches	Hemorrhoids
Backaches	Arthritis	Allergies
Diarrhea	Distended Abdomen	Bad Breath/Halitosis
Skin Problems	Chronic Fatigue	Asthma
Irritability	Depression	Prostate Trouble
Difficult Weight Loss	Frequent Colds	Hypoglycemia
Insomnia	Food Cravings	Abdominal Gas
Hypertension	Foul Body Odor	Menstrual Problems

Can colon hydrotherapy help relieve specific symptoms or conditions?
Most definitely. Colonics are of great benefit to conditions involving compromised digestion and elimination, such as constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating, indigestion, yeast infections (Candida), diverticula, intestinal parasites, hemorrhoids, and irritable bowel.Colonics can also be extremely valuable in alleviating symptoms associated with allergies, asthma, acne, eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis, poor circulation, high cholesterol, headaches, low energy and fatigue, memory loss, poor concentration, anxiety, irritability, depression, lack of sexual desire and weight gain.

How does a colon hydrotherapy treatment compare to an enema?
During an enema, a quantity of water, usually between a quarter litre to one litre, is taken into the body, where it travels approximately 6 to 8 inches up the colon, is held briefly, and almost immediately expelled. Although this procedure is of a relatively short duration, retaining such a volume of water can be uncomfortable. Also, self-administering requires that the person doing the enema be mindful of all aspects of the procedure as it is carried out, which may make it difficult to feel relaxed.

An enema only reaches the rectum and lower part of the colon, whereas with colon hydrotherapy, the entire length of the colon (the large intestinal tract approximately 5 to 5½ feet in length) is reached. A membranous flap called the ileocecal valve separates the colon from the small intestine, preventing water from flowing beyond the colon.Colon hydrotherapy is many more times effective than an enema, possibly even equivalent to 30 enemas.

What is a Typical Colonic Like?
A typical session lasts 45 minutes to one hour. The first step is completing a health history form and consultation with the colon hydrotherapist. Then the client is asked to change into a gown and lie face up on a treatment table.The therapist inserts a plastic disposable speculum into the anus, which is connected to a long plastic hose connected to the colonic irrigation unit. Warm, filtered water is slowly infused into the colon, causing the muscles of the colon to contract, called peristalsis. Peristalsis pushes fecal matter out through the hose to be disposed in a closed waste system. The client and the therapist do not smell the feces. You can see, through clear tubing, the water coming out along with the feces and other substances that may be there such as mucus. The volume of water with which the patient's colon is temporarily filled up varies according to individual tolerance. Almost 20 gallons of water is pumped through the colon during the process. The patient tells the therapist when the pressure is sufficient.To facilitate the process, the colon therapist may apply light massage to the client’s abdominal area to help free the encrusted wastes on the walls of the colon.After the session, the therapist leaves the room, and the client may sit on a toilet to pass any residual water and stools.

Do the treatments hurt?
No. In fact many people report their colon hydrotherapy sessions as being both refreshing and relaxing. Some report feeling the need to pass gas. The practitioner can vary the water’s temperature and pressure based on the patient’s comfort level. Also, there is no dash to the toilet as during the entire process you will be laying comfortably on a bed.The patient may expel considerable gas during and/or after the first few treatments. It usually takes a few treatments before one starts dislodging old encrusted feculent matter. One should remember that it usually takes years for the colon to become clogged up with its own waste products.

How much of the intestines are cleansed during a colon hydrotherapy treatment?

During a treatment it is possible to cleanse the full length of the colon (large intestine).The small intestine is not specifically involved in a colon hydrotherapy treatment. The small intestine may be cleansed with the help of an oral (herb-based) intestinal cleanser.Anywhere between 5 and 40 pounds of waste material can accumulate within the walls of the colon.

Should I see my doctor before my first colon hydrotherapy session?
If you have a concern about your health or the appropriateness of colon hydrotherapy you should consult a doctor. If you are diagnosed with diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe hemorrhoids, rectal or intestinal tumors, you would not be a candidate for colon hydrotherapy treatments. Professionally administered colon hydrotherapy is safe, and generally if you are free of the above sited conditions, a medical examination prior to therapy, should not be necessary.

Are there situations where colon hydrotherapy is not recommended?

Where there are certain pre-existing conditions, it may be inappropriate to undergo colonics:

•     pregnancy (beyond the fourth month)
•     within 2-3 months of having had surgery in the abdominal or surrounding area
•     the presence of tumors or cysts
•     blood in the stool or bleeding from the anus
•     severe edema, renal insufficiency
•     Grave's disease
•     thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, phlebitis
•     megacolon
•     malignancies of the gastro-intestinal tract

 
Is bacterial or viral contamination possible from the colon hydrotherapy equipment?
Modern colon hydrotherapy machines utilize pre-sterilized, disposable speculums. These are used only once during a single therapy session. The hoses are flushed thoroughly after each treatment. Properly administered, there is absolutely no danger of contamination.

Does a menstrual period at the time of a colon hydrotherapy session effect treatment?
No, in fact it's usually a good time to receive a treatment, since your body is already cleansing. Your flow will not interfere with the success of the treatment.

What should I do to prepare for a colon hydrotherapy cleansing?
Refrain from eating before the cleansing, be as relaxed as possible and maintain a positive, cheerful attitude.

Will I experience any intestinal discomfort or fatigue after the cleansing?
Usually not, but since the cleansing will stir up a lot of old debris and toxins, you might experience some minor nausea or fatigue. If any discomfort occurs, it is recommended to rest and apply a warm heating pad to the abdomen. If you wish, a mild vegetable broth or peppermint tea is usually soothing at this time. Any discomfort will usually pass within 24 hours.

 
Do I need to take acidophilus after colon cleansing to replace intestinal flora washed out?
Taking acidophilus subsequent to a colon cleansing is beneficial, because it helps to improve the bacterial balance in the colon. The best method is to implant the flora rectally the evening after your final therapy session, or if you prefer, to drink acidophilus for 2 weeks after your final therapy session.

 
Can I work directly after having a colon hydrotherapy session?
Certainly. You can work just as you would after a regular bowel movement.

 
Can Colon Hydrotherapy Wash Away the Good Bacteria with the Bad?
The helpful bacteria can live in an acid environment, whereas the harmful ones thrive in an alkaline environment. Most people, due to years of improper eating, lack of exercise and poor elimination have an alkaline colon. One of the benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy is that it will change the environment from alkaline to acid.

 
Can One Become Dependent on Colon Hydrotherapy?
No, actually the treatments help to tone the colon muscles so that they perform more effectively. Also, Yes, because you will feel so good you won’t want to live without them

A word about colon cancer

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men (behind lung and prostate cancer) and women (behind lung and breast cancer). It is estimated that 1 in 15 men and 1 in 16 women will develop colon cancer in their lifetime, and that 1 in 29 men and 1 in 31 women will die from colon cancer.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, the following factors can increase the risk of developing colon cancer:

1. poor diet
2. obesity
3. physical inactivity
4. heavy alcohol consumption
5. smoking
6. living with an inflammatory bowel disease (colitis or Crohn's disease)
7. the presence of polyps (small growths on the inner wall of the colon)
8. family history
9. age - particularly after age 50

Each one of these factors can either directly or indirectly contribute to the accumulation of putrefactive waste in the colon, and in most instances, their cumulative effects over time may prove especially harmful. The fact that colon cancer tends to manifest after the age of 50 may have less to do with aging than with the fact that toxic waste material has been left to linger in the colon, sometimes for decades, eventually causing damage to surrounding cells and tissue.

 

A common predisposing factor for developing cancer is the presence of polyps in the colon. Initially, polyps are usually benign and cause no noticeable symptoms. However, most colon cancers develop from polyps. For this reason, medical health practitioners recommend that persons over the age of 50 undergo a colon screening every 3 to 5 years in order to detect polyps in their early stages when they can be surgically removed. Once tissue growths have advanced into cancer, symptoms of colon cancer are typically non-specific, and can include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, changes in bowel habits, abdominal bloating, constipation or diarrhea, narrow stool, and red or dark blood in the stool. These symptoms are not necessarily indicative of colon cancer, but may be a sign of a precancerous condition. Unfortunately, colon cancer can be well advanced before it is detected. Presently, the most common treatment for colon cancer is surgery, whereby the affected portion of the colon is removed.

While surgery may be effective for removing precancerous or cancerous growths, it cannot prevent cancer from occurring, and it does nothing to address the cause of the cancer. Cancer is an opportunistic disease, which means it can only exist in an environment conducive to its development. A clean, strong, healthy colon is not conducive to cancer. In fact, the medical community recognizes the importance of keeping the colon clean by recommending a higher intake of fibre. The following quote is taken from MedicineNet.com, an allopathic medicine information source:

“...high fibre in the diet leads to the creation of bulky stools which can rid the intestines of potential carcinogens. In addition, fibre leads to more rapid transit of fecal material through the intestine, thus allowing less time for a potential carcinogen to react with the intestinal lining.”

The message is clear: potential carcinogens are less likely to form, if at all, in a clean colon.

Keeping the colon clean, however, poses a challenge for most people with modern dietary and lifestyle habits. Fibre alone is inadequate to remove hardened, putrefactive toxic waste matter which has adhered to the colon wall, and which poses a serious risk of cellular degeneration. Colon hydrotherapy helps to restore the normal, health-promoting functions of the colon as it loosens and rids the body of encrusted fecal waste, while at the same time improving the shape and muscle tone of the colon. This unique therapy with unique preventive and curative potential is for virtually anyone interested in safeguarding their health.

This year an estimated 130,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancer will be diagnosed, making it the fourth most common form of cancer in Americans. And of this population... approximately 44% will die as a result of the disease! And approximately l00,000 colostomy surgeries are performed each year!

 
Toxins

It is a medical fact that 90% of all diseases are caused by toxins in the body. These toxins are mostly in the intestines and they poison the blood, the liver and are spread everywhere by the lymph system.

The lymph system is four times larger than the blood system. Its job is to pick up excess fluid from all over the body and filter it through the lymph nodes which are an integral part of your immune system. This excess fluid though gets loaded with toxins from the colon instead of just the usual excess hormones, cell waste and blood proteins. It needs movement (exercise) from you as it doesn’t have a pump like the heart. Over time the lymph nodes get congested and the filter system gets clogged up.

Stress

Every time we feel stressed, scared or angry there is an actual physical clenching like a ‘fist’ in our colon. That clenching is an automatic, uncontrollable tightening of the four sets of muscles in the intestinal walls. These muscles tighten when the Enteric Nervous System feels you experience any emotion other than joy. It senses the emotion and a danger signal gets sent, which paralyzes normal movement of the four muscles. This all happens in less than a split second. The mind can’t control it. It happens all day long, that tightening, over and over again until we can’t eliminate well or at all.

What does the colon do?

Your colon — together with your lungs, skin and kidneys — are designed to accomplish this essential task by eliminating toxins in the intestines, blood and lymph systems.

The colon (large intestine, rectum, and anus) is the end portion of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract which extends from the mouth to the anus. It is a muscular tube approximately 5 to 5 ½ feet in length and has an average diameter of approximately 2 ½ inches. The colon starts on the lower right side of the abdomen, where the small intestine empties the contents of digestion (chyme) into the first portion of the colon (cecum). The ascending colon goes up from the cecum to the level of the liver; it then bends sharply to the left and crosses the abdomen as the transverse colon.

At the level of the spleen the descending colon goes down the left side of the abdomen to the pelvis, where it becomes the sigmoid region. The sigmoid colon empties into the rectum, from which waste material is ultimately eliminated from your body.

The contents of digestion (chyme) are moved along by muscular movements called peristalsis ... which is initiated by the nerve supply to the colon.

The main functions of the colon are absorption of water and minerals, and the formation and elimination of feces. The colon contains nearly 60 varieties of microflora or bacteria to aid digestion, promote vital nutrient production, to maintain pH (acid-base) balance, and to prevent proliferation of harmful bacteria. These bacteria provide important functions such as the synthesis of folic acid and valuable nutrients from foods, including vitamins 'K' and portions of the 'B' complex. E. coli and Acidophilus comprise the majority of healthy bacteria in the colon along with other disease producing bacteria in lesser numbers. Beneficial bacteria also produce lactic acid, which creates an antagonistic environment for other types of unwelcome bacteria.

The Intestines and Micro-Flora

Believe it or not, about 3 1/2 pounds of bacteria micro-flora organisms live in our intestinal tracts! Some of these bacteria are good or "friendly," and other bacteria create problems for the body. The “friendly" bacteria are known to enhance immunity, help to heal gut infections, and they reduce the amount of toxic by-products in the bowel. The most important “good bacteria” in your diet are Lactobacillus and Bifidus.

Lactobacilli (acidophilus) reside mostly in the upper small intestine, while Bifidobacteria prefer the lower small intestine and large intestine. So why do these critters reside in our guts? It’s because they are our defense system.

When friendly microflora attach themselves to the cell wall of our gut, they occupy valuable “real estate” so that unfriendly flora can’t move in. They establish themselves in the "neighborhood" and do a very important job; and they never take a day off! The typical metabolic activities of normal intestinal flora consist of:

• Production of vitamins such as B12 and Folic acid

• Synthesis of short chain fatty acids

• Production of enzymes such as lactase

• Detoxification

When there is an imbalance between the friendly microflora and unfriendly (a condition called dysbiosis), serious health issues can arise. An imbalance of microflora can contribute to: nutrient deficiencies, allergies, infection, cancer, toxicity, and impaired metabolism. Therefore, if an imbalance of microflora exists, you definitely want to look into the proper methods of treatment.

The Process of Digestion

The process of digestion... from ingestion of food to defecation, normally takes between 12 to 24 hours assuming that the colon is fully functional and non-toxic. Irregular or infrequent bowel movements can allow toxic residues, from the by-products of feces, to remain in the colon.

A person with a healthy colon will have 2 to 3 bowel movements per day, shortly after each meal taken. Elimination should be complete and easy. The stool should be light brown in color, long and large in diameter. There should be no offensive odor and it should break apart with toilet flushing.

This describes the normal function of a healthy colon...

But in this society, it is very rare to find people who can describe their eliminations in this manner! A clean, strong and well functioning colon is essential to maintaining optimal health.

Good colon health is as much a function of the quality of food we eat, as our elimination status. The typical American diet comprised of refined, processed foods... Is high in saturated fats, sugar, flour, preservatives and low in fiber, inevitably causes problems for the colon. Over time, the colon can lose the ability to process vital nutrients, absorb water and to eliminate fecal matter from the body... leading to a condition commonly known as constipation.

Constipation is commonly identified as a condition where the fecal matter is so tightly packed together, that bowel movements are infrequent, with much difficulty and straining... In fact, many people may be constipated without even recognizing the condition!

Old hardened feces stick to the walls of the colon. The passage through which the feces are forced to travel is much reduced so that stools become narrow in diameter. In this society, bowel movements of the chronically constipated... may be looked upon as normal stool!

Most people have no any idea how much old, hardened, fecal matter is lodged within their colons. Many experts now believe the average person has 5 to 20 pounds of accumulated waste matter in their colon.

While colon cleansing is not necessarily considered a weight loss procedure. It is interesting to note that many people will report significant weight losses after completing a series of colon hydrotherapy treatments. Most of us for instance, have had years of poor to average nutritional food. Much of our food is subjected to processing which includes refining, frying and over cooking, saturating the mineral elements of our food with oil or grease. As a result of this food altering, the digestive organs cannot process the minerals efficiently and they are passed out of the small intestine into the colon as waste.

The consumption of mucous producing foods such as meat, dairy, and processed flour, cause dense sticky bowel movements. Excess mucous in our system is a sign of trouble. Mucosic stools are difficult for the body to eliminate. When they are expelled, they leave a glue-like coating on the wall of the colon which accumulates layer by layer into a hard rubbery crust.

The body cannot eliminate these hardened layers on its own. They are often carried for the duration of the person's life as a toxic burden. Incompletely digested food ferments and putrefies when remaining in the colon longer than a day. When this fermented waste combines with the body's own bile acids from the liver, carcinogens can form.

Enhancing the colon's ability to expedite the elimination of waste reduces the risks of developing colon-rectal cancer. Constipation is one of the first signs indicating to us that the bowel is not functioning properly. When a person is constipated, the walls of the colon are often encrusted with fecal matter. The inner diameter of the colon is reduced like a water pipe blocked by mineral deposits, and eventually the opening becomes narrower and narrower making it more difficult to pass waste through.

Since the encrusted feces line the colon wall, the colon is unable to absorb nutrients from our food in the last phase of digestion. Wastes from the blood stream which should be normally drawn into the colon through the colon walls are re-absorbed by the body along with other toxins resulting from the fermentation and putrefaction of incompletely digested food.

Subsequently, intestinal statis often follows which occurs when the muscular contractions known as peristalsis can no longer sweep the hardened feces along the digestive canal. A person can even have several bowel movements a day and be constipated. The movements are usually smaller and occur more often because the inner diameter of the colon is smaller than it should be. The body reacts to this constricted bowel by stepping up the frequency of the peristaltic wave action to allow the waste to exit the body.

Taken to its limit, the effect can be diarrhea, which is when the body moves out the waste so fast, the bowel doesn't have time to remove the water and consolidate the waste into stool. The intestines are muscles with nerves which normally trigger peristaltic contractions when the colon is full. Putrefaction makes the colon become stagnant and weak. But each time you fill the intestines with water, you cause these muscles and nerves to contract with new life. Thus the more colon irrigations you take the stronger and livelier the intestines will become. An arm or leg which is not exercised soon becomes flabby and weak. The same holds true for your colon. Yes, it is dependent upon both exercise and cleanliness.

The two basic types of constipation are — organic and functional

Organic constipation is a result of some physical change, obstruction, or distortion in your colon. One of the many benefits of colon hydrotherapy or colonic irrigation is that these distortions and obstructions may be removed.

Functional constipation can result from:

1.     Not following a proper diet.
2.     Not drinking enough water daily.
3.     Not having a balanced emotional health.
4.     And not having a good lifestyle...

A sedentary lifestyle can be a leading contributor to chronic constipation. While a good, active lifestyle, promotes proper movement of digested foods through the intestines and colon.

Whether or not you suffer from organic, or functional constipation... Constipation is a condition where the fecal matter traveling through your colon, remains too long in your colon before exiting the rectum.

Constipation is a symptom, not a disease.

Constipation is a condition warning you that your colon is not working properly, or that you may have an undiagnosed gastrointestinal disease. You may be constipated because of recent changes in your diet and lifestyle. These changes can cause an imbalance in your body. Constipation is a symptom that many people try to ignore — because they're too busy — or attempt to get rid of, by using unnatural and potentially dangerous, over-the-counter laxatives.

Drugstore chemical laxatives should be avoided when you have constipation. They can become habit-forming, damage your colon and cause serious side effects if used too long. Sometimes these laxative drugs actually create or exacerbate, the very problem you're trying relieve — constipation.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

It has been said that Leaky Gut Syndrome affects millions of people worldwide. Leaky Gut Syndrome is a chronic debilitating condition that often goes undiagnosed by the mainstream medical profession, as many doctors do not provide testing for leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability) or acknowledge that the condition exists. Many people are not even aware that they are suffering from a 'leaky gut'.

Common allergens like dairy products, wheat, and eggs will contribute to leaky gut

Leaky Gut Syndrome is a problem where toxins from the colon may be absorbed and circulate into the bloodstream. These poisons can impair normal liver, lung and kidney function. A person with this condition will feel tired, ill and weak almost constantly. Since the immune system becomes overburdened by toxins that enter the liver, the toxins are flushed back into the blood where they are sent to connective tissues and muscles. Can you see how some of the above diseases might develop?

The symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome are many and varied and include: abdominal pain, heartburn, insomnia, bloating, anxiety, gluten intolerance, malnutrition, muscle cramps and pains, poor exercise tolerance, food allergies.

Leaky Gut Syndrome has also been linked with many conditions, such as: Celiac Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Autism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Eczema, Dermatitis, and Ulcerative Colitis.

Colonics and the Liver

At the very end of the colon, before reaching the rectum, is an "S" shaped segment called the sigmoid colon. There is a special circulatory system between this portion of the colon and the liver.

This is because stool at this point in the colon contains putrefied material and needs to be handled carefully in order to avoid toxicity leaking into the bloodstream. This system of veins enables toxins to be sent directly to the liver for detoxification, rather than have them passing through the bloodstream to the rest of the body and vital organs. If this area is covered with a layer of hardened mucus and stool it cannot send toxins directly to the liver, so those toxins will go into the blood stream.

Benefits which may be accomplished by Colon Hydrotherapy:

It Cleanses

Toxic material is broken down so it can no longer harm your body or inhibit assimilation and elimination. Fecal debris built up over a long period is gently removed over a series of irrigations. Once this impacted material is removed, your colon can again begin its normal elimination function. A colon hydrotherapy session may be considered a rejuvenation treatment for your body.

It Exercises

The build-up of toxic debris weakens the colon and impairs its function. Gentle filling and emptying of the colon can improve peristaltic (natural muscular contraction) activity, which aids efficient removal of waste material.

It Reshapes

Over time, the natural shape of a problematic colon will become distorted, causing even more problems. The gentle water action and massage techniques of the therapist will help eliminate protruding pockets of waste and narrow, spastic constrictions. After a series of colon hydrotherapy treatments, the colon gradually begins to resume its natural shape.

It Stimulates Reflex Points

Every system and organ of the body is connected to the colon by reflex points. A colon hydrotherapy session stimulates these reflex points, thereby affecting the corresponding body parts... In a beneficial way, similar to reflexology