Is colon cleansing a healthy practice? Is it something good to do? Is this something that you would be happy doing? And most importantly, is this really going to improve your health? If so then how best to do it?
Colon cleansing has been practiced long in history. The oldest record found dates back to the ancient Greek civilization. This practice gradually became more and more common in other parts of the world. The 1920's decade saw colon cleansing starting to deepen its roots and the next decade saw it reaching out most of the corners of the USA. Again, there was a phase when the underlying principles and assumptions lost traction and the practice went out of favor. However, of late this has again become popular. Colon irrigation and other natural and organic substances such as tea and enzymes have found their way back as a modern practice to cleanse colon.
Colon cleansing is done either by using natural methods, or by using products or going to practitioners and having colon irrigation. There are two primary kinds of products that are used to clean up your large intestine (the colon). One is to use powders and liquid through your mouth. And the other option is to take them through the rectum. But the fundamental of both these classes of products are the same - the objective is to make the intestine force out the toxins and other undesired contents.
Colon cleansing (also known as colon therapy) encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies intended to remove feces and nonspecific toxins from the colon and intestinal tract. Colon cleansing may take the form of colon hydrotherapy (also called a colonic or colonic irrigation) or oral cleansing regimens such as dietary supplements. During the 2000s internet marketing and infomercials of colon supplements increased.
Some forms of colon hydrotherapy use tubes to inject water, sometimes mixed with herbs or with other liquids, into the colon via the rectum using special equipment. Oral cleaning regimes use dietary fiber, herbs, dietary supplements, or laxatives. People who practice colon cleansing believe that accumulations of putrefied feces line the walls of the large intestine and that these accumulations harbor parasites or pathogenic gut flora, causing nonspecific symptoms and general ill-health. This "auto-intoxication" hypothesis is based on medical beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks and was discredited in the early 20th century.
Autointoxication, an old school of belief that advocates build up of mucus in the colon because of undigested food such as meat, is a strong proponent of colon cleansing. The agglomeration of undigested food leads to accumulation of toxins in the colon as per this school of thought. These toxins enter the blood and circulates across the body, leading to poisoning of the human body.
Toxins entering the body can potentially be damaging. The symptoms that people experience because of this includes the following.
Reduced Energy Levels: The bodily energy generation are reduced because of the toxic nature of the absorption, leading to low energy levels.
Tiredness and Fatigue: The reduced levels of energy makes people get stressed easily. They become prone to tiredness and fatigue.
Weight Gain: Absorptions of the undesired kinds of substances can potentially lead to weight gain and even obesity.
Headache: Uncleansed colon has a direct correlation with headaches.
The main aim of the colon cleansing products available in the market today is to remove the toxic waste that remains stagnant on the walls of the colon. The health improvement claims made by these products are broad. These products increase the vitality of the human body. These products cover the following as their goals.
Improving immunity: These products lead to improved immunity towards general diseases. The blood and the body remains detoxified and hence the immunity system experiences lesser intrinsic challenges. As a result, the immune system performs at its optimal point as a result of colon cleansing.
Weight loss: Cleansing of the colon would cause the right kind of metabolism to happen inside the human body. As a result, the person concerned will lose weight in a healthy manner.
Improvement of the nervous system: Bowel reflexes are known to affect the human nervous system. As a result, the nervous system stays healthier and stronger by performing regular colon cleansing.
Colon cancer risk reduction: It is claimed by some products that the colon cancer risk is reduced by a regular cleansing. Claims are made that keeping the body (and the colon) clean all the time reduces the risk of colon cancers. While we do not know whether this is true, but we do believe that it is always advisable to cleanse your colon.
With irregular bowel movements and lack of defecation, fecal wastes start accumulating in the colon. Digested and undigested food from the stomach travels to the small intestines. Here, only nutrients from the food we eat are absorbed in the small intestines and the rest of the food matter containing dead cells, unhealthy or dead microbes and other harmful bi-products then move on to the large intestine or colon.
These are largely waste materials with little nutrients except for some water and electrolytes which can be absorbed by the colon for use in our body. However, if these wastes are not removed from the body on daily basis, they began to putrefy and a bacterial load starts to build up and in no time our colon is filled with toxic substances.
Certain unhealthy bacteria and microbes flourish in these waste products which will undoubtedly cause harm to our body eventually. A parasite colon cleanse will effectively kill parasites and destroy their eggs. Regular colon cleansing helps to remove these wastes and toxins from the body before autointoxication takes place. At the same time, our colon can slowly recover its intended functions and return to its healthy state.
One of the major effects of colon cleansing is better absorption. The frequent layering of toxins and wastes over the intestinal walls in the colon blocks the function of the villi. The villi are hair-like protrusions in the intestines. The purpose of the villi is to slow the passage of food, and to allow food particles to be trapped among these finger-like villi.
This allows the blood inside the villi to absorb nutrients in the digested food. Though the colon only absorbs electrolytes and water, it still performs a very important function as our body is made up of 70% water.
If the function of the colon is impaired, there is a likelihood of dehydration occurring. Therefore, when the wastes and toxins are quickly removed from the colon, the villi can perform their functions readily.
An unhealthy colon affects all the other organs as well. When a colon is stuffed it compresses the liver, disturbing its functions. The liver is one of the major organs for toxin removal in the body together with the colon, kidneys and skin.
The liver's role in detoxification is to convert and detoxify harmful toxins into substances that can be safely eliminated from the body. When digestion is poor, bacteria in the intestines began to multiply when putrefaction takes place and create toxins.
These toxins, in turn, can damage the mucosal lining of the intestine, which increases its permeability and allows toxins to enter the bloodstream and gain systemic access to all areas of the body. This places additional stress in both the liver and kidneys. An unhealthy liver leads to an unhealthy kidney.
This is a vicious cycle. A healthy colon helps to remove the wastes before they become toxic. So, having a healthy colon is the first major step to ensure that the other organs can perform their functions efficiently.
A healthy working colon gives a person energy. They do not get tired as easily as nutrient absorption is enhanced. On the other hand, a constipated person feels sluggish, lethargic, tired and lazy. Those who suffer from constipation find it a chore to sit or walk for too long because of discomfort in the abdomen.
A constipated abdomen feels bloated, making a person lose appetite and anorexic to some extent.
A clean colon is an integral part of the overall gastrointestinal health which aids in digestion, better absorption of nutrients in the food and the person will feel much lighter and revitalized.
These are the major beneficial effects of colon cleansing. If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of an unhealthy colon, colon cleansing can help you resolve these problems so that you can feel a whole lot better!
Most herbal colon cleansing products contain various types of herbs. These herbs are also the reasons behind colon cleansing side effects. Certain types of herbs possess properties which can help in the relief of constipation and enhances colon cleansing. But there are also some side effects associated with using them. So, what are the most common side effects of colon cleansing?
Drowsiness and fatigue
Nausea
Bloating
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Intestinal cramps
Worsened constipation
Urine discoloration
Chronic diarrhoea
Allergic reactions
Drowsiness and fatigue are very common symptoms when a detoxification is in progress. Nausea, bloating and loss of appetite are also considered normal. You should not be too worried about that. However, if the colon cleansing product contains the herb Senna, you have to be aware that you cannot consume the product for more than 1 week.
Urine discoloration when consuming Senna is normal and you should not be too alarmed by that.
It is dangerous. Chronic diarrhoea with the loss of electrolytes such as potassium can be life-threatening. Long term mineral loss can also cause more severe side effects such as cardiac arrests, kidney failures, and even death.
Overuse of Senna can also cause over-dependency leading to the loss of the natural ability by the colon to defecate. Consult a doctor before taking Senna if you have inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
Senna can affect the body in such a way that the colon can no longer absorb water, thereby dehydrating it and causing electrolyte imbalance leading to serious health problems.
Those who want to become or are pregnant, nursing women and children must consult their doctor before using any colon cleansing product (herbs, etc.).
Allergic symptoms would include swelling of the lip, tongue and face, difficulty in breathing and hives. Stop consuming the product immediately and seek prompt medical attention.
Colon hydrotherapy or colonic irrigation can be potentially dangerous if it is administered by untrained personnel. When the procedure is done too frequently, the colon may absorb too much water leading to electrolyte imbalances in the blood which can cause heart failure.
There is also a risk of perforation of the intestinal wall when done incorrectly. A number of deaths have been reported due to this.
Colon hydrotherapy should not performed on people suffering from ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and diverculitis. In fact, it is also not recommended to those who have large haemorrhoids in the colon.
Colon hydrotherapy performed on those who are not aware that they are suffering from colon cancer can be disastrous!
In the case of using enema for colon cleansing, it is advisable to do it under the supervision of healthcare professionals as opposed to doing it yourself in the home. An unhealthy habit can or will be formed if an enema is relied upon to initiate a daily bowel movement on a regular basis.
Normally, the possible side effects from using enema are anal tissue tears caused by improper insertion of the rectal tip. This is caused by not applying enough petroleum jelly to lubricate the anus before insertion. There is also a small risk of perforating the intestinal wall by the rectal tip.
Everyone is born different. What works for some may not work for others. On a longer-term, effective colon cleansing when done correctly can have life-long benefits to one’s health.
Renewed!!! October 21, 2008, By Tammy Flores
I did the 5 day fast and felt renewed. After reading that you can hold up to 11 meals in your intestines, I realized, that was probably why I didn't feel so good. It's incredible how much "stuff" was coming out (in the way of bowel movements) after not eating anything for 5 days. And the real clincher is that after the 5 days, I then took in a colonic session and that convinced me more than anything that taking care of your intestines, liver, ect... is very important. My Hydro Colonic Therapist was totally surprised at how much "stuff" was still coming out. It was more than any previous session I ever did. When you are feeling totally drained, this is the best way to boost your energy levels back up. My skin feels different, my hair is softer and my eyes are clearer. My friends even notice. I'll be a regular user from now on. At least twice per year.
Great Product July 19, 2008, By Natalie Hilleman From Iowa
I just completed the 5-day fast and feel great. This product made fasting very very easy. I hardly got hungry at all, no kidding. I did allow myself small amounts of fruits and veggies and whole-grain pita chips here and there, and had no ill side effects from doing so. There was no discomfort, no intestinal distress from the supplements. ... I will probably do this again...
One of the best around! August 21, 2011, From Finland
From day one I was surprised with the results. Detox was easy except for day 3 which is pretty standard with any fast. I usually have juice fasted but this time I was on water only ... with this package it was a breeze. I already ordered the next package. Recommended *****!
Perfect!!! March 24, 2008, From New Jersey
I heard about this product through a friend. I was feeling depressed and overall unhealthy. I figured I needed to start eating right again but couldn't find that jumpstart I needed. I started the cleanse on a Thursday, and by the seventh day I had lost a total of 15 lbs.!!!! But you have to follow the diet correctly. By the third day you don't even want to eat. I was happy with 1 cup of brown rice and steamed veggies for dinner. Just the shakes and water all day kept me going. It was amazing. And I feel great!!! Can't wait til June to do it again. But be warned.......it tastes disgusting. The detox (last 3 days) was the worst tasting thing I have ever tasted, but you have to ask yourself how bad you want it.......
Good for Diabetics on diet and exercise. February 19, 2007, From Arizona
I'm a diabetic who uses diet and exercise to control blood sugar. After a two day fast and seven days on this product my blood sugar was back under control and giving normal readings.
Feel great December 25, 2007, By Wanda Terry From Tennessee
This is the best stuff. I have recommended this to many & all seem to love it. Great to use especially before starting a diet. A Must. No upset stomach or extra gas. Felt energized afterwards. The 7 days strict plan is a little hard but it is truely worth it. A must have.
Works Great October 16, 2007, By David Cordes From North Carolina
I have used this stuff for years now. I have IBS and this has cut my attacks down to 2-3 times a year as opposed to 3-4 a month. Taste is bearable and results are well worth it for me.
The Original Colon Cleanse July 06, 2009, By Sylvia Moguel From California
LUV IT -- This product is by far the best and I will never be without it. It is the only product that give me the sense of contentment...I feel a lot healthier and my stomach is getting flatter and I'm loosing weight steadily, maybe it is because the garbage is getting emptied daily out of my stomach daily.