Exploring the Myths of Colon Cleaning
Ever feel like you want to be as clean as can be, inside and out? Then it is time to investigate colon cleansing. On the other hand, perhaps not. Colon cleansing is what the name implies: cleaning your colon. What is your colon? It is the last part of your digestive tract, comprised of four segments: the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon. In everyday language, think of your colon as the last few feet of your intestines. Various names for colon cleaning are “colon hydrotherapy,” “colonics,” “colon irrigation,” or a plain old “enema.”
Colon cleansing is a simple process. Like the old-fashioned enema, a tube is placed in the anus and water is introduced. When sufficient water is added, the contents of the colon are cleaned out as the water is expelled. Along with the water come feces and various toxins.
Those who advocate colonic cleansing believe it is the key to health. Proponents are quick to say that decomposing fecal residue collects in the large intestine and can be a home to parasites and toxins. The American Medical Association takes issue with this stance. The AMA says there is no scientific evidence that colonic cleansing effectively in promoting better health. There is the potential for the opposite including records of rectal damage from colonic cleansing apparatuses. In addition, without the right sterilization, colonic cleansing activity can introduce amoebas to the intestinal tract.
Where would it all start? Ancient Egyptians believed that food entered the intestines OK but sometimes was not processed correctly — it just kind of sat there and rotted. (Sorry, there is just no polite way to put that.) They reckoned the bad stuff then moved into the bloodstream and caused ill health. Ancient Greeks took it further. They cooked up “The Four Humours” concept — black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood — that determined the well-being of the patient. It is easy to imagine they had a heyday figuring out how rotted feces played havoc with the humors.
This internal yuck causes “Auto-Intoxication,” claimed’th century proponents — the further articulated theory that the human body just cannot clean itself and that, thanks to residual toxins, we are poisoning ourselves as a byproduct of being alive. The medical community was not in agreement, however, and the theory of autointoxication began to come unglued when the Journal of the American Medical Association denounced the concept in’19.
But medical doctors’ opinions have never stopped folks from practicing folk cures and colon cleansing is on the rebound today with the growth of alternative medicines and health therapies. These days, there are thousands of websites endorsing colonic cleansing as well as hundreds of products that extol colonics as the way to good health. Are they mistaken? Who knows? Chiropractors were regarded as quacks for generations but chiropractic care is now covered by many insurance companies. Acupuncture is now quite popular and accepted. In addition, in many communities, you will find the phone book full of Reiki masters, massage therapists, and bioenergetics practitioners. Bottom line, if you want better health and are willing to explore alternative therapies, perhaps you should investigate your colon. Figuratively speaking, of course.
Colon cleansing remains popular despite a complete lack of evidence supporting its alleged health benefits. The author’s website Colon Cleaning more fully expores the pros and cons of colon cleaning so check it out if you would like more information.