What Is Colon Therapy

Colon therapy is cleansing of the large intestine or colon through water, herbs, enzymes, or coffee. However, there is no evidence that it is effective and can even be dangerous and cause infection or even death.

All the way back to the ancient Egyptians, enemas and other “cleansing rituals,” were used to get waste out of the body which they believed caused disease or even death. In the 19th century, it became advisable to be used as the colon was described as a “sewage system, “and needed to be cleaned. Laxatives, enemas, and purges were used on a regular basis.

In the 20’s and 30’s, colon therapy became popularized in the U.S. and such equipment could be found in doctors’ offices and hospitals. In 1985, the California Department of Health Sciences issued a statement that there were potential hazards from colon therapy including infections and death from contaminated equipment, puncture of the intestinal walls, and electrolyte depletion, which can lead to death. The Food and Drug Administration or FDA considers colonic or irrigation machines to be Class III and cannot be legally marketed inn the U.S. except for colon cleansing. Such as before an x-ray or endoscope . Those who promote it say it is a method to detoxify the body by removing accumulated waste through the colon. Since they say it can detoxify, it is promoted as a way to heal the body of illness and even as a preventative measure that can be used regularly.

Among these are coffee enemas. They can be controversial in nature and are lauded as treatments for cancer. Those who advocate them say that the coffee enema is a great colon therapy because it not only detoxifies the body, it can destroy cancer cells. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this.

High colonics are administered by a colonic hygienist or colon therapist by inserting plastic tubes into the rectum up into the colon. A machine or gravity driven pump then sends vast amounts of liquid, up to 20 gallons into the large intestine. Once the colon has been filled with water or liquid, the therapist massages the abdomen to help remove the waste form the colon wall and then the fluid and waste is pumped out through another tube. This procedure is repeated several times, with the average session lasting 45 to 60 minutes.

Unless used for convention treatments like colon cleansing, the machines and the therapy are illegal as they have resulted in deaths and injuries. Those who have diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, severe hemorrhoids, rectal or colon tumors or are recovering from bowel surgeries may be at a higher risk for injury due to this procedure. Patients with kidney or heart failure may experience fluid overload or electrolyte imbalances. Colon therapy can also cause cramping and is not advised to use alone without conventional medical treatment.

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