Colonic
Cleansing:
Taking Care of the Colon with Water Therapy
You may have heard
the old expression, “Death begins in the colon.” This
expression comes from the belief that the colon needs ongoing maintenance
to function properly and protect the body from disease. A major
part of colon detox and maintenance
is colonic cleansing.
Colonic cleansing
is also known by other terms such as colonic, colon hydrotherapy,
and colonic irrigation. As these names imply, colonic cleansing
is a method of injecting temperate, filtered water into the colon
to soften and loosen waste. Waste in the colon is then removed by
natural movement of the bowels. During a colonic cleansing session,
the process of introducing water into the colon might be repeated
a few times.
Historical evidence
indicates that colonic cleansing was practiced by the Egyptians
as early as 1700 B.C. In more recent times, colonic cleansing gained
recognition in the 17th century. By the early 1900’s, Dr.
John Harvey Kellogg (a founder of the Kellogg cereal empire) said
he believed colonic cleansing was beneficial in the treatment of
gastrointestinal disease. From that time to today, colonic cleansing
has become a modernized procedure and remains a popular alternative
therapy to promote colon health.
The typical colonic
cleansing session lasts about an hour. Many medical instruments
used during a colonic cleansing are disposable, and the entire procedure
is completed in a sterile environment. During the session, the patient
lies face-up on a table. The therapist inserts a medical instrument
called a speculum into the colon. The instrument is connected to
a long, disposable plastic hose which leads to the colonic cleansing
machine. To carry out the colonic cleansing, warm water is slowly
released into the colon. The warm water causes the colon’s
muscles to contract and expel softened waste, which is evacuated
through the tube. After the colonic cleansing, the patient is able
to go into a bathroom to expel any residual waste. A colonic cleansing
session may cause some mild abdominal discomfort during and after
the procedure.
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