Colon irrigation may help greatly in enhancing our body’s ability to absorb many vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.

“Colon hydrotherapy, is a safe, effective method of removing waste from the large intestine, without the use of drugs. By introducing filtered and temperature regulated water into the colon, the waste is softened and loosened, resulting in evacuation through natural peristalsis.  This process is repeated a few times during a session.”  Dorothy Chandler, RN

In our wellness center, we find colonic irrigations are one of the most important treatment modalities available for a multitude of health problems. Many health authorities feel that disease begins in the colon. To be in optimum health the colon must be functioning normally.

We believe that the colon is one of the most neglected areas in the medical establishment. One of the major indications for colon hydrotherapy is constipation. Before discussing the effects of constipation, let’s first give a description of how a colonic irrigation is carried out (some technical aspects about the colonic device) and what some of the benefits would be from such a treatment.

The usual colonic treatment lasts 45 -60 minutes. A small speculum is inserted into the client’s rectum. This speculum is then attached to a plastic hose which connects to the colonic
device. The colonic therapist then adjusts the volume and temperature of the water coming out of the FDA registered medical device, which runs through a plastic hose into the
client’s rectum sitting comfortably 3,5″ inside the sphincter muscles. The client is temporarily filled with a certain volume of water to individual tolerance. This will induce
peristaltic contractions in the colon, and the client will begin to expel fecal matter through the colonic hose which leads back to the colonic device. Results of releasing are easily seen
through a clear plastic viewing tube. It is quite interesting to see what is expelled during a normal colonic treatment. One may see mucous, parasites and very old feculent material (noted by its dark black color) pass through this tube. This old feculent material may have been lying in the client’s colon for years. It looks like vulcanized rubber and has that kind of consistency. In addition, the client may experience sensations of warmth or chills due to the presence of toxins is the feculent matter.

While the client is receiving the colonic treatment, the colonic therapist slightly massages various parts of the abdomen to help loosen and dislodge areas of fecal impaction. It is very
important that the therapist use proper amounts of water. If the therapist uses too much water, the treatment may be uncomfortable or painful and may lead to negative results. If this therapy is conducted properly, it should not be painful or uncomfortable. In addition, when less rather than more water is used, the client’s colon is forced to do more work, which is an important first step in restoring normal peristaltic activity to the diseased
colon.

It should be noted that most clients need a series of colonic irrigations, not just one. The clients may expel considerable gas during 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. Therefore, one should not be impatient when
pursuing a therapeutic course of colonic irrigations.

Indications for Colonics–Who can benefit from colonic irrigation?

Constipation is one of the major reasons people pursue this form of treatment. Constipation will be discussed further down on this page.  Colon problems such as colitis, ileitis and diverticulitis affect conservatively two million people in this country. These problems can be
directly addressed by colonic therapy.

Anyone who suffers from bloating, abdominal distention, gas pains, stomach aches, or someone who gets filled very quickly after eating and can only eat small amounts of food may be a candidate for colonic irrigation.

SKIN PROBLEMS.  We have found clients with all kinds of skin problems, i.e., acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc., can benefit from a therapeutic course of colonic irrigations. The skin is the largest excretory organ in the body, the skin may act as a major excretory organ. Unhealthy skin is usually a sign of an unhealthy colon and no amount of antibiotics or skin creams or medications will alleviate the problems until the cause of the problem is addressed. In addition, vitamin A plays an important role in skin health. When the colon is adequately cleansed, vitamin A can be more effectively absorbed through the intestinal tract.

ARTHRITIS.  Clients with various types of arthritis have reported being helped tremendously with a series of colonic treatments. This may be due in part to the fact that arthritic clients suffer from some form of internal toxemia whereby toxins are continually being absorbed into their systems (i.e. the colon) causing further inflammation and aggravation of their
joints.

CANCER.   Medical research has shown cancer patients have a tremedous problem breaking down and assimilating proteins. But they may also be extremely deficient in many vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. They may also suffer from constipation and other
varied digestive disorders. Colon irrigations may help greatly in enhancing their ability to absorb these various macro and micronutrients.

In addition, it very important that a cancer patient eliminate efficiently and effectively all internal toxins. This is especially true in the case of a cancer patient who is on an integrated
metabolic program. When on such a program, the cancerous tumor may start breaking down resulting in the release of cancer cells and various toxins throughout the body. Colonics may perform a very important function in helping to expel these toxins from the body.  Dr. Max Gerson described a comparable situation when he first started treating cancer patients with an intensive dietary approach. He stated that he lost a number of cancer patients because of
toxemia. They literally died from their own internal pollution. As their cancerous tumors were being broken down they were unable to eliminate these toxic products effectively or efficiently with dire results as a consequence.

However, it is very important that a cancer patient be under competent medical supervision. One would not want to administer these colonic treatments to a patient who was too weak, whereby the colonic irrigations may weaken them further. In addition, colonics would be
contraindicated in a patient with a tumor in the rectum or large intestine. Also, colonics would be temporarily contraindicated in any patient whose intestinal tract is too acidic. When the mucous membranes in the colon become to irritated or friable, the colonics may be too harsh a treatment. The patient should be put on a metabolic program to reduce the patient’s acid state before beginning the colonic treatments. At our clinic, we do a special testing to test the body pH (i.e. urine and saliva) before making specific recommendations about colonic irrigations as well as work with medical and naturopathic doctors to ensure our clients are receiving optimal care.

CONSTIPATION

The expression constipation is derived from the Latin word “constiatus” which translated means to press or crowd together, to pack, to cram. Consequently, to be constipated means that the packed accumulation of feces in the bowel makes its evacuation difficult.

However, a state of constipation can also exist when movements of the bowel may seem to be normal, in spite of an accumulation of feces somewhere along the passageways of the
colon.

Many health authorities believe that constipation is the number one affliction underlying nearly every ailment. This means that constipation would be the most prevalent ailment affecting the civilized world. It is vital to stress that constipation affects the health of
the colon, upon which the health of the body in its entirety depends.

Constipation contributes toward the lowering of body resistance predisposing it to many acute illnesses and the creation of a great many degenerative and chronic processes. Almost every human ailment has been attributed to a malfunctioning colon, i.e., one that cannot
perform its normal , regular and efficient functioning.

Intestinal constipation causes cellular constipation. It also increases the workload of the other excretory organs- kidney, skin, liver, lungs and lymph.

The functioning of these organs becomes depleted and overworked. The cellular metabolism becomes sluggish, repair and growth are delayed and the ability to eliminate waste materials is lowered. The cells, instead of being alive and active, become dead and inactive. This process results in a decline in tissue and organ functional ability.

There are two crimes against nature which civilization indulges in as a daily routine, which may be direct causes of constipation. One is the consumption of devitalized and refined foods
which fail to nourish the organs responsible for the evacuation of waste matter. The other which is most prevalent particularly among young people, but not much less among the older and more mature, is neglecting to stop everything we are doing when the urge to evacuate the bowels should drive us headlong into the bathroom. Bowel movements every two or three days are considered normal and acceptable. It is my professional opinion, as in the opinion of many holistic healthcare professionals, that we should have a bowel movement for every meal we eat, each and everyday. For example, if we eat three meals per day, we should
have three bowel movements per day.

If we are having less than three bowel movements per day, food residues are lying in the colon for more than twelve hours. Consequently, the fecal material in the colon becomes putrefied
and fermented. Any nutritional element present in the fecal matter would pass into the bloodstream as polluted products. What would otherwise be nutritional becomes in fact, the beginning of toxemia. Toxemia is a condition in which the blood contains poisonous products which are produced by the growth of pathogenic or disease producing bacteria. Pimples for example are usually the first indication that toxemia has found its way into the body.