When we think of our colon, we often think of phrases like “waste” “dirt” and “toxins.” It makes sense, therefore, to have something like a colon cleanse, where people could eliminate accumulated waste from poor lifestyle habits, drinking, and eating. Well, while cleansing your intestines may sound appealing, it’s not a good idea. Keep reading to find out why
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What is a Colonic?
A colonic is a procedure that is said to remove toxins from the body by allowing water to flow through your rectum. It is also known as colonic irrigation or colon hydrotherapy. Here, a practitioner uses a tube put into your rectum to stream liters of water into your body.
Infusing water or other liquids into the rectum helps flush out toxins and cleanse the colon. In sense, colonics and enemas are similar, although enemas aim to remove waste in the lower colon for ray purposes while colonics are meant to cleanse. Colonics also involve multiple infusions while enemas involve a one-time infusion of water into the colon.
Is a Colonic Necessary?
Sure, cleaning out your colon is occasionally important, such as when preparing for a colonoscopy, which requires you to empty out your intestine to get a clear picture during screening. However, when done for cleansing purposes alone, it could lead to a variety of health issues that may render it unnecessary.
Besides, your liver and kidney already perform a pretty decent job of getting rid of toxins and other hazardous things. They assist the body in filtering and eliminating toxins and wastes, as well as converting them into innocuous compounds, through complicated operations that mimic the fine workings of a machine.
Do Colonics Work? How Effective Are They? Complications Associated With Colonics
Despite the dearth of studies, there is no evidence that a colonic is useful in producing better health. Anecdotal evidence instead supports the case against colonics. Colonics can result in abdominal cramps and agony, as well as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, as well as mortality in some situations.
Diarrhea, which produces a substantial quantity of fluid loss, can cause electrolyte imbalances in your body, resulting in lightheadedness, leg cramps, and irregular heart rhythms. Even worse, colonics can be especially dangerous for people who already have issues keeping correct fluid balance in their bodies, such as those who have kidney illness or cardiac problems.
Even though they get rid of waste and help rid the colon of toxins, this is something your body can handle. In fact, even in cleansing, they mess up the healthy bacteria found in the body. Colonics can put you in danger of eradicating the good bacteria that live in your intestine. This “gut flora” aids in a variety of functions, including immune system support and nutrition absorption.
Furthermore, colonic hydrotherapy can enhance your chances of bowel perforation or a major illness. Colonics could also be hazardous for patients who have Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or recurrent diverticulitis. Although some individuals still believe in the “magic” of colonics, please trust your body’s inner workings to take care of business. It’s ready for the job and has been doing it since the dawn of time.
Why Do People Get Them Anyway?
People who get colonics usually state they do it for one of the following reasons:
• To clear the colon of accumulated waste which prevents the absorption of water and nutrients
• To prevent constipation
• To better one’s overall health
• Colonics are always thought of as a type of complementary medicine.
• To prevent autointoxication
Colonics are however not known to boost health and wellness by most conventional medical practitioners due to a lack of evidence.
What Does a Typical Colonic Involve?
Each session takes about 45minutes to 1 hour. The client is requested to change into a robe and lie face up on a treatment table after completing a health history form and talking with the colon hydrotherapist. A disposable speculum is then inserted into the anus by the colon therapist.
The speculum is attached to the colon hydrotherapy machine through a long disposable plastic hose. The feces are then filtered by the tube so that neither the client nor the colon therapist can smell the odor. The therapist frequently examines the feces via the clear hose and makes a color judgment.
During the therapy, the client usually feels some discomfort in the abdomen. To aid the process, the colon therapist may administer mild massage to the client’s abdominal area. The therapist exits the room after the session, and the client may sit on a toilet to pass any remaining water or feces.
Final Verdict: Should You Do a Colon Cleanse?
Irrigating your colon may not seem so bad because it comes with its fair share of benefits. It is however is not without hazards and the bad in this case outweighs the good. As such, it should be approached with caution, as with most lifestyle practices, and with proper knowledge of the potential dangers!
