When you consider a day at the spa, soothing massages and skin-toning facial treatments are probably what comes to mind. But among the beauty-enhancing treatments and holistic healing procedures is another type of treatment: the detoxification program.
The human body absorbs toxins on a daily basis. From the food you eat to the air you breathe, toxin exposure is a part of everyday life. Proponents of spa detox programs claim that the treatment can effectively remove toxins from your body, thereby giving you more energy and contributing to your overall health.
Colonic Irrigation
Many spas offer colon cleanses in the form of specialty enemas, known as "colonic irrigation." The prevailing idea is that over time, the lining of your colon becomes clogged with fecal matter and foreign particles that release toxins into your bloodstream. Colonic irrigation aims to correct this imbalance by washing away built-up impurities within your colon. According to Dr. William T. Jarvis of the National Council Against Health Fraud, colonic hydrotherapy is not only unnecessary, it can be dangerous.
Colon cleanses often involve much larger amounts of fluid than a standard enema. This can lead to electrolyte depletion in some individuals. In addition, contaminated cleansing fluid can cause illness and there is a risk that the individual administering the colonic cleanse could perforate your intestinal wall. Before having a colonic irrigation, ask if the individual administering the enema is a trained medical technician.
Detoxification Diets
Detoxification diets are available at certain spa retreats. Detox diets require participants to adhere to a strict diet for several days or weeks at a time. Although detox diets differ drastically, the goal is the same---to reduce the load of toxins on the body by strictly controlling nutrient intake. Many detoxification diets focus on organic or raw foods and nutrient-rich juices such as wheat grass.
Although you can adhere to a detoxification diet at home, the structured environment of the spa retreat increases the chances that you'll stick to the program. While the effectiveness of detoxification diets is unproven, adhering to the spa's healthy eating program is almost certainly better for your body than consuming pre-packaged and greasy foods at home.
Sauna Detoxification
Sauna detoxification focuses on ridding the bloodstream of heavy metals and carcinogens while improving cardiovascular function. The theory is that the body can literally "sweat" out toxins, giving you a stronger immune system. You may opt for sauna detoxification alone or incorporate it into a whole-body detoxification program.
Unlike some other spa detox treatments, saunas' detox abilities are recognized by the medical community. A 1998 paper in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" describes a study in which a patient suffering from chemical sensitivity demonstrated significant improvement after undergoing sauna detox therapy.
References
- Inner Spa: Colon Hydrotherapy--Colonic Irrigation
- National Council Against Health Fraud: Colonic Irrigation
- Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers: 10 Day Whole Body Detox
- Coffs Natural Medicine: Working Up a Good Sweat for Health
- National Institutes of Health: Chemical Insensitivity After Intoxication at Work With Solvents--Response to Sauna Therapy
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