Colon cleansing is a controversial practice that involves irrigating your bowel. Not everyone agrees that colon cleansing is effective to improve health. Active proponents of colon cleansing believe it can rid your body of excess waste and toxins that are trapped inside your large intestine, whereas critics believe it is a hoax and your intestines are efficient at eliminating waste and toxins. Consult your doctor about the benefits and risks of colon cleansing.
Features
There are three popular ways you can cleanse your colon. Administering enemas can cleanse your rectum and lower colon. An enema comprises a bag or bucket of water that flows with the force of gravity through a tube and nozzle into your rectum. The water fills your bowel and exits by peristalsis, removing waste from your body. A colonic is a different type of colon cleanse that involves a machine that pumps water into your rectum, forcing it to enter deep into your colon. Like an enema, peristalsis causes water and waste to leave your bowel. A third method is by taking certain supplements that contain fiber, herbs and other substances that increase the bulk and quantity of your bowel movements.
Fact
A fact about colon cleansing is that it can help you if you are constipated. Constipation may result from eating a low-fiber diet or not drinking sufficient liquids or getting sufficient physical activity throughout the day. Research by scientists at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam and published in the "World Journal of Gastroenterology" in 2007 found that colonic irrigation helps patients with constipation.
Myth
Proponents of colon cleansing believe toxins can cause many types of diseases and disorders that include asthma, allergies and arthritis. A common myth about a colon cleanse is that it can detoxify your body, stimulate your immune system and provide relief from headaches, fatigue and lethargy. Yet there have not been any clinical studies published that demonstrate whether or not this is true, which may be why many medical doctors do not prescribe colon cleansing.
Truth
The truth is that colon cleansing can be an effective method for preparing for a colonoscopy, an exam in which a gastroenterologist inspects the interior of your colon for blockages, polyps, cancer and other abnormalities and diseases. Research by scientists at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil and published in "Acta Cir Bras" in 2008 found that solutions containing sodium phosphate and 10 percent manitol are effective in providing quality colon cleansing. The results demonstrate that there are no side effects that could compromise the colonoscopy procedure.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Colon Cleansing: Is It Helpful or Harmful?; Michael Picco, M.D.; 2010
- Ask a Naturopath; Bowel Cleansing Using Enemas; James, N.F.S.; 2010
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; What I Need to Know About Constipation; 2008
- "World journal of gastroenterology"; Anal Plugs and Retrograde Colonic Irrigation Are Helpful in Fecal Incontinence or Constipation; Marcel Cazemier, et al.; Jun 14 2007
- "Acta Cir Bras"; Comparison of Colon-Cleansing Methods in Preparation for Colonoscopy--Comparative Efficacy of Solutions of Mannitol, Sodium Picosulfate and Monobasic and Dibasic Sodium Phosphates; Paulo Miki, et al.; 2008
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