Benefits and safety of Hydrocolonic therapy

Colonic therapy goes back in time to Hippocrates, the most famous physician (5th century BCE)) who was known to use enemas to treat fevers to fend off infections. Similarly, John H. Kellogg, MD, the American physician and health-food pioneer used colon therapy successfully to treat 40,000 patients with gastrointestinal disease.

Fast forward, as of today there is growing scientific evidence that keeping a delicate balance in the immune system by eliminating invading pathogens in the gut is critical for the body’s health.

Gut’s Homeostasis and immune system

Because the gut microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract is in charge of regulating immune homeostasis, any changes of these microbial communities can lead to autoimmune disorders. Diet rich in living enzymes and fiber, supplements such as probiotics and fermented foods contribute to this healthy homeostasis. But, unfortunately the SAD (Standard American Diet) is high in processed foods, sugar, salt, and harmful oils, all which destroy the gut microbiome.

The fundamental belief behind Colonic therapy

One of the foundational beliefs driving colonics is “autointoxication,” the state by which prolonged exposure to fecal matter is believed to compromise the digestive and immune health. By clearing these waste from the body, colonics affect intestinal flora homeostasis and the overall health.

Colonics are used as an effective means of detoxification, normalizing bowel function, treating inflammatory conditions while building up the immune system. Substances, medications; antibiotics, laxatives, corticoid, drugs,, and contraceptive abuse, alter the intestinal flora balance. Occasional colonics can help restore the digestion truck by eliminating these toxins and restoring the healthy microbiome balance.

The alternative approach

Health and wellness centers such as Hippocrates in West Palm Beach Florida, Optimum health Institute in San Diego, California, Gerson centers all over the world, and Dr. Joan Budwig center in Spain are using colonic therapy as part of their integrated therapies (unless it is contraindicated) to help patients with chronic diseases eliminate toxins, while simultaneously using an alkaline raw plant based diet to promote healing. Colonics very often follow a special green diet high in enzymes and antioxidants.

Colon therapy- explained

Hydrotherapy colonics is a technique that consists of a complete colon cleanse using filtered and purified water to flush waste out of the large intestine. Warm filtered water is introduced into your colon through a small tube called a speculum that is gently inserted about an inch and a half into your rectum. The water pressure and temperature are carefully controlled and all waste is drained away in a closed system. This filling and emptying is repeated several times over a period of 30-45 minutes. Mild effects after colonics may include stomach pain and cramping, bloating, anal irritation and soreness and electrolyte imbalance.

Benefits of colonics

Colonic hydrotherapy has been proven beneficial for conditions such as:

constipation
gasses
IBS
parasites
candida
skin disorders (acne, eczema, psoriasis)
allergies
rheumatic diseases
poor circulation
stress
lymphatic dysfunctions
Flu and its symptoms
depression,
tiredness and sleep deprivation
heartburn

However not everyone agrees that colonics therapy is safe. Dr. Ranit Mishori from Georgetown University in Washington DC is a family medicine physician who claims that colonics has plenty of negative side effects, including vomiting, electrolyte imbalance and kidney failure, and no substantial scientific benefits.

Dr. Mishori claims that the data supporting colonic cleansing and body “detoxification” have not been studied well, and furthermore it has not been supported in the published literature. Conversely, there are multiple cases of the adverse effect reports of colonic cleansing.

Similarly, Dr. Alan Buchman, a gastrointestinal professor at Chicago University warns against the loss of good bacterias, electrolytes and vitamin K with the release of waste material during colonics.

On the other hand, according to the Budwig center for healing cancer, maintaining a healthy bowel and colon is essential for general health. Bad eating habits and the current way of life make the large intestine suffer and cause many diseases, which worsen our quality of life. The non-digested food goes from the small intestine into the large one. This debris should be evacuated usually twice a day without effort when the intestine is healthy. When the food is kept for weeks and months in the intestine, it ferments, and sticks on the colon acting like a trap that accumulates pathogens and toxins. which are one of the leading causes of cancer. A colonic irrigation session is included in their cancer programs for all patients unless contraindicated by a medical doctor. Not only food gets trapped in our colon, mold, fungus and other toxins accumulates over time from daily exposure to our environment. Cleaning our colon as a lifestyle preventative approach makes sense.

The detoxification process start with a healthy colon

When the accumulated fecal mass is eliminated by colonics, there is a deep DETOXIFICATION process that revitalizes the organism: Since 80% of the body’s defenses are in the mucus of the small and large intestine. Cleaning the intestinal lymph nodes stimulates the immune system, detoxifies and decreases the allergic process.

More benefits of colonic

Colonics Restores the intestinal peristalsis, especially when there is lack of normal muscle tone or strength in the colon
It eliminates possible parasites and Fungal infections (yeast or mold). Fungal infections are most common on your skin or nails, but fungi (plural of fungus) can also cause infections in your mouth, throat, lungs, urinary tract and many other parts of your body.
Improvement of the deposit of calcium in bones and joints.

Contradictions

Your physician or colonics therapy will ask you to fill in a questionnaire to rule out certain conditions such as: anal Fissure/Fistula (a tear in the colon),Anemia (severe), Aneurysm, Cardiac Disease (severe, uncontrolled hypertension or congestive heart failure), Cirrhosis, Colitis (acute),Colon Cancer, Colon Surgery (less than twelve months post-op requires a doctor’s referral, Crohn’s disease (acute inflammatory or bleeding stages), Diverticulitis, severely inflamed or severely bleeding stage), Rectal Bleeding (other than minor hemorrhoids), abdominal Hernia (abdominal/inguinal), Kidney Dialysis, Pregnancy (up to 4 months), Renal Insufficiency, Tumor in the Rectum or Large Intestine, Ulcerative Colitis (active or bleeding), Water Fasting (currently),

Final Note

While colonic therapy has helped hundreds of thousands of people to regain their health, it is important to proceed with caution.

Remember that with the flushing of harmful substances, some good bacteria, vitamins and enzymes escape and will need to be replenished. Hydrating the body with alkaline water and green juice is essential after each colonic. Also it is important not to abuse the therapy for weight loss and do it periodically and only when necessary.

Supplements and probiotics are essential following hydrocolonic to rebalance the microbiome. Probiotic and prebiotic supplements are helpful as well as eating few servings of sprouts, especially broccoli sprouts.

Make sure that your therapist uses only FDA approved medical devices for the procedure and all of the equipment used is sterilized or disposable and the water goes through an advanced filtration process prior to entering the colon. Your therapist should be ARCH (Association of Registered Colon Hydrotherapists) trained and registered and meet the highest professional and ethical standards.