Natural Colon Cleansing: It is Necessary?

Natural Colon Cleansing: Is It Necessary?

The practice of natural colon cleansing dates back to ancient Greece. In the United States, cleansing the colon -- the large intestine -- became popular in the 1920s and 1930s. But when the theories behind it lost support, it fell out of favor. Recently, though, colon cleansing -- using, for example, teas, enzymes, or colon irrigation -- has experienced resurgence.

Is colon cleansing good for you? Does anyone really need it? To a certain extent, the jury is still out. That's because researchers have devoted little study to colon cleansing. For now, here is some information that might help you decide whether colon cleansing is for you.

What is natural colon cleansing?
There are two main colon-cleansing methods. One involves buying products; the other involves seeing a practitioner to have a colon irrigation.

Colon cleansing with powdered or liquid supplements. You take some supplements used for colon cleansing by mouth. Others you take through the rectum. Either way, the idea is to force the colon to expel its contents. You can find these products on the Internet or in health food stores, supermarkets, or pharmacies. They include:

enemas
laxatives
strong herbal teas
enzymes
powders
antiparasite capsules

Colon cleansing with colon irrigation (high colonics). The first modern colonic machine was invented about 100 years ago. Today, colonic hygienists or colon therapists perform colon irrigations. Colon irrigations work somewhat like an enema. But they involve much more water and none of the odors or discomfort. While you lie on a table, a machine or gravity-driven pump flushes up to 20 gallons of water through a tube inserted into your rectum.

After the water is in the colon, the therapist may massage your abdomen. Then the therapist flushes out the fluids and waste through another tube. The therapist may repeat the process, and a session may last up to an hour.

The practitioner may use a variety of water pressures and temperatures and may or may not combine water with enzymes, herbs, coffee, or probiotics. Probiotics are supplements containing beneficial bacteria.

What is the theory behind natural colon cleansing?
One of the main theories behind colon cleansing is an ancient belief called the theory of autointoxication. This is the belief that undigested meat and other foods cause mucus buildup in the colon. This buildup produces toxins, the theory goes, which enter the blood's circulation, poisoning the body.

Some people claim these toxins cause a wide range of symptoms, such as:

fatigue
headache
weight gain
low energy

On the surface, the idea of toxins being reabsorbed by the body makes some sense. After all, rectal suppositories are used to rapidly administer drugs. Could toxins, too, be quickly entering the bloodstream from the colon?

If colon cleansing has any effect, however, it likely has less to do with toxins than with its impact on the nervous system. What's the evidence? Reflexes in the bowel affect the entire nervous system. In fact, a wide range of symptoms caused by constipation can be relieved by enemas. If this is true of enemas, then perhaps colon cleansing has a similar effect.

What is the goal of natural colon cleansing?

The health claims made by producers of colon cleansing products and colon irrigation practitioners are broad and wide reaching. Their main goal is to clear the colon of large quantities of stagnant, supposedly toxic waste encrusted on colon walls. Doing so, they claim, will enhance the vitality of the body.

Other stated goals include:

improving mental outlook
improving the immune system
losing weight
reducing the risk of colon cancer
Colon cleansing has been studied in relation to a few health concerns. These include:

fecal incontinence
ostomy (surgical connection between an intestine and the outside of the body) care
spasm during colonoscopy
drug withdrawal
before and during bowel surgeries

In most of these cases, no quality research has been done to tell whether or not a colon cleansing is helpful.

Is natural colon cleansing needed?

Are bowel movements enough to clear the colon? Or is it true that the only thing that can really clear the colon is a colon cleanser? It is likely the colon doesn't need this kind of help. Here are some reasons why:

Natural bacteria in the colon detoxify food wastes.
The liver also neutralizes toxins.
Mucus membranes in the colon keep unwanted substances from reentering the blood and tissues.
The colon sheds old cells about every three days, preventing a buildup of harmful material.
The normal number of bowel movements varies from person to person. It may be as often as a few times a day or as little as a few times a week.
Increasing the number of bowel movements doesn't improve weight loss. That's because the body absorbs most calories before they reach the large intestine.

Are there risks associated with natural colon cleansing?
Remember that "natural" doesn't necessarily mean safe. The government doesn't regulate natural colon cleansing products, so their potency, safety, and purity can't be guaranteed. And, each state has its own rules about whether or not practitioners must be professionally licensed.

If you do decide to see a colon-cleansing therapist, choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization and who follows that organization's standards. It's always a good idea to talk with your primary health provider before starting a new practice such as colon cleansing.

Although the risk becomes greater the more often you have a colon cleanse, a review of similar procedures, such as enemas and sigmoidoscopies, suggests the risk of severe effects is low when colon irrigations are performed by trained personnel with the right equipment. In Britain, where practitioners carry out 5,600 colon irrigations each month, no serious side effects have been reported.

However, there are some potential side effects:

vomiting, nausea, cramps
dizziness, a sign of dehydration, which can cause mineral imbalances
strings of mucus, a sign the body views the cleanser as a toxin
potential interactions with medications
bowel perforation
infection

Are there risks associated with natural colon cleansing? continued...

Be aware, if the therapist adds a substance to the water during colon irrigation, you run the risk of an allergic reaction. Do not use laxatives or colon irrigations long term. They can irritate or upset the balance of your colon's bacteria and interfere with normal bowel function.

Avoid colon irrigations, if you have:

diverticulitis
ulcerative colitis
Crohn's disease
severe or internal hemorrhoids
tumors in your rectum or colon
recent bowel surgery, unless your health care provider says it's OK
heart disease or kidney disease
Because of the risk for mineral imbalances, it is best if young children do not undergo colon irrigations.


What else can you do to enhance colon health?

What you eat -- not what you flush through your colon -- may have the greatest impact on colon health, lowering your risk of colon cancer and enhancing your overall health.

Increasing fiber can help with a wide range of gastrointestinal problems, including constipation, diverticular disease, and colorectal cancer. The typical American consumes 10-15 grams a day, but you need closer to 20-35 grams. Add sources of both insoluble fiber, such as cereal and whole grains, and soluble fiber, such as bran, fruit, vegetables, and oatmeal.

Also, drink plenty of fluids, but drink alcohol in moderation. Avoid tobacco and limit red meat. And, of course, get screened for colon cancer beginning at age 50, or earlier if your doctor advises.

Sources:medmd.com
SOURCES:

Horne, S. Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy, 2006; vol. 6(2): pp. 93-100.

American Cancer Society: Colon Therapy."

Baptist Health Systems: "Colon Cleansing: Don't Be Misled by the Claims."

Natural Standard.

Reviewed by Matthew Hoffman, MD on August 25, 2008