Colon hydrotherapy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, is an alternative medical procedure, sometimes associated with naturopathy. Similar to an enema, it involves the introduction of discrete amounts of water, sometimes infused with minerals or other materials, into the colon using medically approved class II colon hydrotherapy devices with sanitary, disposable speculums or gravity-fed enema-like systems inserted into the rectum. The fluid is released after a short period, and the process will be repeated multiple times during the course of a treatment. A colema is a type of colon hydrotherapy performed by oneself using a bucket with an attached hose, while lying on a board positioned over a toilet, into which the contents of enema are released.

Though colon hydrotherapy, colemas and enemas all have features in common, there are some significant differences between the modalities in terms of depth of colon cleansing, amount of water used, and the necessity for a practitioner to be present.

The practice has been known since ancient times^[1] for treating constipation which was believed to have been the root of many diseases and illnesses. The first recorded reference to colon cleansing date back more than 3000 years to the Ebers papyrus, an Egyptian medical document. This document outlines bowel and colon cleansing procedures using various herbal concoctions and water, and has been carbon dated to between 1500 and 1700 B.C. In some cases, colon bypass or a colectomy was done.^[2]

Current practitioners recommend it for a variety of ills stemming from accumulation of fecal matter in the large intestine, a process referred to as autointoxication. Some alternative medicine practitioners believe that autointoxication results from increased absorption of bacterial / fungal toxins as a result of an increased toxic load in the colon.

While some hydrotherapists believe colonics lead to better overall wellness, others claim it helps specific diseases, including chronic fatigue, arthritis, and sinusitis. It is also claimed to improve muscle tone in the colon, leading to stronger peristaltic contractions.^[3]. There is limited scientific research to support these claims [4] and the theory of autointoxication is not recognized by the medical establishment.^[5]

In the early 1980s, there were a limited number of cases of amebiasis spread by a colon therapist in Colorado who failed to maintain sanitary conditions. It is believed to be the sole documented case of colon hydrotherapy having caused a fatality. There have been reports of electrolyte imbalances in children brought on by colonics using softened water^[6]. Such imbalances can also be caused by laxative use or diarrhea.

Colonic irrigation should not be used in people with diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe or internal hemorrhoids or tumors in the rectum or colon. It also should not be used soon after bowel surgery (unless directed by your health care provider). Regular treatments should be avoided by people with heart disease or kidney disease (renal insufficiency). Colonics are inappropriate for people with bowel, rectal or anal pathologies where the pathology contributes to the risk of bowel perforation. [7]

The practice is currently only regulated in some states of the United States. Some practitioners go through a voluntary certification process, and may be members of one of the colon hydrotherapy associations worldwide, such as the International Association of Colon HydroTherapy (I-ACT). Be sure that the equipment used is sterile and that the practitioner is experienced.[8]

The American College of Gastroenterology takes the position that in the unusual case of fecal impaction complicating chronic constipation, a 5 to 10 ounce tap water enema may be of benefit, but does not otherwise recommend its use. The orthodox medical establishment perceives colon hydrotherapy to be little more than a bowel rinse, or expensive laxative.

Dr. Leonard Smith, MD, of Gainesville, Florida, an American College of Surgery board certified general surgeon, with 25 years practicing as a specialist in gastrointestinal surgery states, “If medical centers, hospitals, and clinics installed colon hydrotherapy departments, they would find such departments just as efficacious for patients as their present treatment are areas which are devoted to physiotherapy.”^{[verification needed]}

The typical cost for a colonic is about $65 to $80 in the US. Colon hydrotherapy, when practiced with procedures and equipment accepted by the several associations, has been clinically demonstrated as safe, gentle, and effective. [9]

[edit] References

↑ Chen TS, Chen PS (1989). "Intestinal autointoxication: a medical leitmotif". Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 11 (4): 434-41. PMID 2668399.
↑ Smith JL (1982). "Sir William Arbuthnot-Lane, 1st Bt, chronic intestinal stasis, and autointoxication". Annals of Internal Medicine 96 (3): 365-9. PMID 7036818.
↑ Colon Hydrotherapy and its Clinical Applications. The Colon Hydrotherapists Network. Retrieved on 2005-08-31.
↑ Gots RE (1993). "Medical hypothesis and medical practice: autointoxication and multiple chemical sensitivities". Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology : RTP 18 (1): 2-12. PMID 8234915.
↑ Yerkes EB, Rink RC, King S, Cain MP, Kaefer M, Casale AJ (2001). "Tap water and the Malone antegrade continence enema: a safe combination?". Journal of Urology 166 (4): 1476-8. PMID 11547116.