That’s the touted benefits of colonics, a procedure that’s been around since ancient Greece. It involves flushing the large intestine (the colon) with water, coffee, herbal supplements and probiotics to cleanse the pipeline. The process is similar to a colonoscopy, which requires a patient to ingest large amounts of fluid before the procedure to make sure the doctors can see everything in the colon as they search for signs of cancer.
Advocates of colonics make broad claims. They claim that the colon has lots of waste material that accumulates and potentially enters the bloodstream, causing all sorts of maladies.
But medical professionals are generally dubious of the benefits of colonics. They point out that the body already does a highly efficient job of cleaning out waste materials. The mucous in the colon acts as a barrier to waste entering the bloodstream, the liver filters out any toxins and the colon itself sheds its cells every three days, thereby renewing its vigor.
While most colonics won’t carry much risk, medical professionals believe they don’t offer much benefit, either. The risks involved include perforation of the intestinal walls, infections, dehydration and washing away vital bacteria and minerals. It can also play havoc with people suffering from allergies or underlying medical conditions to major organs.
How It Works
You can self-administer a colonic using over-the-counter medications and devices that are easily found in drug chains, supermarkets and discount store, or you can visit a service that will administer the colonic.
If you opt for the service, which generally costs between $80 to $100, you will visit an office and be asked to wear a hospital gown.
A colon hydrotherapist (who may or may not be licensed – some states do not require licensing) will insert a small tube into the rectum. Using a machine, a large amount of water, sometimes mixed with coffee, herbal supplements or probiotic bacteria, will be injected into the colon. The therapist may stimulate the region by rubbing your abdomen. You will then purge yourself of the waste and water, which allegedly will lead to the benefits of increased vigor, weight loss and eliminating harmful toxins.
Five Things to Remember
Here are five things to consider when you are mulling whether a colonic treatment is something you want to undergo:
1) There are side effects. Although there have been studies that claim there are no problems, each individual is different. The risk of dehydration is severe if the patient does not ingest enough fluids. There are also the underlying risks of bowel perforations, and some herbs and coffee cleanses could cause allergic reactions. Consider that electrolyte levels may be compromised when the colon is flushed, which washes away everything in the area, including such vital minerals as potassium. You may be light-headed or have leg cramps as a result. It also may remove any medications you’re taking and could cause problems with major organs.
2) There is no scientific evidence that it works – Sure, people claim that there are benefits. But how much of that is in the mind? A study by the American Journal of Gastroenterology claims there are no research studies to support colonics, and a Georgetown University study concluded there is little to no effect from a colon cleansing.
3) Losing weight is no reason to do it – Sure, you may lose a few pounds of water weight and some stool, but permanent fat loss is not going to happen. Most calories are absorbed before reaching the large intestine, so irrigating that part of the body isn't effective.
4) Not everyone is a candidate – A hidden underlying medical condition may be exacerbated by the colon cleanse, including heart disease and kidney disease. If you have gastrointestinal problems, including Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis, you should not undergo a colonic treatment.
5) Washing away gut bacteria may have consequences – Why would you want to eliminate beneficial colon bacteria? Instead of improving health, you may open the door for the bad bacteria in the body to gain the upper hand because of the reduced presence of good bacteria. Scientists are not sure based on research to date, how much good bacteria is lost in a colonic.
Keep in mind the Hippocratic Oath – do no harm – which all doctors take. The bulk of scientific research to date can’t be certain what potential harm colonics may hold, so they can only point out that the body already does a fine job on its own of ridding itself of problems. Bowel movements, colon mucus and the liver are effective filters for most toxins.
The best way to live a good and healthy life is to monitor diet and lifestyle. The old maxims of eat right, exercise more, and avoid smoking and excess alcohol may be boring and not offer immediate relief, but they are proven strategies for warding off most of the terrible ravages of major diseases. These conservative habits also come with little risk to your health, unlike colonics, where there have been some fatalities linked to coffee colonics and allergies.
Keep in mind that so-called natural treatments are not necessarily safe or recommended. Many states do not license colonic therapists, so the procedures used are not regulated in any way. It is wise to do homework and consult your doctor before engaging in colonics. While there may be little risk, it’s a voluntary procedure that could have severe consequences if something goes wrong.