Colon Cleansing

Colon cleansing, also known as colon therapy, colon hydrotherapy, a colonic, or colonic irrigation, encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies claimed to remove toxins from the colon and intestinal tract by removing accumulations of feces. Some forms use tubes to inject water, sometimes mixed with herbs or other liquids, into the colon through the rectum using special equipment, while oral cleansing regimes use dietary fiber, herbs, dietary supplements, or laxatives; practitioners believe in autointoxication, the idea that accumulations of putrefied feces line the walls of the large intestine and harbor parasites or pathogenic gut flora that cause nonspecific symptoms and general ill health. Autointoxication, a term coined in 1884 by the French physician Charles Jacques Bouchard, is a hypothesis based on medical beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks that was discredited in the early twentieth century, though internet marketing and infomercials for oral cleansing supplements increased during the 2000s. There is no scientific evidence for the alleged benefits of colon cleansing, certain enema preparations used for it have been associated with heart attacks and electrolyte imbalances, improperly prepared or used equipment can cause infection or damage to the bowel, frequent use can lead to dependence on enemas to defecate, and some herbs used in it may reduce the effectiveness of or increase the risks of prescription medications.