When performing a home colon hydrotherapy regimen, it is important to follow any specific instructions given by your doctor or in the manual for your enema supplies or solution. It is also important that one does not perform a colon cleanse more often than recommended, and that only supplies and solutions intended for use in the colon are considered. Those with certain medical conditions may be advised against performing home colon hydrotherapy.
The purpose of colon hydrotherapy is to remove feces, toxins, and potential parasites from the large intestines. Whether or not this is effective is still being debated. Some research has suggested that an occasional cleanse may be beneficial, while others argue that colon cleansing is only necessary during times of constipation. For the most part, the consensus among medical experts is that colon cleansing has little use other than for the treatment of constipation.
To ensure that home colon hydrotherapy is performed correctly, it is important to use the proper materials. They usually consist of a large rubber pouch or bulb which is filled with a cleansing solution, often made of saline. Connected to this pouch is a long tube which can be constructed of plastic or rubber. This will be inserted into the rectum during the cleanse. Using devices not intended for this purpose could result in injury, especially since the colon is mostly thin mucosal tissue that can be easily torn.
It is important to administer the solution properly. The tube should be inserted as far into the as it can go comfortably, but should not be forced. Steady but slow pressure should be applied to the bulb or pouch so that the solution is not forced into the anus all at once. Too much liquid or liquid that is inserted too quickly could result in serious injury.
Most health care providers do not recommend doing home colon hydrotherapy on a regular basis. Enemas should not be performed more than once every twenty four hours, and for no more than one week. In general, home colon hydrotherapy and other cleaning methods should be used sparingly.
Sometimes uncomfortable side effects may result from performing home colon hydrotherapy cleanse. Abdominal cramps and diarrhea are fairly common, and may last for several hours to a day or more. If symptoms are prolonged then a health care professional should be consulted. Bleeding from the rectum or anus or severe pain should be considered an emergency because these symptoms could signal a bowel perforation. If fever and pain occur a few hours to a few days after the cleanse, an infection may have occurred and a doctor should be consulted.
