Colonic therapy is a technique used to clean out a person's intestinal tract, which is thought to improve overall health. Advocates of this type of treatment explain that since the colon is not a straight tube, feces can collect in parts of this area where the colon bends or twists. Once the waste product is stuck there, it hardens over time, making it difficult to dislodge. The fecal matter then starts to ferment, which leads to a number of unpleasant symptoms. The individual may experience aches and pains, back pain, bad breath, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.
Claims have been made that an unhealthy digestive tract may also lead to feelings of anxiety or depression. Acne and skin rashes have also been linked to this condition. Improving your eating habits may not be enough to rid the body of the hardened fecal matter, and that's where colonic therapy comes in.
Colonic therapy has been practiced for many years. It has recently become more popular among those concerned with rising rates of colon cancer. Many people who have undergone colonic therapy report feeling lighter afterward, although some individuals may feel nauseous for up to an hour immediately following a treatment.
Types of Colonic Therapy
Colon irrigation is one form of colonic therapy. This procedure involves inserting a double tube made of flexible material into the rectum. Warm water is slowly run through one side of the tubes by a therapist. As the water is run up the length of the colon, the therapist may massage the abdomen to help to dislodge any hardened fecal matter.
The irrigation process takes a few minutes, and the next step is to slowly draw the water back out through the other side of the tube. The dislodged fecal matter and other substances present in the colon are sucked out. The system is designed in such as way as to be clean and odor-free.
The entire process takes approximately 45 minutes, and will likely need to be repeated a number of times to entirely remove all the hardened fecal matter. Once this stage has been reached, a colonic therapy treatment should be repeated once a year.
Another option for colonic therapy is the enema. This treatment can be self-administered, although it does tend to be messy. A person's colon will measure between five and six feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) and the enema will only be able to clean out the last few inches of it. Any waste material that is has become hardened and attached to the colon walls cannot be removed by using this method.