by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: August 01, 2011

There are as many who are advocating for colon cleansing as there are who think that the situation should be left alone to come to its natural conclusion.

The common reasons for using colon cleansing involve the belief that bulk in the colon contains toxins and bacteria that should not stay in there for long; that removing the bulk in the colon makes people feel "lighter" and "better"; that there are parasites in the stool; and that the immune system can work on something else when there is less bacteria laden stuff filling up the colon.

Colon cleansing is also touted as one way to lose weight, according to SteadyHealth.com

 Time Magazine Healthland, has the other side of the story, however: colon cleansing gives no particular health benefits and can cause serious problems, such as vomiting, electrolyte imbalances, bloating, and even kidney failure. A study was conducted by Dr. Ranit Mishori and her team at Georgetown University School of Medicine and Providence Hospital and the results were that, given the risks involved, there was no medical support for any claims of benefits.

The problems are with the method of colon cleansing. One method is called colon hydrotherapy, where warm water is administered up the rectum by so-called "colon hygienists". The other route to a sparkling clean colon is through drugs that evacuate the bowel. These drugs can come in the form of laxatives, teas and capsules.

The American Medical Association has been debunking all of the colonic cleansing process since 1919, when such procedures are deemed to be not medically necessary. Dr Mishori has done the latest debunking study and is quoted as saying that

"The body has a system for detoxifying itself—it's called pee and poop. And for healthy people, that's all it takes."

In many cases with the hydrotherapy, the "colon hygienists" do not have a significant medical education and can even be high school graduates who have had minimal training. There is even a National Board for Colon HydroTherapy, and there are other groups, but many colon hygienists still do not have substantial training. Dick Hoenninger, executive director of the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy, insists that there is not much scientific support for colon cleansing and that the procedures should only be done if the therapy is medically indicated by a doctor.

The colon hydrotherapy groups that certify technicians insist that the best procedures and hygiene methods for the equipment are used,

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