In our clinic we find that people with all kinds
Colon
irrigation may help greatly in enhancing the ability to absorb many
vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.
In our
medical clinic we find colonic irrigations are one of the most
important treatment modalities available for a multitude of health
problems. Many health authorities feel that disease begins in the
colon. To be in optimum health the colon must be functioning normally.
I believe that the colon is one of the most neglected areas in the
medical establishment. One of the major indications for colon
hydrotherapy is constipation. Before discussing the effects of
constipation, I will first give a description of how a colonic
irrigation is carried out (some technical aspects about the colonic
machine) and what some of the benefits would be from such a
treatment.
The
usual colonic treatment lasts 45 minutes. A small speculum is inserted
into the patient’s rectum. This speculum is then attached to a plastic
hose which connects to the colonic machine. The colonic therapist then
adjusts the volume and temperature of the water coming out of the
machine which runs through a plastic hose into the patient’s rectum
and through the entire colon. The patient is temporarily filled with a
certain volume of water to individual tolerance. This will induce
peristaltic contractions in the colon, and the patient will begin to
expel fecal matter through the colonic hose which leads back to the
colonic machine and through a clear plastic viewing tube. It is quite
interesting to see what is expelled during a normal colonic treatment.
One may see mucous, parasites and very old feculent material (noted by
its dark black color) pass through this tube. This old feculent
material may have been lying in the patient’s colon for years. It
looks like vulcanized rubber and has that kind of consistency. In
addition, the patient may experience sensations of warmth due to the
presence of toxins is the feculent matter.
While
the patient is receiving the colonic treatment, the colonic therapist
slightly massages various parts of the abdomen to help loosen and
dislodge areas of fecal impaction. It is very important that the
therapist use proper amounts of water. If the therapist uses too much
water, the treatment may be uncomfortable or painful and may lead to
negative results. If this therapy is conducted properly, it should not
be painful or uncomfortable. In addition, when less rather than more
water is used, the patient’s colon is forced to do more work, which is
an important first step in restoring normal peristaltic activity to
the diseased colon.
It
should be noted that most patients need a series of colonic
irrigations, not just one. The patients may expel considerable gas
during the first few treatments. It usually takes a few treatments
before one starts dislodging old encrusted feculent matter. One should
remember that it usually takes years for the colon to become clogged
up with its own waste products. Therefore, one should not be impatient
when pursuing a therapeutic course of colonic
irrigations.
Indications for Colonics–Who can benefit from
colonic irrigation?
Constipation is one of the major reasons people
pursue this form of treatment. I will discuss this problem later in
this article. Colon problems such as colitis, ileitis and
diverticulitis affect conservatively two million people in this
country. These problems can be directly addressed by colonic
therapy.
Anyone
who suffers from bloating, abdominal distention, gas pains, stomach
aches, or someone who gets filled very quickly after eating and can
only eat small amounts of food may be a candidate for colonic
irrigation.
In our
clinic we find that people with all kinds of skin problems, i.e.,
acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc., usually can benefit from a therapeutic
course of colonic irrigations. The skin is the largest excretory organ
in the body, the skin may act as a major excretory organ. Unhealthy
skin is usually a sign of an unhealthy colon and no amount of
antibiotics or skin creams or medications will alleviate the problems
until the cause of the problem is addressed. In addition, vitamin A
plays an important role in skin health. When the colon is adequately
cleansed, vitamin A can be more effectively absorbed through the
intestinal tract.
clinic we find that people with all kinds of skin problems, i.e.,
acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc., usually can benefit from a therapeutic
course of colonic irrigations. The skin is the largest excretory organ
in the body, the skin may act as a major excretory organ. Unhealthy
skin is usually a sign of an unhealthy colon and no amount of
antibiotics or skin creams or medications will alleviate the problems
until the cause of the problem is addressed. In addition, vitamin A
plays an important role in skin health. When the colon is adequately
cleansed, vitamin A can be more effectively absorbed through the
intestinal tract.
I have
found that arthritis patients may be helped tremendously with a series
of colonic treatments. This may be due in part to the fact that
arthritis patients suffer from some form of internal toxemia whereby
toxins are continually being absorbed into their systems (i.e. the
colon) causing further inflammation and aggravation of their
joints. A
third group of patients who may benefit greatly from colonic
irrigations are cancer patients. We know that cancer patients have a
tremendous problem breaking down and assimilating proteins. But they
may also be extremely deficient in many vitamins, minerals and
essential fatty acids. They may also suffer from constipation and
other varied digestive disorders. Colon irrigations may help greatly
in enhancing their ability to absorb these various macro and
micronutrients. In
addition, it very important that a cancer patient eliminate
efficiently and effectively all internal toxins. This is especially
true in the case of a cancer patient who is on an integrated metabolic
program. When on such a program, the cancerous tumor may start
breaking down resulting in the release of cancer cells and various
toxins throughout the body. Colonics may perform a very important
function in helping to expel these toxins from the body. Dr. Max
Gerson described a comparable situation when he first started treating
cancer patients with an intensive dietary approach. He stated that he
lost a number of cancer patients because of toxemia. They literally
died from their own internal pollution. As their cancerous tumors were
being broken down they were unable to eliminate these toxic products
effectively or efficiently with dire results as a
consequence. However, it is very important that a cancer patient
be under competent medical supervision. One would not want to
administer these colonic treatments to a patient who was too weak,
whereby the colonic irrigations may weaken them further. In addition,
colonics would be contraindicated in a patient with a tumor in the
rectum or large intestine. Also, colonics would be temporarily
contraindicated in any patient whose intestinal tract is too acidic.
When the mucous membranes in the colon become to irritated or friable,
the colonics may be too harsh a treatment. The patient should be put
on a metabolic program to reduce the patient’s acid state before
beginning the colonic treatments. At our clinic, we do a special
testing to test the body pH (i.e. urine and saliva) before making
specific recommendations about colonic irrigations. CONSTIPATION The
expression constipation is derived from the Latin word
"constiatus" which translated means to press or crowd
together, to pack, to cram. Consequently, to be constipated means that
the packed accumulation of feces in the bowel makes its evacuation
difficult. However, a state of constipation can also exist
when movements of the bowel may seem to be normal, in spite of an
accumulation of feces somewhere along the passageways of the
colon. Many
health authorities believe that constipation is the number one
affliction underlying nearly every ailment. This means that
constipation would be the most prevalent ailment affecting the
civilized world. It is vital to stress that constipation affects the
health of the colon, upon which the health of the body in its entirety
depends. Constipation contributes toward the lowering of
body resistance predisposing it to many acute illnesses and the
creation of a great many degenerative and chronic processes. Almost
every human ailment has been attributed to a malfunctioning colon,
i.e., one that cannot perform its normal , regular and efficient
functioning. Intestinal constipation causes cellular
constipation. It also increases the workload of the other excretory
organs- kidney, skin, liver, lungs and lymph. The
functioning of these organs becomes depleted and overworked. The
cellular metabolism becomes sluggish, repair and growth are delayed
and the ability to eliminate waste materials is lowered. The cells,
instead of being alive and active, become dead and inactive. This
process results in a decline in tissue and organ functional
ability.
There
are two crimes against nature which civilization indulges in as a
daily routine, which may be direct causes of constipation. One is the
consumption of devitalized and refined foods which fail to nourish the
organs responsible for the evacuation of waste matter. The other which
is most prevalent particularly among young people, but not much less
among the older and more mature, is neglecting to stop everything we
are doing when the urge to evacuate the bowels should drive us
headlong into the bathroom. Bowel movements every two or three days
are considered normal and acceptable. It is my professional opinion,
as in the opinion of many holistic healthcare professionals, that we
should have a bowel movement for every meal we eat, each and everyday.
For example, if we eat three meals per day, we should have three bowel
movements per day. If we
are having less than two bowel movements per day, food residues are
lying in the colon for more than twelve hours. Consequently, the fecal
material in the colon becomes putrefied and fermented. Any nutritional
element present in the fecal matter would pass into the bloodstream as
polluted products. What would otherwise be nutritional becomes in
fact, the beginning of toxemia. Toxemia is a condition in which the
blood contains poisonous products which are produced by the growth of
pathogenic or disease producing bacteria. Pimples for example are
usually the first indication that toxemia has found its way into the
body. A
number of years ago fifty-seven of the leading physicians of Britain
met in London and discussed before the Royal Society of Medicine this
problem of autointoxication caused by a toxic colon. Autointoxication is defined as "the poisoning
of the body, by toxic matter penetrated therein." Twenty-two
poisons were identified as originating in a toxic colon. They are as
follows: Phenol, Cadaverin, Agamatine, Indel, lpheratted Hydrogen,
Cresol, Bulvric Acid, Botulin, Putrescin, Urrobilin, Histidine,
Ammonia, Muscatine, Methylgardinine, Indoethylamine,Sulpheffoglobine,
Ptomaffopine, Pentmethylphamine, Neurin and Sepsin. These
are some of the many types of poisons which can be found in a toxic
colon. Some of these poisons are highly active and may produce the
most detrimental effects–even in very small quantities. In many
cases, these toxins can seep out of the colon and poison the rest of
the body. Here are a few examples: Poisons from the colon can do the
following: *
Weaken and stress the heart * Go
to the skin and cause blemishes, paleness *
Psoriasis, liver spots, wrinkles and other facial
conditions *
Irritate the lungs and cause foul breath * Go
to the brain and disturb mental function and cause
senility * Go
to the joints and cause pain and stiffness * Go
to the muscles and cause weakness and severe fatigue * Rob
you of your youth, ruin your health, and cause you to become old long
before your time How
Constipation Effects the Colon’s Function If
solving the problem of constipation were merely a case of washing out
loose material lying free inside any part of the colon, it would not
be too great a difficulty to clear up the situation. A high enema
would most likely be sufficient to take care of its removal. However,
it is not so simple to dispose of this problem. Constipation not only
involves the unnecessary retention of feces in the bowel, but also the
retention present throughout the first half of the colon. From the
cecum to the middle of the transverse colon. The cecum is found next
to the iliocecal valve at the beginning of the colon. The
wall of this section of the colon is equipped with sensitive nerves
and muscles whose function it is to create wavelike motions, known as
peristaltic waves, to propel the contents of the colon to the cecum to
the rectum for eventual evacuation. This is a distance of
approximately five feet. Besides the formation of these peristaltic waves,
the first half of the colon has two other very important functions.
First, it must extract from all the residue coming from the small
intestine any available nutritional material which the small intestine
was unable to collect. For this purpose, it mulches the material which
passes into it from the small intestine and transfers the liquid and
otherelements through its walls into the bloodstream. The nutrition
which has thus been extracted from the colon is collected by the blood
vessels lining the walls of the colon and is carried to the liver for
processing.
The
other important function of first half of the colon is to gather from
the glands in its walls the intestinal flora needed to lubricate the
colon. Far too many people, and laymen, think that enemas and colon
irrigations wash out the intestinal flora and thus deprive the colon
of a valuable means of lubrication. This school of thought is utterly
false and totally devoid of truth and fact. Obviously, when the packed
accumulation of feces in the bowel leads to fecal encrustation, it is
not possible for the lining of the colon to function normally, and the
glands in this lining cannot produce the necessary intestinal flora or
lubrication. Such lack of lubrication only serves to intensify a state
of constipation and to generate toxemia. It is
estimated that 200 million people are infected by intestinal
parasites This
fecal encrustation interferes with, if it does not actually prevent,
the infusion of the necessary intestinal flora for colon lubrication,
the formation of peristaltic waves for evacuation purposes, and the
absorption and use of the additional and nutritional elements present
in the waste residuecoming into the colon from the small
intestine. It
does not require much imagination to perceive that the adhesive
quality of the feces in the colon is readily susceptible to creating a
coating on the inside of the lining or wall of the colon, resembling a
layer of plaster in its consistency. It is equally obvious that such a
coating, in preventing the normal functioning of the colon, has the
insidious effect of becoming a generator of toxicity, to the detriment
of health, happiness and longevity. When
the bowel is toxic it can harbor an amazing variety of very harmful
bacteria and parasites. It’s interesting to note that worms outrank
cancer as man’s deadliest enemy on a worldwide basis. It is estimated
that 200 million people are infected by these intestinal
parasites. These
worms range in size from microscopic single celled animals to
twenty-foot long tapeworms! These parasites kill more people annually
than does cancer. One in four people in the world today is infected by
roundworms. The United States is not immune to these parasites, as the
number of cases has increased in the past few years. Other Benefits of Colon
hydrotherapy Colon
hydrotherapy also functions as an important diagnostic tool for the
physician in extracting useful information concerning digestive and
clinical disorders: A. It
is an excellent screening device for colo-rectal
cancer. B.
Useful in diagnostic procedures for evaluation of the
colon. C. May
prove valuable in the preparation for bowel surgery, providing a more
optimal surgical field potentially decreasing the risk of
post-operative complications due to the presence of bacteria at the
sutureline. D.
Offers the location and relief of fecal impactions,. amount and color
of mucous and the presence of increased amounts of
gas. E.
Provides detection for parasites. F.
Useful for detoxification of drug addicts and
alcoholics. The
entire colon could be cleaned and examined for blood every six months
or as directed by the physician or health care professional for early
detection of colo-rectal cancer. Benefits from colon hydrotherapy
extend to all diagnostic procedures for evaluating the colon including
barium enema, sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy, facilitating a more
accurate study. Patient discomfort resulting from residual barium
following the enema could be avoided utilizing colon hydrotherapy. In
addition, this technique would eliminate the problem of residual
opaque material on subsequent upper GI series, which would result in
additional radiation exposure to the patient. Patients undergoing
general anesthesia would benefit from colon hydrotherapy as it would
dramatically reduce the problems associated with bowel functions
following surgery. Colon
hydrotherapy may prove valuable in the preparation bowel surgery,
providing a more optimal field potentially decreasing the risk of
post-operative complications due to the presence of bacteria at the
suture line. This procedure may be applied to all patients undergoing
general or spinal anesthesia, as it would minimize the incidence of
defecation in the surgical suite, while saving valuable surgical
time.
Colon
hydrotherapy would also be extremely useful to alcohol and drug
detoxification centers as an aid in the internal cleansing process,
enhancing the elimination of toxins from the colon and circulatory
system. Colon Hydrotherapy
Contraindications The
contraindications of colon hydrotherapy include diverticulitis,
ulcerative colitis, Chrone’s’ disease (in the acute inflammatory
stages), severe hemorrhoids, or a tumor in the rectum or a tumor in
the large intestine. CONCLUSION In
conclusion, colon hydrotherapy is the safe, gentle infusion of
purified warm water into the colon under conditions that offer safety,
using no chemicals or drugs. It is the natural solution to conditions
which interfere with the normal functions of the
colon. Why is
colon hydrotherapy such a valuable treatment modality? A healthy colon
is essential to a healthy body. Conventional diets of today comprised
of refined, processed foods, high in saturated fats and low in natural
fiber, contribute to the magnitude of the constipation problem. The
elimination of undigested food and other waste products are as
important as the proper digestion and assimilation of food stuffs.
Waste material allowed to remain too long in the digestivesystem
results in fermentation and putrefaction of these substances and
proliferation of bacteria and their toxins. Laxatives offer only temporary relief and do not
address the cause of the real problem. Colon
hydrotherapy effectively removes stagnant fecal material from colon
walls, preventing the build up of these bacterial toxins in the ports
and lymphatic system, resulting in reduced load on the liver. In
addition, the treatment removes mucous, gas, parasites, and cellular
debris, facilitating peristaltic action and better absorption of
nutrients. This
natural cleansing process effectively resolves the symptom directly
and indirectly related to dysfunction of the large
intestine. Bacteria are involved in the production of several
vitamins which are absorbed by the large intestine and stored in the
liver (vitamins K and some of the B vitamins). In addition to
vitamins, the colon absorbs larger amounts of water. Unfortunately
toxins of bacterial metabolism also enter the circulatory system.
These toxins, (Indol, Skatol, Phenol, etc.) are treated by the liver
and excreted by the kidneys. Colon bacteria ferments starches
releasing hydrogen and methane gasses which are absorbed and excreted
through the lungs. Thus, halitosis may be a symptom of a stagnant
fermenting colon. Intestinal toxemia may further result in conditions
such as headaches, allergies, instability, malnutrition and can
potentially lead to an overall lowering of an individual’s
immunological defense mechanism. Intestinal stasis can enhance the systemic
absorption of bacteria and their toxins. The prolonged retention of
food residues, bile,etc. results in increased numbers of parastalic
bacteria present in the colon. Some of the colon’s normal flora may
become pathogenic under stagnant or putrefactive conditions. For
example, streptococcus and staphylococcus, which are a part of the
normal flora of the large intestine under above conditions, could
enter the systemic circulation and be a potential source of
disease. It is
my own personal and professional opinion that colon hydrotherapy is
one of the most valuable treatment modalities offered. It may be a
valuable solution by itself or in conjunction with an integrated
metabolic program for a myriad of health problems. By
Donald J. Mantell, M.D. Professional Member AANC Back
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