| Colon Cleansing Methods: Is it Science or Myth? |
| Written by The Editor | |
| Sunday, 09 November 2008 09:53 | |
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Colon cleansing is essentially the use of supplements and water to flush out the colon. There are basically two methods for colon cleansing. They believe that the typical person may have up to one to two kilograms of faecal matter in their colon, which causes mucus to build up and harden on colon walls. Science refutes this. The colon is designed to clear toxins from our bodies. Most of the time, it functions well, constantly shedding old cells, absorbing nutrients and keeping a delicate balance of bacteria and natural chemicals. Interfering with this process may hurt or destroy the natural balance, meaning the colon will not work as well as it should. Colon cleansing is unnecessary, and most medical doctors will not advise you to do this. When the colon malfunctions, that is when you should seek medical attention, diagnose the problem and administer the appropriate treatment. Too often, we try to do too much ourselves and without fully understanding the implications, we inadvertently do more damage. The other method of colon cleansing is colonic irrigation or colonic hydrotherapy, which involves inserting a rubber tube into the rectum and flushing it with water. Occasionally, other products may be added. One possible danger in this method, is that if administered wrongly, it can cause a colonic perforation or rupture. The resultant hole in the colon causes peritonitis, where the faecal contents of the colon enter into the abdominal cavity, causing severe infection, and patients can die from this. Treatment of this complication usually involves surgery and likely a stoma. Another danger of colon cleansing is that if the equipment used is not properly cleaned or disinfected, you could end up with a bacterial infection. Sometimes, people who undergo this treatment may absorb too much water. This could lead to a chemical imbalance in the body, leading on to vomiting, heart failure and fluid overload and pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs). If you want to undertake this form of treatment, at least understand the risks involved and have it done at a specialist centre with an affiliated medical practice. That will certainly diminish the chances of complications.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 26 January 2009 09:57 ) |