Are Colonics Safe?
More and more people are trying colonic irrigation as a way to fight off disease. These people claim that colonics are safe, but practitioners of mainstream medicine are skeptical. Here is an introduction to colonic irrigation, so you can decide the answer to the question, “Are colonics safe?”
An introduction to colonics
Colonic irrigation refers to one of the most popular procedures in alternative medicine. During the procedure, a hose is inserted through the rectum and into the colon. A warm liquid is forced through the hose, washing the large intestine. After several minutes, patients are encouraged to defecate. There is a historical basis for the idea behind colonics. The ancient Egyptians believed that the colon was the key to all diseases.
Modern-day practitioners of both mainstream and alternative medicine would probably agree with them. As the organ responsible for absorbing food nutrients, the colon is often exposed to toxins from food. Chiropractors, practitioners of alternative medicine and even licensed medical doctors believe in the link between colon health and overall health and energy levels. Still, are colonics safe?
Benefits of colonics
Colonic hydrotherapy is often recommended for gastrointestinal disorders, migraine headaches, and auto-immunities such as arthritis, allergy and asthma. People who have tried colonic irrigation have noted that their energy levels were increased, and anyone with chronic fatigue is encouraged to try it. Colonics is also good for cleaning out parasite infestation. People who have undergone colonic irrigations usually notice a reduced craving for sweet and fried food, and some have even noticed weight loss after the procedure. Also, elevated energy levels often motivate people to exercise, and this combination of eating right and regular exercise has helped people who have undergone colonics to live generally healthy lives.
Safety concerns
As an unregulated medical procedure, there is no way to know for sure how many colonic procedures are performed in the US , and if indeed, colonics are safe . However, injuries are apparently rare. Potential side effects include infection, and uncontrollable bowel movement, but incidences of these are rare. Common criticism of colonic hydrotherapy includes its use by unqualified practitioners. In 2004, a study in the UK found that 60 percent of clinicians performing colonics had no previous clinical background. Some 80 percent worked completely unassisted. Conditions in the US are not much better.
In 2003 a man in Georgia sued a practitioner and his six assistants for negligence, after his wife died of a perforated colon while undergoing a colonic irrigation. While most injuries from colonic irrigations probably go unreported, their rarity seems to indicate that the procedure is safe. Are colonics safe? There is no definite answer. When in the hands of a professional, colonics are safe and beneficial, though invasive. However, one thing is certain: In the hands of an amateur, colonics can be deadly.
