The Pros & Cons of Colonic Irrigation

Colonic irrigation entails placing water into the colon for the purpose of clearing it of waste. Colonics are used by people who may be irregular or as a preventative measure against gastrointestinal disorders, such as diverticulosis, constipation or colon cancer. Benefits include a thorough cleansing of the colon, which may improve digestion and speed weight loss for a dieter. Risks include a reliance on colonics or the inability to have normal daily bowel movements. Most people use colonics only occasionally and generally they are not considered habit-forming.

Identification

• Colonic irrigation is normally performed by a licensed colon therapist, nurse or vocational nurse in a clinic. A session involves a client lying down on a treatment table. A tube is inserted into the opening of the colon and filled with filtered water. The contents are also extracted with the vacuum action of the special machine. Treatments might cost in the range of $70 to $110 for an hour-long treatment.

Function

• Colonic irrigation is designed to remove waste from the large intestine in a very thorough way. For good health, it is ideal to have two to three daily bowel movements. If this is not the case, colonics can help reestablish this rate of detoxification, along with a high-fiber diet, regular exercise and other lifestyle changes.

Time Frame

• Some people choose to have colonic treatments as part of a weight-loss program. They might go to a spa for colonics and remain on a juice fast to lose weight more quickly. Other people have colonics only if they experience irregularity or feel they are not achieving at least one bowel movement daily on their own. Last, some people have colonics as a preventative measure against more serious health issues and may get colonics only once a month or less frequently.

Benefits

• Colonic irrigation removes waste from the large intestine that may have been there for a while. Inability to move the bowels can result in weight gain and discomfort. Colonics can help improve digestion and absorption of nutrients from foods. People often report feeling "lighter" after a colonic.

Misconceptions

• It is a misconception to believe that colonics are not useful. While colonics may not be appropriate for everyone, unless you are having at least one daily bowel movement per day, you are not detoxifying adequately. It is possible to abuse colonics or get them too frequently, creating a dependency on them. However, this is not the norm, and most people use colonic irrigation only as needed.