Colon Hydrotherapy Risk Factors

Colon hydrotherapy is an alternative medicine process that flushes waste from the body. Proponents say colon hydrotherapy offers health benefits by detoxifying the body, but the process is disputed among medical professionals, with some warning against it.

History

• Internal cleansing of the body has been practiced in some societies since ancient times. Colon cleansing became popular in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, and has recently undergone a resurgence.

How It Is Done

• A tube is inserted into the rectum and a solution is pumped into the body, then flushed out. The process of removing waste from the large intestine takes about an hour and about 20 gallons of water or solution.

Medical Debate

• The American Cancer Society says beneficial claims associated with colon hydrotherapy are unproven. Some medical experts warn that improper use of the procedure could result in severe medical consequences, including infection and puncturing of the intestinal wall.

Legal Action

• In 2003, the Texas attorney general sued clinics and manufacturers of colon hydrotherapy devices, claiming they performed the procedures without the required doctor's guidance. The attorney general called colon hydrotherapy a "ticking time bomb" because of the lack of professional medical supervision.

Restrictions

• The Food and Drug Administration restricts the use of colon cleaning machines to medically approved use, such as treatment before an X-ray or endoscope exam. Those who administer colon hydrotherapy are prohibited from making unproven claims about the benefits of their services.