Bowel Cleansing Regimen

There a number of reasons people undergo a bowel cleansing. Some do it to maintain their health or lose weight, while others cleanse the large intestines to eradicate abnormal symptoms or fight various illnesses. The goal of a bowel-cleansing regimen is to rid the body of excess yeast, parasites and harmful toxins.

Proper Diet, Enzymes and Probiotics

• No amount of bowel cleansing will be effective unless you eat a sensible diet. If you have frequent yeast infections or are suffering from candida overgrowth (a fungus), you must reduce the amount of glutens and sugar in your diet. Glutens are proteins with a high glycemic index. Wheat and yeast products such as bread and pasta are fraught with glutens, as are many cereals and snack foods. These foods feed systemic yeast and can render your bowel cleansing ineffectual. Leaving your body in this state will also cause an erosion of the natural bacteria in the large intestines. This can make the area more prone to parasites.

  Enzymes are also important for healthy bowels. They help fight off systemic yeast. Raw vegetables contain a lot of enzymes and should be part of your bowel-cleansing regimen.

  Probiotics are also important for colon health. They help replenish the flora in the large intestines with "friendly" bacteria. These microorganisms can help fight systemic yeast and parasitic invasions. Yogurt contains probiotics and can be part of your colon-cleansing routine.

  A bowel-cleansing routine will dehydrate you. Thus, you should drink a lot of water.

Cleansing Methods

• There are two ways to clean the bowels: with packaged colon cleanses or through colonic irrigation. Both have their advantages.

  Packaged colon cleanses usually come in powder form. They usually contain a mixture of foods and herbs that help rid the colon of yeast, toxins and parasites. For example, garlic is one food that kills yeast. Pure psyllium helps rid the body of toxins. Other colon-cleansing foods include cayenne pepper, ginger and senna. Paul d'Arco tea is a common herbal ingredient. Aloe vera is used to reduce inflammation in the intestines. Colon cleanses can be highly effective for eliminating yeast, toxins and parasites, but people with a food allergy or intolerance may have sensitivities to them.

  Colon irrigation is usually done through a licensed colon hydrotherapist. This method eliminates foreign substances with purified water. One 40-minute session can be equivalent to that of 20 bowel movements in clearing out the colon. Though colon irrigation is expensive, it is usually the more thorough of the two types of cleanses. The water temperature can be raised to a maximum of 104 degrees to kill parasites. Varying the temperature can force open the illeocecal valve between the large and small intestines, eliminating toxic buildup in an area that is difficult to reach.

  Choosing the right method for cleansing is a personal choice. If you have a chronic illness or autoimmune disease, colon irrigation may be the better alternative.

Frequency of Treatment

• Packaged colon cleanses should be done about once per year. The treatment duration can vary depending on your goals. If you want to lose weight, one week should be sufficient. Two to four weeks is average.

  Colon irrigation is usually done over three to six weeks. Six to eight sessions is average. More chronically ill people may be treated much longer.