Unless one is speaking of punctuation, uttering the word colon is considered an offense as heinous as bribing a politician or lying to nuns. But in this day and age, why is colon health such an embarrassing topic? Most likely because the colon is involved in a very personal bodily function and most people want to create the illusion that they don’t participate in this bodily function. It’s the same reason why people are embarrassed to buy toilet paper; because buying toilet paper announces to the world, “Yes, I poop.”
There, I said the word. Take a moment, have a beverage, and when you’ve recovered from the shock and horror of it, come on back so we can talk about why it is absolutely essential that you pay more attention to your colon’s health and well being.
What Your Colon Actually Does and Why You Should Care
Your colon consists of the last five feet of your digestive tract, yes – five feet, and it’s here that water, electrolytes and some vitamins are absorbed. Besides the skin, kidneys and lungs, the colon is one of the major organs in charge of eliminating toxins and waste from the body. If it can’t do its job properly, waste and toxins accumulate in our bodies and cause all kinds of health problems. Some health problems you may be experiencing right now could be directly related to the fact your colon is backed up with old waste and toxins.
So how should you be treating your colon and giving it the attention it so rightly deserves?
Colonics – Your Colon’s New Best Friend
Colonics, also called colonic irrigation and colonic hydrotherapy, have been used to treat disease and promote good health for thousands of years. The practice is said to have been around since 1500 BC when ancient Egyptians used colon hydrotherapy to treat fevers and remove feces and mucus from the colon. The ancient Greeks also used colonics to treat those with various diseases.
In 1908, Russian scientist Elie Metchnikoff received the Nobel Prize for research on immunity and found that disease in fact occurs because of toxic buildup in the body. He found that intestinal toxins were responsible for disease and could shorten a person’s lifespan.
Today, it is still a common practice in Russian hospitals to administer a colonic to all patients when first admitted, no matter what their ailment is. This is because Russian doctors realize that no treatments can be effectively administered to a body that is highly toxic.
Yet American doctors are reluctant to even discuss colonics with patients let alone administer them, even when a patient has specifically requested one. Most American doctors feel colonic irrigation to be an antiquated practice with little or no real benefits, even though history and current research says otherwise.
Common Causes of Impacted and Toxic Colons
Before we get to those benefits, let’s talk a little about how our modern lifestyle creates a
perfect storm for fecal accumulation and toxic buildup. You need only look at certain factors such as stress, diets high in dairy, gluten, red meats, refined carbohydrates, processed food laden with artificial preservatives and sweeteners, high alcohol and caffeine consumptions and a low intake of fruits, vegetables and water to understand people are making it almost impossible for the colon to do its job.
The Many Benefits of Colonics
Besides cleaning up your diet, eliminating as much stress as possible and making sure to get plenty of rest and water each day, getting a colonic (or a series to start) will do wonders for your health and energy. And yes, before you even ask, I myself get regular colonics and have been doing so for years, and I can tell you first hand there are some amazing benefits.
The Cleanse
The most obvious benefit of a colonic is the fact that it completely cleanses your colon. Warm water is introduced slowly until your colon is full. Eventually the water is released, carrying with it old fecal matter and all of those deadly toxins. Depending on how impacted your colon is, you may need a few treatments to start to remove all of the built-up waste.
It’s Like a Step Class for Your Colon
Toxic build-up weakens the muscles of the colon thereby impairing their function – namely moving that waste out. The gentle filling and emptying of the colon improves the muscular contractions (called peristalsis) so it’s like giving your colon a workout and getting it back into shape. While lying there you may want to quietly hum the theme to Rocky.
Stimulate Those Reflex Points
The body is connected to itself through a system of reflex points. Your colon has reflex points within it that, when stimulated, affect corresponding body parts in a very beneficial way creating overall health in the body.
Major Hydration
As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, water is absorbed into the body through the colon. This hydration increases your body’s blood volume as well as circulation, which results in the dilution of more toxins which can then be released through the kidneys and skin as well as the bowels.
Colonics Boost Your Immune System
Colonic irrigation can boost your immune system in 3 specific ways: It creates a healthy environment where friendly bacteria can grow, it can rid the body of thrush and candida, and it can enhance the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
If you’ve read this far congratulations; it means you’re not too squeamish or embarrassed and care about your own health, which is good; because in the end, your health is all you really have.
Devon is a Certified Personal Trainer, Licensed Mental Health/Substance Abuse Counselor and a nationally certified teacher. As a Personal Trainer, she focuses on incorporating whole body wellness through nutrition, movement, and stretching, including off-site activities. She is committed to helping people be their highest selves in all areas: body, mind, and spirit. Her expertise, enthusiasm, energy and educational background serve to create a unique blend of services and techniques employed to help you reach your goals. For training, coaching, or counseling sessions, please contact her at 505.469.0779 or herndonconsulting@gmail.com.
