Death begins in the colon! That may sound a little extreme but it is a fact that a troubled colon leads to all sorts of diseases, some more serious than the others. Colon cleansing is one of the best ways of cleaning an unhealthy colon that is severely out of balance. While it is necessary to learn about different methods of cleansing, it is of utmost importance to understand that several mishaps can occur if colon cleansing is not performed properly.

Do not believe anyone that says colon cleansing is free from any reactions. It is common to have physical reactions to the colon cleansing process. These reactions may include headaches, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea or dizziness. For all the discomfort, this is actually a sign that the process is working and that you are actually eliminating toxins from the body. Although, these symptoms may not be considered as serious, if they do occur, you may need to temporarily cut back on your cleansing procedure.

You must learn not to confuse cleansing supplements with laxatives. Laxatives are not considered to be a good alternative, despite the fact that many health professionals recommend them. According to colon hydrotherapists, laxatives only stimulate the muscular movement of the colon. They can also cause dehydration and do nothing to loosen and remove the colon’s false lining. Laxatives may also weaken the colon by irritating and over-stimulating it, and it is best to stay away from them.

Colon cleansing should not be attempted without taking into consideration all the health factors. Those recovering from substance abuse, alcoholics, diabetics, people suffering from eating disorders, and individuals who are physically weak or have a hypothyroid or hypoglycemic condition should not undergo any form of cleansing or detoxification without strict medical supervision. It becomes inevitable to consult a physician before venturing to clean the colon, even when going in for alternative colon cleansing treatments using herbs.

We know that a colon cleansing program begins with the intake of adequate amounts of fiber among other things. However, increasing your intake of dietary fiber too rapidly can cause unpleasant side effects, such as gas, bloating, and even diarrhea. Someone in a state of ill health and gastrointestinal dysfunction cannot rush into a detoxification program. In people whose systems are deeply imbalanced, the body lacks the energy and proper organ function to run the complex processes of detoxifying itself. To avoid any of the unwanted side effects, fiber consumption should be increased gradually. Many people rush into it because they decide they need to get their health right immediately, and in the process suffer unexpected health problems.

Colon cleanses can be done at home too but the danger is of overdoing it. With colon cleansing, too much too soon can prove to be harmful. If attempting to do an enema at home, the equipment should be sterilized properly. Any negligence can easily lead to bacterial infections that could turn serious. It is also important to be gentle so as not to damage the intestinal wall.

Total fasting is bad for health too. Yes, there are many colon cleansing programs that stress on fasting but when you fast without consuming anything, your liver has to exert itself to flush out toxins. These toxins can easily get into the colon and then into the body. They eventually come back to the liver, putting a lot of load on the liver. There has to be intake of fresh organic juices, raw vegetables and lots of water to ensure that toxins are flushed out and do not recirculate.

According to the Department of Health, there have been cases where colon cleansing has caused severe illnesses and even death due to contaminated equipment, perforation (puncture) of intestinal walls or electrolyte (salt and mineral) imbalance. People at higher risk for a bowel injury include those that have ulcerative colitis, severe hemorrhoids, rectal or colon tumors, diverticulitis or those recovering from bowel surgery. People with heart failure or kidney problems may experience electrolyte imbalance. Since the colon walls can absorb substances, there is a chance that it can cause allergic reactions with the possibility of irreversible complications.

Although, colon cleansing in itself is not dangerous, the way it is performed has a big impact on the outcome. All these mishaps can be avoided by taking by ensuring it is done under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

By now you know that it is not possible to “live” with a toxic colon because it will not let you live. Yes, it can get very bad if neglected and lead to a host of debilitating health issues, including obesity, severe gastrointestinal dysfunction, gum disease, food allergies as well as recurring depression. But, how do you know if you are a victim?

You will certainly know when you cannot see your knees anymore – due to overweight. That sounds scary but it is a fact.

There are other ways of finding out the condition of the colon. One obvious sign is difficult and painful bowel movements. According to Robert Gray, a nutritional counselor, “Few people have any inkling as to how much old, hardened feces are chronically present within their bodies.”

Transit time can also be used to measure the health of a bowel, with the optimal transit time being 18-20 hours. Other symptoms of a toxic bowel are bloating and gas, weight gain, lower back pain, headaches, fatigue, depression, dark circles under the eyes, sallow complexion, abnormal body odor, tender abdomen and bad breath.

While observing the symptoms is essential, nutritionists also advise undergoing tests to get more detailed information about the colon condition. These tests may also help determine the treatment that is needed.

Testing The Transit Time – A simple procedure that can be done at home is to test the food transit time. Begin by eating a test food, such as corn on the cob, beets, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds or any other food that is visible in the stool. The time of ingestion of the test food should be noted and then it should be carefully watched to see the material appear in the stool, identifying the food in the stool by undigested seeds, kernels or the dark red color from the beets. The time between the ingestion of the test food to the appearance in the stool is the transit time.

Bacterial Breath Test – This test will determine if bacteria has taken over the small intestine, by measuring the levels of hydrogen and methane in the breath after the intake of a specially formulated drink that contains non-digestible sugar (lactulose). If there is bacteria in the small intestine, the levels of both methane and hydrogen will increase.

Iridology – This is an alternative medicine technique that can be used to assess the health of the colon. This diagnostic tool studies the iris of the eye. Iridologists have amazingly mapped the entire body in the iris and will look for black spots, tiny yellow clumps, white circles or speckles on the surface of the iris to detect any disease in any part of the body. James D’Adamo, N.D., a naturopath says that when the colon is toxic a ringed formation will appear on the iris.

Urinary Indican (Obermeyer Test) – This test reveals the amount of indican, which is a bacterial waste product in the urine. A high level of indican reflects a colon filled with putrefactive bacteria.

Tongue Analysis – Traditional Chinese medicine has used the tongue to diagnose a host of internal diseases. To perform a tongue analysis, no food should be eaten after 5 p.m. on the previous day, and also no meat should be included in the last meal. Upon waking up the next morning, the tongue should be checked to see if there is a coating, which if existent, can be an indicator of a clogged colon. The thicker the coating, the worse the problem.

Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis – This involves a physician performing almost two dozen tests on a stool sample. These tests will reveal the level of digestion of food, how efficiently the nutrients are being absorbed, the proportion of friendly bacteria in the intestine when compared to unfriendly bacteria, whether fats are being absorbed, whether yeasts such as Candida are present and also whether the diet contains sufficient fiber. This is considered to be one of the best ways to gauge into the colon and observe its functioning.

After identifying the toxicity of colon by performing any of the above mentioned tests, a colon cleansing is commonly recommended by health practitioners as part of the detoxification program. It is important for everyone to understand their bodies well enough to be able to see the symptoms of colon disease and take appropriate action. As they say, self help is the best help.

It is said that hundreds of years ago, the intestinal “transit time” was much shorter than it is now, which is the interval from the time the food entered the mouth until it was excreted as feces. In those days, this was believed to be between 15 and 20 hours; whereas now it is anywhere from 50 to 70 hours.

The reason for this drastic increase is that our diets now consist of less fiber from fruits and vegetables. Since fiber is indigestible, it gives the stools bulk, making them soft and flexible. Another factor that determines the transit time is the modern lifestyles, antibiotics, stress, and certain foods that form acid, such as eggs, meat, sugar etc. These things cause a thick and sticky mucus formation in the intestinal tract.

Food remains longer in the intestinal tract, putrefying the stool, letting harmful microorganisms flourish and toxins develop and poison the body. The perfect transit time should be about 18 to 20 hours, with 24 to 48 hours being acceptable. Ideally, just like babies do, even adults should have unforced bowel movements about 20 minutes after every meal.

The sign of a healthy colon is stool that is soft but formed, and consists of 70% water but has enough bulk to respond to the muscular contractions of the bowel.

Unhealthy intestinal functions have a major impact on the body weight. People who have a toxic colon tend to overeat, since they cannot absorb the nutrients they are consuming. Human body goes into a nutritional crisis and metabolic shock waves travel to every cell in the body, when the bowel fails.

Nutritionists say that more than 90% of the people metabolize less than 55% of what they eat. Many even happen to consider it normal to have a bowel movement once a day or even every few days. It is easy to understand how all this works, if we question what is happening to all the food that is eaten, where is it all going, if there is only one bowel movement everyday or every other day.

It is not only the weight of the fecal material that contributes to weight gain. Even toxic byproducts from the colon can lower metabolism and drain the body of energy. They also put a lot of burden on the liver and kidneys. The main reason why toxins from the colon need to be cleansed is to remove those byproducts from getting back into other parts of the body. Once the colon is clean, the metabolism should work as it has to, and with that the main obstacle to weight loss is eliminated.

There are several factors that harm the colon:

Acid diets: Sugars, processed grains, meat and eggs contribute to intestinal plaque formation. They reduce the electrolytes in the body, which help in preventing bile from becoming too acidic. The result is acidic bile that cannot help with digestion. Overeating during a meal also causes an increase in acid in the intestines.

Processed foods: Any foods made from white flour that is bleached, such as cakes, pastries, white bread etc. help intestinal plaque to build-up. The problem with these foods is that they contain absolutely no fiber and also because the nutrients have been bleached out, they contain no nutrition and enzymes. Enzymes help in breaking down food and helping the body absorb. Without these, the food starts putrefying in the intestines rather than being digested and absorbed.

Stress: Stress can cause excess amounts of acid in the intestine, which causes plaque to form. Tension also constricts the walls of the bowel and sphincter muscles, which restricts the passage of the fecal material.

Allergies: Mucous may be produced by the intestines due to food allergies. Any food can be an allergen and cause cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other symptoms. Whole wheat and wheat bran, which are usually consumed for their fiber content are also said to increase the problem if there is an existing allergy.

Parasites and Yeast: Digestive problems are also caused by parasite and yeast infestations in the colon. These parasites enter the body through contaminated water and food. Intestinal parasites can cause many reactions, such as asthma, joint swelling and weight gain.

Antibiotics: Physicians prescribe antibiotics to alleviate an infection by killing harmful bacteria. However, the problem with these drugs is that they do not have the capacity to distinguish between the friendly and unfriendly bacteria in the body and even the friendly bacteria get killed. When this friendly bacteria is not replaced with the use of supplements or through diet, the intestines become a playfield for the unfriendly bacteria and this causes buildup of toxins.

Carbohydrate Intolerance: Starches, which are a form of carbohydrates, also cause intestinal problems. When carbohydrates in the small intestine are not digested properly, this attracts the bacteria from the large intestine and they take over the small intestine and multiply quickly. This bacteria destroys enzymes in the small intestine and reduces the body’s abilities to digest food and absorb carbohydrates.

The way to cleanse the system of all these toxins is to undergo colon cleansing and to ensure that a proper diet is maintained for a healthy colon, keeping all the above factors in mind.