Colon cleansing

Colon cleansing
Large enema equipment for colon cleansing
Alternative therapy
Claims	Removal of unspecified toxins

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Colon cleansing, also known as colon therapy, colon hydrotherapy, a colonic, or colonic irrigation, encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies claimed to remove toxins from the colon and intestinal tract by removing accumulations of feces. Colon cleansing in this context should not be confused with an enema which introduces fluid into the colon, often under mainstream medical supervision, for a limited number of purposes including severe constipation^[1] and medical imaging.^[2]

Some forms of colon hydrotherapy use tubes to inject water, sometimes mixed with herbs or with other liquids, into the colon via the rectum using special equipment. Oral cleaning regimes use dietary fiber, herbs, dietary supplements, or laxatives. Those who practice colon cleansing believe in autointoxication, that accumulations of putrefied feces line the walls of the large intestine and that these accumulations harbor parasites or pathogenic gut flora, causing nonspecific symptoms and general ill-health.

Autointoxication, a term coined in 1884 by the French physician Charles Jacques Bouchard,^[3] is a hypothesis based on medical beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks and was discredited in the early 20th century.^[4] Nonetheless, during the 2000s Internet marketing and infomercials of oral supplements supposedly for colon cleansing increased.^[5]

There is no scientific evidence for the alleged benefits of colon cleansing.^[4] Certain enema preparations have been associated with heart attacks and electrolyte imbalances, and improperly prepared or used equipment can cause infection or damage to the bowel. Frequent colon cleansing can lead to dependence on enemas to defecate and some herbs may reduce the effectiveness of, or increase the risks associated with the use of prescription medications.^[6]