A Brief History of Colon Hydrotherapy

For many years, there have been mixed sentiments toward the use of colon hydrotherapy that promotes overall health and wellness as well as a preventive measure for various diseases.

This can be attributed to the fact that sometime in the past, the procedure is widely used that even non-medical practitioners gain profit from administrating the procedure as well as in producing colonic machines.

Some actually claim that the conflict is somewhat political. However, while some orthodox medicine practitioners strongly advise against colonic irrigations, there are others still who do not for they believe in the medical or health benefits of such a procedure.

However, it is always advised that the procedure must only be taken upon the advice of health care professionals since it is a delicate procedure.

Up until now, there have been no approved scientific evidences that would prove that colon hydrotherapy is indeed valuable to one's well-being.

Yet, there have been evidences that the process of cleansing the bowel through introducing water into the colon via the rectum to consequently flush out wastes and undesirable substances accumulated in the bowel has been in use since ancient times.

The Eber Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical document which dates back to 1500 B.C. reveal that medics of that time actually performed colon cleansing to aid their patients in recovering from a number of diseases. Also, there have been documents that revealed the ancient Greeks including Galen who lived around the 2nd century as well as Hippocrates who lived between the 4th and 5th century also used colon cleansing method as fever therapy as well as to remove bile, blood, and even undigested food from the bowel in treating other diseases.

During the 17th century, the use of clysters, better known as enemas was very popular in Europe, especially among the elites. It was said that people of that time had three to four enemas a day. In fact, King Louis XII was a great fan of the treatment.

During the 19th century, the use of such treatment reached America. Dr. John H. Kellogg of Battle Creek, Michigan became an advocate of colon hydrotherapy and performed the treatments on almost all of his patients which he claimed have been very successful.

In fact, in 1917, in the Journal of the American Medical Association he related his success in curing majority of his patients from their gastrointestinal conditions through diets, exercises and colonics.

In 1908, a Russian scientist by the name of Elie Metchnikoff received a Nobel Price for his research on immunity. Through his studies, he discovered that diseases are caused by toxins that build up in the body and extends that intestinal toxins shortens a person's life.

In 1929, Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane wrote the book The Prevention of the Diseases Peculiar to Civilization and noted that cancer is majorly preceded by prolonged intestinal stasis.

Between the 1920s and 1930s colonics was a standard procedure in medical facilities and physicians office in the US. It was the apex of the procedure's popularity in the country.

However, within the next fifty to sixty years the popularity of colonic irrigation declined due to the introduction of synthetic drugs and the widespread unregulated use of the said procedure.

Yet due to the resurgence of alternative medicine, colon hydrotherapy is regaining is popularity as one of the several holistic detoxification treatments that can provide an individual a better sense of well-being.

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