Health Improvement Through Colonic Hydrotherapy
by Dr. Henry Hrasky
22 Av Lahouze, 64200 Biarritz, France.
The Colon:
The colon, or large intenstine, is an important part of the digestive system; some 5 feet in length and 2.5 inches in diameter, situated at the end of the alimentary canal, it conpletes the digestive process and handles our food waste and other body waste. It is normally populated by billions of friendly bacteria which assist
in detoxifying waste, synthesise certain vitamins and help us guard against infection. These same bacteria make up some 70% of the dry weight of our faecal waste. The colon structure is of smooth muscle and it is broadly divided into 3 segments; the caecum and ascending colon into which food waste enters in a fluid state through the ileo-caecal valve; the transverse colon where water, minerals and vitamins are re- absorbed; and the descending colon where mucus is secreted to coat the faeces prior to defecation through the rectum and anus.
In health, bowel transit time from eating to defecation is 24 hours or less and bowel movement is at least once daily. In disease, poor digestion, yeast overgrowth, spastic colon, irritabale bowel syndrome, chronic constipation and diarrhoea are usually accompanied by auto-intoxication (absorption of soluble wastes into the blood stream), which places a heavy burden upon the other eliminative organs of the body - the kidneys, the skin and the lungs.
Chronic constipation can lead to further direct complications: diverticulitis, haemorrhoids, fissures, atonicity, spasticity, prolapsis, colitis and even bowel cancer as well as chronic toxic conditions in the rest of the body, like the skin (e.g. acne and eczema), the cardio-vascular system, the nervous system and the liver.
Correct function of the colon is a necessity for health, for truly "disease can begin in the colon". It has been said that colon malfunction can lead to 80% of all diseased states.
What is Colonic Hydrotherapy?
Colonic hydrotherapy is an internal bath that helps cleanse the colon of poisons, gas, accumulated faecal matter and mucus deposits. Such techinques were first recorded in 1500 B.C., and have been used in traditional and naturopathic medicine since that time. Using sterilised equipment, filtered water is gently introduced into the rectum which progressively softens and expels faecal matter and compacted deposits.
Colonic hydrotherapy is more effective than an enema, since the whole colon is treated and water is not purposely retained. It is best used as a complementary technique to other therapies. By improving elimination, response to dietary, homoeopathic, herbal, manipulative and other therapies is markedly improved.
Why Colonic Hydrotherapy?
Poor elimination can lead to many chronic conditions; it is these very conditions that colonic hydrotherapy can help: Constipation - Diarrhoea - Mucus Colitis Spastic Colon Diverticulitis - Liver sluggishness - Halitosis Headaches - Flatulence - Haemorrhoids - Skin problems (acne, eczema and psoriasis) - Abdominal bloating - Asthma - Allergies - Fatigue - many "Psychological" states, such as, depresstion, lethargy, schizophrenia, etc. It is also of benefit prior to and following barium enemas and during t'erapeutic fasting. Some complex conditions such as Crohn's disease, Myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) and intestinal Candida are also helped by the resultant detoxifying effect of Colonic hydrotherapy.
What is involved?
Conducted by a trained therapist, filtered water at a carefully regulated temperature is introduced under gentle gravitational pressure through the rectum into the colon. With special massage techniques, the water begins to soften and cleanse the colon of faecal matter and old deposits which are piped away with the waste water. The therapist works progressively around the structure of the colon allowing water alternately to flow in and release. The whole process takes about 30 minutes.
Herbal preperations may be used for certain conditions, and regular colon implants of Lactobacillus acidophilus are given to assure normalisation of bowel flora. The modesty of the patient is preserved to the utmost during the process.
Is any preparation required?
No special measures are necessary prior to colonic hydrotherapy, although results may be more rapidly achieved by following a colon cleansing programme.
Is it safe?
Yes. Countless thousands of colonics have been given safely; the water pressure is very low, so there is no danger of bowel perforation and the water used is pre-filtered.
Unlike regular use of laxatives, colonic hydrotherapy is not habit-forming, and in fact improves colon muscle tone.
And the results ...
Most people quickly experience improved mental clarity after colonic irrigation. With their toxic load diminished and elimination improved, a greater feeling of well-being and lightness is felt.
Obvious relief from bloating and constipation, toxic headaches, painful heamorrhoids and skin problems. In the longer term, bowel disease risk is also diminished and nutrients are better absorbed leading to improved all-round health.
Who can benefit from Colonics?
Essentially anyone with a condition aggravated or caused totally or in part by autotoxicity, and where the resulting improved elimination aids healing. Most diets include mucus-forming foods like dairy, eggs, sugar, flour, and tofu and even those people on relatively good diets and who have regular bowel movements have old hardened accumulations of mucoid deposits which hinder proper elimination and need periodic cleansing.
According to many researchers regular intakes of refined carbohydrates (starch, sugar, bread..) lack of natural fibres (whole cereals..) in the diet largely lead to malfunctioning of the intestines and putrefactions and consequent pathologies, including colon cancers.
In France alone, 25,000 new cases of colon cancers are estimated each year. A recent study conducted in the United States by N. Petrakis and E. King on 1381 women of different age groups shows that 25 percent of them were chronic constipated (they defecated only twice a week) and develop mammary dysplasia, as compared to say five times as many women who evacuated daily as nature intended. This phenomenon could be explained by the following fact : water absorption mostly occurs in the cecum and in the ascending colon; moreover there are many bacteria and their toxins in this area. This induces an engorgement of the lymphatic and portal veinous systems.
Poisonous blood stream leads to engorgement of spleen, the liver, the haemorroidal veins and the inferior limbs veins. The lymph engorgement by a high rate of toxins leads sooner or later, to a weakening of the immune defences and consequently, to upper respiratory tract diseases (angina, sinusitis, rhinitis, otitis...), or stein diseases (acne, eczema psoriasis...)
Intestinal toxins, carried away by blood stream in the whole body, will accumulate in weaker areas, inducing a progressive poisoning of the involved cells and facilitating some neo-pathologies like the famous "morning getting-up tiredness".
Additional benefits of colonic hydro-therapy include loss of excess weight. Cystitis, ovaritis and dysmenorrhoea are often definitively cured. It also helps in pregnancy related toxaemia and in hypo and hyperthermy, fevers and ulcerative colitis. Patients suffering from para and tetraplegia can be helped by this method, as also elderly whose bowel movements are not satisfactory. Radiological investigations and pre-surgery preparations are other possibilities.
How many treatments?
Depending upon the condition being treated, the individual and the initial results, anything between 6-12 treatments may be recommended spread over one or two months. Deposits built up over a lifetime cannot be shifted with one or two irrigations only! Following the course, it is a good idea to have a treatment every 6 months to maintain inner cleanliness and good elimination.
Are there any contra-indications?
With inputs from Dr. Leo Rebello, Dr. M. Siewert and Dr. N. W. Walker.
The below six pictures of prolapsed, distorted, twisted, sickly looking colons are exact reproductions of X-ray negatives of the colons of apparently
healthy, civilized people whose illusions about their physical condition were exploded when they saw this conclusive evidence.
This chart has been prepared by Dr. N. W. Walker for the guidance, benefit and use by colon irrigation and lavage establishment operators, and for the education of the layman.Civilized life means an artifical life; civilized people, living in a civilized manner and eating civilized foods, cannot, in the very nature of things, have a truly Healthy Colon. Health and Sickness both have their roots in the Colon.