Natural bowel cleansing methods |
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Bowel cleansing is a controversial topic.
Even among holistic physicians there is a great difference of opinion in this respect.
Some believe that regular bowel cleansing is absolutely necessary to maintain good health and recommend methods like enema or colonic hydrotherapy.
Others argue that bowel cleansing is a natural mechanism of our body with which we should not interfere.
They also claim that we can only help our body with a proper diet.
Yet others recommend specific products for bowel cleansing, some of them costing up to $ 90 monthly, showing us the nasty pictures of what we really hold in our intestines.
But which method is the most effective? And what is best for our health?
In this article we will describe various methods of bowel cleansing, consider the advantages and disadvantages of each method and try to find the best solution for you.
Why do we need to cleanse our intestines
The procesess of digestion and elimination of waste from the body are important factors that affect our health.
According to Ayurveda, unhealthy diet and indigestion are the cause of almost every disease. Many holistic doctors agree with this.
Poor diet slows down our digestion, which then causes intestinal disorders. The result of irregular bowel movements is accumulation of waste and toxins in this important organ of our body.
Holistic doctors believe that irregular bowel movement can cause numerous health problems: from constipations, headaches, allergies, chronic fatigue to ulcerative colitis and colon cancer.
But our grandparents did not clean the intestines and they lived healthy and long lives!
That may be true, but they did not eat modern processed foods. Instead, they ate natural foods rich in dietary fibers, which regulated the process of digestion and bowel cleansing.
Times have changed. Our diet is now quite different. As much as 90% of the food we consume every day is processed in one way or another.
Such foods contain very little natural dietary fibers, which are crucial for the proper functioning of the intestines. Eating foods such as white sugar and flour creates problems in the body.
We have more and more health problems.
An ever increasing number of people is trying to solve them by making changes to their diet and using various methods of cleansing the body.
The answer to the question: "Do you need to cleanse your bowels?" is as follows: If you have eaten healthy throughout your life, bowel cleansing is not something you need.
If you have not had a healthy diet, you would benefit from some method of bowel cleansing and from making appropriate changes in your diet.
Have in mind that bowel functions may be disrupted due to other factors, such as:
- sedentary lifestyle
- intestinal parasites
- pregnancy
- some diseases (for example, thyroid disorder)
- medications (antacids, bismuth salts, iron, antihypertensives, narcotics, sedatives)
Different methods of bowel cleansing
1. Enema
This is the oldest method of bowel cleansing in the world. Enema has been used for thousands of years for treating constipation, poisoning, headaches, allergies, etc.
This cleansing method was applied by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Africans, Indians and Chinese.
Enemas were used by many celebrities, for example, Aristophanes and Shakespeare.
In France, enema was so popular that it was used every day after dinner. It was believed that it improves the appearance of skin.
French King Louis XIV in his life has undergone over 2000 enemas. And thanks to that he had perfect health throughout his entire life.
As a bowel cleansing method, enema is performed with water at low pressure through the anus, with the help of special equipment (which you can buy at any drug store).
It is believed that the efficiency of this method depends on the type of enema that is used. There are several types of enema - with water, coffee, clay, teas, etc.
In most cases, an enema can effectively cleanse only the lower part of the intestine - rectum.
Disadvantages of this method:
Enema is quite an unpleasant method. Most people do not like the idea of having to inject something into the intestine through the anus.
In addition, some alternative doctors believe that frequent or careless use of these methods can cause disruption of intestinal flora, infection, and even damage to the intestines.
Enema should not be used too often; it can disrupt the normal rhythm of bowel movement.
Advantages:
The method is simple, cheap, and you can do it yourself at home.
All necessary equipment can be purchased in a pharmacy.
2. Hydro colon therapy
This is a new and modern version of an enema that is becoming more popular.
Hydrotherapy, or hydro colon therapy involves enemas with hot water through the anus, with the help of special equipment.
During the treatment, which lasts 45-60 minutes, 60-120 liters of water constantly cleanse the colon in the following manner. A specially designed single hose with rectal ending is placed in the rectum, while the device allows the free flow of water through a small hose. The excess water, fecal matter, gas, mucus, parasites and stagnant bile is removed through the large hose directly into the sanitary pipe.
In hydrotherapy you can use various additives such as coffee, probiotics, clay, various teas, etc. in order to improve the effect of the treatment.
Treatment is carried out by a qualified person and only with a special device designed for hydrotherapy.
Disadvantages of this method:
Disadvantages include the high price of the treatment and the need to visit a specialist in order to perform it.
In addition, some alternative doctors believe that frequent or careless use of this method can cause disruption of intestinal flora, infection, and even damage to the intestines.
Unfortunately, disrupted flora is not an infrequent side effect of hydrocolon therapy.
During the treatment, 60-120 liters of water pass through your intestines, washing everything away - from fecal matter to the good microorganisms, which are essential for the proper functioning of the intestines.
That is why I am not an enthusiast of this bowel cleansing method.
Advantages:
Someone is willing to do the procedure for you. Your role is to just lie down and relax. Hydrocolon therapy cleanses more thoroughly than regular bowel enema and it is not necessary to frequently repeat it.
3. Laxatives
Laxatives, in fact, are not a method of bowel cleansing, but the remedy for constipation. If you have a severe constipation, you can use a laxative, which will help you solve the problem with indigestion in a quick and painless way.
Laxatives, like Epsom salt, can be purchased in any pharmacy.
There are also natural laxatives that can be used if you have problems with constipation.
One of the most popular natural laxatives is psyllium, which contains large amounts of soluble fibers. Psyllium is widely used in alternative remedies for bowel cleansing.
Plum juice is the second best natural laxative. Even small amounts of plum juice can help with constipation.
Laxatives can have serious side effects such as dehydration of the body and loss of muscle mass around the intestines and therefore they should not be used for a long time.
During the application of laxatives, take more fluids. Do not use laxatives for bowel cleansing!
4. Different cleansing Products
The world is full of people who want to make money off you. Some understand that detoxification is becoming increasingly popular and are ready to offer a variety of products to meet the growing needs of the market.
The U.S. market is full of products like Colonix (Dr.Natura) OxyPowder, Bowtrol, etc.
The manufacturers claim that their products will not only cleanse the intestines, but also solve other health problems - which, of course, is not true.
Bowel cleansing procedures usually consists of several products (one product is not enough!) and they costs up to 50-90 $ a month.
Unfortunately, the efficacy and safety of these products, as well as the claims which can be found on manufacturers’ official sites, are highly questionable.
As for the terrible pictures, like these below, you might ask yourself the question: "Are my intestines really full of that? Do I really carry dozens of pounds of waste products in my intestines?”
To answer this question, we need to carefully study the composition of the products used for bowel cleansing.
Among the ingredients of these products we found something very interesting. In fact, they all contain guar gum - a natural thickener plant, gelling agent, emulsifier and stabilizer.
On all products it says "drink immediately after mixing." But if you leave this mixture for 30-60 minutes, it will solidify, and the content in the glass will be very similar to the content on this picture:
Thus, what you see on this picture are not the toxins from your intestines. This is the content of the products used for bowel cleansing!
Another thing that comes into question in a such long-term therapy is normal intestinal flora. Aggressive and prolonged intestinal cleansing simply destroys all the flora.
This can cause problems much more serious than the "toxic waste" in your intestines. That is why almost all treatments for bowel cleansing are now offering an additional product - probiotic – so that you do not get sick during the cleansing process.
It is our opinion that such treatments for bowel cleansing can be exhausting and dangerous for your health.
Claims of manufacturers regarding these products are exaggerated. And for a much lower price, you can make your own bowel cleansing product!
Our advice
If you want to save money, get the three main ingredients for bowel cleansing - chia seeds, flax seeds and fennel seeds - and add them to your daily diet.
Do not forget about probiotics - healthy flora is very important for proper bowel function.
Even plain yogurt with probiotic bacteria will suffice. Alternatively, get a probiotic capsule, which contains massive amounts of live bacteria.
5. Fibers
Do not forget that fibers are what keep your intestines healthy and functioning well. Fibers help in flushing out toxins and waste products from the body.
Like the rest of the non-digestible carbohydrates, which are found in foods, fibers pass through the body into the colon, where they absorbs water and other waste materials and pass them as stool.
Fibers help in speeding up the passage of food by reducing the time during which the food is kept in the digestive tract. Lack of fiber in diet is one of the main factors of many health problems.
Foods rich in fiber:
- fruits
- vegetables
- whole grains
- walnuts and hazelnuts
- seeds
- beans
- wheat bran
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