physical rehabilitation. Exercising in water can be more effective
and cause less strain to the skeleton and joints than exercise out of
water.
Sweat baths are a method of detoxification that
enables the body to eliminate salt, drugs, and a
variety of toxins. They are typically done in a
steam room or a sauna.
A process in yoga called neti(pronounced NAY-
tee) involves various methods for cleansing the
nasal passages. One method is to sniff warm
water into the nostrils and spit it out of the
mouth. Neti bottles are also available and are
designed to pour water into one nostril, which
will then come out the other nostril.
Colonics: A Deeper Feeling of Clean.
Written documents of ancient Egypt and Greece contain references to colon therapy.
For hundreds of years, nurses and physicians have advocated enemas as internal
body baths. Colon therapy was introduced to the United States at the end of the 19th
century, and it rapidly became popular. Healthy people used enemas to cleanse and
rejuvenate themselves. Others used enemas to treat heart disease, hypertension,
arthritis, depression, and various infections. In the mid-20th century, as antibiotics
and other medications became available, colon therapy began to fade from popular
use. In the 1980s, a resurgence of colonics took place in the United States among
people who believe that their bodies are full of harmful chemicals, by-products, food
residues, or accumulated intestinal waste. This desire for cleansing has created a
growing market for products and treatments that claim to detoxify the body and
restore it to a state of purity.
The International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (I-ACT) is the certifying body
for colon hydrotherapy training. A list of schools teaching the I-ACT syllabus, as
well as names of colon therapists, is available from the association. The foundation
level of education includes a 100-hour course of colon hydrotherapy training from
an approved school or certified instructor as well as a 100-hour internship. In addi-
tion, students must pass a written exam. The intermediate level requirements
include 500 hours of course work, a demonstration of expertise, and an intermediate
exam. The instructor level requirements include 1,000 hours of training or three
years of practice. In addition, teaching skills must be demonstrated.
CHAPTER 24 DETOXIFYING THERAPIES 297
Pregnant women should
never use sweat bathing,
as the heat may cause
neural tube defects in
the first trimester. Sweat
baths are not recommended for
people with heart disease, kidney
disease, or anemia.
caution
