Colonics, or colon therapy, is based on the idea that high-fat, Western diets lead to
an accumulation of a thick, glue-like substance in the colon, which in turn produces
toxins that lead to disease. Colonics, also called colonic irrigation or high colonics, is
a procedure for washing the inner wall of the colon by filling it with water or herbal
solutions and then draining it. Colonics are a technique for removing any material
that may be present high in the colon and cleans the entire five feet of the colon
compared to enemas, which clean only the lower 8–12 inches of the colon. Colonics,
administered by a colon therapist, uses 2–6 liters of liquid at a time; the therapist
then massages the colon through the abdomen, and the water is eliminated through
a waste tube. The procedure is repeated over a period of 30–45 minutes, and uses
more than 20 gallons of water per session.
Colon cleansing is a controversial method of detoxification, and there tends to be no
middle ground in the beliefs about the usefulness of colonics. People tend to either
strongly support or challenge the practice of colonics. Those who support colonics
believe that toxicity can build up in the pockets of the colon through years of a diet
heavy in fried foods, white flour, sugar, refined and processed foods, dairy products,
carbonated beverages, and not enough fiber. The use of prescription drugs, tobacco,
and alcoholic beverages are additional sources of toxicity. Substances generally used
for colonics include water, coffee, herbal teas, a mild soap solution, meat broth,
wheat grass juice, and barley juice. I-ACT recommends the use of colonics twice
yearly as a maintenance regimen. Colonics is not recommended for people in a
weakened state and those having ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease,
severe hemorrhoids, or tumors of the large intestine or rectum.
Those who oppose the use of colonics believe no medical reason supports its use. It is
believed that diet, water, and exercise should be enough to maintain the health of
the colon. Andrew Weil states, “I have reviewed many systems of colon cleansing,
including colonic irrigation (colonics) and the use of natural laxatives and herbal
mixtures. If you eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, exercise, and move your
bowels regularly, you shouldn’t need any of them. The best way to care for the colon
is to let its own natural physiological action keep it clean and in good working
order.” Problems that may result from colonics include enzyme imbalance, perfora-
tion of the colon, and general weakening of the body.Chelation Therapy: No More Heavy Metal
Chelation comes from the Greek work chele or “claw.” When chelation chemicals
are introduced into the bloodstream, they bind, or claw, to heavy metals in the body.
Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a synthetic amino acid that readily
binds to heavy metals. EDTA was synthesized in the 1940s and was originally used298 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE