History of Colon Cleansing
Colon Cleansing has
been around for thousands of years. The act of self-cleansing began with enemas, and gradually led to the invention
of a colon cleansing machine that revolutionized the process.
Enemas were recorded as
early as 1500 B.C., in an Egyptian medical document called the "Eber Papyrus." Hippocrates, Pare and Galen
advanced the use of enema therapy.
times, people gave themselves enemas in the river. They used a hollow reed to induce water
to flow into the rectum.
In the late 1400's, King
Louis XI credited enemas with relieving his seizures. A later king, Louis XIII received over 200 enemas in one
year. Another king, Louis XIV, had over 2000 enemas during his reign (as reported by William Lieberman.) Evidently,
Louis XIV even received court functionaries and visitors during the procedure.
In the 1600s, enemas
were so popular that no home was without one. Fluids with colors and fragrances were used during this time.
Many people did 3 to 4 enemas per day. Enemas were considered essential to well-being. Molier, a playwright of that
time, ridiculed the "vogue" of enemas in his plays. Although enemas were popular, many people awaited an instrument
that allowed the enema to be self-administered. At that time, enemas required the use of an assistant.
In the late 1600s, Regnier DeGraff developed a enema with a flexible tube (or
nozzle) that connected to an enema bag. He described his invention in his book, "De Clysteribus," which
was published in 1668.
In the 1600s, medical
doctors recommended enemas, but often turned the practice over their apprentices, attendants, and
In the 1750s, the
invention of rubber led to a comfortable rubber nozzle that made enemas much easier and effective to
In the 1800s, Austrian
Vincenz Priessnitz developed the first hydropathic institution in the world. His regime included water treatments
in the mountain streams, as well as a diet consisting of black bread, fresh vegetables and unpasteurized
In the 1800s, enemas were a commonly used to maintain health and prevent disease. Before
the expedition of Lewis and Clarke, a physician encouraged them to use enemas for fever and illness. In
the 1800s, enemas were a widely accepted procedure for reversing the onset of illness.
In the early
1900's, medical doctor John H. Kellogg extensively used colon hydrotherapy on 40,000 patients. In
1917, he reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that in all but 20 cases -- he used no surgery
for the treatment of gastrointestinal disease in his patients. Dr Kellogg ran the
Adventist Battle Creek Sanitarium, and m aintained that 90% of disease results from the improper functioning of the
In the 1920's, 30's and 40's, colon irrigation machines were commonly
seen and regularly used as a standard practice in hospitals and Doctor's offices.
early 1950s, Colon Cleansing was flourishing in America. In California, the Beverly Boulevard was known as
"Colonics Row," because there were so many colonics places located there.
Toward the mid 1960's, the use of colon irrigation and colon cleansing slowly dwindled. By 1972, most colon therapy
instruments were removed from hospitals and nursing homes. Medical doctors tend to favor the use of laxatives or
colostomy (surgical procedure for colon removal.)
past, knowledge of the bowel was more widespread and people were taught how to care for the bowel. Somehow, bowel
wisdom got lost and it became something that no one wanted to talk about anymore," said Bernard Jensen,
conventional medicine seems to think that Colon Cleansing is no longer useful or beneficial. It's been said
that the medical community uses the wrong end of the gastrointestinal tract to treat people. In other words, oral
remedies are preferred over enemas and Colon Cleansing.
In the last
10 years, there has been a resurgence of interest in alternative medicine and natural health remedies. Once again,
people are discovering the health benefits of maintaining a strong and biologically sound colon. This return
to Colon Cleansing has been bolstered by the development of sophisticated Colon Cleansing techniques, which
make these therapies both safe and convenient.
The beauty of Colon Cleansing is that it is a natural
remedy, using only water and gravity. Colon Hydrotherapy is the administration of warm, filtered and
temperature-regulated water into the colon. Fecal matter is softened and loosened, resulting in the
evacuation through natural peristalsis. The procedure is repeated several times during an
It is hoped
the grass roots movement towards personal health responsibility, using alternative health therapies to restore and
maintain superior health, will be joined by traditional health care practitioners.
Seven therapeutic effects
of Colon Cleansing:
1. Colon cleansing improves muscle tone.
2. Colon cleansing minimizes the absorption of toxic waste.
3. Colon cleansing promotes a flowing and moving body system (rather than stagnate, inactive,
4. Colon cleansing balances & cleanses the colon.
5. Colon cleansing may strengthen the intestines and improves function of the colon.
6. Colon cleansing may help eliminate poisons from the body.
7. Colon cleansing may be a good preventative measure, as it is theorized that many diseases begin in the
gastrointestinal track. An abnormally functioning colon may be a precursor to illness, and proper elimination is a
natural way to maintain and restore health.
* Approximately 90% of all visits to the
emergency room deal with digestive issues.
* Irritatable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the #1 cause of being out of work
and school, behind the common cold.
* Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cancer killer in
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