Colon Cleansing: Money Down the Toilet

[HuckleB]

http://www.livescience.com/947-colon-cleansing-money-toilet.html

"Unlike many natural therapies, colon cleansing makes a lot of sense. It is expensive, utterly useless and potentially harmful, but it's all even more logical if one subscribes to the body-as-a-sewer-system paradigm.

Now, I'll be talking about feces, so this column is not for the squeamish or those eating lunch.

First, a little basic biology. The colon, also called the large intestine and myriad slang names not repeatable here, follows the small intestine and comprises the end of the gastrointestinal tract. Most nutrients from food are absorbed in the small intestine. The colon absorbs water and salts from the stool while it pushes it along through the rectum, which excretes it.

Laxatives and enemas, which promote bowel movements, have been around for at least 4,000 years and were famously practiced by the ancient Egyptians. That shouldn't be an endorsement; the ancient Egyptians also buried servants alive to attend to the mummified kings in the afterlife. Colon cleansing refers to a more invasive procedure of water and hoses stuck you-know-where. It's not clear when this practice started.

..."

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How Clean Should Your Colon Be?
http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsid.194/news_detail.asp

"You know, I've been feeling awfully tired lately. I haven't been sleeping well, and when I do sleep, I grind my teeth. Also, I'm feeling slightly nervous, forgetting minor details, and eating more than usual but not gaining weight. Should I be worried? According to the November 2002 issue of Secrets of Robust Health — promoted as a "health newsletter for the thinking person," I should. Divulging information "you will probably never hear from your family doctor"(with good reason, as we'll see), the newsletter claims that all of my symptoms point to the same culprit: a parasite.

Parasites are organisms that live inside or on the body of their hosts, receiving nourishment and propagating, while at the same time causing a variety of symptoms. According to Secrets..., common symptoms of parasites can include constipation, gas and bloating, diarrhea, allergies, itchy ears, nervousness, apathy, tooth grinding, forgetfulness, and sleep problems, among others. The newsletter claims there are five to twenty-five pounds of fecal matter built up in my body on which the parasites thrive: "Many of our readers already know how unhealthy colon build-up is. Unless eliminated promptly, the food in our bodies tends to putrefy and poison our systems. Now we see that is also wonderful breeding ground for all sorts of parasites."

The newsletter goes on to declare that constipation is the "plague of our time" and that individuals should be passing fecal matter two to three times a day — anything less than this is abnormal. On what grounds are they basing this assumption? On statements made by naturopathic doctors and traditional Chinese specialists. But after twenty-four years, can't I judge whether my body is excreting in a normal, natural fashion? According to this newsletter, no, I can't trust my body because it has been invaded and taken over by hungry parasites that don't want me to dispose of waste.

...

Finally, if people offer you suspicious-sounding cure-alls, remember to beware of human parasites."



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Let's cut the crap. A scam is a scam, and it's time to stop pretending that it might not be a scam.


:mad:

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[trotsky]

2. I'd rec for the title alone...

but the articles are great. I don't understand why so many people don't even care that they're being scammed.

[HuckleB]

9. Psychology students should be jumping to study this phenomenon.

:hi:

[MineralMan]

3. Thanks for the post!

Yet another popular form of quackery debunked.

[HuckleB]

10. You're welcome!

:toast:

[rox63]

4. Constipation is the plague of our time?

:rofl:

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. Only because no one carries around 15 -25 pounds...

...of impacted reality television.

[HuckleB]

13. Ah, but how much do youtube scam ads weigh?

[thereismore]

6. I was never tempted, but it sounded like a good idea. nt

[HuckleB]

7. Detox "DIETS" Are No Better.

Cleansing diet to better health and slimness?
http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2009/01/cleansing-diet-to-better-health-and.html

{i]" ...

“These organs don’t need to be cleansed unless you have consumed a dangerous dose of a substance to the extent that they are overwhelmed,” as they explained. In a dangerous drug overdose, for example, doctors “detoxify” the body with specific medical treatments such as pumping your stomach, blood transfusions or dialysis.

The products and diets claiming to flush the body of chemicals, they reported, oftentimes include lots of water, diuretics or laxatives and only increase the amount you urinate, sweat or poop. These just remove water and salt and other electrolytes, but can even be dangerous and cause cramping or a coma. “You may achieve temporary weight loss by dehydration but this is only in the short term as you will regain weight as you rehydrate,” they wrote. You may also feel better, but it’s the placebo effect.

Other detox tonics and supplements, often containing antioxidants, claiming they can help neutralize free-radicals, also do nothing. “Free-radicals are made in the body and can cause cell and DNA damage, but they also play an important role in our immune system protecting against bacteria and viruses,” they explain. What may be surprising for most consumers to learn is that “the body makes its own antioxidants using the food in our normal diet.” We get the small amounts our bodies need quite easily in our normal diet. Beyond that, the extra antioxidants are removed by the kidneys — in our urine.

The term “toxin” or “chemical” is often used by media and in marketing to imply that a chemical is causing you harm, they said. In truth, any substance, even water, can be toxic in extremely high doses, but is otherwise completely harmless and even beneficial for us. The dose is what is important, not the mere exposure.

... "

[Lynx]

8. Actually, anyone can clean colons

You don't need a license or even any training. That's what makes this practice downright dangerous.
Though who would want to do such a thing, I cannot imagine.

[bemildred]

11. Come come, everybody knows there is nothing like a good dump.

:-)

[HuckleB]

12. Indeed. I have no argument with that.

:hi:

[astral]

14. Some people dont suffer from constipation.

Many of us do and can benefit from colon cleansing. I agree with the post above that we can do it ourselves, I don't know anything about hoses or enemas, but only the bentonite cleansing things.

[HuckleB]

15. Unfortunately, that claim is not backed up by research.

[astral]

16. My claim? 'Tis Too! I have been saying elsewhere I actually USE this stuff.

Will I find research if I look it up online and post it? Will it count as 'real' research? I don't know, and I may end up having a look, but meanwhile, I have been using this clay detox stuff for several years now, not all the time and not always consistently, and it does help me ELIMINATE, and NOT be constipated, and it raises my energy level (while not seeming to diminish my appetite), and with regular use for a week or so I see my face looking younger and less tired.

I agree scientifically verifiable research is important in substantiating health claims, and my anonymous little stories here are not enough. I'll grant you that.

But I am real and this stuff does help me. Anyone who thinks they might NEED some help with elimination, and maybe feels like something might not be working 100% RIGHT down in that area, feeling better can be easier than you think.

I did put out a large investment in the clay before getting into this because I knew I would be using it for a long time and had to have the long-haul savings in order to feel like I could afford to do it. At first I didn't want the clay for internal use, only for external use. I learned about use of the clay internally, and at first I thought it was the funniest thing I ever heard, but eventually I tried it, and I am a convert.

I would say to anyone interested, do it WITH the psyllium husks, drink lots of extra water, some people grind flax seeds into it too, and I do as well, but the flax seeds aren't absolutely necessary to the mix.

For me, the combination of the pulling together of the clay, and the laxatave effect that psyllium husks have work together to ensure nothing will happen in one extreme or the other, and all will eliminate smoothly.

I also like to add some cayenne pepper in to the mix but sometimes skip it and it is not necessary tothe mix either.

I did not think I would get so involved into detail when I started this post, but I swear to God this is real and it's not expensive and it is not harmful.

If you use the clay all by itself without psyllium husks, and you don't drink enough water, it might possibly have a constipating effect on you. I wouldn't mess with the mix until you've used it for awhile and then if you want to make a change in how you use the clay, you'll just know, after you understand its effect on you.

[HuckleB]

18. Lots of people waste their money on placebos.

So what?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

17. Have you ever LOOKED at someone who does this on a regular basis?

I have seen two people who did this, one in person and one on TV, and their skin GLOWED.
I mean GLOWED. I would not have believed people had skin that good unless I had seen it.
Princess Di was an advocate of colonics and she certainly glowed.

[astral]

19. This is what I mean about looking younger when I use it regularly.

I do not know that my skin 'glows,' I never did have the prettiest skin even when I was young, but I do look younger and healthier and less wrinkled when I use it regularly.

I don't know if that placebo effect comment had anything to do with my posts here, I know it is not the placebo effect for me. It is a real cause and effect phenomenon. I can not prove to anyone on this board what this benefit is, only those who try it themselves can prove it to themselves.

I should think with such a large following on DU we'd get some more people in here talking first-hand experience.

The correct term for the clay that can be taken internally is pharmaceutical-grade calcium bentonite clay. I won't go into sales sites or brand names here, just saying this stuff is out there, and I PRAY it remains out there for us. The Food and Drug Administration blesses this grade of clay as safe for internal use. No lie.

[mweathermay]

20. yep, a scam

save your money and get some Metamucil or any other fiber supplement

[astral]

22. Excuse me, but Metamucel is flavored psyllium husks,

which is part of the clay and psyllium husk thing I was talking about --- B - O - W - E - L ---- C - L - E - A - N - S - I - N - G.

If you want flavored metamucel instead of plain psyllium husks, I see nothing wrong with that. I hear many people use it without even using the clay! And it works to clean out the bowels. It does end up going down the toilet, though, so I guess you've made your point . . . ; )

[wishlist]

21. Dr Oz showed how tapeworms are helpful in those with ulcerative colitis

The presence of worms in the colon has been found to be beneficial for those with some severe bowel diseases.

[astral]

23. Now, that just gives me the heebie-jeebies.

"The presence of worms in the colon has been found to be beneficial for those with some severe bowel diseases."

Do we now argue that not only is colon-cleansing a 'waste of time,' but that we **WANT** worms wriggling around in our gut?

Doesn't this just make everybody want to go out and get a colon cleanse immediately?