Is Colon Hydration at Home Safe?

Colon hydration uses special equipment to cleanse and moisten the intestinal tract. Hydration of the body is critical, but undertaking the procedure at home is dangerous.

History of Colon Hydration

Enemas and other methods of irrigating the bowels have existed since early Egyptian times. Their popularity peaked in the United States in the 1920s and has lessened since the 1980s.

Types

Colonic hygienists or therapists perform hydration by inserting plastic tubing through the rectum and into the colon. A machine pumps up to 20 gallons of liquid into the lower intestine. The process is repeated two or more times.

Exceptions

In the the British Journal of Pharmacology, Dr. C.L. Hirota states that hydration of the colon is vital, but that patients with inflammatory bowel disease are not likely to respond to colon hydration and should use other forms of treatment.

Warnings

In November 2008, the American Cancer Society warned that colonic hydration is unnecessary and dangerous. Fluid overload, bowel injury, discomfort and death are risks. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any colonic irrigation machine for use.

Prevention

According to the Institutes of Medicine, the body gets fluid in many forms, including when people drink water, coffee and tea and consume fruits and vegetables. The color of the urine is the easiest way to tell if the amount of fluid in the body is adequate; healthy urine is almost clear.