Believe it or not, therapies involving the colon have been around for hundreds
of years. Dating as far back as 1500 B.C. and continuing on through the
centuries, colon cleansing has been used to treat a range of ailments from
fevers to diseases. While the exact methods and theories have varied through the
years, the same basic principles still apply. Let's take a look at when colon
cleansing first began.
The history of colon cleansing can be traced back
to the Egyptian Civilization. As early as 1500 B.C., an Egyptian medical
document, the "Ebers Papyrus", describes the process of colon cleansing.
Egyptians believed that the root to all illness resided with the rotting food in
their colons. Some evidence suggests there were "bowel specialists" in ancient
Egypt to assist people with elimination.
The Greek physicians Hippocrates
(4th and 5th century B.C.) and later Galen (2nd century A.D.) were advocates for
enemas as a treatment for fevers. In 196 A.D., China's great physician, Chang
Chung Chin, recommended colon cleansing to improve health. And Angelo Catho, a
French physician, used colon cleansing to save King Louis XI's life in 1480.
King Louis XIV, some say, had over 2,000 colon cleanses in his lifetime, usually
performed prior to making important decisions.
Dr. John H. Kellogg, in
the early 1900's, reportedly used colon therapy on forty thousand of his
patients. He published a comprehensive approach to colon hydrotherapy for the
treatment of several illnesses. In 1917, The Journal of the American Medical
Association states that in all but 20 cases, Dr. Kellogg avoided surgery in the
treatment of his patients with gastrointestinal disease. Kellogg, along with his
brother Will, also went on to manufacture whole grain cereals for the purpose of
promoting regular bowel movements.
In the 1920's, 30's, and 40's, colon
therapy continued to gain popularity. Colon irrigation machines were used as
standard practice in hospitals and medical facilities. But then, over the next
50-plus years, colon cleansing treatments greatly declined as modern medicine
emerged and escalated. Orthodox medicine became more the norm, along with
treating the symptoms over curing the ailment. Some experts believe that the
reason for the current population's increasing ill health is due to the decline
in colon cleansing therapy.
The past 10 years have seen a revival in
alternative medicine. Many people are once again realizing the benefits of a
healthy colon. Much has changed in colon therapy techniques over the centuries,
but the fundamental theories behind it have not. New techniques, including
herbal, over-the-counter colon cleansers and high-tech, colonic irrigation
systems, have made colon therapy safer and relatively easy.
The practice
of colon cleansing is here to stay. If you've decided to try it, there are many
good colon cleansers on the market today. Before purchasing one, however, be
sure to thoroughly evaluate existing colon cleanser reviews to ensure your
choice of colon cleanser is the best one for you.
