What does the colon do?

In short, the colon eliminates solid waste from the body. After the nutrients from the food you eat are absorbed through the small intestine and distributed via the liver into the bloodstream, the “leftovers” move into the large intestine, or colon, where they are eliminated when you go to the bathroom.

Problems arise when wastes accumulate in rather than exit the colon, causing constipation, bloating, and/or a condition known as systemic intoxication or poisoning. Systemic intoxication can lead to cognitive difficulties such as confusion, and even emotional problems such as depression and irritability. Some sources suggest that allergic “attacks” of hives, sneezing, and coughing are due to systemic intoxication. Accumulated waste in the colon has been implicated in cancer, diverticulitis, and nutrient deficiencies. It’s easy to see how home colon cleansing can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle

How is a home colon cleanse done?

The term “home colon cleansing” is relatively broad, and can refer to anything from fasting to taking an enema. Usually home colon cleansing involves multiple steps.

Here is a typical, multi-step home colon cleansing program for the lower intestine.

1. Fast

The simplest way to remove toxins and impurities from the body (and colon) is to fast (unless you are pregnant or lactating). It is the most sensible first step in a home colon cleansing program, after checking with your physician of course. A home colon cleansing fast should last about 3 days. Begin by eating only raw fruits and vegetables for 1 or 2 days, then drink plenty of water and pure juices for 24 hours. During that time, you can drink herbal teas as well. Good home colon cleansing herbs are:

-Milk thistle
-Dandelion root
-Garlic
-Slippery elm

After 24 hours of only liquids, eat only raw fruits and vegetables for a couple of days to help you come out of the fast.

2. Fiber

A home colon cleansing drink can be made from fiber-rich psyllium seed, and taken once daily until the colon is “clean.” Mix 1 teaspoon of psyllium seed with 1/2 cup each of apple juice, aloe vera juice, and water.

3. Enemas

No one likes to talk about them, but enemas are a straightforward and effective means of home colon cleansing. An enema made from catnip tea is particularly effective at relieving congestion and accumulations in the colon. Make the tea by steeping 2 tablespoons of dried catnip per cup of pure, boiling water. Steep for about 8 minutes, strain, and cool to a comfortably warm temperature (about 99 degrees F). Using an enema bag and rubber tip, introduce the catnip tea into the colon. Because this is a home colon cleansing enema, it does not need to be retained for more than 2 or 3 minutes.

4. Prepared Natural Remedies for a home colon cleanse

Our editors have done their research and found a great product for home colon cleansing.

Herbalists and naturopaths from cultures all over the world have used natural remedies for centuries to assist the body with its task of ridding itself of toxins and promoting bowel movements. In more recent times, research has confirmed this traditional wisdom.

There are now various published clinical studies demonstrating the ability of a range of herbs to loosen stools and encourage healthy adequate bowel movements, keeping the body ‘regular’. (Chen HL, Cheng HC, Liu YJ, et al. ‘Konjac acts as a natural laxative by increasing stool bulk and improving colonic ecology in healthy adults’. Nutrition. 2006 Oct 3).

ColoFlush can especially benefit those individuals who wish to naturally rejuvenate their digestive systems. The herbs used in ColoFlush promote healthy digestion and also act as an effective colonic tonic and home colon cleanse formula.

While some traditional herbs are not suitable for regular use due to their excessively strong purgative effects, ColoFlush uses herbs that are strong enough to support flushing out of the colon, yet gentle enough not to cause a loose, ‘crampy’ stomach.

This convenient tablet also contains pure Psyllium husks. Due to the high fiber content of this herb, it swells inside the digestive tract and ‘sweeps’ the walls of the colon almost like a broom – removing impurities and toxins which may have accumulated over time.

ColoFlush may be used regularly to cleanse and detoxify the colon or be used prior to routine colonic procedures such as colonic irrigation.

This natural remedy is manufactured by Native Remedies. We thoroughly researched the company that makes this natural formula and have found that all of their herbal products are created using their Full Spectrum Approachâ„¢ (FSA), a set of standards and processes that combines the best quality, laboratory-tested, raw ingredients, good manufacturing practices and a Full Spectrum manufacturing method to guarantee you products of the highest quality, safety and effectiveness.

All Native Remedies‘ formulas contain no animal products, gluten, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, are not tested on animals, and backed by our One Year Unconditional Money Back Guarantee. Plus, individual homeopathic ingredients are listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS).

Also, they use the WHOLE HERB in ColoFlush, the purest form of the herb with the highest quality and therapeutic benefits.

These are just some ideas about enhancing your colon’s health via home colon cleansing. Those who have undergone a home colon cleanse claim all sorts of health benefits. At the least, you will feel better.

Imagine being so attuned to yourself that you know exactly what foods to eat. Rather than consulting a book or an expert on “right eating”, you could tune into yourself for the answer. Knowing which foods to eat is an art based on our inner ability to know what is good for ourselves. Through knowing ourselves we become culinary artists using different foods like a painter with a palate of colors. Our meals become inspired works of art filled with special energy.

For example, when you wake up in the morning ask yourself, “What would be a good breakfast for a successful completion of my day?” Perhaps you have to take a train to work and meet with people or maybe you are in the mountains looking forward to a day of relaxation. Different types of days require different foods. Perhaps a workday would require more grains where as a day in the mountains would require more fruit. The only one who really knows is you.

The ability to tune into ourselves and know what to eat is a fundamental principle of Polarity Therapy. Polarity Therapy is an energy-based approach to healing developed by Dr. Randolph Stone in the first half of this century. Dr. Stone was born in Austria and immigrated to the United States where he became an Osteopath, Chiropractor, and Naturopath. He than traveled around the world studying many healing arts in which he integrated an understanding of life energy into Polarity Therapy.

Because Polarity Therapy is an energy-based holistic healing art we look at nutrition in relationship with our thoughts, emotions, and body structure. In other words what we eat has a resonant effect on how we think, what we feel, and how we posture ourselves in the world. Foods can be used to support new thought patterns or reinforce dysfunctional thought patterns. Foods can be used to change emotions, and foods can be used to shape our bodies in different ways.

Knowing what to eat is a function of our life goals, and our daily activities in pursuit of those goals. We can learn to tune into and sense the effects of different foods on ourselves. The direction of our life must be in alignment with our individual spirit. When our thoughts, goals, and actions in the world are incongruent with our spirit the result is mental, emotional, and physical dis-ease. Within this context nutrition can be used as a form of nurturing and healing to help realign our lives to spirit.

As our life moves away from spirit we gradually lose our ability to know our nutritional needs. Either we indiscriminately eat anything or we rely on other peoples rules and opinions about eating. The result is a mechanistic and rigid “right approach” to eating. Rigid approaches to eating can be recognized by fear. For example when I first experimented with vegetarian eating my parents kept saying that if I didn’t eat meat I would die. Simultaneously my vegetarian friends kept saying that if I did eat meat I would die.

Nutrition is an art involving self-awareness, cleansing, and eating. Each step interacts in a holistic way to create and refine our inner guidance system of selecting and eating foods. Although we can individually examine each step it must be remembered that it is a whole process. The quality of that process determines our creative experience of eating.

Self-Awareness is the first and most often overlooked step in creative eating. Self-Awareness involves the consciousness placing of our intention on the foods we are planning to eat. Saying grace before eating is a wonderful practice of awareness. During grace we become aware of and acknowledge the food. I often recommend a moment of silence before eating. During this time allow the energy of the food to enter your awareness and prepare yourself to receive its benefits.

The opposite of awareness is the all to common practice of “eating on the run”. This type of eating is appropriately called “fast food” because it is rapidly cooked and eaten. There is a hot dog stand at Bellevue Platz in Zurich where busy workers rush up and expect to be served as quickly as possible. They then stand at a table and gulp there food down. Within minutes they are gone and another person takes their place.

Eating without awareness is a major contributor to the afflictions of modern society. We need to slow down in order to properly digest food. Improperly digested food accumulates in our colon, putifies, and creates toxins which can lead to mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. These may include mood shifts, joint pains, constipation, diarrhea, body aches, nausea, gas, belching, bad breath, headaches, and fatigue. If these symptoms are ignored they can lead to irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, ulcers, arthritis, heart disease, cancer, and sugar disorders including diabetes and hypoglycemia.

Recent research supports empirical observations that the gastrointestinal system is connected to the brain and that there is a link between human emotional states and gastrointestinal problems. Whorwell, a British scientist, used hypnosis to study the effects of emotions on body functions. In his study colon movement was measured in 18 patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. While under hypnosis they were told to think of an incident that made them feel happy, excited, or angry. It was shown that anger and excitement over stimulated colon movement whereas happiness reduced and balanced colon movement.

Good nutrition always begins with awareness. Sometimes we forget the basic rhythms of life, the gift of our food, and savoring the joy of a good meal. We need a time of silence and centering where we allow our emotions to settle and our body space to move into the natural rhythms of digestion.

The next step in eating is cleansing. Cleansing is what it implies, cleaning ourselves out. By eating fast and improper digestion, toxins can accumulate and build up in our bodies. From time to time we need to slow down and give ourselves an internal bath. As the toxins dissolve and are eliminated from our bodies we can better determine what foods are good for us. Imagine toxins as dirt on the windshield of your automobile. Sooner or later you have to slow down and clean the windshield to see where you are going.

Cleansing can be done in many different ways. The best way to cleanse is through the use of raw fruits and vegetables rich in natural minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. The late Dr. Max Bircher-Benner of the Bircher-Benner clinic believed that eating raw foods passed a special energy from the Sun directly into our bodies. The result was increased well-being and a cleansing effect stimulated by enzymes.

A cleansing diet consists of eating only fresh fruit and vegetables for one to seven days. This should be a gradual process. Visualize a rising continuum of foods beginning with meat, and going to fowl, fish, dairy products, grains, vegetables, fruit, and water at the highest. Depending on where you are on the continuum, begin by eliminating that category. For example, you may begin by eliminating in three-day periods until the cleansing diet is reached. For example begin by eliminate meat chicken and fish over a three day period, next dairy products for three days, and than grains and cooked vegetables for three days.

The cleansing effect is best obtained by eating only fresh fruits and vegetables. Cold pressed oils can be used for the salads. The best salad dressing is cold-pressed olive oil, lemon, and garlic. My favorite salad which I call the intestinal broom consists of shredded cabbage, carrots, and beets. The only rule for food cleansing is to stick with fresh fruits and vegetables. You can combine them in many different and creative ways.

Another important form of cleansing is colon cleansing. Our colon has a natural digestive rhythm called parastalsis. When our life speeds up to the point where we forget to eat and/or eat fast at odd intervals, the natural rhythms of the colon can become erratic and fast or sluggish. The result is poorly digested food and the formation of small pockets in the intestine which hold fecal matter. Over time the fecal matter adheres to the colon wall and hardens. The result is poor absorption of nutrients and colon problems.

It is important to systematically cleanse our colons. The best method of colon cleansing is psyllium. Psyllium is a natural herb that when ingested absorbs moisture and expands in our colon. The effect is like soaking a dirty pan in water overnight. Psyllium is safe to use and has been shown to lower cholesterol and help normalize blood pressure. When taking psyllium it is important to remember to drink lots of water since its effect is dependent upon holding moisture.

Adding different substances to psyllium can intensify its cleansing effect and can have a direct action on the colon. Some of my favorites substances are digestive enzymes, bentonite, aloe vera, and black walnut. Digestive enzymes break down undigested food. Benotinie is a form of volcanic ash which creates a drawing effect causing hardened fecal matter to loosen. Black walnut taken in tincture form creates an uninhabitable environment for parasites and worms.

I recommend that clients begin colon cleansing by taking one teaspoon of psyllium in the morning approximately 15 minutes before eating. The psyllium should be mixed in 4-6oz of apple juice and consumed quickly. If you want to find out how it holds moisture just leave it in the glass for five minutes. It will swell, hold tightly to the side of the glass, and become spongy which is exactly what it does in your colon.

The third phase of Polarity Therapy nutrition is the selection and eating of different foods. For me this is the most creative and exciting phase. However it only works when we can tune into the different effects of food through awareness and cleansing. This phase is based on natural foods and before I introduce creative eating it is important to differentiate between natural and processed foods.

The further a food is away from its natural source the more it is processed. For example steamed spinach is more processed that raw spinach and preserved canned spinach is more processed that fresh steamed spinach. A certain amount of processing may be necessary i.e.: cooking meats and grains, and steaming vegetables. Processing taken to an extreme destroys all natural properties of a food including vitamins and enzymes. Unfortunately our grocery stores are filled with super processed foods which have been heated to an extreme and filled with sugar, salt, and chemical preservatives.

At home we process foods using different types of heating, refrigerators, and microwave irradiation. Refrigerating and freezing foods retards molecular movement in an effort to slow down decay. The longer a food is left in the refrigerator the more enzymes and vitamins it looses. Vegetables left in a refrigerator for a week or more will become limp and lifeless. Freezing has the same effect however with freezing many nutrients are lost during the thawing process.

A popular way to unthaw foods is through irradiation or micro waving. Microwaves use pico waves which have a deep penetrating causing a rapid increase in the vibrational rate of tissue and water molecules which generates heat and cooks the food. It is suggested that people avoid being near microwaves while food is cooking. With increased exposure, as with restaurant workers using microwave ovens regularly, there is an increase in symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, irritability, sleeping problems, and deep tissue burns. Microwave exposure may also cause hormonal changes and affect our immune defenses. Because the long-term effects are not really known I suggest that they be use sparingly.

In general heating foods through slowly through steamers is the best way to cook and/or thaw frozen foods. Steamers gently speed up molecular movement and actually help activate important vitamins and minerals. Many people find it much easier to eat lightly steamed vegetables because they are in a sense partially digested through the heat of the steam. I often times recommend that my clients with low energy steam because they do not have enough fire to completely digest raw foods.

Polarity Therapy classifies natural foods into the five elements, Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Each element is like a note on a keyboard which when played with the right sequence and sensitivity creates music. The principle of elemental food classification is based on where a food grows in relationship to the earth and sky.

Earth foods grow below the Earth and include carrots, beets, potatoes, yams, and all roots and tubers. Water foods grow from one to twelve inches above the earth and include leafy greens, squash, melons, milk, broccoli, and cauliflower. Fire foods grow from 12 inches to six feet above the earth and include meats, corn, oats, wheat, rye, barley, and seeds like sunflower, flax, and sesame. Air foods grow from six feet up and include apples, pears, peaches, bananas, and nuts. Ether is space and represents a space to grow as well as space for the elements to mix.

The five elements are a part of everything whether we are aware of it or not. For example if you build a fire and it gets too big and hot you may need water or earth to calm it down. If too much water is used the fire may go out. If a strong wind comes, fire may flare up again.

The same holds true for our bodies, emotions, and thoughts. Usually we eat certain foods to reinforce patterns in our life. When people work too much and eat fast they eventually “burn out”. At this point their metabolism slows down and they do not have enough fire to completely digest foods. If they continue eating in the same fiery way they may become overweight. Fat is too much water. To lose fat we have to burn it and the fire has to be built back up gradually.

Take out a pen and paper and write down what you have eaten for the past three days. Divide your foods into the elements and/or non-element highly processed foods. Discover what elemental foods you favor. For example I had a client who found he ate a lot of grains (Fire) and Fruit (Air). He ate very little water and earth vegetables. His also ate very fast. He said he wanted to slow down and appreciate life more. I recommended that he eat a salad including carrots and beets at least once a day.

The elements tell us a lot about ourselves. Earth has to do with our bones and security. Earth thinking is structured, down to earth, and slow. Water has to do with the fluids in our body especially lymphatic and cerebrospinal fluid. Water thinking is creative and flowing. Fire has to do with our metabolism, circulation, and motivation. Fire thinking is inspirational and leaps out like a flame. Air has to do with our nervous system as well as governing the thinking process. Air thoughts are fast and quick. In the extreme they create anxiety disorders. Ether is silence and a place for the elements to mix.

When I have clients who think a lot or are overly involved with their thoughts, I suspect an Air element imbalance. I recommend eating more grains which are Fire to burn the extra Air. I might also recommend more Air foods because an energy principle is that extreme Yin makes Yang and extreme Yang makes Yin. In other words if you take something far enough it changes into its opposite. Most likely I would recommend more water foods. Air as wind dries up water. My goal would be to create a more moist and flowing environment. I may also recommend some extra root vegetables for stability.

My goal is always to teach my clients how to listen to themselves. I closely observe my clients bodies when I make a recommendation for holistic resonance. Once I recommended that my client eat more beets, and I saw her jaw tighten and her feet rigidly curl up. At the same time she replied “okay” in a constricted voice. I immediately knew that my recommendation was incongruent with parts of my client. I changed beets to carrots and her jaw and feet relaxed. She smiled and said “that’s better” in a bright uplifting voice.

Eventually she will be able to recognize her own incongruencies. At that point she can walk into a store and look at different foods and know. For example when I wake up in the morning I ask myself what I want to eat. Some mornings muesli resonantes with my body and other mornings muesli contracts my body. Muesli is a good natural food. It is mostly Fire (grains) with some Water (fruits and milk). The question is will museli resonate with on that day.

The process can get subtler and subtler. One afternoon I was preparing to eat a salad when I noticed a tightness in my left shoulder. I tuned into the tightness and mentally ran through the ingredients in the salad. Overall it was resonate with my needs however the mushrooms were causing a slight constriction. I changed mushrooms to onions and immediately felt a wave through my body and my shoulder relaxed. Onions are Earth and because of their bitter taste they also stimulate Fire. I realized at that moment I needed the onions for a fiery security within the water of the salad to help me focus for an upcoming lecture I had to give that afternoon.

In general I do not believe in radically changing eating patterns. Eating is connected with our whole self. There are good reasons for the way we are eating. Most of the time I tend to add foods rather than take them away. The addition of elementally selected foods introduces a new frequency into our bodies. A person will naturally change their eating patterns if the new frequency resonates with their higher aspirations.

When people make radical eating changes they inevitably revert back to their old eating patterns. The result of these unsuccessful changes is a message to ourselves that change is difficult or impossible which we experience in our subconscious mind as failure. I use approaches more respectful of an individuals inner guidance. These approaches are based on elemental energy and choosing foods for success. A little change in the right direction can go a long way. After all the correct homeopathic remedy can have a profound effect on our health.

I am always asked the question what foods are highest in energy. I rephrase the question: What foods will resonate with the creative path of my life today? The more resonance a food has within us the greater its healing effect. The word resonance means to echo again and again and to return to sound. When we eat the correct food our whole being vibrates and returns to the sound of our soul.

The source of all healing is spiritual. When the actions of our daily life nourish our soul, our soul in turn nourishes our body. When our life actions are incongruent with our spirit we are like an airplane drifting off course. If a correction is not made we will crash. Some warning signs are physical symptoms which if left unattended can become problems which eventually need medical treatment.

There are many stories about people living to be hundreds of years old. I believe the secret is eating natural foods in alignment with our life path. Sometimes when we are off course we desperately turn to the “right approach” and it helps us. However in the long run the “right approach” limits our expression and distracts us from our own creativity. I believe to achieve greater health and happiness, we must take responsibility for the direction of our life and the foods we choose act as our fuel to take us further down the road.

Nutrition is a very individual topic filled with dogmas and beliefs. The only way through the maze is to listen to yourself and the feelings of resonance moving through your body. To heighten your awareness of those feelings you need to slow down and cleanse yourself. As you tune into different foods after cleansing, your body will tell you the truth. Awareness is the key which allows us to listen to the answer. Remember the process awareness, cleansing, and elemental eating. If you get lost, slow down, cleanse, and than begin eating again. The answer lies deep within you and remember to always enjoy your meals.

Learn more about Polarity Therapy.

Your colon is designed to help eliminate all the bad stuff from your body. If it isn’t working efficiently, then all the bad stuff that’s supposed to be leaving your body is sticking around longer than it should. Toxins from your food, the air, and everything else around you build up and petrify.

Colon cleansing is designed to clear out all the extra waste so your colon can work at its peak. This is done either by taking herbal supplements that make your body get rid of the build-up on its own, or by manually inserting a machine that will wash out the colon.

This can remove years of toxic build-up from your system, and even parasites like worms that could be living inside your digestive tract. This leaves your system free to function normally by expelling all the waste and absorbing all the good stuff from your food.

Colon cleansing can obviously help with your digestive health, but toxins in the colon can cause far more serious health problems. If the exit to the freeway is backed up, eventually there will be a traffic jam across the whole road. In the same way, if your colon isn’t getting rid of toxic chemicals and waste, it also tends to accumulate in other areas of your body, which can cause serious health problems. Toxic colon has been associated with many diseases including heart disease, arthritis, and even allergies.

In addition to preventing disease, if your body is functioning better, you’ll also feel and even look better. Colon cleansing has been shown to relieve abdominal pain, give you energy, help you lose weight and even make your skin look better.

The biggest negative you’ll hear about colon cleansing is that your body doesn’t need it. Your colon is designed to get rid of waste on its own, so there shouldn’t be anything building up. The problem is that your body is designed for a natural diet that people have been eating for thousands of years; however, if you look at the common diet from just 100 years ago, compared to today, you’ll find a big difference.

We now eat all kinds of unnatural chemicals and processed foods our body isn’t really designed to handle and properly digest. Colon cleansing is designed to counteract the build-up from these unnatural foods.

While colon cleansing can help keep your digestive system running properly, it’s most effective when used in conjunction with a healthy diet. Eating natural whole foods helps keep the bad stuff out; you can then use colon cleansing as an additional maintenance treatment. Getting your colon cleansed isn’t really an excuse to eat whatever you want, but it’s a great boost to intensify a healthy lifestyle.

We Recommend:

ColoFlush is a safe, non-addictive natural herbal remedy formulated by our team of experts in the field of natural medicine. ColoFlush supports the healthy functioning of the digestive system and supports all organs involved in the body’s removal of solid waste. ColoFlush can especially benefit those individuals who wish to naturally rejuvenate their digestive systems. The herbs used in ColoFlush promote healthy digestion and also act as an effective colonic tonic. While some traditional herbs are not suitable for regular use due to their excessively strong purgative effects, ColoFlush uses herbs that are strong enough to support flushing out of the colon, yet gentle enough not to cause a loose, ‘crampy’ stomach.

When we eat food, our colon is responsible for filtering out all the waste from our bodies, but with all the processed food and additional chemicals we eat, our bodies can have a hard time. This can leave waste in our system that builds up, petrifies, and slows us down. Colon cleansing flushes all this waste out of the colon so our bodies can process food more efficiently.

When starting colon cleansing, you may see initial weight loss as all the extra bad stuff that was sitting in your body gets flushed out. However, the weight loss doesn’t stop there. With all the excess waste flushed out of your colon, your body can better absorb nutrients and dispose of waste more efficiently. This leaves you with more energy and can help get rid of even more pounds.

When most people think of weight control, they think diet and exercise, but an even simpler answer to what controls your weight is your digestive system. You may cut and cut your calories and not lost weight because your metabolism slows to adjust to the smaller amount of food. While exercise is a great way to speed up your metabolism, your digestive system could always use a little boost.

Do you want to work out, but just don’t feel like you have the energy to get up and go after a long day at work? Colon cleansing can help you feel better so you’ll be able to go work out without feeling like you have to drag yourself.

First, you’ll lose all the excess weight from toxic waste in your system, which will give you energy in itself, but you’ll also be absorbing more nutrients and have a body that works and feels better. It will make it that much easier to get yourself moving.

If you’re serious about losing weight, colon cleansing can definitely help, but it’s not a magical cure or pill that will make the weight come off without effort. It’s no substitute for a healthy diet and regular exercise. To keep your body working efficiently, avoid putting the harmful toxic chemicals in your body to begin with. This means eating healthy food and sticking with a fresh diet rather than one chocked with preservatives and artificial colors and flavors.

While many people swear by colon cleansing, just like any other weight loss plan, it can be dangerous if not done properly. Always use tested products from trusted suppliers and consult a health professional before starting your colon cleanse.

We Recommend:

ColoFlush is a safe, non-addictive natural herbal remedy formulated by our team of experts in the field of natural medicine. This remedy supports the healthy functioning of the digestive system and supports all organs involved in the body’s removal of solid waste. This remedy can especially benefit those individuals who wish to naturally rejuvenate their digestive systems. The herbs used in ColoFlush promote healthy digestion and also act as an effective colonic tonic. While some traditional herbs are not suitable for regular use due to their excessively strong purgative effects, ColoFlush uses herbs that are strong enough to support flushing out of the colon, yet gentle enough not to cause a loose, ‘crampy’ stomach.

What does the colon do?

In short, the colon eliminates solid waste from the body. After the nutrients from the food you eat are absorbed through the small intestine and distributed via the liver into the bloodstream, the “leftovers” move into the large intestine, or colon, where they are eliminated when you go to the bathroom.

Problems arise when wastes accumulate in rather than exit the colon, causing constipation, bloating, and/or a condition known as systemic intoxication or poisoning. Systemic intoxication can lead to cognitive difficulties such as confusion, and even emotional problems such as depression and irritability.

Some sources suggest that allergic “attacks” of hives, sneezing, and coughing are due to systemic intoxication. Accumulated waste in the colon has been implicated in cancer, diverticulitis, and nutrient deficiencies.

How is colon cleansing done?

The term “colon cleansing” is relatively broad, and can refer to anything from fasting to taking an enema. Usually colon cleansing involves multiple steps. Here is a typical, multi-step cleansing program for the lower intestine.

1. Fast

The simplest way to remove toxins and impurities from the body (and colon) is to fast (unless you are pregnant or lactating). It is the most sensible first step in a cleansing program, after checking with your physician of course. A cleansing fast should last about 3 days. Begin by eating only raw fruits and vegetables for 1 or 2 days, then drink plenty of water and pure juices for 24 hours. During that time, you can drink herbal teas as well. Good cleansing herbs are:

-Milk thistle
-Dandelion root
-Garlic
-Slippery elm

After 24 hours of only liquids, eat only raw fruits and vegetables for a couple of days to help you come out of the fast.

2. Fiber

A cleansing drink can  be made from fiber-rich psyllium seed, and taken once daily until the colon is “clean.” Mix 1 teaspoon of psyllium seed with 1/2 cup each of apple juice, aloe vera juice, and water.

3. Enemas

No one likes to talk about them, but enemas are a straightforward and effective means of colon cleansing. An enema made from catnip tea is particularly effective at relieving congestion and accumulations in the colon. Make the tea by steeping 2 tablespoons of dried catnip per cup of pure, boiling water. Steep for about 8 minutes, strain, and cool to a comfortably warm temperature (about 99 degrees F). Using an enema bag and rubber tip, introduce the catnip tea into the colon. Because this is a cleansing enema, it does not need to be retained for more than 2 or 3 minutes.

These are just some ideas about enhancing your colon’s health via cleansing. Those who have undergone cleanses claim all sorts of health benefits. At the least, you will feel better.

ColoFlush is a safe, non-addictive natural herbal remedy formulated by our team of experts in the field of natural medicine. ColoFlush supports the healthy functioning of the digestive system and supports all organs involved in the body’s removal of solid waste. ColoFlush can especially benefit those individuals who wish to naturally rejuvenate their digestive systems.

The herbs used in ColoFlush promote healthy digestion and also act as an effective colonic tonic. While some traditional herbs are not suitable for regular use due to their excessively strong purgative effects, ColoFlush uses herbs that are strong enough to support flushing out of the colon, yet gentle enough not to cause a loose, ‘crampy’ stomach.  Formulated by a clinical psychologist, ColoFlush is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards.

This procedure is nothing new. It has been around for several thousand years. It is gaining popularity with the general population, though.

It is a modern day way of detoxing and removing unwanted toxins from the body.

Our colons are between 5 and 6 feet long and is a crucial part of our digestive systems. It is responsible for absorbing water and minerals then finally removing waste from the body, through the anus.

This process is the body’s  way of naturally getting rid of toxins and waste. It does not normally require outside help to perform up to standards.

The problem lies in how we live today. The things we eat and our busy schedules often force our digestive systems to function ineffectively or poorly.

The toxins in the environment and eating food with too much sugar in it can contribute to gaining weight and an overload of toxins in the colon. When our digestive systems slow down and the colon begins to fill with waste it can start leaking toxic materials into the bloodstream. This is all bad news for the rest of the bodily organs and tissues.

There are a lot of symptoms that can be caused by too much waste in the colon: Eczema, bloating, arthritis, flatulence, allergic reactions, diarrhea, fatigue, constipation, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and indigestion. If you notice any of these symptoms are becoming a problem then you should speak with your doctor about it.

Preparing for a colon cleanse is no big deal. You should make sure that you do not eat or drink a lot for several hours leading up to it, though. You will be placed on your side and have warm water pumped into your rectum. The water moves around and removes the excess waste that is attached to the walls of the colon. It is then removed from the body through a second tube. This only takes about 45 minutes and you are free to go home.

You might need to take some probiotics afterward to replace the ‘good’ bacteria in your colon. You need to be sure that you do not attempt this yourself of go to an unlicensed person asking for help. This is important because water pressure and minerals need to be monitored closely through the entire procedure.

If you are looking to avoid a colon cleanse then you can try some herbs, instead. Barberry, Chinese Cinnamon, Plantago, Psyllium and Marshmallow will help to keep your stool soft and support the latter part of your digestion. They are also very helpful in maintaining overall colon health.

ColoFlush is a safe, non-addictive natural herbal remedy formulated by our team of experts in the field of natural medicine. ColoFlush supports the healthy functioning of the digestive system and supports all organs involved in the body’s removal of solid waste. ColoFlush can especially benefit those individuals who wish to naturally rejuvenate their digestive systems.

The herbs used in ColoFlush promote healthy digestion and also act as an effective colonic tonic. While some traditional herbs are not suitable for regular use due to their excessively strong purgative effects, ColoFlush uses herbs that are strong enough to support flushing out of the colon, yet gentle enough not to cause a loose, ‘crampy’ stomach.  Formulated by a clinical psychologist, ColoFlush is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards.

Seasonal Notes

Here is an array of holiday seasonal notes from our ancestors, who used these helpful herbs. Stress relief was found in chamomile tea, botanical name Matricaria recutita, as it has tryptophan in it. Chamomile in bath herb mixes may soothe away stress (see recipe at end). Valerian, Valeriana officinalis, has calcium that is supplied directly to the nerves, so valerian may help calm the season. Those who find sleep elusive often place a few drops of valerian extract under the tongue about an hour before bed. For daytime calm, some like capsules. Some hold their breath or nose to avoid the odd aroma while opening the bottle to pop a capsule in their mouths.

Thyme, Thymus vulgaris, is a great herb to use, fresh or dried, in all holiday soups, stews, vegetables, salads or dressings, just about everything except chocolate chip cookies. Thyme has antibacterial properties to assist the body’s immune system fight off whatever critters might invade.

Water is most important now as many dry cakes and cookies are holiday fare. Lots of water, an ounce for each two pounds of body weight to drink during the day, helps to move all critters and bacteria out and helps the kidneys as well.

Sugar connoisseurs might like to know that each time sugar is eaten, the mineral chromium leaves the body. An important trace mineral, chromium is not easily found in foods. Mineral rich herbs that contain chromium, such as hibiscus flowers, Hibiscus sabdariffa, (see recipe below) are helpful to take with each sugar orgy as studies have been conducted that show those with secondary diabetes have no chromium in their systems. As aromas are important during the holiday season, a recipe for Scrumptious Stovetop Potpourri is included. The aroma reminds everyone of good times and predisposes guests to a happy occasion.

Water Energy Season: Kidney and Bladder

During the last quarter of the solar year, the body finds itself leaving the Earth and Metal energies of the autumn and on December 19 it moves into the Water Energy Season. Through mid-March the body focuses on water energy. This is a soothing thought, as most of us in the north need water at this time of the year. Shut inside our homes now, many of us have less water in the air, due in part to the heating systems we use – our skin and hair can easily become dry. We may be less likely to take a shower or bath since the air is nippy as we jump in and out of the tub. People may tend to drink less water now than in the warmer seasons as they do not need to replace body fluids lost through sweat. All of these possible habits are reasons to focus on water energy now.

If we could observe our bodies internally at the winter solstice as Capricorn begins, (21 December – 19 January), we would find our water energy organs currently enacting their annual ritual of cleansing and rebuilding. The kidneys and bladder continue cleansing and restoring now. It is helpful to assist these organs, especially for those who increase alcohol consumption during the holidays. Kidney cleansing is deep cleansing. Some cultures believe the kidneys store the energy of the ancestors and so thoughts of parents and grandparents might surface now. We also may experience strange thoughts, as if from another time. These thoughts might never have been our personal thoughts, simply thoughts stored in the cellular memory of our kidneys from generations past.

Metaphysicians feel the kidneys store our fears, so unusual fears may surface now. It may become easier to release the thoughts and fears as they surface, rather than being caught in them, when we know they are related to the kidney cleansing itself. While releasing old, negative ideas, fears or thoughts, it is wise to stay open to important ideas and helpful concepts from the ancestors that may come floating past as the ideas and fears release. Thus, this time can be one of reflection, releasing and opening, a good time to carry a small notebook to catch the brilliance as it passes by.

To aid the kidneys, people often drink a glass of water with an ounce or less of liquid chlorophyll mixed in it between dinner and bedtime. Chlorophyll is equivalent to the blood of plants and usually it is taken from alfalfa, Medicago sativa, a plant rich in minerals and vitamins due to the roots, which may pierce the earth to a depth of 40 feet or more. Chlorophyll may assist the body to build healthy blood, become more alkaline and, taken before bedtime, alleviate the uric acid crystals that tend to accumulate in the kidneys during the night.

During this water energy season, the element for Capricorn is earth. Earth and water produce mud, the very uric acid sludge we seek to release now from the kidneys and bladder. Liquid chlorophyll is available at health food stores. Good varieties usually have mint added for flavor.

Herbs such as watercress, Nasturtium officinale, cranberries and parsley, Petroselinum crispum, are also helpful for the kidneys, eaten as foods or taken in capsule form. Parsley is another high mineral content herb and its nourishment of the body and kidneys can create a diuretic action, allowing the body to release excess water and toxins as the parsley nourishes the kidneys. I never plan a long car trip the day I begin to use parsley in earnest.

Kidneys also connect to the bones, sometimes excreting needed calcium from the body. Women moving through Change of Life find that adding horsetail, Equisetum arvense, or oatstraw tea or capsules to their diet assists the body retain needed calcium. Many Change of Life bladders also have found benefit and strength from the addition of extra silica, a mineral found in herbs that assists us to absorb calcium. Some women notice their ability to control their bladders increases within a few days after beginning to ingest oatstraw or horsetail. An added virtue of silica is that usually hair and nails grow more easily and have more strength. Another herb helpful to the cleansing and rebuilding of the bladder is uva ursi, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, available in capsules or extract form. Many herbal combinations for the urinary system have all of these herbs included.

Water Energy Season: Adrenal glands

During the water season, the adrenal glands are also busy cleansing and recharging. Parsley again plays a role as it also nourishes the adrenals. So, while people focus in Capricorn on kidney and bladder cleansing and rebuilding, the parsley taken for the urinary system assists the adrenals as well. Usually people wait until Aquarius (20 January to 18 February) to nourish the adrenals during the post holiday season after the stress is reduced. In this water energy season, Aquarius is an air sign and air and water produce rain, or tears, something we often shed after the panic of an adrenaline rush subsides.

An interesting tea to support the adrenals is one I make by placing a few sprigs of fresh parsley in a mug and pouring boiling water over them, covering and steeping for about five minutes before discarding the herb and drinking. Parsley won’t win the Tea Taste of the Year award, but it is pleasant tasting and yields great nutrients. Usually people drink a cup or two a day.

Parsley stays green all winter, even in northern gardens. I put sticks in the soil to mark the spot and clear the snow over it so the parsley stays green, rich with minerals. Others plant parsley in a pot inside or buy fresh bunches at the grocery store. Fresh organic parsley is best due to the higher mineral content.

Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, also benefits the adrenals and is available in many forms. It has high sugar content and those with blood sugar concerns would be wise to discuss it with someone knowledgeable about herbs or research it thoroughly. Licorice lovers should seek a balance with potassium rich herbs, as licorice may help potassium leave the body.

Potassium/sodium and calcium/ magnesium are electrolytes and must be in balance in the body. The typical American diet has more sodium than potassium so most health conscious people make sure they take potassium rich herbs, such as celery, parsley, lemongrass, dulse or peppermint (see tea recipe).

Many women move into Change of Life with exhausted adrenals. Adrenals take over estrogen production when the ovaries complete their life work, so frequent nourishing of the adrenals with parsley or licorice may be helpful in providing food to the adrenals. I always have some on hand and occasionally take it just to keep adrenal exhaustion at bay, especially in stressful times. Had I to do it over, I would have spent my forties nourishing the adrenals once or twice a year for a month or so.

Water Energy Season: Reproductive Organs

The last system of the water energy season is the reproductive system, usually focused on in Pisces (itself a water sign), beginning right after Saint Valentine’s Day (19 February to 20 March). Nourishing the body in watery Pisces assists the body to keep itself moist inside. Moistening and silica-rich red raspberry leaf, Rubus ideaus, is an herb women can take from the day they become a woman through their last day on earth, even during pregnancy. It assists the reproductive organs rebuild and balance. It is a fine herb for men as well, as they also need silica.

Today a man called to thank me so much for educating him about silica, calcium and magnesium. His concern was a sluggish colon and within a week of starting those herbs, his moving experiences were much grander, much easier and he felt lighter and more clear. A miracle thought he. A mineral deficiency thought I. We are so overfed and undernourished. Herb nourishment preventing problems once again.

When men reach 25 or so, some target Pisces every year to add saw palmetto berries and pygeum to their diets, usually in extract or capsule form. The herbs assist the reproductive system, the prostate in particular, to stay in balance. The entire reproductive system for both men and women is in close proximity to the colon so that colon cleansing can also be helpful for the reproductive system. Various blood cleansers also assist the reproductive system. Yellow dock seems most helpful in the lower torso area, so people cleansing the reproductive system or any of these water season lower torso area organs choose yellow dock in capsules. Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, may also be helpful in blood and internal cleansing.

Since so many women are nearing or are in the Change of Life cycle, wild yam, Dioscorea villosa, is important to mention as it is a source of phyto-progesterone. No plants produce hormones; however, they produce substances that act as hormones do in our systems, without negative side effects. Wild yam produces a substance that acts the way progesterone does in the body. The cream of wild yam is helpful for easing many concerns during this cycle, including heat and bloating. It is critical to use wild yam as a cream, as research has revealed that the nutrients in needed by women are ruined during the digestion process of wild yam. Absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the skin, the substances in wild yam assist the body well.

Timing

A few questions I received in response to the last article regarded timing. Thank you so much for your inquiries. Surely it is possible to cleanse any organ or system at any time of the year. However, this more harmonious path to cleansing and restoring works with the organs when they are naturally cleansing, easing the body stress of cleansing. Information presented this way seeks to assist people to move away from the allopathic disease-and- cure mindset to a health oriented preventative build-and-cleanse mindset.

I trust these herbal ideas, many from my grandmother, add pleasing and stress-free notes and aromas to this winter quarter and water season of the year. Blessings on your path.

Herbal Recipes

Stress Free Herbal Bath Sachet

* 1/3 c. German chamomile flowers
* 1/2 c. lavender florets
* 1/2c. thyme leaves
* 1/2c. lemon grass leaves
* 1/4c. peppermint or pennyroyal leaves

Mix all dried herb leaves and flowers. Store in tightly sealed glass container. For bath, take about a half cup herb mix, place in muslin bag or one of grandmother’s handkerchiefs, which may stain a bit blue. Hang under tap or place in tub, run hot water first, adding cold when needed. Remove before soap is added and dry to use twice more. I hang it on the sink faucet to dry.

Scrumptious Stovetop Potpourri

* 1/4 c. whole cloves
* 1/4c. cinnamon chips
* 1/4c. allspice berries
* 1/4c. whole rosehips
* 1/4c. orange peel
* 1/4c. balsam leaves
* handful bay laurel leaves
* 1 TBS. or so cardamom seeds

Store dried herbs in tightly sealed glass container. Take 1 TBS or more and put into nearly full teakettle (top off) or pan and bring to boil on stove. Reduce heat and simmer at least 20 minutes to fragrance the home. I put on an oven mitt and walk the steaming kettle through the house for faster fragrance. Put on a timer so the pot does not boil dry.

Elizabeth’s SereniTea

* 1 c. German chamomile
* 1/2 c. lemongrass leaves
* 1/4c. peppermint leaves
* 1/4c. hibiscus flowers
* 2 TBS. Mixed orange/lemon peel
* Swizzle with a cinnamon stick

Steep in a covered mug or pot for 5-10 minutes.

The flaw in this very is that in a perfect world are colons would be more than adequate to eliminate waste material from our bodies. But, we all know that we don’t live in a perfect world. Just since World War II the number of toxic chemicals which have been manufactured and released into cleaning products, make up and other personal care products which are not covered by the FDA, numbers above 5000. Researchers find that tissues in our bodies absorb and store these chemicals at alarming rates.

Proponents of body detoxification and colon cleansing believe that this extra help is necessary to rid our bodies of chemicals and toxins which it was not originally designed to take care of.

Physicians and healthcare practitioners who advocate colon cleansing have multiple case studies which proves that individuals can help to decrease bloating, fatigue, skin problems and constipation as well as decrease weight gain and improve energy by eliminating the toxins and parasites in our intestinal tract which negatively impact our health on a daily basis.

In reality colon cleansing, done correctly, will not be harmful in any way. The risk factors increase when individuals use this method on a consistent basis for weight loss, which significantly impacts the amounts of nutrients, vitamins and minerals the body is able to absorb. Colon cleansing also becomes dangerous when individuals and do it to such an extreme that their body becomes dehydrated and it becomes a medical emergency.

This practice dates back to ancient Greece and became popular in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. In the years that followed research was unable to support the theory behind the practice and it fell out of favor. To a certain degree, the jury remains out on this particular medical recommendation. That is because researchers have devoted very little study to the practice.

For the most part, research is funded I’ve pharmaceutical companies who are searching for a pharmaceutical answer to a particular problem. This helps to increase their financial bottom line, while colon cleansing will not.

There are two main methods of cleansing of colon. The first is do it yourself at home and the second involves seeing a medical care practitioner to have a colon irrigation. This practice is not to be confused with an intestinal cleansing. A complete intestinal cleansing is done using fasting with juice in order to clear out the intestines while a colon cleansing is done to clear out the large intestines.

Products that you use at home include animus, laxatives, strong herbal teas, enzymes, powders or anti-parasite capsules. The goal is to stimulate the colon to expel all of its contents. Most of these products can be found online or at the health food store.

Medical practitioners also are able to perform enema in the office to clean out the colon. Once the whole process is completed medical practitioners often recommend using probiotic supplements to re-colonize the colon with beneficial bacteria.

These very is that by cleansing the colon the individual gets rid of undigested meats and other foods which cause a mucous buildup and produces toxins which then can enter the blood circulation and poison the body. Some people claim these toxins will cause fatigue, chronic headaches, weight gain and low energy.

If you want to try a colon cleanse be sure to get the advice of your physician first. With some medical conditions this process can cause a reaction or problem with medications already being taken or a disturbance in the balance of an individual’s body that will throw off a current medical problem.