The word constipation is derived from the Latin word ‘constipatus’ meaning ‘to press or crowd together, to pack, to cram’. So to be constipated means difficulty moving the bowels due to packed accumulation of feces. However, constipation can also exist while the bowels seem to be moving normally despite an accumulation of feces in pockets of the colon.
Celebrities that have reportedly used Colon Hydrotherapy to combat constipation, loose weight, improve physical appearance, boost emotional well-being and sharpen mental capabilities include Ben Affleck, Courtney Love, Andie McDowell, Janet Jackson, Cindy Crawford, Alicia Silverstone, Liv Tyler and Paris Hilton.
Autointoxication is one result of impacted fecal matter decaying in the colon. Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, intolerance, lack of endurance and frequent illness are all signs of autointoxication. The stress of today’s lifestyles and diets requires the body to function at peak capacity. In order to do this the body requires optimal nutrition. Sadly, our diets do not support the type of lives we lead. Processed food, although cheap and easy, is nutritionally void and leaves the body in a state of perpetual want. Our stomach is full, but there is not enough nutrition in what was just eaten to get the body through the rest of the day. No wonder we crave sugars for energy and salt for proper electrolyte balance and absorption. The body is trying to tell us something. Unfortunately, that afternoon snack is usually just more empty calories and chemicals. Since we are not eating enough raw, unprocessed food, the body is not only deficient in nutrients, but the colon does not receive enough fiber and liquid to move matter efficiently and this is a recipe for constipation. A constipated bowel is a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria, which can easily multiply and eventually over run friendly bacteria creating an imbalance in the gut. The thick mucoid lining of the colon becomes compromised and the blood capillaries to the colon begin pulling toxins into the blood stream and voila – autointoxication!
People are often amazed at the fact that they can ‘seem’ to be having normal daily eliminations, yet during a Colon Hydrotheapy session witness dark, rock-like stool (impacted matter) moving through the waste tube. As the water softens and loosens decaying matter impacted in the bowel, abdominal bodywork helps to stimulate peristalsis in the colon and encourage the body to cast off that which it had previously been holding on to. In normally functioning alimentary tracts (the system between your mouth and anus), enzymes in saliva signal the colon to evacuate its contents in preparation for the incoming food, which means, that if you are functioning properly you will have a bowel movement within an hour or two of each meal. Therefore, if you are eating three meals a day, you should be having three healthy bowel movements a day!
A healthy bowel movement is when peristaltic action produces the urge to eliminate, and the evacuation produces a long, formed stool of medium brown color. Having to force the elimination to come, feeling that the elimination is incomplete and/or hard, dry looking stools are all signs of constipation. Slower transit times can be the result of many factors, but some of the major ones are; dehydration, poor diet, stress, medications, poor bowel habits (denying the urge to eliminate) and electrolyte imbalance which leads to malabsorption. A series of colonic irrigations done within days of each other to prevent re-dehydration will thoroughly soak and saturate impacted fecal matter so that it can be dissolved and removed effectively and comfortably. One Colon Hydrotherapy session can be the equivalent to having 20 normal bowel movements and following a session many people report a sense of ‘lightness’, renewed vitality and an increased sense of well-being.
Constipation is of epidemic proportions in the United States, as evidenced by the million dollar laxative industry. Most people are not even aware that their bowels are irregular, even though the body sends signals that things are going awry, such as constipation, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, uncontrollable cravings and persistent weight gain. In 2010 colon cancer was the third most diagnosed cancer in the nation with over 102,000 new cases diagnosed. Throughout the world past generations have used the state of the bowels to determine overall health of the body. With the rebirth of consciousness in respect to what we put in and on our bodies, it would behoove us to also pay close attention to what is coming out!
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