There seems to be more misconceptions about this therapeutic modality with orthodox and alternative practitioners than most others, though I shall attempt to dispel a few popular myths and give my perspective on what colonic hydrotherapy is all about. This article is focusing mostly on colonics rather than on detoxification, but I have included both in the title as they are in reality inseparable as I hope will become clear below. This is not the last word on colonics by any means, but I hope it will introduce some of the features of this therapeutic modality.

Having originally trained in classical osteopathy, it became clear that detoxification of the body and organs is imperative to sort out many if not most visceral problems, which manipulative or reflex treatment does not really address. When the primary lesion is a toxic overworked liver or chronically irritated (poisoned) bowel for example, no amount of manipulation or soft tissue work deals with the cause – though it will help to renormalise nerve and blood supply to those areas with a skilled operator.

The rationale for regular ‘house-cleaning’ of our bodies is not difficult to understand and is a fundamental tenet of natural therapeutics. Our bodies are not designed to function in an environment of chronic toxemia, where our blood becomes so overladen with toxic materials that its appearance even changes. None of the cells in our bodies can function efficiently when the fluid they are bathed in is full of toxic waste products, and contains low levels of nutrients they require. In today's modern western world, our bodies rarely get a break from this constant onslaught, often not even when we are ill (and the body attempts to throw off a large part of its toxic burden). Every 'wild' animal other than 'civilised' human beings instinctively fasts when ill. This almost always leads to an uneventful and rapid recovery. Instead in our wisdom we attempt to suppress the symptoms of illness rather than let Nature take its rightful course. Symptom suppression can be likened to silencing the fire alarm rather than putting out the fire - obviously not the best way to cure the problem.

Natural Hygiene Clinic - restoring health with integrated medicine