Toxins are present in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. They can also be found in the shampoos, toothpaste, perfume, body lotions and creams we use every day. Our entire body, including our DNA, is under endless, daily assault by toxins from a variety of sources around us.

The toxins to which we are exposed can easily overwhelm our natural detoxification processes; when impurities aren’t properly filtered, every cell in the body is adversely affected and suffers. Much of the accumulation occurs in the colon where toxic waste material can harden and adhere to the walls of the colon producing a barrier that prevents nutrients and supplements from being properly absorbed into the body.

It is vital to have a clean colon, free of waste and harmful micro-organisms. When this plaque is removed, it enables the body to absorb vitamins and minerals for optimal performance and for accelerating the healing process our body needs.

Colon hydrotherapy is a simple, safe and non-invasive procedure that removes waste from the large intestine by introducing filtered and temperature-regulated water into the colon. The waste is softened and loosened resulting in evacuation through natural peristalsis. Up to 90% of your immune system resides in your colon, so this process triggers not only the release of toxins in the local area but other vital organs such as the liver, gallbladder, lymphatic system and blood.

How do you know if your colon could use a cleanse?

You might not feel it, but chances are that your body has an excess of toxins and is missing some of the essential nutrients it needs to perform detoxification processes and all other bodily functions optimally. If your colon could use a cleanse, you may experience decreased energy; you may lose muscle mass and gain fat, become irritable, and/or develop sleeping problems; your mental clarity or libido may decrease. Conditions such as eczema, hair loss, high blood pressure, high homocysteine levels, dyslipidemia or insulin resistance may also be signs of a toxic colon.

Toxic build-up in the colon can also lead to silent inflammation which is now identified as the primary source for many chronic conditions including heart disease, depression, obesity and diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer.

Colon hydrotherapy not only removes harmful micro-organisms but can also rid your body of beneficial organisms, so it is important to complement the therapy with beneficial pro- and pre-biotics.

A licensed and certified natural health care practitioner can help you determine if colon hydrotherapy is right for you and to help develop a comprehensive cleanse and replenish program.

Cheryl Kane-Banke is a certified therapist with A Healthier You in Palm Desert which is owned and operated by Deb McMahon, R.N., CNH. For more information call (760) 360.8877.