Colonic hydrotherapy, anyone?

I prefer taking a huge dump to clean my colon

Those can be more dangerous than they lead you to believe. I wouldn't do it.

If they are using just water it's a waste of money. Essential oils like peppermint and lavender though can disinfect without harming the good bacteria.

Your colon cleanses itself. Drink plenty of water and eat enough fiber. Maybe have some yogurt or probiotic supplements if you feel you need to support the balance of 'good' bacteria in the area. Sorry but that area is 'exit only'. ;-). Also I'd be worried that messing with that area artificially could mess up the balance of natural bacteria that helps keep you regular... You can usually deal with bloating/digestion issues by adjusting your diet. Some people are more sensitive to certain foods.

This. I don't understand why people insist on thinking our bodies can't cleanse and detox themselves. How ever did we survive for thousands and thousands of years without all these things?

It's poop.

According to Chau Che MD, with New York University:

"Despite evidence to the contrary, the idea that colon cleansing is therapeutic by removing impurities, lives on. However, these claims largely fail to consider normal physiology. The digestive tract has inherent properties that work to clean our colon. After food ingestion, the small intestine absorbs nutrients and contracts to move indigestible residue into the colon. The colon continues the digestive process by absorbing and secreting electrolytes and fluids while its resident bacteria ferments the undigested food products. These are just some of the many mechanisms in which the digestive tract works in order to ensure that the colon does not become encrusted with fecal matter as some products claim. The black, rubbery material passed on a colon cleanse is actually a byproduct from the supplements and fiber in the colon cleansing product as opposed to old fecal material, in which consumers are led to believe."

http://www.clinicalcorrelations.org/?p=1605
Reviewed by Michael Poles MD and Fritz Francois MD, NYU Division of Gastroenterology

You can save money and use a garden hose up there.

I tried it for the first time yesterday. Not too impressed. And not pleasant.

This is something that can cause more harm than good. If you start "cleansing" something that is taken care of by balances in your own body, you can cause an unbalance of the natural good/bad bacteria and other flora/fauna in your intestines. Next thing you know you will have some weird infection that has no cure and ruin the internal plumbing of your body. This may sound extreme, but stuff like this DOES happen.

One example which is very common. (And this one is from taking something that is usually medically necessary.) Say a person gets pneumonia and takes antibiotics. Antibiotics kill ALL the bacteria in your body. There are good bacteria in everyone's bodies that keep yeast (candida) infections in check. If you take antibiotics for ten days to two weeks you can get yeast infections just about anywhere in your body. Esophagus, on your skin, vagina, mouth, rectum.. just about anywhere. I know this because I had ALL of those at one time from taking antibiotics for a stubborn case of pneumonia about 25 years ago. It took several months to get this stuff under control, but I still have many intestinal problems which I never had before that time. Why do something medically unnecessary and chance screwing up a balance that may not be able to be balanced again?? Take a shower, wipe your butt, brush your teeth and leave the rest up to the expert... your own body.

Your colon cleanses itself. Drink plenty of water and eat enough fiber. Maybe have some yogurt or probiotic supplements if you feel you need to support the balance of 'good' bacteria in the area. Sorry but that area is 'exit only'. ;-). Also I'd be worried that messing with that area artificially could mess up the balance of natural bacteria that helps keep you regular... You can usually deal with bloating/digestion issues by adjusting your diet. Some people are more sensitive to certain foods.

This. I don't understand why people insist on thinking our bodies can't cleanse and detox themselves. How ever did we survive for thousands and thousands of years without all these things?

People HAVE been doing enemas for thousands of years. Not to mention the typical modern Western diet has de-EVOLVED into complete toxic crap. Toxins absolutely are stored in your colon, liver, kidneys and fat cells. I have been getting colonics for 20 years, because they work, tons of benefits and never a single problem! What the earlier poster said about skin it absolutely true. I used to suffer from chronic eczema, and nothing has kept it under control better than colonics (and good diet, of course). Do your research. If done by an IACT certified (this is important!) practitioner it is quite safe. I realize they are not for everyone, but don't be afraid of something you know nothing about. Don't do it if YOU personally don't want to, but don't give bad advice to someone who might want to try it.

Again - not all therapies and treatments are for everyone. There eis no definite answer here. I truthly believe in this therapy as much as i believe in herbal medicine, chinese therapies like cupping and acupuncture and as much as i am against processed foods or artificial ingredients including protein shakes etc.

however some people think thees help them and work for them and all i have to say is to each their own - whatever works for you - only you know your body and the way it responds to things...

My point is that everyone should make their own choices. Try it, see if it works for you - all i can say is that it is one of the things that makes me feel the healthiest i have ever felt. Just my own experience.