Colon Cleanse Detox – Natural Body Cleansing For A Healthy Colon

There are three basic causes for illnesses of the colon.

They are:

• heredity,
• improper diet,
• lifestyle of the subject in question.

Heredity is number one, because almost all studies indicate that if you have colon problems in your family, you are much more likely to experience colon issues yourself. Diet entails everything that we consume, which in this day and age normally includes preservatives, which are a major cause of colon problems.

Exercise is important, because the sedentary lifestyle allows fecal waste to compact in the colon, where as those that exercise increase mobility in the colon so that the waste passes through in a much quicker fashion.

Colon cleansing can facilitate good health in the colon and the majority of people that have healthy colons live long and productive lives.

Illness is not the only thing that can affect the large intestine. A sedentary lifestyle can cause changes in how the colon performs. A disease my change the shape of the colon, but a colon that is not functioning at its best, restricts the body’s ability to remove toxins that accumulate in the body.

Because there are many things that can affect the colon, the disorders of the colon have been categorized into two groups: functional disorders and structural disorders.

• The functional disorders are those that affect what the large intestine does, or more precisely, how it functions. The diseases of the large intestine that are considered functional disorders consist of constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, which is also known as spastic colon.
• The structural disorders are those illnesses of the colon that actually bring about a change in the composition of the colon. This can take the form of blockages or distortions to the shape of the colon.

The illnesses of the large intestine that are said to be structural disorders are:

• hemorrhoids,
• fissures,
• diverticular disease,
• colon polyps,
• colitis,
• colon cancer.

FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS

Constipation

Constipation is a condition in which bowel evacuations occur infrequently, or in which the feces are hard or small or where passage of feces causes difficulty or pain.

The frequency of bowel movements differs from one person to the next and it is impossible to put a time limit that would determine what is “normal”.

You will know when you are constipated because the interval between bowel movements will increase and you will have to strain in order push out the stool.

It is important to note that constipation developing in a person who previously had a regular bowel pattern may be a sign of an intestinal disease.

Persistent constipation can be treated by increasing dietary fiber, use of laxatives, or with therapeutic enemas.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS

IBS is a relatively common condition in which abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea occurs regularly and can continue for years without any general deterioration in physical health.

The symptoms of IBS are caused by abnormal and irregular muscular contractions in the intestine. The patient experiences heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as stretching, or distending muscles. With IBS, there is no detectible structural disease as the underlying cause.

There are many things that can trigger IBS and you should keep a record of what foods enhance the symptoms in your case.

Studies show that stress or anxiety may play a part in bringing on bouts of IBS. Some studies have linked a severe infection of the intestine with the onset of the disease, but the results are not conclusive at this time.

Treatment varies depending on the patient’s condition, but the most common treatments include psychotherapy to aid in reducing anxiety, dietary adjustment coupled with fecal softening agents and drugs to reduce the intensity of the spasms and diminish pain sensitivity.

STRUCTURAL DISORDERS

Hemorrhoids

Enlargement of the normal spongy blood-filled cushions in the wall of the anus, called internal hemorrhoids, are usually a consequence of prolonged constipation or, occasionally, diarrhea.

Simple hemorrhoids are seldom painful.

If there is any pain associated with them, it usually stems from anal fissures that are brought on by straining, and not the hemorrhoids.

There are three categories of hemorrhoids. The only symptom with first-degree hemorrhoids, is bleeding. This bleeding occurs when defecation is completed and never appears to be coming from the anus. The bleeding appears to be coming from inside the bowel.

Second-degree hemorrhoids protrude beyond the anus after defecation and are very sensitive and uncomfortable for the patient. Once the defecation is complete, the hemorrhoids retreat spontaneously back inside the anus.

Third-degree hemorrhoids remain outside the anus permanently and need to be returned by pressure or in some cases by a surgical procedure.

First and second degree hemorrhoids may respond to dietary changes which include high fiber foods and with the use of fecal softening agents. If bleeding persists, a doctor’s care should be sought out.

A doctor can inject a sclerosing agent, which is an anti-irritant fluid, making the swollen hemorrhoids shrivel up. Two other successful treatments include, infrared coagulation and the application of elastic bands.

Your doctor can help explain these treatments to you and will help you to determine which is the most effective treatment for your condition. Third-degree hemorrhoids require surgery, a hemorrhoidectomy, in most cases. This especially true if the hemorrhoids become strangulated, which produces severe pain and further enlargement of the hemorrhoids.

External Hemorrhoids are either prolapsed internal hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids that have become so distended that they have dropped or protrude outside of your anus, or a perennial hematoma, which are the residual skin tags remaining after a perianal hematoma has healed.

Normally hemorrhoids that are outside of the anus are considered to be external hemorrhoids, it is only when the protrusion is from inside that we have the condition of prolapsing hemorrhoids.

Diverticular Disease

Diverticular disease is a condition in which there are diverticula (feces trapped in pouches, diverticula, that have formed along the wall of the large intestine) in the colon that cause lower abdominal pain and disrupt the the “normal” bowel movement pattern of the patient.

The pain is due to spasms of the muscles of the intestine and not due to inflammation of the diverticula.

Colon Polyps

Polyps are tumor growths that are usually benign that protrude from a mucous membrane in the colon.

Juvenile polyps occur in the intestine, usually the colon or rectum of infants or young people. When polyps occur in young people, there is a 25% risk of malignancy, but most are benign.

Polyps are usually removed by a surgical procedure called a polypectomy.

Colitis

Colitis is the inflammation of the colon. The common symptoms are diarrhea, sometimes with bloody mucous and lower abdominal pain. Colitis can be diagnosed with a sigmoidoscopy or barium enema x-ray.

Colitis may be due to infection by Entamoeba, amoebic colitis or by bacteria, infective colitis. Chron’s Colitis can occur in patients with Chron’s Disease.

Partial or temporary cessation of blood supply to the colon may cause ischemic colitis.

Ulcerative colitis almost always involves the rectum as well as portions of the colon, which become inflamed and ulcerated. Its cause is unknown and the symptoms can vary in severity from month to month. It can be treated by drugs, including corticosteroids and drugs containing 5-aminosalicylic acid and bed rest. In severe, continuous colitis, surgery might be the only answer.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer increases as we age and has been linked to dietary carcinogens. Lack of fiber in the diet is a major contributor, because the passage of feces through the intestinal tract is prolonged, which extends exposure to possible carcinogens.

High fat diets have also been indicated as leading to colon cancer because, excess fat is believed to alter bacterial flora and convert steroids into compounds that have carcinogenic properties.

The key to treatment or management of colon cancer is early detection.

The earlier the cancer is discovered, the better the odds of beating it become. When colon cancer spreads, or metastasizes, it can invade all of the organs of the body, if left unchecked. If it is detected in an early phase it can be cured, but if it reaches a highly developed stage it is unlikely to be cured.

Currently there are three procedures for dealing with colon cancer, and most other cancers for that matter.

The three treatments available today are:

• chemotherapy,
• radiation therapy,
• surgical procedure.

Taking care of your health through proper diet and regular exercise are just plain common sense things that will help you to avoid colon cancer.

Colon cleansing is another ritual that you should employ in order to keep all of your body functioning properly.