Every day when we eat foods, drink water (including bottled) and breathe air, we are exposed to and ingest preservatives, toxins, chemicals and pollutants—they are everywhere. And, no matter how careful we are in the foods we choose to eat and in our lifestyles, we cannot avoid them. A frightening fact is that most people do not realize that the typical, everyday foods and beverages that we consume cause our bodies the most problems. These are processed foods like bread, pasta, pizza, white rice, any food containing white flour; mucus forming foods such as some dairy products; sugar and alcohol products; and even fruits and vegetables exposed to pesticides and other chemicals. Many of these have just become commonplace in our lives with everyone having consumed them at one time or another.

 
The problem is that the body cannot properly digest and eliminate some of these foods and the substances they contain—and they can become lodged or stuck in the lining of our intestinal tract in the form of old, dried fecal matter and mucus. It is estimated that the average person can have between 4-25 pounds of this “built-up” intestinal matter in their colon—and it can just keep accumulating over the years! “The intestines can store a vast amount of this partially digested, putrefying matter,” claims natural health expert, Richard Anderson, N.D., N.M.D. “Some intestines, when autopsied, have weighed up to 40 pounds and were distended to a diameter of 12 inches with only a pencil-thin channel through which the feces could move. That 40 pounds was due to caked layers of encrusted mucus, mixed with fecal matter, bizarrely resembling hardened blackish -green truck tire rubber or an old piece of dried rawhide.” Dr. Anderson calls this accumulation “mucoid plaque.” “This mucoid plaque.” he says, “when it is removed during an intensive colon cleanse, often shows rope like twists, striations, overlaps, folds, creases—the shape and texture of the intestinal wall.” Mucoid plaque may vary considerably, depending on the chemical conditions in a person’s intestines. It may be hard and brittle; it may be firm and thick; tough, wet, and rubbery, soft, thick, and mucoid; or soft, transparent, and thin; it can range in color from light brown, black, or greenish-black to yellow or grey, and sometimes emits an intensely foul odor. The trouble is once mucoid plaque is
created, it is not routinely excreted from the intestines, affirms Dr. Anderson. “Instead, it lodges in the numerous folds and crevices of this large organ and can remain there for many years. Over time, the mucoid plaque grows thicker, firmer, and more widespread— colonizing throughout the tennis court—sized interior of the intestines. Old feces adhere to the plaque and are not removed even during normal bowel movements.”

Colon Cleanse

Increased interest in colon health has led to a surge in the development of colon cleansing formulas and supplement programs. Most of these programs utilize a cleansing supplement in addition to recommending a basic dietary program. The supplements generally contain a combination of herbs, nutrients, enzymes, and toxin absorbers designed to help remove the buildup mucoid plaque from the colon and enhance digestion and absorption of food. Many of these supplements include ingredients that also cleanse the liver, gallbladder, and lymph. It’s important to note that cleansing supplements should not be confused with laxatives. The latter are not considered to be a healthy alternative. Laxatives can cause dehydration, and they only stimulate the muscular movement of the colon but do nothing to loosen and remove niucoid plaque. Laxatives may also weaken the colon by irritating and overstimulating it. Note that it is common to have physical reactions to the colon cleansing
process. These reactions may include headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, or dizziness. For all the discomfort, this is actually a sign that the process is working and that you are eliminating toxins from your body. If these symptoms occur, you may need to temporarily cut back on your cleansing procedure. Such a wide variety of different cleansing formulas and products are available that it can be difficult to sort out the wheat from the chaff. We list a few recommended products below, because products arc always changing and improved formulas will become available, you might wish to consult with your health-care practitioner or someone knowledgeable in this field.

Ultimate Cleanse: This cleansing program from Nature’s Secret includes two formulas: Multi-l-lerb and Multi-Fiber. The formulas include cleansing herbs, amino acids, antioxidants, digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and five kinds of fiber. Both formulas are taken in the morning and evening, in gradually increasing dosages, for several weeks. These formulas target not only the bowel, but also the liver, lungs, skin, and lymph. At the end of the program, a person should be having two to three bowel movements every day.

 
Whole Body and Colon Program: Made by the Pure Body Institute this program uses a combination of two formulas; each uses a blend of herbs chosen for their ability to Hush toxins out of the organs and old fecal matter from the intestines. The program is designed to last about 30 days. First-time users may find that three courses of the program are required for complete inner cleansing and detoxification.

 
Cleanse 28: Available from Arise and Shine Herbal products, this 28-day program cleanses the entire alimentary canal, from the tongue to the stomach and all the way down to the colon. The program usually begins with the mildest phase in the first week and progresses to the most demanding level in the fourth week, but the schedule should be adjusted to the individual. All of the details are covered in a helpful guide that comes with the kit, which includes everything needed for the cleanse: an herbal laxative formula, an herbal formula for nutritional support, bentonite and psyllium for use in cleansing shakes, and a probiotic supplement to help restore healthy intestinal bacteria.

Enemas and Colonic Irrigation
Some health-care practitioners recommend using either an enema or colonic irrigation to augment a colon cleansing program. Using either of these therapies at the very beginning of any colon cleansing program may
help achieve better results more quickly. An enema involves injecting water into the colon via a small plastic tube inserted into the rectum. The tube is attached to an enema bag, which is basically just a compressible sack. About
1 cup to 1 quart of warm water is generally used. The water flushes out the lower portion of the colon. Because of the body’s natural evacuation reflex, the fluids injected can’t remain there very long—the bowel demands to he
emptied promptly.

Colon Cleanse

 
• Retention enemas are small amounts of solution that are retained, or kept, in the intestine for a specified period of time after they are given. They are used to instill medications, soften stool, aid in elimination of intestinal parasites. lubricate the rectum, or expel fiatus.

• Nonretention enemas are usually expelled in 5 to 10 minutes. Larger quantities of solution are usually given, and the enemas are generally used to clean the bowel of feces and flatus (gas).

Enema types

 
• Cleansing enema: Usually a soap-solution, tap-water enema, or saline solution. Soap- solution enemas irritate the intestine, so they are no longer used as frequently as tap-water enemas. A large amount of the solution, from 750 to 1,000 cubic centimeters, is usually given. The main purpose is to remove stool and flatus.
• Disposable enema: Also a cleansing enema, in most cases. However, these enemas come in prepared, disposable containers, each usually containing 4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 cubic centimeters). The solution tends to be hyper-tonic, meaning that it draws fluid from the body to stimulate peristalsis and elimination of stool and flatus.
• Oil retention enema: Mineral or olive oil may be used. Commercially prepared enemas containing oil are also available. Four to six ounces is the usual amount. These enemas are retained for at least 30 to 60 minutes. The
main purpose is to soften fecal material so that it can be expelled. An oil retention enema is sometimes followed with a cleansing enema.

 
The patient receiving an enema is usually placed in the Sims (left lateral) position. This encourages the solution to flow from the rectum to the sigmoid portion of the colon. The patient should be encouraged to breathe deeply during enema administration. Deep breathing encourages relaxation and increases retention of the solution for more effective results. Results must be observed after an enema is given. Amount, type, and color of stool, and/or the amount of flatus expelled should be recorded. An Impaction is a large, hard mass of fecal material lodged in the intestine or rectum. Oil-retention enemas are frequently ordered to soften the impaction so it can be expelled. If it cannot be removed by an enema, it is sometimes necessary to insert a lubricated, gloved pitcher to measure the amount needed.

Cleansing Guides, Colon Cleanse

• About 40 large lemons or 80 limes or a combination (organic preferred). Only enough for five days (half the
amount) at a time or they spoil.
• At least 80 fI. oz. Organic Grade B Maple Syrup (usually sold in 32 fl. oz. bottles = 2.5 bottles)
• 1/2 pound non-iodized Sea Salt (I recommend Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt)
• 2.5 ounces of cayenne pepper (powdered hot red pepper)
• A box of herbal laxative tea bags
• At least five gallons (640 II. oz.) spring or purified water (*not fluoridated) for the lemonade and another 3 gallons and a pint (400 fl. oz.) for the salt water flush and a cup of laxative tea

(These quantities are based on a 10-day cleanse with 8 glasses of lemonade a day, which is what I averaged. Stanley Burroughs says to drink 6 — 12 glasses a day. So, you may need to adjust the quantities.)

*Fluorine is about as poisonous as lead or arsenic and was used for decades as rat poison. It is very injurious to human health and several studies have shown it to increase the risk of cancer.

1. The Master Cleanse should be done for at least ten days. Burroughs says it can be done for forty or more days. I’ve personally done it more than nine times from ten to twenty-eight days. The best sign that the Master Cleanse is complete is a clear, pink tongue. Your tongue will definitely get coated and turn white and possibly other colors. Not everyone continues until their tongue is clear and pink. Most stop at ten days regardless of tongue color. However, ten days is long enough to make a major change in your weight, health and mental outlook.

 
2. Before you go to bed, drink one cup of herbal laxative tea the evening before you start the Master Cleanse. You can buy this in most health food stores. There are two types I am aware of: pure senna tea and combinations of senna with other herbs. Senna is a strong herb that promotes intestinal contractions that cause elimination. Some people find senna causes uncomfortably strong contractions. Others have no problem with pure senna. You can also make half a cup of pure senna and then add half a cup of warm or hot water to make it a full cup.

 
3. Upon awakening on the first morning and each morning thereafter on the Master Cleanse, drink a quart of water with two level teaspoons of NON-IODIZED SEA SALT. Drink it all at once or as close to that as you can. Use NON-IODIZED SEA SALT because it will be easier to drink than bleached pure white table salt. The other reason to use
NON-IODIZED SEA SALT is that it contains vital trace minerals that your body needs. Do not drink any lemonade for a half hour alter drinking the salt water. I personally recommend Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt, which can be found at most health food stores. Approximately one half to one hour after drinking the salt water, you will have several urges to eliminate. Stay near the toilet. These eliminations will generally continue for one half to one hour after
they start. You will need to plan your day accordingly.

 
4. Mix and drink six to twelve glasses of lemonade each day of the Master Cleanse. Here’s the recipe:

2 tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) of fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice,
2 tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) of grade B organic maple syrup,
1/10Ih teaspoon of cayenne (hot red) pepper, and
8 fluid ounces of spring or purified water. Do not use fluoridated water.

The enzymes in the lemon break down the layers of old waste in the colon. Although the lemon is acidic, it becomes alkaline when digested and the alkalinity helps neutralize the acidity of the toxic wastes.

5. In addition to the above, you may drink as much spring or purified water as you wish and occasionally some mint tea for a change. Do not use fluoridated water.

6. Nothing else is eaten or drunk on the Master Cleanse.

 
7. Breaking the Master Cleanse diet correctly is very important! I have heard one second-hand story of someone going straight to overeating ribs and dessert who had serious medical problems. I do not know if this story is true, but I know personally that diving immediately back into a had diet vi1l make you feel very sick for a few hours.
If you usually eat meat, cooked food, dairy, etc., to break the fast Burroughs says to drink fresh squeezed orange juice for the first and second day with homemade vegetable soup for dinner the second evening eating mostly broth and a few vegetables — no bread or crackers. The third day should be orange juice in the morning, more of the homemade vegetable soup for lunch and salads, fruits andfor vegetables for dinner. Begin eating your usual food the fourth day, although Burroughs recommends lemonade or fruit juice for breakfast on a continuing basis and a vegetarian diet as the best means of preserving life-long health.

Cleansing Diets, Cleansing Guides, Colon Cleanse

Cleaning out your colon (large intestine) or colon cleanse is one of the most important things you can do to achieve vibrant health. It’s not something I thought much about until I read cleanse & Purify Thyself, by Dr. Richard Anderson, a book I highly recommend. What I learned is that the colon becomes quite clogged after years of poor eating. Once the buildup occurs, disease is almost sure to manifest. According to Dr. Anderson, when we eat poorly on a continual basis (or the wrong foods on an occasional basis), the intestines react by secreting a protective mucoid layer to prevent the absorption of toxins. This protective mechanism was designed for the occasional ingestion of bad or rotten food, not for the daily abuse that the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) places on our digestive system. When we eat incorrectly on occasion, the pancreatic juices will strip the mucoid layer off within a few days, but a daily barrage of over-processed and chemically laden foods creates a buildup of the stuff (called fecal mucoid matter), and that causes problems. After years of caring a poor diet we will accumulate this mucoid matter (which often causes a bulging of the gut). As a result, food moves more slowly through the intestines, nutrients aren’t well absorbed, moisture is decreased, worms and parasites colonize, unfriendly bacteria thrive, free radicals arc formed, toxins can’t be properly eliminated, and then various diseases of the intestine may appear. Fecal mucoid matter buildup results in fermentation, petrification (rotting) and stagnant pus pockets filled with various poisons and harmful bacteria (hence the foul smells when gas is passed). Or disease can manifest anywhere in the body because, as Dr. Bernard Jensen says, “every tissue of the body is fed by the blood, which is supplied by the bowel. When the bowel is dirty, the blood is dirty.

Colon Cleanse

Colonic hydrotherapy (colonics or detoxification) is usually practiced outside of conventional medicine. Colon therapy in one form or another is actually many centuries old. Even in the early 1900s. The American Medical Association criticized colonic irrigation when used to allegedly remove toxins and enhance health. Scientific knowledge about these procedures has increased with the years, yet the treatments are still criticized. Since the time of ancient Egypt. different theories have arisen tracing the origins of all human disease to feces. Those who advocate colonic hydrotherapy offer one of two theories on why patients should utilize it. The first theory, which has its roots in Darwin’s concept of evolution, considers colonic hydrotherapy necessary to counter what is known
as “ptosis.” This term simply means that an organ has moved downward from its usual position. According to this theory, as humans evolved from four—legged to two—legged animals. gravity in the standing position pulled the abdominal cavity in a different direction. This pressure. so the theory contends, produced a drop. or ptosis, in the intestines that caused stress hands that narrowed the intestines, slowing passage of the contents. Treatment included massage to help move bowel contents along, and colonic irrigation to loosen the contents. The second and related theory, championed by French physician Charles-Jacques Bouchard (18.37—1915). is “autointoxication.” Just when microorganisms were being identified as the cause of some diseases (leading to the genn theory of disease), Bouchard proposed that slower movement of waste through the colon would give microorganisms
time to decompose that material. That would lead to the production of toxins. which could then 1w absorbed hack into the body, causing disease and illness. This reabsorption leads to the body poisoning itself, which is what Bouchard and others called “autointoxicalion” lie wrote, “Man is in this way constantly living under the chance of being poisoned; he is always working toward his own destruction; he makes continual attempts at suicide by intoxication.’

Colonic Study Findings
Unfortunately, there are no well-performed, controlled medical studies to support or refute this type of therapy. Some doctors feel thatpatients who feel better after colonics are only responding to a placebo effect induced by their belief that colonics are helpful.
Cautions
Reports show that colonic irrigation has been associated with at least one outbreak of amoebiasis (an infection caused by a tiny one-celled organism called an “amoeba” that can be spread by the use of improperly cleaned colonic equipment contaminated with fecal material). Other types of colon infections have been caused by
colonics. Two deaths associated with coffee enemas have also been reported. Some doctors worry that colonics might change the normal bacteria in the colon, but this has never been reported. Other unproven concerns include the loss of intestinal muscle tone and normal defecation reflex, water intoxication, electrolyte disturbances, and
perforation of the colon. People with any intestinal problem or illness should consult a physician before undergoing colonics.

Colon Cleanse, Colon Procedures

In the thirty years since 1971 when total colonoscopy was first described, significant technical advancements have been made in terms of instrument handling and imaging capability. Nevertheless. colonoscopy remains a procedure requiring manual dexterity and concentration. The experienced examiner can now successfully reach the cecum in 98% of patients and in most cases can also reach the terminal ileum. Proper training and experience are necessary for correct diagnosis. The diagnostic spectrum of colonoscopy encompasses not only macroscopic assessment of the condition of the mucosa but also the possibility of collecting a targeted biopsy sample and, more recently, the use of dye spraying techniques and magnification.

Indications for colonoscopy:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea 
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding per rectum, unexplained anemia, weight loss
- Postpolypectomy surveillance 
- Prevention/aftercare colorectal carcinoma
- Pathological thickening of the colon wall detected by other imaging procedures 
-  Primary tumor search with metastasizing malignancy, if resulting therapeutic measures

Preparing for the Colonoscopy Examination
Oral preparation. Thorough bowel cleansing is essential for a sufficient endoscopic examination of the colon. The development in 1990 of a nonabsorbable electrolyte solution (polyethylene glycol. PEG) by Fordtran was a significant improvement over earlier laxatives using sodium sulfate and modified forms are still in use today. But, due to the large quantity of liquid that must be consumed (up to 4L) and the salty taste, these solutions are not tolerated by all patients. Their effectiveness has, however, been verified by numerous studies: data on sodium
phosphate solutions (e.g., Fleet) and whether these are an improvement in terms of cleanliness and patient acceptability are less conclusive (8). Though they may appear to be a viable alternative for some patients, caution should be exercised if the patient has kidney insufficiency given the high phosphate content.

 
Colonoscopy Complications and Risks
Perforation, bleeding, and Infection. Endoscopy of the colon entails risk of perforation. injury to blood vessels causing bleeding. and infection. The rate of complications can be minimized if the examiner takes precautions such as advancing the instrument only under conditions of high visibility. Sigmoidoscopy involves an average perforation rate of 1.8 per 100000 examinations: bleeding severe enough to require a blood transfusion and perforations requiring surgical repair occur at the same rate so that the number of patients who experience a serious complication is 6.4 per 100000 (10). Comparing diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy (1. 4) statistics indicate that, with a total morbidity of 0.4%. more complications arise from therapeutic measures, such as
polypectomies (1.2% vs. 0.2%) (Tab. 1.4) treatment. Not all complications require surgical intervention.
Bleeding can be stopped in 92% of patients endoscopically and infections can be controlled with antibiotics. Injury to the serosa related to perforation of the intestine is painful for the patient and in most cases is surgically repaired before peritoniticurs. In some patients, gaping wound edges can be closed with endoscopically applicable clips and further healed with liquid diet and antibiotics for Cardiopulmonary complications. The use of analgesics for colonoscopic examination increases the risk of cardiopulmonary complications, even when the utmost caution is exercised in selecting medication and dosage. Older and comorbid patients are especially at risk for medicamentosus hypotension, cachycardia, and respiratory failure.

Colon Procedures

What do baseball stars Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and music promoter and TV personality Sharon Osboume have in common? They all have the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (colon cancer) which includes cancer of the colon and rectum. Each year approximately 135,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It is the third most common cancer in the United States, and it is the third leading cause of cancer death, at a rate of 60,000 per year. Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, comedian Milton Berle, and movie actresses Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Montgomery all died of colorectal cancer.

Unlike other cancers, such as those of the lung, prostate, and breast, colorectal cancer is preventable provided that the biology of the disease is understood and the appropriate screening tests are used. This is because colorectal cancer has a clearly recognized premalignant stage – a period during which damaged cells that could lead to cancer are not yet cancerous – whereas other cancers do not. By targeting treatment during this stage, colorectal cancer itself can be prevented. Moreover, because it is possible to identify who might have these premalignant lesions, the number of patients with colorectal cancer should be declining. Unfortunately it is not.

But what really is cancer?

To understand the diagnosis and treatment of cancer it is important to understand cancer itself. Cancer begins in cells, the smallest self-functioning units in all living things. Cells make up tissues, which make up the organs of the body. All cells contain specific genes that govern the number of times the cells reproduce. Cells reproduce by dividing themselves.When a cell has divided a determined number of times, it then ceases to divide further Some genes also program cells to die when that number is reached.

A number of checks and balances take place within each cell to regulate this process of division. The development of cancer occurs when this system breaks down. When this happens, the genes that are involved in the growth-limiting attributes of the cell are damaged, allowing the cell to take on an immortal nature. In other words, the cancerous cell will divide indefinitely. Genes that render cells immortal are known as oncogenes (from the Greek words onkos for “mass” and geneo for “generation”). They may once have been normal growth-regulating genes that became mutated. Some oncogenes may have existed all along but were kept inactive in the normal noncancerous state of the cell. They may have been turned on either by a mutation during the normal course of cell division or damaged by a carcinogen and were repaired improperly.

Understanding Colon Cancer 
Colon cancer is cancer that develops in the tissues of the colon. The colon is a part of the digestive system. Together with the rectum, it forms the large intestine, which is a long, muscular tube that measures 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m). The part of the colon that connects it to the rectum is called the sigmoid colon. At its other end, the colon is connected to the small intestine at the cecum. The colon performs an important bodily function. It removes water
and nutrients from digested food.

Colon Procedures