The History of Colon Cleansing

Believe it or not, therapies involving the colon have been around for hundreds of years. Dating as far back as 1500 B.C. and continuing on through the centuries, colon cleansing has been used to treat a range of ailments from fevers to diseases. While the exact methods and theories have varied through the years, the same basic principles still apply. Let's take a look at when colon cleansing first began.

The history of colon cleansing can be traced back to the Egyptian Civilization. As early as 1500 B.C., an Egyptian medical document, the "Ebers Papyrus", describes the process of colon cleansing. Egyptians believed that the root to all illness resided with the rotting food in their colons. Some evidence suggests there were "bowel specialists" in ancient Egypt to assist people with elimination.

The Greek physicians Hippocrates (4th and 5th century B.C.) and later Galen (2nd century A.D.) were advocates for enemas as a treatment for fevers. In 196 A.D., China's great physician, Chang Chung Chin, recommended colon cleansing to improve health. And Angelo Catho, a French physician, used colon cleansing to save King Louis XI's life in 1480. King Louis XIV, some say, had over 2,000 colon cleanses in his lifetime, usually performed prior to making important decisions.

Dr. John H. Kellogg, in the early 1900's, reportedly used colon therapy on forty thousand of his patients. He published a comprehensive approach to colon hydrotherapy for the treatment of several illnesses. In 1917, The Journal of the American Medical Association states that in all but 20 cases, Dr. Kellogg avoided surgery in the treatment of his patients with gastrointestinal disease. Kellogg, along with his brother Will, also went on to manufacture whole grain cereals for the purpose of promoting regular bowel movements.

In the 1920's, 30's, and 40's, colon therapy continued to gain popularity. Colon irrigation machines were used as standard practice in hospitals and medical facilities. But then, over the next 50-plus years, colon cleansing treatments greatly declined as modern medicine emerged and escalated. Orthodox medicine became more the norm, along with treating the symptoms over curing the ailment. Some experts believe that the reason for the current population's increasing ill health is due to the decline in colon cleansing therapy.

The past 10 years have seen a revival in alternative medicine. Many people are once again realizing the benefits of a healthy colon. Much has changed in colon therapy techniques over the centuries, but the fundamental theories behind it have not. New techniques, including herbal, over-the-counter colon cleansers and high-tech, colonic irrigation systems, have made colon therapy safer and relatively easy.

The practice of colon cleansing is here to stay. If you've decided to try it, there are many good colon cleansers on the market today. Before purchasing one, however, be sure to thoroughly evaluate existing colon cleanser reviews to ensure your choice of colon cleanser is the best one for you.

Brian Dolezal is a contributing editor for TopConsumerReviews.com (http://www.topconsumerreviews.com), a leading provider of independent reviews and rankings for hundreds of consumer products. You can find out how top Colon Cleansing products compare by visiting TopConsumerReviews.com today.