Hi Jennifer,
Perhaps you missed my previous post on this topic. I've pasted it below
for your reading pleasure. One book I found incredibly interesting is "The
Second Brain"; by Michael Gershon, but since all of this research is really
going to come from the pharmaceutical industry, I don't think they're ever
going to look into natural means to restore balance in this area. Let me
know what you think of my post.
Cheers,
Robin
>>>;
Hi All,
I'm grateful for the renewed activity on this site. Being a colon
hydrotherapist, I'm always glad to read some of the very informative
messages on this Yahoo group. I've given much thought about the modality
of colonics over the years, and I've come up with some thoughts about them.
I present them here for your reading pleasure. I apologize for the length
of the message. Just disregard it if you find it over the top. If, on the
other hand, you are intrigued by it, I'd love your comments and or
suggestions for further study.
Given the lack of peer-reviewed research into colonics, one must go on a
bit of a journey in order to establish a good reason to partake of the
modality of colon hydrotherapy. Based on clinical experience, studying the
readings of Edgar Cayce, and reviewing modern research, I believe colonics
provide many very important health benefits.
Neurotransmitters
One of the things I think colonics provide is a "neurotransmitter tune-up."
The following paraphrased excerpt from one of the Edgar Cayce readings
given in 1938 for a 47 year old woman can help to support my theory (all
uppercase emphasis is mine):
If periods appear when the eliminations are lacking through alimentary
canal, then use colonic irrigations. NOT JUST ENEMAS, but the internal
bath; that it may make for the ability of the organs of the system through
their stimulated activity of the SPIRITUAL FORCES within self to replenish.
For all healing is of a spiritual nature, whether it is the application
from mechanical means, medicinal, suggestive or the laying on of hands.
And these means are only to make for an activity to produce better
COORDINATING, COOPERATING OF FORCES of all the reproductive system itself
as related to assimilation and distribution of assimilated forces, and to
keep the eliminations in balance. (1678-1)
Next I present a paraphrased response Edgar Cayce gave in 1943 to a
50-year-old man who asked the question, "How often should the hydrotherapy
be given?"
Dependent upon the general conditions, whenever there is a sluggishness,
the feeling of heaviness, oversleepiness, the tendency for an achy, draggy
feeling, then have the treatments. Don't think that just because there is
the daily activity of the alimentary canal there is no need for flushing
the system. But whenever there is the feeling of sluggishness, have the
treatments. It'll pick the body up. For there is a need for such
treatments when the condition of the body becomes drugged because of
absorption of poisons through alimentary canal or colon, sluggishness of
liver or kidneys, and there is the LACK OF COORDINATION with the
cerebrospinal and sympathetic blood supply and nerves. Hydrotherapy and
massage are preventive as well as curative measures. For the cleansing of
the system allows the body-forces themselves to function normally, and thus
eliminate poisons, congestions and conditions that would become acute
through the body. (257-254)
Now, notice the following excerpted article from a more recent study?
Medscape Gastroenterology - Amy Foxx-Orenstein - 7/26/06
Normal GI function relies on a properly functioning brain-gut axis, which
involves the COORDINATED INTERPLAY of the GI musculature, the CNS, the
autonomic nervous system, and the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS
contains millions of neurons embedded in the wall of the digestive tract
and functions, at least in part, independently of the CNS. The size,
complexity, and independent function of the ENS has resulted in application
of the terms "the second brain"; and "the mini-brain." Impaired function or
COORDINATION of any of these systems, or the communication between these
systems and the GI musculature, can lead to symptoms of dysmotility and
altered sensory perception, which are characteristic of IBS and select
other GI motility disorders.
The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) is a
predominant signaling molecule in the ENS. Most (90% to 95%) of the body's
serotonin is found in the gut, and smaller amounts are found in the brain
(about 3%) and in platelets (about 2%). In the GI tract, serotonin
facilitates communication between the ENS and its effector systems
(muscles, secretory endothelium, endocrine cells, and vasculature of the GI
tract), thus playing a key role in normal GI tract functioning. In
addition, SEROTONIN PLAYS A ROLE IN THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ENS AND
THE CNS.
Could "serotonin" be the "spiritual forces"?
Let's take a look at an excerpt from Wikipedia to give some more detail on
the role of serotonin in the body (look here -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin for the complete entry).
In the central nervous system, serotonin is believed to play an important
role in the regulation of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep,
vomiting, sexuality, and appetite. Low levels of serotonin may be
associated with several disorders, namely increase in aggressive and angry
behaviors, clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),
migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, bipolar
disorder, anxiety disorders and intense religious experiences. If neurons
of the brainstem that make serotonin-serotonergic neurons-are abnormal,
there is a risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Recent research suggests that serotonin plays an important role in liver
regeneration and acts as a mitogen (induces cell division) throughout the
body.
Cayce recommended colonics for a wide variety of conditions, we can see now
based on these two modern sources why this might be so. These sources
certainly tie in quite nicely with what Cayce said over half a century ago.
Bacteria
Another benefit I believe colonics provide is a jump-start on restoring
optimal bacterial balance in the colon. There have been numerous studies
recently that have drawn a strong relationship between poor bacterial
balance
in the gut, called dysbiosis, and many chronic debilitating
disorders. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD gives an excellent treatment
of this subject in her book titled "Gut and Psychology Syndrome."
It seems the natural world gives us clues as to the nature of bacteria by
their fragrance. We typically find "unfriendly"; bacteria rather unpleasant
in aroma. When a person has gone for sometime without bathing, they tend
to accumulate a degree of body odor. Bacteria are what produce this odor.
A simple shower can help to solve this problem.
Similarly, an internal bath can help to restore colonic bacteria. It is
not uncommon for someone to report after receiving a small series of
colonic irrigations that their bowel movements no longer produce an
offensive odor.
Laxatives
Many people have asked me why they can't achieve the same results with
laxatives. One must analyze from whence a question like this comes. It
seems we carry some degree of cultural baggage about our bowels, and quite
often the thought of a colonic, or high-enema as it is often called, can
give one the heebie-jeebies. To this I offer the following paraphrased
reading excerpt given by Edgar Cayce in 1942.
As indicated, there are times when in the throat, nasal passages, or some
indicated disturbance through some portion of the body is seen, or a
feeling as of nausea or dizziness. These indicate some toxic condition of
a functioning organ, and necessitate stimulating of the activities of the
functioning system by a laxative or cathartic.
The senna based laxative increases not only the flow of lymph through
alimentary canal, thus flushing the system, but induces a better flow
through the activity of the kidneys and liver, and upon the respiratory
system. But if this were taken only, and just greater doses taken,
gradually the effect of this lessens, and there is the dependence upon such
for the activity of the organs themselves.
Hence when these are used, let them be used sensibly. Of course, these
only throw greater amounts of poisons from the functioning organs and the
alimentary canal into the colon proper. These are not always eliminated
from same. A colonic enables the colon to be purified, thus causing a
coordinating throughout the body. (257-251)
I would encourage anyone to overcome their reluctance to try a colonic and
experience for themselves what this most therapeutic treatment can offer.
Just as external hygiene in the form of indoor plumbing produced the
biggest boon in life expectancy in our history, imagine what we'll discover
when we get our internal hygiene in order.
Cheers,
