Colonic irrigation not all it's cracked up to be
Procedure has staged a comeback in the wellness industry, but it didn't do much more than embarrass this writer
Detox is an appealing notion for those who overindulge living in a fast-paced, polluted city such as Hong Kong. So detox regimes - from pills to juice-only fasts - have been touted here in recent years with resounding success. Among them, perhaps none is as controversial, or curious, as colonics.
Known as colonic irrigation or colonic hydration, the treatment involves having a tube inserted into your nether regions to flush out built up waste from the colon with warm water.
A friend's comment that "it's just like cleaning baked lasagne off a pan" stuck in my mind as I set off for my first colonic experience at Natural Path clinic in Central under the guidance of naturopathic health care consultant Bobby Chan.
The rationale for colonics is simple: our toxic lifestyles lead the body to accumulate waste in the colon, straining surrounding organs and interfering with the absorption of nutrients. Built-up toxins are said to be absorbed into the bloodstream and spread through the body, leading to a variety of ailments, a theory known as "auto-intoxication".
Those said to benefit from the treatment include sufferers of constipation, allergies, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and cancer patients.