I have been hearing ads on the radio recently regarding the many benefits of colon cleansing. The ads claim that you can live a longer, healthier life with more energy if you perform colon cleansing on a regular basis. They claim that you can flatten your tummy and lose all those unwanted pounds just by cleansing your colon. After hearing this for the hundredth time I was motivated to write this article and outline the myths and facts about colon cleansing. Colon cleansing is based on the theory of “autointoxication”. This is the idea that waste products build up in the colon causing poisons to back up into the blood stream and resulting in illness. This is an idea born in ancient Egypt. It has since been debunked as wrong. However, over the past few years there has been a rebirth of this idea. It has evolved into a multi-million dollar industry. Google colon cleansing and you will see page after page of products and testimonials touting the benefits of colon cleansing. There are two primary methods to perform colon cleansing. One is with oral medications and the other is with a colonic. Colonics are similar to enemas. A large rubber hose is inserted into the rectum and a large volume of fluid is instilled into the colon and then removed via suction through the same hose. The process takes approximately an hour. There are many myths about colon cleansing: Hardened feces stick to the walls of the colon inhibiting its proper function of absorbing nutrients. The build up of feces in the colon is a breeding ground for parasites. Colon cleansing can result in increased metabolism and weight loss. Colon cleansing can improve backaches, headaches, bad breath, depression and fatigue. Constipation increases your risk of colon cancer. The function of the colon is to transport waste and eliminate it from the body. The colon absorbs water and minerals but does not absorb nutrients. Most of the nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. Caloric intake occurs in the stomach and small bowel, not the colon. Colonic motility has no impact on weight gain or metabolism. Feces do not build up on the colon wall. This is known from actual examination of the colon during surgical procedures and at autopsy. Constipation is not a risk factor for parasites. Parasitic infections are acquired from consuming contaminated food or water. The risks of colonic cleansing from colonics include dehydration, colon perforation, heart failure and electrolyte imbalance. There is no license or formal training required to perform these procedures. The FDA has approved these devices for the medical purposes of colon irrigation preceeding surgical or radio logic therapies. The FDA has not approved these devices for “routine” colon cleansing. Colonic cleansing has no proven health benefits. The American Gastroenterology Association and the American Medical Society do not have enough information regarding routine colon cleansing to make recommendations for its use. Please talk to your physician prior to having one of these procedures or beginning a drug regimen for bowel cleansing.