Spring-cleaning. How to cleanse your colon quickly, safely and effectively

It is believed that the founder of the colon cleansing procedure is the Russian biologist, Nobel laureate Ilya Mechnikov . It was he who argued that “self-poisoning with putrefactive substances from one’s own large intestines” leads to various diseases and premature death of people. Therefore, he came up with different ways to cleanse the intestines efficiently and effectively in order to improve human health. Pavel Pletner, head of the day hospital of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences, proctologist Pavel Pletner , told AiF.ru which options for bowel cleansing are used today and which of them can be called effective .

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Why is a high degree of intestinal contamination dangerous?

The abundance of waste in the intestines can negatively affect human health. First of all, it is dangerous for the intestines itself, as it can cause diseases such as constipation, colitis, hemorrhoids, polyps, and tumors. The presence of impurities in the intestines leads to the fact that they accumulate and form a solid mass - fecal stones, which clog this organ. The total weight of fecal stones can reach several kilograms.

Toxins and fecal stones stretch the intestines and reduce their peristalsis. And toxins present in the intestines can penetrate into the blood and poison the body. This leads to decreased immunity, persistent chronic infectious diseases, and brings with it symptoms such as inexplicable loss of strength and fatigue. Problems with the cardiovascular system, lungs, kidneys, and liver may occur.

Symptoms of intestinal contamination also include:

• increased flatulence;
• burping;
• lack of regular bowel movements;
• coating on the tongue;
• bad breath;
• deterioration of the skin, skin rashes;
• brittleness of hair and nails;
• sleep disorders;
• headache.

Why is cleaning necessary?

The human body is designed in such a way that all processes occurring in it are accompanied by the formation of harmful compounds. And this is an axiom! If the metabolism works correctly, then it itself copes with the removal of waste and toxins from the bloodstream through the kidneys and liver. But! Any failure in the system or excessive use of harmful products can disrupt this process.

Accumulating waste and toxins lead to serious problems. Without regular cleaning, this process cannot be stopped.

Why is it necessary to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract?

Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract is necessary not only because of deterioration in health. Sometimes there is a need to urgently and completely get rid of toxins that have entered the gastrointestinal tract due to food poisoning at home. And sometimes a person simply cannot go to the toilet due to constipation. In this case, you also have to cleanse the rectum.

In addition, effective bowel cleansing is necessary before diagnosing the gastrointestinal tract using endoscopic or radiographic methods. Otherwise, the doctor will not see anything in the intestines full of feces. Therefore, they need to be removed from the body as soon as possible.

Cleaning the gastrointestinal tract is also necessary before operations using general anesthesia, no matter what organs they are performed on. The fact is that after recovery from anesthesia, its effect will still be felt for some time, and atony of the rectum may occur, as a result of which the person will not be able to defecate.

General information

Throughout life, the human body is exposed to various negative influences, as a result of which various organs and systems suffer. Particular attention must be paid to the work of the intestines - an organ on the health of which the general condition of the body largely depends. In ancient times, Hippocrates said that colon cleansing is a way to take care of the colon. In modern medicine, various methods of cleansing this organ are practiced. There are also many traditional methods that are popular. This article will discuss how necessary such cleansing is, when and how to carry it out.

How to cleanse the intestines of waste and toxins

There are many ways to cleanse the intestines, but not all of them can be used at home. The most common methods:

• laxatives,
• enemas,
• colon hydrotherapy,
• enterosorbents,
• diet.

Laxatives are intended to combat constipation. However, they are often drunk to cleanse the intestines. The most effective laxative drugs are those based on senna leaf extract, drugs with macrogol, and diphenylmethane.

Precautionary measures

Currently, there are many drugs designed specifically to cleanse the intestines. They are available and can be purchased without a prescription at any pharmacy.

However, it is worth noting that you should not prescribe such drugs to yourself. You should definitely consult your doctor so that he can prescribe an adequate remedy specifically for you.

And other methods of forced bowel cleansing should be used as rarely as possible so as not to harm the microflora and not to accustom the intestines to easier methods of defecation. He quickly gets used to it and begins to be “lazy” and does not want to work on his own. The result is constipation and digestive problems.

Enemas

Cleansing the lower gastrointestinal tract using enemas has proven itself well. Enemas, unlike other cleansing products, are introduced into the colon from the anus. This is a popular colon cleanse that is suitable for home use. When cleansing the gastrointestinal tract with enemas, it is advisable to use salted, clean water (rather than chlorinated tap water). The water temperature should be +22-25 °C. If you take warmer water, the walls of the colon will absorb it, and cleansing will not occur.

It is impossible to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract with water enemas in case of inflammatory processes in the intestines, bleeding polyps, or exacerbation of hemorrhoids.

Using enemas, you can effectively cleanse the intestines in one day at home.

Enemas using Esmarch's mug

Colon cleansing with enemas is often carried out using an Esmarch mug. This is the name of a container that has a hole in the bottom. A tube is inserted into it, and the other end of the tube is inserted into the anus. Water (at least 2-2.5 liters) is poured into Esmarch's mug, which then flows into the colon. It is important to keep the mug above body level, otherwise the water will not enter the intestines.

Enemas administered using an Esmarch mug help cleanse the right side of the colon. When using a conventional syringe, complete cleansing of the colon does not occur; the procedure only affects the rectum.

A person usually cannot carry out such cleaning on his own; he needs an assistant. Most often, the Esmarch mug is used in hospitals, but it is also possible to carry out the procedure at home. When administering an enema, body posture is important. The person should be on all fours or lie on his left side with his legs tucked to his stomach. After the water has entered the colon, it is necessary to keep it there for 10-15 minutes.

Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract is often carried out using an Esmarch mug.

Enemas with healing solutions

In addition to enemas with plain water, microenemas and enemas containing various herbal infusions are also used. The Walker enema uses an acidic solution. Treatment of the surface of the colon with this solution reduces the amount of microflora living there. In order to prepare the solution, you need to mix 2 liters of water with 1 tbsp. lemon juice.

Salt water enemas are also popular. To prepare the solution you need 1 tbsp. mix salt with 1 liter. water.

To prepare an enema with a solution of medicinal herbs, you need to mix chamomile, sage, mint, eucalyptus, currant leaves in equal parts and pour in 1-2 tbsp. mixture 0.5 liters of boiling water. This decoction is cooled, and the resulting solution is used in an enema.

Is it possible to give enemas often?

Enemas are one-time use products. Therefore, you cannot cleanse with enemas regularly, every day. During the day you can give no more than one enema. The disadvantage of enemas is that they actively wash out not only impurities, but also beneficial microflora from the colon. Therefore, cleaning the gastrointestinal tract using enemas should be combined with taking probiotics.

Flaws

The procedure of intestinal lavage can bring not only benefits, but also harm the human body. Some experts believe that harmful substances are removed from the system in two days, and no additional actions need to be taken for this. The cleansing procedure itself through infusion of liquid into the large intestine is contrary to human nature and often causes very unpleasant sensations: nausea, abdominal pain, colic, vomiting.

It should also be remembered that when washing the intestines, not only harmful substances, but also beneficial bacteria will “leave” from the digestive system, which will lead to disruption of the microflora. Moreover, dysbacteriosis can arise from both hardware washing and an enema. It will take a long time to restore the microflora with the help of medications containing beneficial bacteria.

Colon hydrotherapy

Colon hydrotherapy is a procedure that cannot be performed at home. It can only be performed in a hospital. It involves pumping several liters of water under pressure into the colon. The effectiveness of this procedure is much higher than that of enemas; it allows you to remove toxins in full and quickly. However, colon hydrotherapy has an even more negative effect on the microflora of the colon than an enema. Therefore, this procedure should be carried out no more than once a year. Many doctors have a negative attitude towards such cleaning if there are no special indications for it, such as preparing the gastrointestinal tract for examinations, encopresis, constipation.

Colon hydrotherapy helps to completely cleanse the intestines of toxins

Kefir-buckwheat diet

To cleanse the intestines, it is recommended to switch to a diet based on buckwheat and kefir. From cereals, you should only consume whole kernels, and not flakes or flour. They contain a lot of fiber, which removes undigested food from the intestines, toxins, etc. In addition, buckwheat contains various vitamins (A, B, P) and minerals (phosphorus, iron, iodine, copper), proteins, and flavonoids.

Cleansing the intestines with buckwheat and kefir is much faster also due to the beneficial properties of the fermented milk product, which:

• gives a mild laxative effect;
• prevents rotting and fermentation;
• removes toxic substances;
• fights pathogenic bacteria;
• improves organ peristalsis;
• colonizes it with lactobacilli.

Cleansing with buckwheat and kefir is recommended every 4-6 months. The therapy lasts 20 days, but it is difficult to last this long on a limited menu, so experts advise doing two approaches of 10 days each. The break between them is 1.5 weeks.

Diet options based on buckwheat and kefir:

1. Rinse 50 g of cereal and pour boiling water over it. Pour a glass of kefir and leave in the refrigerator in a closed container overnight. Eat it for breakfast in the morning. After an hour, you can drink a cup of water, and after a couple of hours, vegetarian food is allowed.
2. Rinse a glass of kernels and pour 1.5 liters of boiling water. Decant and refill with the same amount of water. Cover the container, wrap it in a towel and leave for several hours. Then eat the dish, washed down with kefir. Keep it up all day. 4 hours before bedtime, you must stop eating.
3. For breakfast, eat 150 g of buckwheat porridge (steamed) and 1 green apple. For dinner - only porridge. During the day, a snack in the form of a vegetable salad is allowed.

During the diet, it is strictly forbidden to cook cereals in the usual way, or add any oil, sugar, salt, or spices to it.

Colon cleansing at home: the easiest way without harm to health

The simplest and safest way to cleanse the intestines at home is diet. If a person eats properly, then no harm is caused to health. Proper nutrition, unlike enemas, fully contributes to the preservation of the beneficial microflora of the colon and does not lead to dehydration, unlike laxatives. Plant fibers have the greatest cleansing effect. Therefore, foods containing significant amounts of fiber should predominate in the diet. First of all, these are vegetables - cabbage, beets, broccoli, greens.

Proper, balanced nutrition is the key to health and the absence of toxins in the gastrointestinal tract.

Sea kale, prunes and other dried fruits, apples, buckwheat, and flax seeds are also useful in this regard. The “Brush” salad has gained particular popularity, in which plant ingredients that are accessible to everyone are carefully selected: raw shredded cabbage, carrots, beets and lemon juice.

Wheat bran also contains a lot of fiber, as well as vitamins and microelements. The duration of treatment with bran is a month. Bran should be taken 3 times a day, 2 tablespoons before meals, with a glass of water.

Taking wheat bran is an effective method of cleansing the gastrointestinal tract.

Porridge, especially oatmeal, is also useful for cleansing the gastrointestinal tract.

You should avoid consuming flour products, fatty meats, legumes, and mushrooms. Meals should be fractional. Food should be taken 5-6 times a day in small portions. The interval between two meals should not be more than 3 hours. You must drink a lot of clean water (at least 2 liters).

When cleansing the gastrointestinal tract, it is important to consume at least 2 liters every day. clean water

To cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to periodically (at least once a month) follow a fasting diet with foods high in fiber for several days or even weeks. In this case, it is prohibited to eat the following foods:

• cheese,
• oil,
• cottage cheese,
• meat (except dietary),
• alcohol,
• sweets,
• bread,
• sour cream,
• mayonnaise,
• eggs,
• chocolate,
• coffee,
• legumes,
• mushrooms,
• salty,
• spicy.

Also, to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, drink fermented milk products containing lactobacilli. This will normalize stool and balance the microflora of the colon.

Can I use mineral water?

Washing the intestines with mineral water will bring great benefits to the whole body. This liquid contains many microelements necessary for the smooth operation of the system. For cleansing, doctors recommend using alkaline mineral water, for example, Borjomi.

You need to drink a glass (250 ml) half an hour before meals. After 12 days, the volume of water is reduced by half and therapy is continued for another month.

How to cleanse your stomach

The need to completely empty the stomach may arise for several reasons. First of all, this is food, drug, chemical or alcohol poisoning. In this case, it is necessary to get rid of the toxins in the stomach and intestines as soon as possible, within a matter of hours. Cleansing methods that last for weeks are not suitable here, since during this time toxins can cause irreparable harm to health. In addition, gastric cleansing is necessary before operations and endoscopic examinations.

There are several methods for cleansing the stomach. Firstly, this is gastric lavage using a probe. Washing can be performed in a hospital setting. It is not recommended to do rinsing on your own, at home, without the instructions of a toxicologist, otherwise the patient may be harmed.

Gastric lavage - emergency aid for poisoning

However, you can try to artificially induce vomiting by pressing your finger on the root of the tongue. Before this, drink a warm soda solution or plain water. The procedure must be repeated completely until all the contents of the stomach come out. After this, you should take activated carbon at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight.

A more gentle, but also slower way to cleanse the stomach is the use of enterosorbents. Enterosorbents are drunk for mild food poisoning, overeating, and nausea. Popular enterosorbents include activated carbon, Smecta, Polysorb, Enterosgel. These substances absorb the contents of the stomach and excrete it in excrement.

Enterosorbents are an excellent method for cleansing the stomach at home

Activated carbon

The cheapest of the enterosorbents is activated carbon. This drug should always be present in your home medicine cabinet. The surface of the activated carbon tablet is covered with microscopic pores, thanks to which the carbon absorbs all contaminants. The dosage of activated carbon when cleaning the gastrointestinal tract should be determined at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight. You need to take charcoal in this dosage twice a day. It is advisable to take the drug for at least 3 days until the symptoms of toxin poisoning disappear. After ingesting charcoal, the stool turns dark; this is normal.

Activated carbon helps cleanse the gastrointestinal tract in one day

Polysorb MP

Polysorb contains silicon dioxide, which has high detoxification and sorption properties. This sorbent must first be dissolved in water, resulting in a suspension. The average daily dose of the drug is 0.1-0.2 g per kg of body.

Polysorb is a drug that is often drunk to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract.

Lose weight

To lose excess weight, it is enough to switch to a diet necessary for weight loss. The first two days of any diet usually consist of fruits or vegetables, and they are not eaten together at one time: vegetables - separately, and fruits - separately. At the same time, drink a sufficient amount of clean water - 25-30 ml per 1 kg of weight, drink at least a glass 30 minutes before meals. Such a diet will definitely lead to cleansing of the stomach and intestines.

An important point when losing weight is cleansing the intestines. A cleansing enema and a tablespoon of vegetable oil on an empty stomach will help here - every morning. All fecal stones that have accumulated in the intestine will leave the body, which will become slimmer.

Important! And by eating less food and giving up rough and unhealthy foods, the question of how to cleanse your stomach will disappear by itself. The stomach will begin to work more efficiently and will decrease in size.

How to Cleanse the Small Intestine

The small intestine is less likely to become contaminated than the large intestine. But contamination of the small intestine can cause even greater trouble. Vegetable oils, primarily castor oil, are most suitable for cleaning this section of the gastrointestinal tract at home.

Under the influence of pancreatic enzymes in the duodenum, castor oil is converted into ricinoleic acid. This acid promotes increased peristalsis of the small intestine. Also useful for this section of the gastrointestinal tract are olive, almond, and fennel oils, which help remove undigested residues from the small intestine to the cecum. Vegetable oils have no contraindications and can be used even in childhood. To cleanse the small intestine at night, it is enough for an adult to take a tablespoon of castor oil, for a child – a teaspoon.

How to quickly empty your bowels

Constipation is a problem that is familiar to almost everyone. Normally, a person should excrete bowel movements at least once every 2 days. If this does not happen, then they speak of constipation.

A person usually suffers from chronic constipation for a reason. Most often this is evidence of a lack of proper diet, excess consumption of flour, and insufficient water consumption. Therefore, the best way to combat constipation is to regularly consume foods that promote good bowel movements. Also, constipation often indicates low tone of the colon and rectum, weak peristalsis of their walls, congestion in the pelvis due to low physical activity, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (colitis, IBS). Factors contributing to constipation are stress, hormonal diseases, diabetes, diseases of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and biliary tract, regular suppression of the urge to defecate, and taking certain medications.

If you don’t go to the toilet for several days, then the right decision would be to resort to emergency measures. Various methods serve this purpose. Almost all of them can be used at home:

• enemas,
• glycerin rectal suppositories,
• laxatives,
• physical exercises (jumping in place, belly breathing).

For children under two, abdominal massage helps with constipation.

Glycerin rectal suppositories

Very often, rectal glycerin suppositories can help with constipation by lubricating the surface of the rectum. In addition, glycerin has a stimulating effect on the surface of the colon and rectum. The candles act very quickly - after 15 minutes. Glycerin suppositories can be given to infants and pregnant women.

Glycerin suppositories will help cope with constipation in 1 day

However, glycerin suppositories also have contraindications:

• inflammatory processes in the rectum,
• anal fissures,
• hemorrhoids in the acute stage.

Laxatives

The mechanism of action of laxatives is different. Some of them prevent the absorption of water by the walls of the colon, increasing the volume of feces (sodium docusate, petroleum jelly, macrogol), others irritate the nerve endings of the walls, improving intestinal motility (diphenylmethane, sodium picosulfate, some plant extracts). In all cases, the result is the same - it will be easier for a person to empty the rectum.

Herbal preparations based on senna are very popular. They stimulate colon peristalsis. First of all, this is Senade. The effect of taking them appears throughout the day, usually after eight hours. Therefore, such drugs should be taken at night, before going to bed.

The following also have a good laxative effect:

• vegetable oils;
• beet;
• prunes;
• fermented milk products, especially kefir (but always fresh);
• dried fruits;
• baked apples;
• infusion of flax seeds.

However, it is worth remembering that laxatives should not be taken if there is intestinal obstruction, acute abdominal syndrome, or abdominal pain of unknown origin. In this case, you do not need to try to carry out therapy at home, but seek help from a doctor

Chronic use of laxatives can be harmful. It is dangerous due to the occurrence of colon atony, addiction syndrome, pain and cramps in the abdomen.

It is not recommended to take laxatives even if a person plans to leave home for a long time.

Magnesium sulfate

Magnesium sulfate (magnesia) is one of the best laxatives. To cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, a sachet (30 g) is dissolved in 100 ml of water. This solution should be taken twice a day, morning and evening. Cleansing course – 3 days.

Fortrans

Fortrans is a laxative containing macrogol (polyethylene glycol), which is often prescribed to patients in preparation for endoscopic examinations of the gastrointestinal tract. Macrogol has a mild laxative effect. For 20 kg of body weight, 1 sachet of the drug is required. The sachets dissolve in warm water. Water should be taken at the rate of 1 packet per 1 liter. The solution should be drunk 1 glass every 15 minutes.

Remedies for constipation based on macrogol should be in every home medicine cabinet.

Bisacodyl

Bisacodyl is a laxative that contains diphenylmethane. Diphenylmethane irritates the intestinal receptor apparatus. They take the medicine in doses depending on age:

• 2-7 years – 5 mg,
• 7-14 years – 5-10 mg,
• children over 14 years of age and adults – 10-15 mg.

The effect occurs within 1 day (usually after 6 hours, if taken at night - after 8-12 hours).

Senna decoction

There are many pharmaceutical preparations based on senna, for example, the well-known Senade, which is often taken for severe constipation. However, you can prepare senna decoction yourself at home. For this purpose, take 1 tbsp. senna herbs and brewed in a glass of water. The decoction must be left for 20 minutes, then strained. To cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, this solution can be drunk in the evening two hours after meals every day for 7 days. In the first days, drink half a glass of the broth at a time, then a whole glass.

Senna is a plant whose decoction is often drunk for persistent constipation.

Dosage of various laxatives

Enemas for constipation

Enemas can also help with constipation. Cleaning the rectum with enemas is very effective, although there may be some contraindications to this method. It should also be borne in mind that frequent use of enemas can only cause harm, not benefit. At the same time, not only does the level of beneficial microflora of the colon decrease, but also the intestinal muscles gradually atrophy, as a result of which a person will not be able to defecate on his own.

Microclysters for constipation

Microclysters differ from ordinary enemas, firstly, by their small volume, and secondly, by the fact that they contain not only water, but also various active substances. For example, the Microclax microenema contains a solution containing sorbitol, various salts and glycerin. The drug can be used in the treatment of constipation in infants.

Microlax is an enema with a healing solution, which is very convenient for relieving constipation at home

Contraindications to rinsing

Deep intestinal cleansing does not always lead to the desired results. Carefully study the contraindications for performing cleansing procedures:

• emergency conditions accompanied by bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract;
• hemorrhoids, anal fissure, paraproctitis are accompanied by severe pain during manipulation. Severe diarrhea, mechanical impact will lead to irritation of the intestinal mucosa and other problems;
• ulcerative defects of the stomach and duodenum;
• severe pain in the abdomen of unknown etiology;
• Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis are accompanied by inflammatory changes in the small and large intestines.

The article was approved by the editors