Colon cleansing involves flushing out waste from your colon (the large intestine) using fluids. Also called colonic hydrotherapy or colonic irrigation, colon cleansing is sometimes necessary for medical reasons such as preparing you for a diagnostic exam or other procedures. However, it’s also often touted as a way to gain certain health benefits, but these personal uses lack scientific backing.

This article explains the benefits and risks of medically necessary and personal colon cleansings. It also compares two common methods of colon cleansing: colonics and enemas.

Uses and Benefits

There are generally two reasons why people use colon cleanses:

  • Medical benefits that are backed by scientific researchPopular uses that are not necessarily supported by science

Medical Uses and Benefits

Medical uses of colon cleansing, and especially an enema, include:

  • Treats constipation or an impacted bowel: Colon cleansing is often an effective treatment for constipation/impacted bowel that hasn’t responded to other treatments.
  • Delivers certain medications to the lower intestine: Colon cleansing gets the drug right where it’s needed and is used for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and proctitis.
  • Empties the contents of your colon: Colon cleansing is useful before surgery or diagnostic and screening tests including X-ray, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy.

When you use colon cleansing for these purposes, be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Overuse of enemas can interfere with the proper function of your colon and actually make constipation worse.

In popular use, colon cleansing is purported to have all kinds of benefits, including some related to intestinal health and others having nothing to do with it. So far, none of these claims are backed by scientific evidence and they’re refuted by some research. Proponents of colon cleansing say it is beneficial for:

  • Clearing waste and “toxins” from the bodyImproving digestionBoosting your immune functionAiding weight lossImproving moodLowering colon cancer risk

Methods

Colonics and enemas are trusted ways for flushing the colon, but you may hear of other methods. Before trying any colon cleansing, be sure to discuss the treatment in depth with your healthcare provider.

Unproven, Unnecessary

Not only are claims regarding cleanses unproven, healthcare providers say your body already does a good job of clearing out toxins and waste on its own. After all, entire systems are dedicated to just that, and as long as they’re functioning properly, it’s best to leave the job to them.

Colonics vs Enemas

Enemas involve a one-time infusion of water into the colon. By contrast, colonics involve multiple infusions. What’s more, the main objective of an enema is to evacuate the lower colon, while colonics are meant to cleanse a larger portion of the bowel.

Perhaps the single most important distinction is that a colonic infers the use of specialized equipment administered by a trained hydrotherapist, while an enema can be performed by medical personnel or at home with a do-it-yourself kit purchased over the counter.

Colonics

Colonic irrigation is intended for medically indicated colon cleansing (for example, before a radiological examination). It usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour. During the procedure, you lie face up and the hydrotherapist inserts a disposable speculum into your anus.

This speculum is connected to a long disposable plastic hose, which is in turn connected to the colon hydrotherapy unit. The unit sends warm water into your colon, and the pressure promotes a reflexive contraction of the colon muscles, called peristalsis. This forces waste out of the colon, back through the hose, and into a closed disposal system.

Enema

Often performed in the bathroom, enemas typically involve lying on your back and inserting the enema kit’s nozzle several inches into the anus. This nozzle is connected to a tube that leads to a container holding the fluid for the infusion.

Releasing the tube’s clamp initiates the flow of fluid into the rectum and stimulates peristalsis. The next step in an enema is to retain the fluid for several minutes, then sit on the toilet to expel it.

Other Types of Cleanses

Colon cleanses come in many forms in addition to colonics and enemas, including:

Holding It In

Referred to as “retention enemas,” some treatments involve holding the liquid in the colon for extended periods of time. Several different types of retention enemas exist, including coffee enemas and those involving infusions of red raspberry leaf, probiotics, minerals, and other natural substances.

  • Pills: Often containing fiber supplements and other natural laxatives, many pills on the market claim to help cleanse your colon.Vitamin C flushes: This involves taking enough Vitamin C that your body can no longer absorb it and it causes severe diarrhea.Salt water flushes: Sometimes referred to as the “Master Cleanse,” it involves drinking salt water, which has a laxative effect.

Keep in mind, however, that none of these colon cleansing methods are recommended by health authorities and you should always consult with your healthcare provider before doing them.

Risks

Colonics and enemas do carry some potential side effects, risks, and complications.

After a colonic session, you may experience:

  • Abdominal pain and crampingA feeling of fullness or bloatingNausea and vomitingSores around the anus

Performing an enema at home can lead to:

  • Colon tissue damageBloatingCrampingIrritation and inflammation of the anusWorsened constipation

Risks of colon cleansing, using any method, include:

  • Dehydration
  • Infection, including with parasites
  • Electrolyte imbalance
  • Abscesses in the digestive tract
  • Bowel tears or perforations
  • Sepsis (an infection that can lead to shock, organ failure, and death)
  • Acute kidney failure
  • Pancreatitis
  • Heart failure
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  • Diarrhea

Contraindications

Colonics and enemas aren’t safe for everyone. You should avoid them if you have conditions including:

  • Diverticular disease
  • Ulcerative or ischemic colitis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Heart disease
  • Kidney disease

You should also avoid these procedures if you’re pregnant or have recently had colon surgery.

A Word From Verywell

Despite the lack of medical evidence, you may hear the supposed benefits of a colon cleanse and think, “What can it hurt to try?” Remember that side effects, risks, and complications are all possibilities, and certain health conditions can make it especially dangerous for you.

If you have a health problem and have wondered if a colon cleanse could help, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options that are proven safe and effective by medical science.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does colon cleansing feel like?
  • Most people report little or no discomfort with a colonic, but you may feel movement and fullness, your abdomen may become distended as the fluid is pumped in, and you might feel like you need to use the bathroom.During an enema, you may also feel fullness, but probably less than with a colonic because less liquid is used. You may feel a need to use the bathroom while you hold it in.
  • What do you eat while you’re colon cleansing?
  • If you’re cleansing your colon for a medical procedure, follow the directions given to you by the healthcare provider or medical facility. You may need to fast or eat a restricted diet, such as only clear liquids, before the procedure.If you’re trying to improve colon health by eating certain foods, you can do so by:Increasing your fruits and vegetablesEating whole grains rather than refined ones, and focusing on non-bread sourcesReducing proteinAdding flaxDrinking lots of water
  • Why does colon cleansing cause cramping?
  • Cramping is a common side effect of colon cleansing because it can cause peristalsis, which is the involuntary constriction of the muscles in your intestine. The contractions cause a wave-like motion that pushes fecal matter through your digestive tract and out your anus.

Most people report little or no discomfort with a colonic, but you may feel movement and fullness, your abdomen may become distended as the fluid is pumped in, and you might feel like you need to use the bathroom.

If you’re cleansing your colon for a medical procedure, follow the directions given to you by the healthcare provider or medical facility. You may need to fast or eat a restricted diet, such as only clear liquids, before the procedure.

Cramping is a common side effect of colon cleansing because it can cause peristalsis, which is the involuntary constriction of the muscles in your intestine. The contractions cause a wave-like motion that pushes fecal matter through your digestive tract and out your anus.