There are many advocates in the field of “natural medicine” for colonic lavage or colon cleansing; but just what are the benefits and risk. God designed our bodies to eliminate waste through the colon so why should an organ that removes waste be cleansed? Some believe that stagnation of the large intestines (colon) causes toxins to be absorbed into the blood stream. This was very popular around the turn of the twentieth century, but has been almost totally abandoned because of lack of scientific proof of this theory. Others believe that food particles can be trapped in the colon and remain there for month and even years, but surgical procedures and autopsies have failed to verify this theory. (See Ministries of Health and Healing, p. 356, 357) The colon was meant to be kept healthy through adequate physical activity, the ingestion of high fiber foods, such as those found in the original diet, and optimal hydration, drinking 6-8 cups of water daily. Colonics are not benign. “Mild adverse effects include cramping, abdominal pain, fullness, bloating, nausea, vomiting, perianal irritation, and soreness. More serious but rare instances of intestinal perforation, electrolyte imbalance, heart failure, extensive abscesses, and amebiasis from contaminated equipment have been reported.” (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753532) If you need “cleaning out,” a good enema or laxative should do the trick with minimal risk; but regular colonics, as some propose, may not help you and may even harm you!