After the fifth to fourth century, B.C., there was no mention of colonic irrigation until thirty A.D. when the scientist Celus, wrote about using enemas. He was also the first person to first person to document that irrigation should involve a liquid with a warm temperature and not cold as it was the practice during that time.

It was after Celus queried the temperature of the water, that other physicians and scientists gave suggestions on interesting ways to improve the use of colonic irrigation. The Greek physician Aetius stated that the enema could only be properly completed with pure water. However, Galen, another Greek physician was interested in alternative liquids to use in irrigation. Galen felt that other liquids instead of water could be used. He experiemented with enemas made of sweet honey or various oils. However, many physicians preferred the use of warm water to these alternative liquids.

Not only has the practice of colon hydrotherapy grown, the apparatus used to irrigate has changed as well. In the earlier civilizations and cultures, the main way to give an enema was by using a syringe. The first person within medical literature to describe the syringe used was Avicenna between 980-1036 A.D. The syringe was not described as much in the literature until John Ardene, the English Physician outlined its use, and reaffirmed that alternative liquids, when used as an enema, might make the patient more constipated. John Ardene felt optimum health was achieved when his patients were cleansed at least three times a year.

Between the 1200s and 1500s A.D. the syringe was not widely used, and most physicians preferred to use a tube attached to an animal’s bladder. This was referred to as a clyster purse, and irrigation was known as “clystering”. Using the “clyster purse” required the use of two hands and was not an easy task.

Louis XI in the 15th century was one of many people healed with the use of a “clyster purse”. He was able to recover from apoplexy after being treated with an enema by his doctor. After this stage the use of colonic hydrotherapy increased dramatically in popularity, and it became a common custom of the rich.

Tags: colon, Colon Cleansing, colon-hydrotherapy, constipation, health

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