Colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, is an alternative medical procedure, sometimes associated with naturopathy. Similar to an enema, it involves the introduction of discrete amounts of purified water, sometimes infused with minerals or other materials, such as organic coffee, into the colon using medically approved class II colon hydrotherapy devices with sanitary, disposable speculums or gravity-fed enema-like systems inserted into the rectum. The fluid is released after a short period, and the process will be repeated multiple times during the course of a treatment. A colema is a type of colon hydrotherapy performed by oneself using a bucket with an attached hose, while lying on a board positioned over a toilet, into which the contents of enema are released.

In gastroenterology, the term "colonic irrigation" is also used to refer to the practice of introducing water through a colostomy or a surgically constructed conduit as a treatment for constipation.[1]

Though colon hydrotherapy, colemas and enemas all have features in common, there are some significant differences between the modalities in terms of depth of colon cleansing, amount of water used, and the necessity for a practitioner to be present.

History
The practice has been known since ancient times[2] for treating constipation which was believed to have been the root of many diseases and illnesses. The first recorded reference to colon cleansing date back more than 3000 years to the Ebers papyrus, an Egyptian medical document. This document outlines bowel and colon cleansing procedures using various herbal concoctions and water, and has been carbon dated to between 1500 and 1700 B.C.

In the early 1980s, there were a number of cases of amebiasis, leading to six deaths [3] attributed to therapist Marissa Wright, who failed to maintain sanitary conditions. These are believed to be the only fatalities that can directly be attributed to colon hydrotherapy. There have been reports of electrolyte imbalances in children brought on by colonics using softened water[4]. Such imbalances can also be caused by laxative use or diarrhea.