Colon cleansing has been used as a treatment for constipation for thousands of years. A colon cleanse is also known by a number of other terms, with colonic irrigation, colonic hydrotherapy, colon irrigation and entero-lavage all in common usage at the moment.

Conventional medical opinion puts little value in the procedure, the general consensus among doctors being that an enema using purified water as a treatment for an impacted bowel being its only valid use. Practitioners and many of their patients would strongly disagree.

People who believe in colon cleanse claim that improves the overall health of its subjects. It is caused due to autointoxication or buildup of waste in large intestine, leading to several illnesses, believed to be caused by large amounts of fungi and bacteria in the colon.

The procedure may also offer specific health benefits. The treatment may be able to assist in the relief of chronic fatigue syndrome, bowel complaints, flatulence, cramps, Candida, skin complaints and arthritis. With regular treatment sessions, practitioners claim that the risk of contracting bowel cancer, a disease with some prevalence, is also decreased.

Only a small number of American States have laws regulating the practice. The International Association of Colon Hydrotherapy and the Guild of Colon Hydrotherapists both maintain lists of registered members. It is essential that patients considering this treatment ensure the facilities and equipment are clean, and that the practitioner is skilled, as it can be dangerous to undergo the procedure without high standards of hygiene and an experienced practitioner.

During a colon cleanse a tool called a speculum is inserted into the patient. Water at body temperature is passed from a tube into the patient's rectum. It is common for over a gallon of water to be used in the process. Eliminated waste and the water comes back down the tube and can be viewed by the practitioner. It is common for them to massage the patient's belly in order to help remove waste. Although not painful, the procedure may be uncomfortable.

Acupuncture or reflexology may also be used in combination with this treatment. Practitioners may even add extra ingredients such as minerals, salts or coffee to the purified water used in the treatment. These are supposed to provide extra health benefits for the patient.