By Vanessa Galati-Drew

It’s been estimated that constipation affects more than 4 million people in the United States and accounts for roughly 2 million doctor visits a year, making it one of the most common gastrointestinal issues. 

“Almost everyone, at one time, has been constipated,” says Vanessa Galati-Drew, founder of Cleansing Concepts, a detoxification facility with a new location at the Galleria in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Constipation is characterized by difficult or even painful bowel movements—fewer than three a week. Sufferers complain of hard or pellet-like stools, having to strain with bowel movements, and feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish. 

While constipation is uncomfortable, it is often considered temporary and relatively harmless. However, if it is undiagnosed or left untreated, it can lead to other health issues, Galati-Drew says. 

She notes that constipation can cause various medical problems, including headaches, fatigue, moodiness and depression, hemorrhoids, anal fissures or tears, gas, lower back pain, skin problems, body odor, indigestion, and abdominal pain, as well as the risk of increased toxicity, which affects overall wellness.

“Accumulated toxins may be absorbed into the system and over time may stress the organs of elimination, which are the liver, kidneys, skin, and large intestine,” she says. “The toxins move around and around in the lymph system and blood, slowly causing auto-intoxication, which then leads to disease.”

A Natural Solution

While doctors typically prescribe laxatives, drugs or surgery for constipation, these treatments provide only temporary relief from symptoms and can have dangerous side effects, Galati-Drew says.

“One of the safest and most effective treatments of chronic constipation is colon hydrotherapy, a safe and gentle flow of warm purified water into the large intestines without pressure,” she says. 

She describes the process as a “gentle internal bath” that facilitates the body’s natural detoxification process, waking up the digestive system to get it working properly. 

“Many people likely have years of impacted waste material in their colon,” she says. “Colon hydrotherapy gently detoxifies and cleanses the system by moving the accumulated waste out quickly, giving the body a chance to refocus on rejuvenating itself. It will help eliminate pounds of unwanted toxic fecal matter to restore overall health and vitality. By removing these toxic waste materials, the systems of your body, including the digestive and immune systems, are able to operate more effectively and efficiently.”

Galati-Drew says colon hydrotherapy is an important part of the detoxification process because it allows toxins to exit the body rather than being reintroduced into the body through a backed-up colon. She recommends adopting a diet rich in fruits and vegetables after the detox program is completed, to keep things moving. 

“Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States,” she says. “A healthy, clean colon is the first step to achieving your optimal level of health. You don’t have to live with chronic constipation.”

For more information, visit CleansingConceptsWorld.com.