The colon is the only body part that may be detached from the brain and it will still “know what to do”. For over one hundred years, science has known the colon may be removed from the body, filled with fiber, and it will know to push the fiber out. The colon has been nicknamed “the Second Brain”. It is also referred to as the “Emotional Organ” by medical practitioners. In my line of work, there is no doubt about both these claims.
Recently a TV news show reported that scientists are exploring the possibility of a subconscious mind (if you will) in the intestines. I chuckled at this news. After all, Eastern philosophy and practice holds the abdomen in highest regards. It is also known that the entire digestive process (other than chewing) is controlled by the subconscious. The colon has about as many nerve endings as the human brain; and, it is directly involved with the digestive process. So I ask, “Why shouldn’t it have a subconscious?”
More and more information is supporting the claim that most diseases and illness are attributed to colon dysfunction. Stress and pollution are the two most serious contributing factors for colon ill health. Emotional stress while eating and digesting significantly affects the entire digestive and absorption process. Without nutrition we die. Without water we die sooner. The colon, when working properly, recycles over two (2) gallons of water through the body each day.
Digestion is stressed when food heavy in saturated fats, oils, salt, etc are eaten. What you may not know is that the combination of foods eaten may stress digestion. For example, eating meat and potatoes at the same time inhibits the required enzymes needed to break down these foods. There is a whole eating regime founded on this research.
Pollution is more commonly understood because much information has been available about choosing organic foods. Also, very significant to the pollution problem is the overall cleanliness of the colon. The colon, because of its size and shape, may easily hold old waste matter which putrefies and becomes a danger. We know this because cancer is a cell dysfunction caused by toxic or polluted matter affecting normal cellular activities. The rate of colon cancer amongst Americans is ever increasing.
The natural or holistic health care approach to digestion health is achieving great results. Hopefully, more people will research these options and enjoy a higher quality of life.
Written by Katie Murphy, Director of Healing Insights Therapy Center located in Woodbury, and soon to open in Bloomington, MN. Katie has been lecturing, writing, training therapists, and specializing in Cranial Sacral and Colonics for over fifteen years. 651-222-4325