We all know the importance of keeping our bodies clean on the outside, but what about the inside? Ukchatha (colon cleansing or spuit) has been trusted by many mothers for a very long time, and it is back and more effective and is medically known as colon hydrotherapy.
Both of these procedures involve cleansing the colon and other parts of the digestive system in order to remove toxins and other substances that can be harmful to your health.
Speaking to Health for Mzansi, Linah Marakalala, who is a certified colon hydrotherapist at Seeded Beauty in Johannesburg, says that enemas and ukchatha have been used throughout history for the relief of constipation, gas, and internal discomfort.
However, they differ from colon hydrotherapy in that enemas are self-administered and the purpose of the enema is to clean only the lower part of the intestine.
Cleansing the system
“Colon hydrotherapy uses FDA-approved equipment and disposable speculums. It is a procedure for introducing purified, filtered water into the anus, which helps soften up stools and remove waste from the large intestine.
“The predictable outcome of this procedure is increased hydration in the colon and relief of stagnation in the colon,” Marakalala explains.
Mpileh Manzini from Emondlo in KwaZulu-Natal who was introduced to the procedure when she was young, says she still does it as it still works wonders for her whenever she is not feeling well.
“My granny liked cleansing us, especially in the summer days, because she believed it was good for our system when the sun was hot and to flush out the junk we ate as kids.
“I still do it using an enema with sunlight or aloe; it cleans the gall bladder and makes me feel lighter and cleaner. It will always be my go-to home remedy because it remains the best for those who can’t afford medical attention,” she says.
Make sure it is safe
Lungisile Cele from Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal, who also grew up doing it regularly to clean her system as a kid, says that she still does it whenever she feels tired or notices any symptoms of flu.
“I still do colon cleansing to clean my system (ukukhipha inyongo) and to make myself feel healthy and active.
“I use an enema, and although it is effective, it’ll never be like professional treatment, so precautions should always be taken, especially when using strong herbs because they can be very dangerous. Hence, I always use warm water with a little bit of sunlight,” says Cele.
Marakalala remarks that enemas are still safe and recommended to date, given that no soap or herbal ingredients are added to the water unless instructed otherwise by a medical practitioner or a gastroenterologist. That’s why it’s always recommended to use warm, filtered water.
Benefits and risks
She says the benefits of colon hydrotherapy include “clear skin, high levels of energy, better sleep, better ability to cope with stress, awareness of what’s happening in the body, a much higher degree of connectedness, a sense of wellbeing, reduced stress, anxiety, and uncertainty, a flatter stomach, and less stress on your liver and kidney detoxification process.”
Furthermore, Marakalala warns that people who have severe cardiac disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe anaemia, haemorrhage or perforated colon, severe haemorrhoids, cirrhosis of the liver, carcinoma of the colon, active fissures, pregnancy, miscarriage, or had an abortion in the last 6 months should avoid colon hydrotherapy.
“Due to the fact that colon hydrotherapy removes both good and bad bacteria, we always recommend that clients take a single daily dose of probiotics for a month to rebalance the gut flora after the cleanse,” she adds.
Overall, it is a wonderful procedure that cleans one’s body from the inside out!
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