Our sewer system which is responsible for large intestine dysfunction and colon problems.

1. Slow transit time can cause large intestine dysfunction. Ideally, food that enters your body should pass through within 16-36 hours. If not gas, putrefaction and fermentation can set in. Causes of slow transit time can be lack of roughage in the diet, not drinking enough water, eating in between meals, eating too many refined foods. If your transit time is over 36 hours, you may have a colon problem (or it could be elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract). To check your transit time chew 10 charcoal tablets before a meal, record the time you ingested them. Watch your faeces and record the time the last of the charcoal leaves (should appear black). The time between ingestion and the last bit leaving is your transit time. After you’ve been treating your colon for 1-2 months you may want to recheck and see if it has improved.

2. A diet low in roughage and high in refined carbohydrates can also cause diverticulitis (out-pocketing of the colon caused by hardened faeces and the extra strain to move them), constipation, and bacterial changes (due to the fermentation and putrefaction).

3. People on a high fiber diet have lactobacillus and streptococcus as their main intestinal flora. On a low fiber diet, E. coli proliferate (especially if your refined carbohydrate intake - white flour, white sugar, etc., is high) can lead to diverticulitis, cystitis, appendicitis, gallbladder inflammation. Antibiotics can also change the bacterial flora for the worse.

4. In a colon with a slowed transit time, bacterial imbalance, and low roughage, bile acids upon reaching the colon can be converted into carcinogenic substances. Staying in contact with the colon walls for long periods of time, these substances can possibly be a cause of colon cancer. Toxins, poisons, and free radicals from the plaque itself and from pathogenic bacteria and parasites living in and under the plaque constantly seep into the bloodstream and lymph, settling in the weaker areas of the body, especially the liver, kidneys and spleen.
Bile acid breakdown products (lithocholates) also signals the liver to decrease bile acid production. Since cholesterol is used to synthesize bile acids, a decreased synthesis will raise cholesterol levels and also increase susceptibility to gallstones.

5. People in "primitive" societies on diets of unrefined foods exhibit very low incidences of colon problems.

6. Causes of colitis include adrenal insufficiency, a weak immune system, diminished secretion of hydrochloric acid, decreased roughage, increased use of refined carbohydrates, stress, antibiotics, eating food you’re allergic to.

7. Besides an imbalance in intestinal flora, a high fat intake is correlated to a high incidence of colon cancer. This includes refined animal and vegetable fat. Meat fat when exposed to air can form malonaldehyde (commonly found in rancid foods) which is especially suspect of causing colon cancer. Spices, beer, high protein diets, and alcohol are also suspect in colon cancer.

8. Nerve pressure in the lumbar spine can cause colon dysfunction

9. Haemorrhoids can be caused by a congested liver, adrenal insufficiency and a low roughage, high refined carbohydrate diet.

10. If your stomach or small intestine are malfunctioning or you don’t chew well, and partially undigested food reaches the colon, it will putrefy and can damage the colon as a result

11. Diarrhea can be a sign of colon dysfunction. It can also be due to eating something you’re allergic to, a ileocecal valve that is not closing properly, vitamin B deficiency, medication side effects. It could also be your body’s effort to flush through a harmful substance as quickly as possible.

12. Constipation can injure the colon or be a sign of a malfunctioning colon. Causes include a low roughage diet, food allergys, wearing restrictive clothing, not drinking enough water, lack of exercise, chronic use of laxatives exhausting bowel tone, spastic ileocecal valve, worrying, side effect of certain medications.

13. Voluntarily inhibiting your external sphincter muscle too often, to prevent defecation, can cause constipation and retard the reflex, leading to an atonic (out of shape) colon. Establishing regularity is very important in preventing constipation.

14. The thyroid, adrenals, liver and parathyroid should also be evaluated by your health practitioner in cases of constipation as possible causes.

15. Some also believe that a bowel movement should occur regularly, aiding and abetting nutritional cycles. Infrequent movements or periods of constipation (especially those extending beyond 72 hours) can result in a partial decomposition of waste, which can encrust the colon walls and hinder elimination.

16. There are some 36 poisons that pollute the body. They include indole, skatole, phenol, creosole, putrescine, cadaverine, sepsin and others. In cases of alimentary toxemia, one or several of these poisons are constantly bombarding the delicate body cells. This can cause disease, one of which is the dreaded colon cancer.

If the bowel is overworked or malfunctioning, the body will try to find other areas of elimination, thus skin and other organ problems can all be symptoms. Here is just a short list:

1. Allergies

2. Appendicitis

3. Poor appetite

4. Back and muscle aches

5. Bad breath and body odours

6. Coated tongue

7. Bloating

8. Increased cholesterol levels

9. Colitis or inflammation of the colon is marked by fever, weight loss, weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea. Inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of the intestines can lead to both diarrhea and constipation.

10. Constipation: The infrequent or difficult elimination of faeces, associated with the presence of dry hardened stools. Constipation can lead to intestinal toxemia, which is a form of blood poisoning caused by the absorption of bacteria and their toxins through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.

11. Diarrhoea: (frequent passage of watery bowel movements)

12. Digestive difficulties

13. Diverticulitis: little pockets (small herniations) formed in the weakend colon wall that push out into the side of the bowel. Fecal material lodges in the pockets to rot and irritate the colon. If they inflame it is called diverticulitis and symptoms can include acute pain, tenderness, diarrhea or constipation, fever

14. Eyesight problems, such as sunken eyes, swollen eyes, poor eyesight

15. Fatigue

16. Gallstones

17. Headaches

18. Haemorrhoids are actually varicose veins in the rectal area. They can be marked by pain, itching, bleeding, and distention upon straining to defecate. Straining to eliminate hard, dry fecal material can irritate the rectum and give rise to haemorrhoids.

19. The flora of the colon can become imbalanced which can manifest as a burning pain somewhere in the body, especially the feet.

20. Inflammation: Toxic material in the colon can inflame the lining. If you have any doubt that this material is injurious to the body consider a little baby and how you have to keep its diaper changed. If its bowel movement sits too long against its tender skin, the skin becomes red, irritated and inflamed. The body is pushing it out because it is toxic and irritating. That is why it is important for bowel elimination to be quick and efficient.

21. Irritable bowl: A disturbance of the intestinal contractions that move food down the intestinal tract. This disorder cases constipation, gas, colitis, diarrhea and pain.

22. Lethargy

23. Memory loss

24. Moodiness and irritability

25. Sallow skin

26. Skin rash

27. Sinusitis

28. Spastic Colon Muscular spasms in the colon can cause constipation. This makes the elimination pattern erratic, with alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation. Stress will increase constipation.

29. Stiff joints (especially knees)

30. Stomach heaviness

31. Weight problems (overweight)