Colonic irrigation is the washing out of the large intestine by introducing water through a tube inserted into the rectum, offered by alternative practitioners as a detox or wellness treatment. Practitioners claim it removes toxins and improves health, but there is no scientific evidence that the colon needs or benefits from such cleansing, and the procedure carries risks including bowel perforation, infection, and electrolyte disturbance. Gastroenterologists warn against it, noting the colon cleanses itself naturally. The popularity of colonic irrigation reflects the persistent appeal of detox concepts despite their lack of physiological basis.