Autointoxication, a term coined in 1884 by the French physician Charles Jacques Bouchard,[3] is a hypothesis based on medical beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks and was discredited in the early 20th century.

Frequent colon cleansing can lead to dependence on enemas to defecate and some herbs may reduce the effectiveness of, or increase the risks associated with the use of prescription medications.

[7][8][9] The benefits anecdotally attributed to colon cleansing are vague and the claims made by manufacturers and practitioners are based on a flawed understanding of the body.

[7][23] The ancient Egyptians believed that toxins formed as a result of decomposition within the intestines,[24] and moved from there into the circulatory system, causing fever and the development of pus.

[25] Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov (1845–1916) became the strongest supporter of the idea of colon cleansing; he thought that toxins could shorten the lifespan.

Over time, the concept broadened to autointoxication, which supposes that the body cannot fully dispose of its waste products and toxins, which then accumulate in the intestine.

[26] Autointoxication enjoyed some favor in the medical community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but clinicians discarded it as advances in science failed to support its claims.

In the 1990s the practice of colon cleansing experienced a resurgence[3] in the alternative-medical community, supported by testimonials and anecdotal evidence and promoted by manufacturers of colon-cleansing products.