MANILA, Philippines?Following her gut feel, Perla Rempe is on the expressway to the cool foothills of Mt. Malarayat for a cleansing fix to flush the urban stress out of her system. Instead of popping a pill for a quick fix, she opts for nature?s way, enjoys the journey and is rewarded with a clearer mind.

Perla is half of the couple who built The Farm at San Benito into a world-class wellness facility. The resort has as its centerpiece not the spa pampering and beauty indulgence offered by most health spas, but a holistic detox intensive that has the Asia spa industry scrambling to create a new award category for the convergence of medicine and spa service.

Buzzword

If detox is the buzzword among the leisure class, it?s colonics or colema among the environmentally challenged, as enema is among the downright constipated.

Colon cleansing by any other name would still bring forth the same result?drive the toxins out of the gut?if supervised by a qualified medical practitioner.

The pioneering health resort takes toilet matters seriously. Medical chief Marian Alonzo, MD tells you that a lot of health problems have been associated with irregular bowel movement.

"Constipation is one of the most serious problems of today and is usually the underlying cause of migraine, severe acne and reproductive/menstrual disorders,? she says.

"Constipation predisposes one to colon cancer. Poor bowel movement leads to autointoxication where waste materials stay in the body long enough to allow toxins to be reabsorbed in the blood and re-circulated around the body.?

The prolonged contact time between the toxins and walls of the colon is a toxic buildup that can lead to colon cancer, now ranking second in cancer incidence.

Dr. Alonzo attests that one of the proven clinical processes known to prevent this is colon hydrotherapy.

Two methods

The Farm employs two methods ?colonics or colema?as a preventive measure especially for those with strong family history of cancer. However, it cannot do the treatment on those with overt colon cancer and uncontrolled anxiety disorder, and on pregnant women, especially in the first few weeks.

Colonics uses an automated machine to introduce purified non-chlorinated water into the colon and remove mucoid plaque and other toxic debris encrusted on the bowel wall. You see them flow out through a clear tube.

Colema uses the free flow of water through gravity to achieve the same effect. A five-gallon bucket of water is infused in you, with special organic ingredients added to the fluid?coffee, chamomile or garlic?depending on your medical needs.

Preparation starts the night before with a cleansing cocktail of apple cider vinegar with honey, stirred in with psyllium husks (which you can take at home if you are not checked in).

This is to loosen hardened fecal material and draw out toxins from the bowel wall. The psyllium acts as a mesh to safely transport the waste out of the body.

The pre- and post-care moments are what would make you want to take your colon cleansing in a nurturing environment. Integral to the treatment are body exercises called core strengthening of abdominals that includes belly dancing.

Then, at the appointed time, you submit to the expert hands of a colon therapist, who massages you out of your discomfort with nurturing conversations about the need for thorough cleaning.

You are done in less than an hour, depending on how much is coming out. Nurse Janet lets you replenish fluids and electrolytes lost with a buko juice drink, and restore normal gut flora with probiotics. Some cramping might occur, but a hot tummy pack and a cup of warm ginger lemon tea will soothe the cramps away.

You get a lightness of feeling afterwards from the unloading of toxins. Senses are heightened and the mind made clearer?evidence of the connection between the colon and the brain. Because one colon cleansing is not enough, you can learn how to continue on your own with a home enema kit. Or you can progress on to a detox program.

Call The Farm at The Peninsula Manila 8848074. Domestic toll free: 1-800-10-THE FARM. Visit: www.the farm.com.ph

How to achieve belly bliss

Hydrate. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily. Lack of water leads to constipation. Exercise. A sedentary lifestyle results in poor blood and lymph circulation. We sit around all day at work and lie down at home watching TV. Go dance your belly.

Eat a high-fiber diet. Fiber ?sweeps? the digestive system. Fiber sources are vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains, preferably raw and organic.

Respect body rhythm. Because of other priorities, we override the body?s rhythm. We spend late nights because of work or parties. We hold going to the toilet because of deadlines to be finished. Constipation, insomnia and cardiac arrhythmia are conditions directly related to lack of body rhythm.

Detoxify. Preservatives in cured meats (tocino, bacon, etc.) can be carcinogenic. Toxins come from processed foods through artificial colorings, flavor enhancers and hydrogenated oils. Air pollution lowers the immune system, which makes the body more prone to cancer.

Detox is a larger subject and entails different periods depending on your health status. For simple health restoration, seven days would do, while four weeks is ideal for those dealing with degenerative diseases.