Historical
Background
Since
time immemorial man has used the squatting position for elimination.
Infants of every culture instinctively adopt this posture to relieve
themselves. Although it may seem unusual to someone who has spent
his entire life deprived of the experience, this is the way the human
body was designed to function.
The
modern chair-like toilet, on the other hand, is a relatively recent
innovation. It first became popular in Western Europe less than two
centuries ago, largely by coincidence. Invented in England by a cabinet
maker and a plumber, neither of whom had any knowledge of physiology,
it was installed in the first dwellings to use indoor plumbing. The
"porcelain throne" was quickly imitated, as the sitting posture seemed
more dignified - more suited to aristocrats than the method used by
the natives in the colonies.
Two
other influences also favored the adoption of this new water closet.
One was the headlong rush to modernize all existing sanitation facilities
(which were in fact non-existent.) The public assumed that all the
benefits of modern plumbing required the use of the seat-like toilet,
since it was the only one having the proper fittings to connect to
the pipes. This assumption was incorrect, since toilets with all the
same flushing capabilities could be (and have since been) designed
to be used in the squatting position.
Secondly,
in nineteenth-century Britain, any open discussion of such a subject
was considered most improper. A number of physicians privately expressed
concern about using a posture for elimination which had nothing to
do with human anatomy. But, just as in "The Emperor's New Clothes,"
no one dared express publicly the simple and obvious facts of the
case. Instead, they chose to endure, with a stiff upper lip, this
uncomfortable and inefficient contraption.
As
partial compensation, the famous department store, Harrods of London,
sold "squatting stools" which allowed one to elevate one's feet while
in the sitting position to bring the knees closer to the chest --
a crude attempt to imitate squatting.
The
rest of Western Europe, as well as Australia and North America, soon
followed suit, installing chair-like toilets in all new structures.
They didn't want their countries to appear any less civilized than
Great Britain, whose vast Empire at the time made it the most powerful
country on Earth. So, within a few decades, most of the industrialized
world had adopted "The Emperor's New Throne."
The
Legacy
Today,
many health practitioners blame this deviation from the human body's
natural mode of functioning for the high incidence of several common
disorders. Compared to the "underdeveloped" world, people from westernized
nations have higher rates of constipation, hernias, hemorrhoids, and
twisted colon syndrome (from misalignment of the intestines).
Colon
Cancer
Dr.
Leonard Smith is a Florida cancer surgeon, gastro-enterologist and
advocate of the squatting posture. In his experience, and that of
other surgeons, 80 per cent of colon cancers develop in the cecum
and the sigmoid colon, the two areas that are not fully evacuated
in the sitting posture. Fecal stagnation prolongs the exposure to
carcinogens, which could explain why colon cancer is the second leading
cause of cancer deaths in the United States. By contrast, in traditional
Asian and African cultures where squatting is the norm, the disease
is much less common.
The
natural squatting posture promotes more rapid and complete elimination,
especially in those regions of the colon most susceptible to cancer.
It can improve overall health and vitality by preventing the toxic
build-up which blocks the flow of energy throughout the body.
Contamination
of the Small Intestine
Dr.
William Welles, a San Diego chiropractor, discovered that the use
of the sitting position to evacuate causes contamination of the digestive
system in over 70 per cent of the population. There is a valve between
the small and the large intestine which is designed to prevent the
backflow of wastes stored in the colon. If the valve leaks, toxic
fecal bacteria (E.coli) can enter the small intestine and get absorbed
into the bloodstream. This puts a strain on the liver which has to
remove these toxins. Modern medicine considers this valve (called
the ileocecal valve or "IC valve" for short) to be inherently flawed,
since it is so often found leaking. Clear evidence of this contamination
is seen routinely during intestinal surgery and barium enema exams.
How could nature make such a blunder?
Two
discoveries by Dr. Welles solved the mystery. First, he found that
the leakage only occurs when one applies pressure to evacuate the
colon. Second, he found that in the natural squatting position, the
IC valve performs its function perfectly. Supported by the thighs,
it forms an air-tight seal which prevents any material from escaping
back into the small intestine.
Constipation
Restoring
the effectiveness of the IC valve can also reduce constipation. With
its "top" end properly sealed, the colon can be fully pressurized
by the abdominal muscles, creating a natural laxative effect.
Squatting
has also been found to relieve a constriction which occurs at the
end of the rectum in the sitting position. A sharp 90-degree bend
(known as the anorectal angle) obstructs the pathway during sitting
and can aggravate constipation. The natural squatting posture eliminates
this bend, aligning the rectum properly for more effortless evacuation.
As
F.A. Hornibrook says in his famous book, The Culture of the Abdomen:
"Man's
natural attitude during [elimination] is a squatting one, such as
may be observed amongst field workers or natives. Fashion, in the
guise of the ordinary water closet, forbids the emptying of the lower
bowel in the way Nature intended. Now in this act of [elimination]
great strains are imposed on all the internal organs…. It is no overstatement
to say that the adoption of the squatting attitude would in itself
help in no small measure to remedy the greatest physical vice of the
white race, the constipation that has become a contentment."
H.
Aaron, in his book, Our Common Ailment, writes:
"When
the thighs are pressed against the abdominal muscles in this position,
the pressure within the abdomen is greatly increased, so that the
rectum is more completely emptied. Our toilets are not constructed
according to physiological requirements. Toilet designers can do a
good deal for people if they will study a little physiology and construct
seats intended for proper [elimination]."
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids
are an extremely common problem, especially in westernized countries,
where surveys suggest that as much as half the population over 40
years of age may suffer some form of mild to severe discomfort from
them. In underdeveloped countries, this condition is far rarer, leading
again to the question of whether something unnatural in our lifestyle
is bringing it on.
Dr.
Berko Sikirov, an Israeli physician, decided to investigate the hypothesis
that the use of the sitting position for elimination was the cause
(and the squatting posture the cure.) In 1987 he conducted clinical
research which was later published in the Israeli Journal of Medical
Sciences (1987: 23, pp. 284-286) as well as the Townsend Letter
for Doctors and Patients (Issue No. 159, October 1996, pp. 66-70).
Twenty
male and female patients who had hemorrhoids of varying degrees of
severity participated in the study. They had all used conventional
treatments with little or no success. Two of the patients had had
surgery in an attempt to alleviate their conditions.
The
patients underwent a proctoscopy at the beginning of the trial. Then
they were told to change their toilet habits in two ways: to wait
until the urge to evacuate was strong (to avoid straining) and to
use the natural squatting position for elimination. The proctoscopy
was repeated after one year. Of the 20 patients, 18 reported within
a few days to a few months a significant reduction or complete absence
of symptoms. The two who showed less dramatic improvement had previously
had surgery for hemorrhoids. Follow-up examinations, 12 and 30 months
later, on the 18 other patients, revealed no recurrence of the symptoms.
Dr.
Sikirov's conclusion is that hemorrhoids result from continual aggravation
and injury due to excessive straining in the sitting position. When
this ongoing insult to the body is removed by returning to the squatting
position, the natural healing process can occur without hindrance.
A
detailed account of Dr. Sikirov's research can be found in his U.S.
Patent #4,819,277.
General
Comments
Virtually
every physician and physiologist who has ever troubled to write on
the subject agrees that the squatting position is the most natural
and physiologically sound posture to use for evacuation. This is the
conclusion of Professor Alexander Kira, of Cornell University's Center
for Housing and Environmental Studies, who conducted a seven-year
study of the design of the modern bathroom. His 1976 book, The
Bathroom, contains numerous quotations from Western scientists
who have deplored the use of the sitting position for elimination.
He
quotes Dr. H.L. Bockus, writing in the textbook Gastro-Enterology:
"...
The ideal posture for [elimination] is the squatting position, with
the thighs flexed upon the abdomen. In this way the capacity of the
abdominal cavity is greatly diminished and intra-abdominal pressure
is increased, thus encouraging [elimination]."
Dr.
Alexander Kira cites an article in the journal American Anthropologist
and draws the following conclusion:
"…We
must bear in mind that while we regard the use of the water closet
as natural, we represent only a relatively small percentage of the
world's population, and a percentage that may be said, in an absolute
sense, to be wrong, insofar as we have allowed civilization to interfere
with our biological functioning."
Dr.
William Welles, the chiropractor referred to above, wrote an article
entitled "The Hidden Crime of the Porcelain Throne." Here is a brief
excerpt:
"The
design of the modern-day toilet was created with absolute disregard
for the anatomy of the human body. On the conventional Western toilet,
pressure is exerted inside the abdomen by pushing the diaphragm down
in such a way as to push all the organs of the body downwards, causing
them to sag (prolapsus), and creating dysfunction of the ileocecal
valve. The abdominal muscles are left totally unsupported, as we have
said, and the body suffers the consequences. Dr. Leonard Williams
states that the modern toilet effectively paralyzes the abdominal
muscles. 'These muscles are little enough exercised by sedentary man,
but when seated on the ordinary everyday water closet, he could not
exercise them even if he would.' "
Full
Squatting Versus Semi-Squatting
In
the full, natural squatting position, used throughout the world, the
entire weight of the body rests on the feet. No other part of the
body is in contact with any surface. Those who are aware of the benefits
of natural squatting, but feel that they are incapable of adopting
that position, sometimes use a footstool to raise their feet while
sitting on the toilet to bring the knees closer to the chest.
In
the 1996 article in the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
cited above, Dr. Berko Sikirov discusses this variation, which is
called "semi-squatting." He expresses the opinion that it offers no
advantage over the conventional sitting position. Unless the feet
are firmly planted on a stable surface, the abdominal muscles designed
for elimination cannot do their job efficiently. Squatting evokes
an integrated physiological response which has evolved over millions
of years and which can't be duplicated simply by bending at the waist.
Nature's
PlatformTMis
the first and only product available in North America which allows
one to use a conventional toilet safely and comfortably in the natural
squatting position. It has a built-in five-degree slope, allowing
those unaccustomed to the squatting posture to use it more easily.
Since tight calves and Achilles tendons are the main source of difficulty,
the slope reduces the amount of stretching that is required. For those
who need an even steeper slope, padded "wedges" can be placed under
the heels to increase the angle up to 21 degrees, allowing almost
anyone to use the natural squatting position comfortably.
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