A Shanghai hospital has reported an increasing demand for intestinal washes in recent months which it said may be the result of food scandals at home and abroad.

"In a peak period, there are 200 people a month and 10 people a day. It is five times increase from that of early this year," said Dr Zhang Kemin of the Shanghai Time Plastic Surgery Hospital. He said the therapy was effective in removing toxins from the body.

"Most customers are local white-collar workers and expats. They may have a higher awareness after recent food events like the milk scandal."

One British woman will undergo her second intestinal wash at the hospital in three weeks after receiving her first therapy earlier this week. Each costs about 500 yuan (US$73) and takes 30 to 40 minutes. "My friends told me it would relax me and remove dirty things from the body," the 40-year-old lawyer called Anna said.

However, minors and people with heart disease or hypertension were advised not to have the therapy.

And Liu Chunlong, president of the Shanghai Art Plastic Cosmetic and Esthetic Surgery Hospital, said: "The intestinal wash kills all bacteria in the intestines, no matter whether they are beneficial or harmful ones. Though there are methods to help beneficial bacteria grow faster to offset the loss, proper diet and physical exercises are more useful and natural for better health."

He said that his hospital had not offered the service for some years.

(Shanghai Daily January 4, 2009)