A Comprehensive Study Of Japanese Toilets

The Asian toilets, more frankly known as the squatting toilets have a history that dates as far back as the third millennium B.C. Archeologists have uncovered evidence that such toilets composed of bricks and wood were used by most of the people throughout history discharge their feces. These toilets were connected with chutes and drains that emptied into the main drainage system. Although proper toilets were then only used by the aristocracy, the general public resorted to squatting over pits and large dug holes, to excrete feces. According to the Toilet Museum, the eighteenth century was the golden era of toilets. The water closet was introduced and then used more extensively in 1596. In 1973, JF Brondel introduced the valve-type flushing toilet, this was modified and it took the shape of a cantilever toilet.  Then, from 1800 onwards the toilet manufacturers laid greater emphasis on the aesthetics of the toilet and better looking, feature packed toilets emerged in the market.

Types of Japanese toilets

The toilets in Japan are mostly quite elaborate as compared to those in other developed countries. There are basically two types of toilets found in Japan. The oldest of which is the squat toilet. Most of the people find them to be inconvenient, but the fact is that these toilets are one of the most hygienic toilets that exist. After the second World War, the modern toilets with the flush systems and urinals were introduced and used. One of the variants of the modern toilet is the bidet toilet. It is much loved by the Japanese people, and approximately 72% of the Japanese households have those toilets in their homes. These bidets are more commonly referred to as washlets. They come packed with a variety of features that are most commonly in use by people in Asia. They are also known as the warm-water cleaning toilet seat.

Positive features of a squat toilet

• They are very easy to clean.
• They are extremely cheap to manufacture.
• They consume less water than that used by the modern toilets.
• They are also more hygienic, as people do not come in direct contact with the seat.
• Since there is no water in the receiving part of the toilet, there is no chance of dirty and unsanitary water from the trough to rise up and come in contact with the person sitting on it.
• Squatting for a considerable time, again and again, helps to increase the flexibility of the knees.
• Squatting is used to strengthen the pelvic muscles in women.
• Such a toilet helps build up strength and improves both breathing and concentration.
• Excretion is faster and more efficient in squatting position than in the sitting position.
• Squatting reduces the chances of hemorrhoids.

Negative features of the squat toilet

• During squatting, water is mostly splattered on one’s legs and feet.
• Since the excreted matter generally stays on the surface of the trough for some while till it is flushed away, the toilet is mostly immersed in a terrible stench.
• Difficult to use by elderly or aged people.

Positive features of the modern toilet

• They come packed with many features, like anus flushing. There are some toilets that have been embedded with sensors that observe the position of the toilet seat, if the seat is turned up, they are programmed to read that as an indication that a man is using it. When the toilet seat is turned down, they are programmed to read this as an indication that a woman is using it. This helps the toilet decide whether a big flush (one with lots of water) or small flush (one with lower amounts of water) is needed.
• Easier to use by physically inept or aged people.

Negative features of the modern toilet

• It promotes contact between bodies as the same toilet seat is used by many individuals.
• During feces, there is mostly always a splash back produced.
• They are known to promote hemorrhoid.

How are Asian Toilets beneficial for one’s health?

The central idea of an Asian toilet is that the person will be encouraged to squat over the toilet to allow natural excretion. When a person squats over a toilet, the rectum is constricted by the puborectalis muscles and this causes the rectum to force open. If you excrete when you are in a sitting position, it results in incomplete evacuation and the waste, then moves into the sigmoid colon, this puts a lot of pressure on the sigmoid colon continuously. This is a huge factor that contributes towards hemorrhoids and necrotizing enterocolitis. When you excrete while you are sitting on a toilet you need to strain excessively, this includes pushing down the diaphragm while you hold your breath. Repeating this process continuously can lead to an increase in the gastroesopageal reflux disease along with hernias.  In a lot of research, straining has also been linked to cardiovascular diseases.

On the other hand, when you squat, it pushes the colon down, with the help of gravity this provides the added pressure that is needed for expulsion. In a squatting position, the person is supposed to push upwards along the thighs and not downwards, using a diaphragm.

The weight of the body also compresses the colon naturally. Squatting allows the puberoctalis muscles to relax and causes the rectum to straighten, this helps in making the evacuation easy.

A lot of people, who dwell in the east, believe that the sit down toilet is actually very filthy as it involves the contact of the human body with the toilet seat. When you squat over a toilet, there is no direct contact of the body with the toilet. Thus implying, that squatting is most definitely a much more hygienic way to excrete feces.

So if you have been suffering from hemorrhoids and have been looking for a good cure, it is time that you consider switching to using the squat toilets rather than the modern or American one. You are bound to see amazing results instantly.

References

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163772.php

https://www.ehealthme.com/cs/hemorrhoids/necrotizing+enterocolitis+neonatal