A humorous little piece in Slate suggests that squatting in the loo Thai-style may help prevent hemorrhoids. For the author, it at the least saved him up to an hour of library time a per week for other pursuits. So now the only problem I have is retrofitting my "modern" Western-style Thai bathroom to an "old fashioned"

healthy one...or I could become a bird on a perch

http://www.slate.com/id/2264657/

You've got to learn how to squat when you are a small child. If I tried squating any longer than a minute my joints would sieze up and they'd need a crane to pick me up.

You've got to learn how to squat when you are a small child. If I tried squating any longer than a minute my joints would sieze up and they'd need a crane to pick me up.

Exactly. It may prevent hemorrhoids, but it will for sure ruin my knees...as well as my morning reading session!

'IanForbes' timestamp='1282961624' post='3844637']

You've got to learn how to squat when you are a small child. If I tried squating any longer than a minute my joints would sieze up and they'd need a crane to pick me up.

Thought I was reading my own mind there for a minute or two , was racing in Quebec quite some years ago at a small town north of Montreal , went to the loo and found a hole in the floor with a hand rail , was considerable younger then so no problem . Went to a northern Thai village for a few weeks to help cure a flooding problem , I cut a hole in a plastic chair to make operation neccessary succesfull , LOL .

DUmball, that chair idea is "inspired!"

must have been a bit like that early ww2 bombers at first though. Target practice is a messy business...

I remember an American lady who talked about using a squat toilet

in high heels and tights.............

You've got to learn how to squat when you are a small child. If I tried squating any longer than a minute my joints would sieze up and they'd need a crane to pick me up.

Exactly. It may prevent hemorrhoids, but it will for sure ruin my knees...as well as my morning reading session!

True, and how can one squat when one end up in a wheel chair in the older days, due to ruined knees?

Pretty funny stuff! My knees are kind of ruined already. I stayed at my GF parents house earlier this year and I hadn't used the squat in quite a while. I had her clean up the loo and I ended up just sitting on it. She says she does the same. I'm a bit too big to stand on the little foot area anyway, I'd have to put my feet on the outer sides of it at least! The plastic chair idea was hilarious!

You could keep one of these on hand to help your realign with the vertical!

There you go:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AYG7ZS/ref=nosim?tag=toiletology10-20&link_code=as2&creativeASIN=B000AYG7ZS&creative=374929&camp=211189

Also lowers chances of bowel cancer apparently.

Also lowers chances of bowel cancer apparently.

Not disputing your observation?/comment by any means. Who did this research, where, and how were the finding arrived at? Wonder who funded either or both studies?

My pregnant Thai wife visited a US Navy Hospital in Taiwan (many moons ago). The doctor inquired whether she squatted when she worked in the kitchen or while doing other things around the home. She said, 'yes'. He predicted an easy birth. In fact, our baby literally popped out after less than 2 hours of labor. Walking up/down three steep flights of steps to our apartment probably helped as well.

Also lowers chances of bowel cancer apparently.

Not disputing your observation?/comment by any means. Who did this research, where, and how were the finding arrived at? Wonder who funded either or both studies?

Just watched some bogus documentary a few years back about cancer. Basically said that

the more natural squatting way of using a toilet releases more from your bowels rather than

the more recent sitting down while doing your business which releases less from bowels

meaning.............to be crude.............more shit is building up in your bowels which apparently

raises chances of bowel cancer. Not saying its true but I do think there is some benefits

to the ole squat.

Babies were/are delivered squatting as well..