Colon Hydrotherapy - Frequently Asked Questions 

1) What happens during a colon hydrotherapy session? 

Colon Hydrotherapy, aka "colonics,"  is one of the most important and effective ways to clear the colon of impacted waste material.  Basically it is the safe, gentle infusion of water into the colon via the rectum. During the session, the client lies in a slightly inclined position on a treatment table. They are modestly covered with a sheet to ensure complete privacy and comfort.  A small disposable speculum is gently inserted, through which warm filtered water passes into the colon, and upon release, waste material moves out.

Modern state-of-the-art colon hydrotherapy units employ multi-stage water purification systems. I use the “FDA Cleared" Dotolo Toxygen Model BSC-UV hydrotherapy machine, which is the gold standard unit in the industry.  It is considered a “closed system”... so waste is discretely transported into the drain line without offensive odour and without comprising the dignity of the individual. After each therapy session, the unit is thoroughly cleansed and disinfected in preparation for future use.

During a session, a skilled colon hydrotherapist will use several fills and releases of water, as well as light massage techniques, to dislodge toxic waste matter adhering to the walls of the colon, as well as help stimulate peristaltic action. The dislodged fecal impactions are then gently washed away though the system's waste disposal hose.

Throughout the session, water temperature and pressure will be monitored by the therapist and can be varied to further stimulate peristalsis (muscular contraction) in the colon. This is very important to help the atonic (sluggish) colon.

During typical colon hydrotherapy session, about 25 to 35 gallons of water may be transported into and out of the colon. Using a combination of abdominal massage (if consented), breathing instruction and relaxation techniques... the colon therapist is often able to promote elimination of a large volume of toxic waste, which may not otherwise be possible through individual efforts.

I have often heard that just one colon hydrotherapy session may be equivalent to having 20 or 30 regular bowel movements. That may be an exaggerated estimate, but it is not entirely out of the question when considering a huge portion of the population only pass feces once/week.  Eliminations during subsequent therapy sessions can be even more substantial as older, hardened, impacted feces begin to soften, and dislodge from the colon walls. 

The colon hydrotherapist will carefully evaluate a client's progress during their session to determine if additional sessions would be beneficial. After a colonic, many people report a feeling of heightened energy, an increased sense of well being and renewed vitality.

Almost certainly your colon will be cleaner... you may experience easier eliminations and your overall health status should be improved.

 2) What exactly is the colon and what does it do?

To maintain good health, your body must effectively process food and eliminate bodily waste!

Your large intestine, aka”colon,” together with your lungs, skin and kidneys are designed to accomplish the essential task of the elimination of toxins.  The colon does this through the feces.

The colon is the final portion of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract that extends from the mouth to the anus. It is a muscular tube approximately 5 feet in length and has an average diameter of approximately 2 ½ inches.

The colon starts on the lower right side of the abdomen, where the small intestine empties the contents of digestion into the first portion of the colon. The valve that separates the large and small intestine is called the ileocecal valve, and it is critical in terms of preventing backflow from the colon back into the small intestine.  The ascending colon goes up from the cecum to the level of the liver; it then bends sharply to the left and crosses the abdomen as the transverse colon.

At the level of the spleen the descending colon goes down the left side of the abdomen to the pelvis, where it becomes the sigmoid region. The sigmoid colon empties into the rectum, from which waste material is ultimately eliminated from your body.

Muscular movements called peristalsis, which is initiated by the nerve supply to the colon, move along the contents of digestion. The process of digestion from ingestion of food to defecation, normally takes between 12 to 24 hours assuming that the colon is fully functional and non-toxic. Irregular or infrequent bowel movements can allow toxic residues, from the by-products of undigested foods, to remain in the colon.

The main functions of the colon are absorption of water and minerals, and the formation and elimination of feces.

The colon contains nearly 60 varieties of micro flora or bacteria to aid digestion, promote vital nutrient production, to maintain pH (acid-base) balance, and to prevent proliferation of harmful bacteria. These bacteria provide important functions such as the synthesis of folic acid and valuable nutrients from foods, including vitamins 'K' and portions of the 'B' complex. Bacillus coli and acidophilus comprise the majority of healthy bacteria in the colon along with other disease producing bacteria in lesser numbers.

The process of digestion from ingestion of food to defecation, normally takes between 12 to 24 hours assuming that the colon is fully functional and non-toxic. Irregular or infrequent bowel movements can allow toxic residues, from the by-products of undigested foods, to remain in the colon.

A person with a healthy colon will have 2 to 3 bowel movements per day, shortly after each meal taken. Elimination should be complete and easy. The stool should be light brown in color, long and large diameter. There should be no offensive odor and it should break apart with toilet flushing.

4) How do I know colon hydrotherapy is a good choice for me?

Today's diets consist in great part of refined, processed foods, high in saturated fats and low in fiber. Most health practitioners believe that eating these foods, overeating, ignoring the call to eliminate, stress, allergies/food sensitivities and medications can contribute to poor colon health, and constipation.

The colon contains the largest concentration of bacteria in the body. Waste material allowed to stagnate alters the proportion of friendly bacteria to unfriendly bacteria, disrupting the balance of microorganisms essential to the health of the colon and the body in general. Symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating, or gastrointestinal pain may alert you to colon distress.

Colon hydrotherapy may be valuable in minimizing the effects of both dietary and environmental stresses and toxins that bombard us on a regular basis and can lead to immune system imbalances. That portion of the immune system residing in the intestine may rejuvenate once toxic waste materials are removed.

The 3 medical indications recognized by the Texas Department of Health for the application of colon hydrotherapy are: fecal impaction, chronic constipation, and preparation for endoscopy.

The medical contraindications recognized by the Texas Department of Health for the application of colon hydrotherapy are: uncontrolled blood pressure/hypertension, intestinal perforation, carcinoma of the rectum, fissures or fistula, severe hemorrhoids, abdominal hernia, renal insufficiency, recent colon or rectal surgery, abdominal surgery, first and last trimester of pregnancy, cirrhosis of liver.  Under no circumstance are colonics to be administered for persons with these conditions.

 4) What are the benefits of colon hydrotherapy?

A healthy, strong functioning colon is essential to maintaining good health. Your colon, together with the kidneys, lungs and skin are responsible for eliminating waste from the body. But over time, your colon may lose its ability to properly eliminate all waste from the gastrointestinal tract due to a combination of poor diet, improper food combining, drug intake and/or lifestyle.

If this happens, the colon may become saturated with harmful toxins. And through a process called 'autointoxication' ... these toxic substances can be transported into the bloodstream where the lymphatic and circulatory systems, as well as the lungs and kidneys, become overburdened and expose you to serious health risks.

Most experts agree... if you aren't having at least one significant bowel movement every day, then by definition, you should consider yourself constipated.

5) What will colon hydrotherapy do for the colon?

A colonic may accomplish the following:

• Cleanse the Colon: Through the gentle infusion of water, impacted waste material is broken down and then eliminated so it can no longer harm your body or inhibit assimilation and elimination. Even debris built up over a long period of time can be broken loose in the process of a series of colonics. Once impacted material is removed, the colon will begin to function closer as it was intended to, and heal damage due to improper functioning and waste build-up. . In this very real sense a colonic is a rejuvenation treatment.

• Hydration - Water is gently infused into the colon, where some of it is reabsorbed back into the body through the lining of the colon.  This hydration rejuvenates the cells of the body.  The extra hydration in the colon may also soften and loosed hard impacted waste that has adhered to the walls of the colon.

• Stimulates Reflex Points: Every system and organ of the body is connected to the colon by reflex points.  Colonic irrigation stimulates these points, thereby affecting the corresponding body parts in a beneficial way.

• Exercises the Colon Muscles: The build up of toxic impacted debris weakens the colon and impairs its functioning. The gentle filling and emptying of the colon improves peristaltic (muscular contraction) activity by which the colon naturally moves material.  Consider the repeated cycles of fill and release that is conducted throughout a session to be exercise for the colon muscles.

• It may Reshape the Colon: When problem conditions exist in the colon, they tend to alter its position, which in turn causes more problems. The gentle action of the water, coupled with the elimination of bulging pockets of waste may enable the colon to resume its natural state.

 
Colon Hydrotherapy is not addictive... It encourages the restoration
of the colon's natural function by removing impacted debris and strengthening peristalsis.