COLONIC HYDROTHERAPY - F.A.Q.
What is it?
Colon hydrotherapy or as it used to be called irrigation, is the process of hydrating and cleansing the colon by passing purified filtered water through it, flushing out stored impacted faecal matter, gas, mucous and toxic substances which accumulate over time. It is similar to an enema but treats the whole colon, not just the lower bowel. It is not a new concept – forms of colonic irrigation date back to the Egyptians and even the Romans.
What are the benefits?
- As the water moves through the colon, it strengthens and exercises the colon muscles and helps to restore normal peristaltic action. Also by removing faecal matter which has accumulated in the colon, it allows improved assimilation of nutrients so helping to reduce nutritional deficiencies.
- Colonics can help with symptoms of constipation, diarrohea, bloating, flatulence, migraines, headaches, lack of energy, candida, skin problems as well as many other inflammatory conditions. Clients have also reported that is has helped with weight loss and a desire to follow a healthier lifestyle!
- Colonics is about ‘letting go’ – physically and emotionally and as your colon is your ‘second brain’, many clients have made amazing changes to their life and their health following treatment!
What is involved in the treatment?
- A small speculum is inserted into the patient’s bowel through the rectum. This is attached to a tube, which leads to a tank or machine that allows filtered water into the colon at a controlled rate and temperature.
- Water moves and hydrates around the whole colon as far as the ileo caecal valve which is a one way valve linking the large to the small intestine.
- The movement of the water triggers peristaltic action and the patient will begin to expel this water along with faecal matter back through the tube. The faecal matter is flushed out via a transparent pipe or viewing tube, so that what is eliminated may be monitored.
- During the treatment, the therapist will gently massage the person’s abdomen to help dislodge impacted faecal matter.
Is the treatment painful or uncomfortable?
A colonic hydrotherapy treatment should not be painful. If and when faecal matter etc is released, there can be some slight discomfort but this quickly eases to produce a feeling of lightness and clarity.
Will I be uncovered or exposed during the treatment?
You are covered with a gown or towel throughout the whole treatment so at no time should you feel embarrassed or exposed!
How long does it take?
Generally about 45 minutes but allow 15 minutes either side to allow for changing before and afterwards.
Should I do anything particular before the treatment?
As colonics is all about hydration, the treatment is much more productive if a person is well hydrated beforehand. So drink plenty of water but avoid eating a heavy meal for a couple of hours immediately before. This is because your body will focus on digestion rather than elimination during the treatment.
How can I expect to feel after the treatment?
Most people feel lighter and clearer mentally and physically and more energised. However if your body was very toxic or ‘blocked’ beforehand – you can experience initially a slight headache or tiredness as toxins are released, but this quickly passes to leave a feeling of wellness and health!
What should I do following the treatment?
- To get maximum benefit, it is advisable to avoid alcohol, rich or spicy foods for at least 24 hours afterwards. A light diet of fruit and vegetables, salads, soups, chicken or fish and try to avoid anything that causes gas especially carbonated drinks.
- Many people feel so good afterwards that they want to double their jogging or workout time. Caution is advised here, for it can be overdone. Although light to moderate exercise is good if you are used to it, any strenuous activity should be avoided for a few hours after the treatment
- Although a colonic treatment does not remove all the intestinal bacteria, it is advisable to take a course of probiotics following the treatment.
How do I know the number and frequency of treatments which I will need?
Again this will depend on how your body was functioning beforehand but following the first treatment, you will be advised on this. However, many people benefit from a course of 3 treatments, with the first 2 being fairly close together as a lot of benefit comes from the massive hydration carried out at the first one.
What is a healthy ‘poo’?
The size and shape of eliminations/stools indicates the transit time through the digestive tract. The colour can tell you how good your digestion is and alert you to other changes concerning your wellness.
If you eat a reasonably varied diet with enough fibre, your stool should come out as a golden brown sausage, up to 200g in weight, a floater that leaves no skid marks and sinks fast. It should be almost smell free!
- Dry with hard lumps or clumps: CONSTIPATION
- Like lumpy sausage: CONSTIPATION
- Like sausage with surface cracks: HEALTHY, VERY SLIGHTLY DEHYDRATED
- Long smooth surface. Normal, good colour, quick exit, and easy to clean: HEALTHY
- In blobs with well defined margins: HEALTHY
- Fluffy with ragged edges: BORDERING ON DIARRHOEA
- Watery with no solids: DIARRHOEA
In a healthy bowel transit time should be between 18 – 36 hours from the moment food is eaten to the moment the waste is eliminated. Mouth to stomach 1-3 hours; Small intestine 2-6 hours; Colon 12-48 hours.
In the UK, the average transit time is between 54 and 72 hours!
To check your transit time, eat some beetroot and record the date and time of eating and then see how long it takes for your stools to become crimson red in colour. Sweetcorn can be another indicator.
Interesting Intestinal Facts!
- The colon is approx. 5 ft long
- The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive tract and is 22-25 ft long. It has a total absorptive area the size of a tennis court!
- The average adult can be carrying up to 15lbs of waste material in their colon and at least 2 lbs of bacteria.
But a person can excrete their own weight in faecal bacteria every year (about a stone a month)
- The stomach stores 2 ½ pints of food from a meal at any one time
- It takes 1 ½ litres of water to excrete one poo!!
