Colon Hydrotherapy

Colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, is a procedure that uses low-pressure water to irrigate and flush the colon. It is an ancient therapy, first identified 3000 years ago in an Egyptian medical text as a method used for bowel and colon cleansing.

The colon is a part of the digestive tract that assists with digestion and the removal of waste products from the body. Low intake of fiber, constipation, diets high in red meat and other fatty foods, and the standard American diet ("SAD") decrease the effectiveness of the colon, leading to an increase in toxins in the bloodstream. Colon hydrotherapy is a treatment frequently prescribed to patients to detoxify the colon, eliminate waste build-up and restore health and wellness.

Modern colon hydrotherapy involves the introduction of water into the colon using a sanitary colon hydrotherapy device. Depending on the condition being treated, therapeutic minerals and herbs may be added to the water. The fluid is released from the colon and the cycle is repeated for a specific number of times during each treatment. The process may be either patient or practitioner controlled. While similar to an enema, colon hydrotherapy reaches beyond the lower bowel to treat the entire length of the colon.

During a colon hydrotherapy treatment, the patient lies on his or her back or side and a sanitary, disposable tube is inserted into the rectum. It is through this tube that body-temperature water is introduced into the colon and then held in place by the patient for a specific amount of time. When the patient is ready, the flow is reversed and the water is released from the colon. At no time during the treatment is there any mess or odor. Treatments generally last about an hour and use up to 20 gallons of water during the session. Water temperatures may vary during the treatment from slightly warmer than body temperature to cool if increased bowel tone is a goal of therapy.

Depending on the reason for colon hydrotherapy, treatments may be scheduled as infrequently as once a year or as often as once a week. Colon hydrotherapy is often prescribed to treat gastrointestinal detoxification, to relieve constipation, and to heal irritated, inflamed bowels. It is known to increase and improve peristalsis (the normal rhythmic contractions of the colon and intestines), stimulate the secretion of bile, relieve gas and bloating, and improve muscle tone. Individuals treated with colon hydrotherapy often report increased energy following colon hydrotherapy, though individual responses to treatment may vary.

Decades ago, French medical researchers reported that colon hydrotherapy using small quantities of ozone dissolved in water was measurably effective in improving the health of the liver.

Colon hydrotherapy is not recommended for patients who have blood in their stool, high blood pressure, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe hemorrhoids, congestive heart failure, or women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Patients considering colon hydrotherapy should check with their holistic practitioners for any other contraindications to treatment.

To be certified, colon hydrotherapists must attend rigorous educational courses which emphasize safety first. Treatment by certified colon therapists very rarely results in injury or complications.