Colon Hydrotherapy
Not only is colon irrigation important to cleanse and strengthen the colon, it is proven safe and comfortable when in preparation for colonoscopy procedures.
Personal, one on one nutritional consults are included and are designed to educate the client on the importance and benefits of whole body detoxification or organ systems. Individualized protocols are geared to assist clients in restoring healthy gastrointestinal balance.
Please see below for answers to more of your questions.
Colon Hydrotherapy, also known as a “colonic” is a safe effective method for cleansing the colon of waste material by repeated, gentle flushing with water.
Waste material, especially that which has remained in the colon for some time (ie. impacted feces, dead cellular tissue, accumulated mucous, parasites, worms etc. pose several problems. First, this material is quite toxic. These poisons can re-enter and circulate in the bloodstream making us feel ill, tired or weak. Second, impacted materials impair the colon’s ability to assimilate minerals and bacteria-produced vitamins. And finally, a build-up of material on the colon wall can inhibit muscular action causing sluggish bowel movements and constipation.
A toxic colon is prevalent in all civilized societies, particularly in North America. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Backaches
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Bad breath
- Body odour
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Skin blemishes
- Abdominal gas
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
Yes it is, but toxicity is not limited to just the colon. Toxic material is found throughout the body, particularly in fat tissue, joints, arteries, muscles, the liver etc. Colonics effectively eliminate large quantities of toxic waste, affecting the condition of the entire body.
While the lungs, skin, kidneys and liver also serve to eliminate toxins, people throughout history have experienced that when the colon is cleansed and healed, the well-being of the whole body is greatly enhanced. Colonic irrigation has been found to be the most effective process available to accomplish this work quickly and easily.
Enemas are useful for emptying the rectum, the lowest 8 to 12 inches of the colon. Usually, one or two quarts of water are used for enemas. Suppositories are intended to accomplish the same task. Laxatives, particularly herbal laxative, are formulated for constipation and/or to build up the tone of the colon muscle etc.
In a 30 to 45 minute session, as much as 20 to 35 gallons of water are used to gently flush the colon. Through appropriate use of massage, pressure points, reflexology, breathing techniques, the colon therapist is able to work loose and eliminate far more toxic waste than any other short term technique. The second and subsequent colonics will remove more waste.
Cleanses the colon – toxic material is broken down so it can no longer harm your body or inhibit assimilation and elimination. Even debris built up over a long period is gently, but surely removed in the process of a series of irrigations. Once impacted material is removed, your colon can begin again to cooperate as it was meant to.
Exercises the colon muscles – the build up of toxic debris weakens the colon and impairs its functioning. The gentle filling and emptying of the colon improves muscular contraction activity by which the colon naturally moves material.
Reshapes the colon – when problem conditions exist in the colon, they tend to alter its shape, which in turn causes more problems. The gentle action of the water, coupled with the massage techniques of the colon therapist, helps to eliminate bulging pockets of water and narrowed, spastic constrictions finally enabling the colon to resume its natural state.
Stimulates reflex points – every system and organ of the body is connected to the colon by reflex points. A colonic irrigation stimulates these points, thereby affecting the corresponding body parts in a beneficial way.
It rarely is. Usually painful experiences are the result of resistance and tension. At The Lakeside Clinic, our colon hydrotherapist is skilled at putting you at ease and minimizing discomfort. Most people actually enjoy the colonic and are especially pleased with the unaccustomed sensation of feeling lighter, clean and clear afterward. Sometimes during a colonic, the colon muscles will contract suddenly expelling considerable amounts of liquid and waste into the rectum. This may feel like cramping or gas, and may create a feeling of urgency to empty the rectum. Such episodes, if they occur, are brief and easily tolerated.
No. You will fully maintain your personal dignity. You will be in a private room with only your therapist, who fully appreciates the sensitivity of the colonic procedure and will help you feel at ease. After the gentle insertion of a small tube into the rectum, you are completely covered. Rubber tubing carries clean, filtered water in and waste out in a passive gravity system. The mess and odour sometimes present during an enema simply does not exist with a colonic.
Consuming water and fibre as part of a healthy diet will encourage release of fecal matter. Since your abdomen will be massaged, it is a good idea to eat or drink lightly in the 2 hours immediately preceding a colonic. Also, emptying the rectum with a substantial bowel movement, if possible, just prior to the colonic saves time and permits more to be accomplished.
Most likely you will feel great. You probably will feel lighter and enjoy a greater sense of well being. Someone getting their first colonic usually remarks that it was one of the most wonderful experiences of their life. Any activity you would ordinarily do, such as work or exercise, is fine to do afterwards. For some, the colonic may trigger several subsequent bowel movements for the next few hours, but there won’t be any uncontrollable urgency or discomfort. It’s also possible you may feel light-headed or chilled for a few minutes following a colonic.
It is important to be aware of your objective when working with a colon therapist. For example, if your objective is to quickly recover from the flu, or lower a fever, or eliminate a lower backache, very possibly one or two colonics may be all that is needed. However, perhaps your objective is to overcome a life-long habit of constipation, to learn to create multiple daily bowel movements and to achieve vital health. To do this may require, in addition to possible dietary, exercise and attitudinal changes, regular colonics for some time. How many depends on the condition of your body and how well it responds to treatment. Having colonics regularly for a while, such as daily, weekly or multiple times per week, is what is referred to as a “series”. A series can only be considered once an objective has been identified.
Being an essentially natural process, there is virtually no danger with a colonic. Our therapist exercises extra care with elderly clients. Colonics are never performed on a pregnant woman, a person with currently active ulcerative colitis, or following recent colon surgery. Our intent is to provide a safe and healthy service so that you do not have to worry.
A clean and sterile environment is of utmost importance. The tubing used is disposable one-time use only. Clean linen is used for each colonic. Purified water free of chlorine and sediment is assured with a high grade water filtration system.
The most frequent post-colonic experience is to have a slight delay in bowel movements and then a resumption of a somewhat larger, easier to move stool.
Sometimes, if the colon is weak and sluggish, there may be no bowel movement for several days following a colonic. However, this is not due to the colonic, but rather to the weakness of the colon, and should be interpreted as an indication that the colon requires strengthening and healing. Very infrequently, diarrhea or loose bowels may be experienced. This could be due to extra water introduced into the colon or to the stirring up of toxic waste. If this should occur, it is usually of short duration.
Chronic constipation can be successfully treated with natural, harmless techniques, including the use of colonics.
There are three factors involved in having a well functioning colon – diet, exercise and attitude. All three must be in balance for the colon to function well. Often however, because the colon has been sluggish for so long, it has become severely weakened due to being constantly bathed in toxic waste, stretched from holding excessive stool, and frequently, constricted by chronic tension in the colon.
The process of colonic irrigation is excellent for cleansing and healing the colon sufficiently so that changes in diet, exercise and attitude are then able to produce their effects. Many people find the relief provided by colonics stimulates motivation and enthusiasm to institute positive changes in their lifestyle.
Electrolytes are the minerals in the body (mainly sodium and potassium salts) which maintain the proper electrical charge and pH balance (acid and alkaline balance) in the various organs and tissues of the body. Each of these tissues, organs and body cavities has a certain proportion and balance of minerals to maintain the necessary pH balance. The pH electrical balance in the colon is very neutral, ideally being slightly acid. A strong acid or alkaline environment is not necessary because digestion does not take place in the colon. Rather, a major function of the colon is to re-absorb the fluid from the unformed stools, which is passed into it from the small intestine. After the fluid is re-absorbed and stool is formed, the colon moves the stool into the rectum and out of the body. The majority of material released during a colonic is formed stool that has already had the fluid and electrolytes removed from it. So the amount lost is very minimal and easily replaced by the body from the food and fluid we ingest.
Washing out of putrefied material in the large intestine, which is only partially reached in any colon irrigation, increases the good intestinal flora. Good bacteria can only breed in a clean environment, which has been washed free of putrefaction and its accompanying harmful bacteria. Nutrients can be better absorbed in a clean environment than in a putrefied one.
The removal of stagnant waste material and hardened, impacted toxic residue could rejuvenate the immune tissue that resides in the intestines. Recent studies indicate that 80% of immune tissue resides in the intestines. Colon hydrotherapy is not a cure-all but an important adjunctive therapy in the overall health care of the patient.
Colonics take between 30-45 minutes. It could also be shorter or longer than that, based upon the judgement of the therapist and sometimes, the wishes of the client. There will also be about 15 minutes required for changing and a deep intestinal massage. For your first colonic, you should be prepared to spend about an hour and fifteen minutes at the clinic
We suggest that you eat a moderate amount of whatever seems gentle and nourishing to you. Eating a meal known to cause trouble in your abdomen directly after having a colonic is not a good choice. Salads, vegetable soups and broths, fruits and vegetables either juiced or whole are the best choices.
Almost never. First of all, many of us have considerable amounts of impacted feces in our colons. Substantial work must be done to remove it. Second, there is a subtle learning process involved in receiving colonics. As you become more aware of what is going on in your abdomen, and as our body learns to allow the cleansing experience, you are better able to enter into that process, and therefore more material is released. One colonic will remove some of the stagnant waste in the colon. The second and subsequent colonics will remove more.
Your skin actually “breathes” and is an important organ of elimination of waste material. Sometimes if the colon, liver or kidneys are functioning poorly, the skin will be required to make up the difference. Surface eruptions on the skin of various sorts may occur due to toxins being released. Cleansing and healing the colon diminishes the burden place upon the skin as well as on the other organs of elimination; the lungs, liver and kidneys. As elimination is accomplished through its proper channels, the skin will very often clear up.
You will be asked certain medical and health questions to make sure that it is not dangerous for you to receive colon hydrotherapy. Also, your objective for receiving colon irrigations will be discussed. Any questions or concerns you may have will be answered for you at this time as well. Following this procedure, you will be instructed to prepare for your colonic and alleviate any bladder or bowel pressure at that time. Next, you will enter the colon irrigation room. First, an abdominal massage will take place. Instructions will be given as to how to lie on the table while gentle insertion of the rectal tube is accomplished. Filling and flushing of water into and out of the colon is the next process. Waste material can be viewed by the patient with a tilted mirror. Cleansing of the colon lasts approximately 30 to 45 minutes depending on the judgement of the colon therapist. When your colonic is completed, gentle withdrawal of the rectal tube is performed and instructions are given to relieve any possible remaining water and waste material through a final visit to the bathroom. After this is done, colon irrigation is complete.