In the hands of an ARCH-registered therapist Colon Hydrotherapy is a safe and gentle procedure.
It may seem a little strange at first, but the more you learn about the treatment and its benefits, the more you’ll see that it is a natural and effective way to care for your health and manage your bowel.
A Brief History of Colonics...
by David Karunanithy with Elena Karunanithy Colon cleansing has been practised for thousands of years and is described in many written sources of the ancient world. One, often quoted example, is a text purported to have been discovered in the early 20th ...
When to consider Colon Hydrotherapy
People have colon hydrotherapy for a wide range of reasons. Some are looking for relief from the symptoms of constipation, IBS and other gastro-intestinal problems such as bloating or digestive issues, while others simply want to maintain their health and enjoy the fresh, light feeling and enhanced energy levels that often comes from the treatment.
Even with the best will in the world, few of us can lead a perfectly clean life and always eat as well as we would like. A colonic helps reset and maintain focus on healthier choices by gently removing waste and gas from the bowel and by providing an oportunity to become more mindful of the gut.
Colon Hydrotherapy effectively works with the body's physiology
The gentle flow of water works in two ways: it removes accumulated waste matter from the the colon, and it stimulates the natural nerve and muscle actions required for proper bowel function.
Unlike an enema, colon hydrotherapy, combined with skilled and gentle abdominal massage from your ARCH-therapist, can fully cleanse the whole of the large intestine and tone the bowel in a way that positively restores bowel emptying.
The benefits go beyond the bowel alone
Colon Hydrotherapy often leaves people feeling lighter, energised and inspired to make healthier diet and lifestyle choices.
The digestive system is closely linked with the brain, the immune system and the liver. Often people express feeling calmer after a colonic and report benefits to the appearance of their skin, the clarity of their thinking and the quality of their sleep.
What happens during a Colonic Hydrotherapy treatment
Colon hydrotherapy is a safe and gentle treatment which lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. ARCH-therapists only use disposable equipment and work on closed systems which means that there is no mess or smell, and that dignity is preserved throughout.
Warm filtered water is introduced into the bowel through a small tube called a speculum that is gently inserted about an inch and a half into the rectum. As the warm water enters the colon, therre might be a feeling of fullness followed by a relaxing feeling as the colon empties. The water pressure and temperature are carefully controlled and monitored by the therapist who will be working with your own tolerance level. The waste is drained away discreetly in a closed system with no odours or direct contact with feaces. .
This filling and emptying, interspersed with abdominal massage, is repeated several times during the treatment and aims to gently cleanse the whole length of the large intestine.
Your ARCH-therapist understands the sensitivity of the therapy and will work with you at all times to take care of your needs and alleviate any aprehensions or embarassement you may feel. You’ll be given privacy to change and have access to private toilet facilities. You will only be exposed for a few seconds for the insertion of the speculum, and after that you’ll remain covered throughout the treatment.
What to expect on a first appointment
Your first appointment will usually last about an hour and a half and will include a consultation, medical questionnaire and an explanation of the equipment and procedure.
ARCH therapists have a friendly, open-minded listening approach that makes discussing your bowel habits straight forward and easy. The possible causes underlying your symptoms will be discussed as part of the consultation, and dietary or/and life-style suggestions will be made to help you address those positively and effectively.
The remaining time following your consultation, will be dedicated to the treatment and to building confidence with your own bowel's physiology while receiving Colon Hydrotherapy. As with all things it takes a little practice to get the full benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy and the reason why your therapist will ysually make further recommendations about follow-up treatments.
Who benefits from Colon Hydrotherapy
Based on a nation-wide survey amongst people seeking treatment from an ARCH therapist, we have found that around 53% of our clients choose colonics for digestive symptoms and/or constipation, while the rest have the therapy for wellbeing, to motivate self-care and for general health. Of those surveyed, over 90% would recommend Colon Hydrotherapy.
ARCH members are professional therapists and do not make exaggerated claims about ‘curing’ digestive problems. However, experience shows that colonics can provide relief from the symptoms of a wide range of digestive disorders, including IBS, constipation, bloating and wind. Many of our clients find that colonics offer help where modern medicine has failed them, especially if they received the often dismissive diagnosis of IBS.
Young or old, male or female, healthy or suffering, colon hydrotherapy is for almost everyone from all walks of life. However, there are some circumstances in which the treatment is not recommended.
Who should not have Colon Hydrotherapy
- Strangulated abdominal or inguinal hernias
- Autonomic dysreflexia (occurs in spinal injuries at or above T6)
- Carcinoma of the colon or rectum
- Children under 16 years without a GP’s/medical specialist written referral and a guardian present at all times
- Heart or Liver disease
- Fistula
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- Hypertension above 170/100
- Ileus (paralytic)
- Active Inflammatory Bowel Disorders - Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's, Colitis and Diverticulitis
- Inflamed haemorrhoids, rectal bleeding, Fissures or Fistula
- Radiotherapy of abdominal area not discharged from medical care
- Severe Anaemia (RBC less than 2.5 million cells/mcL) - Risk of fainting
- Renal insufficiency
- Sever persistent diarrhoea
A period of 3 to 6 months recovery is advisable following abdominal surgery
Colonics can be administered following hip and back surgery but mobility must be sufficiently recovered to allow moving on off the treatment couch. If you are considering Colon Hydrotherapy post surgery speak to your ARCH therapist.
Your therapist will take a comprehensive medical history and assess whether a treatment is appropriate for your individual health needs.
You are also advised to avoid colonics if you think you may be pregnant. However, there is no reason not to have the treatment during your menstrual period. Talk to your therapist for personal advice.
How the digestive systems works
The digestive system is divided into the following two main sections:
- The stomach and small intestines: The primary role of the stomach and small intestine is to break down and absorb nutrition from your food. This is done through mechanical and chemical processes, including chewing and churning, and the release of acids and enzymes. By the time the mixture leaves the small intestine, the body has absorbed 95% of the available nutrients.
- The large intestine (colon): The role of the colon is to absorb water and nutrients from what’s left as it passes through. The colon also works to make this waste safe by neutralising the digestive acids and enzymes, so that it can pass out of your body without causing any damage. Bacteria in the colon work with the waste to produce essential vitamins, such as biotin and vitamin K. They also ferment the waste, producing around three pints of gas every day.
The human digestive system is one long connected "tube" over twenty feet long from end to end (mouth to anus). Its basic function is to converts the food we eat into the nutrition needed to build and maintain a healthy body and to eliminate what cannot be absorbed and utilised via the large intestine. It is a complex and lengthy process that can easily be disturbed, causing familiar symptoms such as bloating, digestive discomfort and constipation.
The normal transit time for food is around 24 hours, and the bowel should open at least once a day. Problems occur when the transit time is either too fast, causing diarrhoea, or too slow, causing constipation or bloating. This can be caused by poor diet, disease or infections, as well as by lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise, irregular eating or missing meals.
Digestive problems can also be the result of stress and emotional issues. There is a strong link between the gut and the mind, which is seen in our everyday language in phrases such as ‘butterflies in the stomach’ or ‘stomach in knots’, which reflect the way our state of mind can adversely affect our normal digestion. As part of your consultation, your therapist will often talk through any external factors that could be affecting your internal processes.