Colon Hydrotherapy—FAQs

Toxic bowels cause a host of health issues.  Since colonics cleanse toxins from the body, while restoring the body to better functioning, most people reap the benefits from regular colonics.  The body gives us signs that all is not well by giving uncomfortable symptoms such as:

· Abnormal body odor

· Abdominal discomfort

· Aches, pains, stiffness

· Bad breath

· Candida overgrowth

· Coated tongue

· Constipation and /or diarrhea

· Fatigue

· Headaches

· Indigestion

· Insomnia

· Irritable bowel

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED A COLONIC?

For a healthy individual there are no risks.  On your first appointment you will complete a health history questionnaire that lists the contraindications for colon irrigation. Based on your health history, your therapist will determine whether a colon irrigation session is right for you. 

ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO COLON HYDROTHERAPY?

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS USED?

Two types of colonic systems are available - the "closed system" and the "open system".  At the Lani'aina Wellness Center we use the most comfortable, client-friendly, state-of-the-art colon irrigation equipment available today -- the LIBBE, open system.  The benefits of the LIBBE are:

· A small, sterile, disposable rectal tube insertion of the inflow of water

· The release of waste into a toilet-like reservoir, without the change of messy "accidents"

· A long, clear tube to view what is being released by the body

· Comfort and relaxation, with the reclining formed table

· With the therapist out of the room to provide you with privacy, you gently insert the sterilized rectal tube as instructed and then cover yourself with a towel. 

· You control the water flow and temperature while the therapist assist in the process. 

· Your session is between 45 and 60 minutes in duration.

HOW MANY COLONICS SHOULD I HAVE?

The number of sessions will vary with each individual and their goals for a healthier life.  Following your consultation, your therapist will discuss with you a recommended number of sessions needed for you to obtain your health goals.

 

SHOULD I HAVE COLON HYDROTHERAPY WHILE I AM DOING A CLEANSE?

Yes! While cleansing any organ or fasting it is absolutely vital to aid your body In eliminating toxic waste.  Colon irrigation serves to do this very effectively. 

ARE COLONICS HABIT-FORMING?

No, not when used in conjunction with a cleansing program.  The purpose of cleansing the bowel is to allow it to relax and rejuvenate and to promote better peristalsis.  The bowel cannot heal when it is constantly working to get rid of accumulated waste, gases and poisons.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLONIC AND AN ENEMA?

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Colonics and enemas are therapies that both involve introducing water into the colon through the rectum in order to cleanse the colon. There are some key differences between open-system colonics and enemas:

· Colonics cleanse the entire length of the colon.  Enemas cleanse the lower part of the colon, the  sigmoid and part of the descending colon

· Colonics involve infusing the colon using gravity to introduce approximately 6 gallons of purified, warm water through a small rectal tube, during a 45-minute session.  Enemas involve a single infusion of water into the colon.

· With colonics the fecal matter and water leaves the body through the rectum and empties into a basin build into the colonic table and out a view tube. The table is equipped with a flush device and exhaust fan so thae client not not smell the fecal matter during the session.  At the end of the session, the client sits above the basin or on the toilet to release residual water and fecal matter.

· An enema involves the one-time infusion of water.  It sits in the lower part of the colon (the descending colon and rectum) for a period of time and then the person sits on the toilet to eliminate the water and fecal matter/

· Colonics must be administered by a trained/certified colon hydrotherapist and requires professional equipment.  Enemas can be self-administered and disposable enema kits are readily available. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARE ANY CONDITIONS CONTRAINDICATED WITH COLONICS?

Some health conditions may be adversely affected by colon irrigation. If you have any of the conditions listed below, consult with your physician to obtain approval and/or a prescription prior to colon irrigation.  Such conditions are: 

· abdominal hernia

· recent abdominal surgery

· bladder infection

· chronic liver or kidney disease

· anemia

· aneurysm

· heart disease (hypertension, pacemaker, congestive heart failure, recent heart attack

· Crohn’s disease

· colitis

· diverticulitis

· rectal fissures or fistulas

· benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)

· pregnancy

If you have any of the following health conditions, colon irrigation is contraindicated.  DO NOT HAVE COLON IRRIGATION under these circumstances:

· abdominal masses

· cancer of the colon, kidney or bladder

· hemorrhage or rectal bleeding

· certain types of surgery (rectal, colon, abdominal or heart) within the last 12 weeks

· severe/acute liver or kidney disease, including kidney dialysis

· Certain prescription and/or “recreational” drugs (such as heroin or cocaine) may cause a weakening of the intestinal walls, and therefore are contraindicated for colon irrigation.  If you are unsure of the effect of any drugs you are taking, consult with your physician prior to colon irrigation.

 

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WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE AND AFTER MY COLONIC?

To maximize the benefits of your colonic, we recommend the following before your colonic:

· do not eat for 2 hours before your appointment

· drink 4 to 6 glasses of water with the juice of 1/2 a lemon.

· during the previous day, avoid gas-forming foods such as beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, cucumbers, melons, raw apples, bananas, or anything else that gives you gas.

· for each of the three days preceding your colonic, apply an abdominal Castor oil back. Take one teaspoon of olive oil or flaxseed oil each evening.

· Drink plenty of water to keep the toxins flushing from your body

We recommend the following after your colonic:

· avoid heavy meat consumption (beef or pork) for 8-12 hours after your colonic.  Chicken or fish is best.  Eat soft cooked foods such as soup, steamed vegetables and brown rice.

· avoid gas forming foods for 24 hours

· eat yogurt with acidophilus/bifidus cultures or acidophilus capsules for several days to maintain the balance of flora in the colon.

· avoid eating raw vegetables 4-6 hours. Eat more laxative foods such as fruit, juices, soups, fish, chicken. Beet and carrot juice is beneficial.

· avoid high mucous foods  such as dairy products, refine flours  sugar and high protein diets.

· try following the correct food combining concepts by eating proteins only with vegetables -or- starches only with vegetables.  Avoid eating proteins and starches together.  Eat fruits by themselves.

· avoid strenuous exercise

· your next normal bowel movement is usually 1 to 3 days after your colonic.

The colon (also called the Large Intestine), together with the lungs, kidney and skin are designed to eliminate toxins in the intestines, blood and lymph systems.  Large Intestine is a muscular tube approximately 5 feet in length and approximately 2 1/2 inches in diameter.  The Large Intestine connects to the small intestine in the lower right abdominal area through a one-way valve called the Ileocecal valve.  The process of digestion occurs in the stomach and small intestine and the product of this digestion, called chyme, is sent into the cecum, the first portion of the large intestine.  The ascending colon goes up from the cecum to the level of the liver in the upper right abdominal region; then, the transverse colon crosses the abdomen; then the descending colon goes from the upper left abdominal region down the left side to the pelvis where it becomes the sigmoid colon.  The sigmoid colon empties into the rectum from which waste material is eliminated.  The main functions of the colon are absorption of water and minerals, the formation of fecal matter and the elimination of fecal matter.

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

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

A person with a healthy colon will have 2 or 3 bowel movements per day, shortly after each meal. Elimination should be complete and easy.  The stool should be medium brown in color, long and large diameter. There should be  no offensive odor.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE LARGE INTESTINE: