Colon
Hydrotherapy

Many people have pre-conceived ideas about Colonic Hydrotherapy and Colonic Irrigation and imagine the worst, whereas it is in fact a colonic treatment which leaves you feeling clean, revitalised and well. It was used in UK hospitals until relatively recently when the cost became uneconomical in face of strong purgatives used before bowel procedures.

The colonic treatment itself exercises and tones the bowel thus aiding the evacuation of waste both during and after treatment. The toxic load on the body is reduced.

Colonic treatment is now used in the UK as a naturopathic modality and is particularly useful in treating:

• Primary bowel conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and constipation where the bowel can be normalised through water temperature variation during treatment.
• Some organic disease states such as diverticulosis where regular elimination is important. Bowel transit time is improved.
• Many secondary conditions, especially those affecting the other eliminative organs (skin, urinary tract and lungs), where they are accompanied by poor bowel mechanics.
• Body detoxification, when accompanied by dietary measures.

The benefits of colonic irrigation can often be quickly observed in the form of improved bowel function together with clearer skin, more mental clarity and fewer headaches. Circulatory, immune, inflammatory and weight problems can also often improve with colonic treatments when accompanied by recommended diet and lifestyle changes. After treatment from our colonic therapists, the bowel is better able to absorb nutrients and less likely to absorb enterotoxins.

Unlike enemas, it is not habit-forming.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

No special preparation is necessary before your colonic treatment appointment, although large meals and lots of fluids are not advised.

When visiting a registered colon hydrotherapist they will expect you to be nervous, but will put you at ease. The first appointment includes taking your case history, explaining the procedure and the treatment itself.

A brief rectal exam must be carried out, then a speculum is introduced 1.5inches (4cm) to open the sphincter. An inlet and outlet tube is attached to the outside of the speculum, so the system is open, with water going in and water and waste out. The waste is piped away.

About 60 litres of filtered water are used per treatment, but only small amounts are allowed to enter the bowel at any one time, acting to dilate the lower bowel, stimulating the bowel to empty itself. In all, about 15 litres enters the bowel during treatment, and the vast majority also comes out again. The water pressure is carefully controlled and is in fact lower than is normally generated during a bowel movement.

At first, water is fed into the lower bowel whilst you are on your left side, then after about 10 minutes your therapist will ask you to turn onto your back, and using gentle massage techniques across the bowel profile, will work around the whole bowel assisting the elimination of waste and gas pockets.

Some herbal infusions may be used during colonic treatment, and a probiotic (friendly bacteria) implant may be given afterwards if indicated.

In all, the colonic treatment takes about 30-45 minutes on the couch.

HOW MANY COLONIC TREATMENTS ARE NECESSARY?

This does depend upon the individual and advice will be given after your first treatment. It may vary from only one treatment to several spread out over a period of time, after which preventative or maintenance treatments may be recommended.

IS COLONIC IRRIGATION SAFE?

Yes. As a trained therapist-conducted treatment, the insertion is in expert hands, the filtered water is at low pressure and there is no danger of perforation. All equipment used is either disposable or sterilised using hospital –approved sterilants or regularly serviced autoclaves, so there is virtually no risk of cross-infection.

Although large numbers of friendly bacteria are expelled during treatment, they quickly breed back up to strength, and the environment after treatment is usually better than before, thus leading to a better balance.

Colonic hydrotherapy, unlike the use of laxatives, enemas or slant boards, is not habit-forming and actually improves the tone of the colon.

ARE THERE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN COLONIC TREATMENT CANNOT BE PERFORMED?

Yes. Conditions such as active infections, active inflammation (such as diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), a painful fissure or painful haemorrhoids mean treatment cannot be comfortably carried out until they are healed or in remission.

Diseases such as congestive heart disease, severe uncontrolled hypertension, severe anaemia, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, severe haemorrhaging and colo-rectal carcinoma are also absolute contra-indications for treatment as are some physical conditions such as severe abdominal or inguinal hernias which cannot be easily reduced.

Treatments are also not performed during the first three months of pregnancy, and not at all during complicated pregnancies.

WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED?

Many conditions benefit from colonic irrigation, including:

Allergies Arthritis Asthma Atonic (sluggish) colon Bloating Candida Colitis in remission Constipation Diarrhoea Diverticulosis (i.e Diverticulitis in remission) Flatulence Gut, leaky Haemorrhoids (see below)

Headache, toxic Halitosis IBS Indigestion Leaky gut Lethargy Mucous colitis Multiple sclerosis ME Parasitic infections Skin problems: eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, etc. Urinary urgency in females.

Colonic irrigation, coupled with other suitable measures, is also useful during:

• Cleansing regimes
• Fasting
• Liver/gall flushes
• Weight loss programmes

THE COLON

The colon, or large intestine/bowel, is an important organ situated at the end of the digestive tract in the abdominal cavity. It is divided into several regions: the appendix (thought to be a vestigial structure, but with rich lymphatic supply), the ascending, the transverse, the descending and the sigmoid colon and the rectum. The anus acts as a valve under voluntary control.

Its functions are to re-absorb digestive juices, water-soluble salts and bile back into the bloodstream and thence to the liver, to store and dessicate food and other bodily wastes prior to elimination, and to house a vast array of beneficial bacteria,. The latter help our immunity to infection, keep high blood cholesterol levels in check, produce a number of vitamins, and probably also act in preventing of colon cancer.

The form of the colon is variable: most diagrams show an idealised bowel, whereas the length is variable (between about 3 to 11 feet), and the path it follows can be tortuous, with many loops. For some unfortunate people, where constipation runs in their family, it is likely that they have inherited long bowels making transit time long and slow – just where colon hydrotherapy can help!

The bowel structure is made from smooth muscle which is different to ordinary body muscle inasmuch as it is under autonomic (or automatic) nerve regulation over which we have no conscious control. When working normally, it is expected that the bowel will partially empty (during defecation) at least once every 24 hours. If long or slow, the transit time is increased and constipation occurs, or if fast and disordered, muscle spasm may result which is a feature of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, strangely also accompanied by constipation together with bloating, irregular defecation and incomplete evacuation.

The colon is the main part of the eliminative system of the body, where wastes are excreted from the alimentary tract, the lymphatic system and the bloodstream. It is important to keep bowel function regular to prevent the other eliminative organs becoming overworked, and to avoid the effect of toxins building up in the body.

DID YOU KNOW?

• 20% of the UK population suffer from IBS symptoms at some time during their lives, and 5% are chronic sufferers. It is more prevalent in females.
• Laxative sales in the UK are multi millions £’s per annum
• The ideal bowel transit time is less than 24 hours.
• In adulthood, all our vitamin K needs are provided by our own bowel bacteria.
• There are more bacteria present in the colon than there are cells that make up our own body.
• The repercussions of poor bowel function may be seen throughout the body in a wide range of health problems.