Colon Hydrotherapy: Colon Cleaning with a Professional
Why in the world would anyone want a colon cleaning?” I (Cindy) remember thinking when my health-savvy college friend was going to her “colonic” appointment. It was mysterious, odd, and sounded so scary! We all know we have to do unpleasant things like go to the dentist, but why would a functionally healthy person CHOOSE something seemingly so unpleasant as colonic irrigation? Fifteen years later, when I finally learned how to overcome my food addictions and detoxify my body, I ventured to experience colon hydrotherapy for myself. I was surprised to discover that it isn’t unpleasant at all. Instead I found that it is such a profoundly healing therapeutic tool that it has become one of my favorite alternative health treatments.
What is Colon Hydrotherapy?Professional colon hydrotherapy (or colonics) is a process whereby filtered water is introduced into the colon, through the rectum, using a medically approved colon hydrotherapy machine. The treatment can use up to 5 gallons of water and will clear the entire length of your colon. The colonics machine is an enclosed system, which means there is no odor or leakage, and it allows close monitoring of temperature and pressure. The water gently circulates through a disposable, single-use speculum and tube set, alternately filling the colon and removing its contents.Colonics are administered by a trained colon hydrotherapist who regulates the series of fills and releases while the client relaxes on a massage table. It is a very professional and comfortable procedure that lasts about 45 minutes. The therapist may massage the abdomen or apply hot stones or compresses to assist the flow and enhance comfort. My colon hydrotherapist is able to see and assess the exiting debris through a small viewing window in the machine. This was immensely helpful while I was monitoring candida overgrowth in my digestive system. And it was so rewarding the day she was no longer able to see excessive candida! Benefits of a Professional Colon CleaningEating a cleaner diet, like the Whole Body Detox Diet, is the best way to maintain a healthy colon. But years of eating processed food and animal products causes undigested and hardened debris to build up. This built up material blocks your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the food you eat. This can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies that lead to low energy, hormone imbalances, and many complex health conditions.A healthy digestive system is the foundation of a healthy body. It relies on a delicate balance of microorganisms called “intestinal flora.” The overuse of antibiotics and the absence of healthy fermented foods in the modern diet contribute to an imbalance in healthy flora. This imbalance allows toxic parasites and harmful microbial overgrowth to infest the digestive tract. This unhealthy internal ecosystem may lead to multiple health issues and digestion problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leaky gut syndrome, food allergies, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease and even colon cancer.1 “Colon hydrotherapy eliminates from the bowel the repository of accumulated waste material which may disadvantageously get absorbed. If this absorption takes place, it overwhelms the other purification organs such as the liver, the kidneys, the skin, and the lungs. The toxin deposition which becomes lodged throughout the body’s tissues and cells becomes capable of triggering a variety of illnesses” Dr. Arthur E. Brawer, rheumatologist2 When you detox your body from years of eating a standard diet, the toxins that have been stored in your cells and fat tissues will be released into your digestive tract for elimination. A professional colon cleaning is by far the most thorough and effective way to clear out the built up debris and strengthen your colon so it can effectively expel stirred up toxins. Some medical experts warn that people who already suffer from diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe or internal hemorrhoids or tumors in the rectum or colon should not use colonic irrigation and should seek their doctor’s advice before using any type of colon hydrotherapy including enemas.3 Cleaning the colon will provide much needed relief from detox symptoms. If a professional colon detox is not available to you, the next best therapy is an at-home enema series. Other options for colone detox include taking a high fiber, toxin-absorbing supplement like psyllium husk which gels up in the intestines and flushes out the waste, or ingesting herbal laxatives like Senna leaf which actually irritate the colon causing it to expel the herb along with other wastes. Over the counter or prescribed chemical laxatives are NOT recommended – they are habit forming and toxic to the system. How to Find a Colon HydrotherapistTo find a qualified practitioner, visit the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (I-ACT) website and click on referrals to search your area. Using an I-ACT member therapist assures you will recieve a colon cleaning from a trained and tested professional with the highest standards using only FDA-approved equipment.According to I-ACT, “there are an estimated 5,000 colon hydrotherapists in the United States alone. Hundreds of thousands of clients enjoy the therapeutic value of colon hydrotherapy. Many of these clients claim that due to colon hydrotherapy, they have been able to live their lives without drugs, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, pain pills, and possibly costly surgery. There are many medical, chiropractic, acupuncture and naturopathic doctors who prescribe colon hydrotherapy as an adjunct to treatment, and some insurance policies cover it.” Another fantastic web resource is the Optimal Health Network, run by Kristina Amelong, I-ACT certified colon hydrotherapist, and her team at the Optimal Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin. This site provides extensive articles on colon health as well as home enema bags, supplements, and books to enhance your colon cleaning. Also check out this great colon cleanse website for in-depth details on the importance of colon care. 1Kristina Amelong, CNC, CT, 10 Days to Optimal Health: A Guide to Nutritional Therapy and Colon Cleansing, www.optimalhealthnetwork.com 2Townsend Letter Article, Value of Colon Hydrotherapy Verified by Medical Professionals Prescribing It, by Morton Walker, DPM; August / September 2000 - http://www.i-act.org/literature.html 3Aetna Intelihealth, Natural Standard and the Faculty of Harvard Medical School
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