Colon Hydrotherapy FAQ

At Acqua Health we understand It is only natural to feel a little anxious; however rest assured of our complete discretion, and that your dignity will be completely maintained and respected at all times.  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.  Your emotions will be acknowledged and respected.  Your bottom will be exposed for a brief few seconds as the small speculum is gently inserted, but otherwise you will remain covered with towels.

At Acqua Health we use a sealed closed system which means there is no mess, no fuss and no odour, in fact it is a very relaxing experience.  If you consider colon hydrotherapy as  just another beauty and wellness treatment performed by a fully trained professional, within your own private room, there is nothing to be embarrassed about at all.

No it doesn’t.  Clients have described the insertion of the speculum as an odd feeling, but never as painful.  An impacted colon can cause discomfort, and cramping may occur as the colon contracts to expel waste. Once the major impaction is removed, many actually find a session pleasant.

On a positive note, the cramps that may be experienced during initial colonic sessions result in the strengthening and re-established tone of the colon. Think of it as a gym session or workout for the bowel!  However, most of the process is mild and gentle, with a wonderfully light and empty feeling afterwards.

Almost never, as many of us have a considerable amount of impacted faeces in our large intestine.  The goal is to clean the whole colon, it is rare that this is achieved in a single hydrotherapy session. On the first colonic treatment, sometimes a lot of waste material comes out and sometimes not much at all. It just depends on several factors including your ability to relax, the condition of your health and colon, your diet and level of hydration.

The number and frequency of sessions varies from person to person depending on their goals, nutritional habits, intestinal health and lifestyle. Someone that has chronic constipation (less than one bowel movement per day) may need several treatments, a few days in a row with a regimen of maintenance sessions to retrain the bowel.  As opposed to someone who is looking for preventative measures or just for an enhanced sense of well-being.

We recommend that more sessions done closer together will give you the best results. Even though one hydrotherapy session may be equivalent to several bowel movements, elimination during subsequent sessions can be even more substantial as older, hardened, impacted faeces are dislodged from the colon walls.

Once you have gone through a series of sessions, most clients choose to move to a maintenance program where it is highly recommended to have follow ups at monthly intervals.  Maintenance is necessary in order to continue all the great benefits you have already given to your body with an initial series.  Monthly cleanses help to keep toxic load at a minimum while continuing to decrease the burden on your liver and kidneys etc.  Most people find that after a colonic experience, they feel much better, therefore use this renewed vitality as your guide.  As soon as you find it diminishing, have another colon hydrotherapy session.

In short, yes the colon hydrotherapy treatment will wash away some good, friendly bacteria, however it will wash out a higher amount of bad bacteria, which gives the beneficial bacteria a cleaner house to live in.  If your bowel is toxic you have little or no good intestinal flora to begin with.  Years of improper eating, lack of exercise and poor elimination creates an imbalance in the intestinal environment, allowing the proliferation of undesirable bacteria.

Colon hydrotherapy brings the acid-alkaline ratio of the colon back into balance as it readjusts the colon environment back to one in which good bacteria thrive and multiply, and where bad bacteria are at a disadvantage.  If we make conditions favourable in the colon for bifodophilus and acidophilus- the good bacteria- they will populate.  That is why  after undergoing colon hydrotherapy we recommend that you take probiotics which are designed to help repopulate the colon with a sufficient number of friendly bacteria.  It is also extremely important to eat fermented foods such as live yoghurts, sauerkraut, fermented vegetables, miso and tofu.

The basic principle behind enemas and colon hydrotherapy is the same.  However, an enema only cleanses the lower part of the colon (missing about four feet), where during a colon hydrotherapy session the water goes all the way through the five feet of the colon.

Laxatives are irritants to the body.  The body identifies it and quickly tries to evacuate it out of the body producing a thin watery stool that goes through the colon leaving behind impacted toxins and waste on the walls of the colon.  You should only use laxatives as a short-term solution to your problem, otherwise you may cause your body to become dependent on them, so you can no longer go to the toilet without the help of laxatives.

Ideally, people receive the treatment as a preventive and detox measure. However, some people discover colonics assist in overcoming symptoms of constipation, diarrhoea, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, stress, over processed diet, headaches, migraines, back pain, haemorrhoids, parasites, skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, colitis, arthritis, diverticulosis, depression, intestinal distress, irregularity of bowel movements and allergies.

You can tell a lot about a person’s health and nervous system just by their poo. The most miserable people on earth are people with inefficient elimination. Some signs of a toxic colon are; coated tongue, fetid breath, shallow complexion, abnormal body odour, dark circles under the eyes, cold hands and feet, brittle nails and hair, sagging posture (pot belly), tension, fatigue, allergies, indigestion, chronic headaches, irritability, nervousness, nausea, depression, asthma, backaches, menstrual problems and loss of memory or concentration.

It may be more comfortable to refrain from eating at least two hours before your scheduled appointment, also drink plenty of water and refrain from red meat.

Following large intestinal cleansing, the body may feel weary or relaxed. This is simply your body working out and processing through its cleaning period; so proper rest is important for your body to rejuvenate.

• Drink plenty of liquids (purified or distilled water, juices, herb teas, and electrolyte liquids)
• Eat puréed food for 24 hours after each session (blended soups are recommended)
• Avoid eating raw vegetables for a couple of days. Steamed vegetables and raw fruit are sufficient, chew very thoroughly.
• Reduce flesh consumption (especially beef, pork, and chicken). Most people remark on how clean and light they feel. Increased energy and feelings of well-being are the common responses.

The colon is a reflex organ, meaning there are electrical connections to all other systems and parts of the body. When waste material has accumulated over a long period of time, it breaks down and becomes toxic. The body responds by slowing down other functions. This causes constipation and sluggish bowel movement, which will affect all other systems of the body.

Before laxatives were in common use, both enemas and colon therapy machines were used in hospitals daily. For a more detailed account of medical opinion, read this article about the value of colon hydrotherapy

You should not pursue colon hydrotherapy services if you have any of the following conditions:

• Recent Rectal or Colon Surgery
• Cancer of the Rectum or Colon
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Uncontrolled Hypertension
• Kidney Disease (decreased kidney function)
• Fissures or Fistulas
• Abdominal Hernia
• Severe Haemorrhoids
• GI Haemorrhage/Perforation
• Aneurysm

If you have a concern about your health or the appropriateness of colon hydrotherapy, you should consult a doctor. If you are diagnosed with diverticulitis, colitis, Crohn’s Disease, severe haemorrhoids, rectal/intestinal tumours or if you are pregnant, you would be required to have a doctor’s prescription in order to receive colon hydrotherapy.