Beauty. Health. Wellness.

Colon Hydrotherapy Q & A

Why is Bay Area Health Spa different than other wellness centers?

At Bay Area Health Spa, our Colon Hydrotherapists are well educated and certified through the Internal Environment Institute School of Colon Therapy. We also belong to the International Association of Colon Therapy (I-ACT) and pursue continuing education. Not only are we educated on the specific procedure and practice of colon therapy, we implement body work through modified acupressure and reflexology to aid our clients in a much better session. For our client’s safety, we use only FDA approved equipment and disposable speculums. We respect each and every one of our clients and understand that you have different goals. We are here to assist you in your own self-healing.

Why is Colon Hydrotherapy so effective?

Colon Hydrotherapy tones and hydrates the colon: Toxic materials are broken down and removed so they can no longer harm your body or inhibit assimilation and elimination. Even debris built up over a long period is gently but surely removed in the process of a series of irrigations. Once impacted material is removed, your colon can begin again to function as it was meant to.

Colon Hydrotherapy exercises the Colon Muscles: The buildup of toxic debris weakens the colon muscles and impairs its functioning. The gentle filling and emptying of the colon improves the peristaltic activity (muscular contraction) by which the colon naturally moves material. This will help speed up the transit time of fecal material once the colon muscles have been toned, strengthened, and rejuvenated.

Colon Hydrotherapy reshapes the Colon: When conditions exist in the colon, they alter its shape and structure, which in turn cause more health problems. The gentle action of the water, coupled with the massage techniques and experience of the colon therapist, help eliminate pockets of waste and eventually narrowed, spastic constriction, finally enabling the colon to resume its natural state. Other manipulative and massage techniques can help to reshape the colon structure over time.

Colon Hydrotherapy hydrates the body: Our bodies are made up of 65-75% water and with the use of pure water in the colonic; our bodies are able to absorb much needed clean and pure water to hydrate the cells of the body.

Is there anything I need to do to get ready for Colon Hydrotherapy?

It is recommended that you eat or drink lightly in the two hours before your session. Some clients may choose to fast the day before or the day of their session. Colon Hydrotherapy is also highly recommended in conjunction with any cleanse.

What can I expect afterwards?

Most clients report feeling wonderful after their session. They feel lighter and enjoy a sense of well being. You may continue your normal activities such as work or exercise. Colon Hydrotherapy may trigger several subsequent bowel movements for the next few hours, but there is usually no uncontrollable urgency or discomfort.

I have been told that, to be beneficial, one needs to "take a series" of Colon Hydrotherapy. What does that mean, and is it true?

To obtain long lasting results, a series of colonics is recommended. A series is a number of sessions completed within a short period of time. One each day, back to back or every other day is the best option. However, this can only be properly considered once an objective has been identified.

A series of 3-6 colonics is recommended for hydrating the colon. A series of 6-15 colonics is recommended to cleanse the colon. A series of 15-30 sessions is recommended for an individual who would like to make a serious change in their lives. In conjunction with an improved diet, exercise, proper rest, and nutritional supplementation, colon hydrotherapy can assist the client with improved colon function. Many of our clients find it valuable to continue cleansing once a month or so to maintain the benefits they have experienced.

Are colonics dangerous in any way?

Colon Hydrotherapy is a very safe procedure aiding your body’s natural eliminating process. There is no danger nor are there any side effects of colon hydrotherapy with FDA approved equipment. If you have any medical issues, you should always obtain your doctor’s permission before trying anything new or different.

If I get too many, will the colon stop functioning on its own? Are colonics habit-forming?

The colonic is a tool intended to be used to create a clean and healthy colon. Our fulfillment comes from assisting you in healing your colon, not in making you dependent upon colonics. Actually, one of its better features is that a colonic can be used to tone the colon muscle so the colon doesn't perform so sluggishly.

Will a colonic make me constipated or give me diarrhea?

The most frequent post colonic experience is to have a slight delay in bowel movements and then a resumption of a somewhat larger, easier to move stool. Sometimes if the colon is weak and sluggish, there may be no bowel movement for several days following a colonic. This is not due to the colonic, but rather to the weakness of the muscles in the colon, and should be interpreted as an indication that the colon requires strengthening and healing. Infrequent diarrhea or loose bowels may be experienced. This could be due to the extra water introduced into the colon or to the stirring up of toxic waste.

I've heard that I shouldn't get colonics because it upsets the electrolyte balance. Is this true?

Electrolytes are minerals in the body (mainly sodium and potassium salts) that maintain the proper electrical charge and pH balance (acid and alkalinity balance) in the various organs and tissues of the body. The stomach, for example, should maintain an acidic pH, while the duodenum (first part of the small intestine) should be alkaline (basic) in order for proper digestion to occur. If this balance is disrupted, then digestion will be impaired.

The pH electrical balance in the colon is very near neutral, ideally being slightly acidic. A strong acid or alkaline environment is not necessary because digestion does not take place in the colon. Rather, a major function of the colon is to reabsorb the fluid and electrolytes from the unformed stool that is moving into the colon from the small intestine. After the fluid and electrolytes are reabsorbed and stool is formed, the colon moves the stool into the rectum and out of the body. The majority of the material released during a colonic is formed stool that has already had the fluid and electrolytes removed from it, so the amount lost is very minimal and easily replaced by the body from the food and fluid we ingest.

Some people say that colonics wash out the intestinal flora and valuable nutrients. Is this so?

The truth is that the washing out of putrefied material in the large intestine, which is only partially reached in any colon irrigation, increases the good intestinal flora. Good bacteria can only breed in a clean environment that has been washed free of putrefaction and its accompanying harmful bacteria. That is why the intestines of a newborn baby immediately begin to grow good intestinal flora. Each time you clean out the putrefying "garbage" and make a better environment for the flora, they start to multiply immediately in their natural media.

With this in mind, it is a good idea to supplement with good intestinal bacteria after a colonic or series of colonics so that colonization can take place in a healthier medium, i.e. the intestinal mucosa. Prevention is much easier by assisting your colon in maintaining healthy bacteria rather than waiting until bad bacteria have changed the environment of the colon to an unhealthy state.

What effect does Colon Hydrotherapy have on our immune systems?

The removal of stagnant waste material and hardened, impacted toxic residue could rejuvenate the immune tissue that resides in the intestines. Recent European studies show that 80% of immune tissue resides in the intestines. Colon Hydrotherapy is not a cure-all, but an important adjunctive therapy in the overall health care of the patient.

What will be okay to eat after getting a colonic?

What we suggest is that you eat a moderate amount of whatever seems gentle and nourishing to you. Just as it doesn't make sense to get your car washed and then immediately drive it through mud, eating a meal known to cause trouble in your abdomen directly after getting a colonic isn't an intelligent choice. Green leafy salads, vegetable soups, vegetable broth, fruit and fruit juices, and vegetable juices are the best choice.

How will I know when the colon is empty?

It will probably never be empty, as it is an organ in continuous use. As more of the old, impacted material is released you will actually feel the water enter higher regions of the colon without any sense of obstruction. The objective ought not to be an empty colon, but rather a well-functioning colon.