Colon Hydrotherapy
Colon Hydrotherapy
Colon Hydrotherapy is not a new treatment. In fact, it was used in hospitals until recent times when it was replaced by strong purgatives which are used for emptying the bowel before procedures or treating faecal impaction.
The colonic treatment stimulates bowel activity by using the body's natural nerve and muscular response mechanisms, so is essentially a natural treatment. Laxatives are used to initiate a response by acting in different ways, such as by irritation or reversing the osmotic gradient.
By using the body's natural nerve and muscular activity colonic hydrotherapy may help to tone and exercise the bowel, thus aiding the evacuation of waste both during and after treatment.
Colonic treatment is used as a naturopathic modality and clients who choose this treatment include those who suffer from various bowel conditions. One of the best things about colonic hydrotherapy is that the benefits of the treatment are very personal to the client. This means that as a client you will know how you feel after the treatment. You won't need to be influenced by anyone else.
The Procedure
You do not need to make any special changes to your diet or lifestyle before a treatment, however many people choose to have a treatment when embarking upon a new health regime.
As a registered, professional therapist, I am used to people feeling nervous, especially before a first treatment. Part of my job is to put you at ease and ensure you are comfortable having your treatment.
At your first appointment I will take a full medical case history, and will explain the procedure and treatment process to you. Do not hesitate to ask any questions.
A brief rectal exam must be carried out and then the speculum is gently introduced 1.5 inches (4cm) into the rectum. This procedure is not painful.
An inlet and outlet tube are attached to the outside of the speculum to provide a through-flow of water going in and water and waste going out. The waste is piped away, and since the whole system is closed, there is no odour.
After lying on your left side to allow the speculum to be gently inserted,
I will ask you to turn onto your back. To assist elimination of waste and gas pockets I use gentle abdominal massage techniques.
The Colon
The colon, also known as the large intestine or large bowel is part of the digestive system. It is located at the end of the digestive tract in the abdominal cavity. It is divided into several regions. The appendix, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon and the rectum. The anus acts as a valve under voluntary control.
The function of the colon is to re-absorb digestive juices, water soluble salts and bile back into the blood stream and thence to the liver. It also stores food and other bodily waste products until elimination. The colon acts as host for vast numbers of beneficial bacteria, these bacteria help us with various tasks including immunity to infection, regulation of cholesterol levels, production of a number of vitamins and maintain a healthy colon.
Most diagrams of the bowel show an idealised picture, whereas in reality the length, shape and position vary immensely.
The length is variable and can be anything from around 3 to 11 feet. The path it follows may be very bendy and can have many loops. For some people it may be that they have inherited a very long bowel which slows down transit time and can cause constipation problems.
The bowel structure is made of smooth muscle, which is different from ordinary (skeletal) muscle tissue in so much as it works under the autonomic (or automatic) nervous system. This means we have no conscious control over it. Once we have chewed and swallowed our food, the rest of the digestive process is done for us, until it is time to evacuate our bowel which is partly autonomic, and partly voluntary.
What we eat and how often we eat, depends on how often we empty (defecate) our bowel. It is expected that we will go to the toilet for a bowel movement at least once every 24 hours. Inability to empty the bowel regularly can lead to constipation and people may feel bloated and uncomfortable as a consequence.
Sometimes the colon may become tight (spastic) or go into spasm which is a feature of irritable bowel syndrome. Although the colon muscle is different from skeletal muscles it can still suffer from cramp which can be very painful. The symptoms of an irritable bowel are wide and varied but range from constipation to diarrhoea along with irregular defecation and incomplete evacuation.
The colon forms an important part of the elimination system of the body and waste from the alimentary tract, the lymphatic system and bloodstream are collected prior to excretion. It is therefore important to have a healthy and properly functioning colon in order to help the overall balance of the body.
Many people visit hospitals or doctors as a consequence of a dysfunctional bowel. Waste products that remain in the colon for too long may be reabsorbed and can make us feel unwell.