by Bonnie Rostan |
Each year, colon cancer kills more than 50,000 people in the United States and costs billions of dollars to treat. Other health crises such as Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, parasites, polyps, and constipation also arise within the colon. Constipation alone leads to 2.5 million visits to physician’s offices and the expenditure of $725 million on laxatives, yearly. Laxative use can lead to dependence and a decrease in colon function. Many people choose colon hydrotherapy to promote wellbeing in their large intestine.
The colon carries out a variety of tasks. It absorbs 80 percent of the moisture that passes through it, and returns it to the body. The colon also provides a pathway for the liver and gall bladder to eliminate waste. Intestinal bacteria find shelter there, where they provide a number of benefits including the prevention of infection and production of vitamins B and K. Finally, the colon prepares the remnants of the digestive process and other wastes for elimination from the body.
Ideally, food travels through the digestive tract between 12 and 24 hours. Many people experience a longer transit time of 48 to 96 hours, due to consumption of processed foods, certain medications, lack of sufficient dietary fiber, inadequate hydration or little exercise. Over time, these and other factors can lead to a buildup of wastes within the colon, which can even change its shape. This accumulation of fecal matter can eventually stretch new pockets in the intestinal wall which trap wastes in a disease called diverticulitis.
Symptoms of a poorly functioning digestive system and an awareness of the problems it can cause, often lead a person to their first colon hydrotherapy session. Many people are interested in colon hydrotherapy for a long time prior to their first session. While many are curious about hydrotherapy’s benefits, it can sound like a scary or unusual process. Actually, ancient Egyptians recorded their first use of this therapy in 1550 BC. Over time, many people integrated colon hydrotherapy into their lives, to support their digestive wellness.
At its best, the atmosphere during a colon hydrotherapy session helps a person let go of their waste. The treatment room and facility should feel relaxed and clean. The colon hydrotherapist administers the entire session, and supports a person as they cleanse. The person lies on their back, draped with a cloth for most of the session. A speculum rests inside the rectum, bringing warm filtered water into the body and waste away from the body. The waste passes through a sealed hose, preventing contact with the air. The colon alternately fills with water until a slight pressure builds, and then releases the water with the accompanying waste. The attentive hydrotherapist maintains dialogue with a person during the session to understand how they feel, as well as when to fill or release. Once a person releases, the hydrotherapist may facilitate the process through massage of the colon. The amount of water a person takes during each fill varies. Sometimes a session may consist of a couple of longer fills and releases, and at other times a person may need several shorter fills and releases.
The amount of waste a person releases often correlates with their level of hydration. A person who arrives for their first session well hydrated will often eliminate more than a dehydrated person. In this case, the colonic’s main benefit may be hydration. For this reason, a series of three sessions within a week can be an effective way to jumpstart the cleansing of a dehydrated colon. Many people are curious about the frequency of hydrotherapy sessions. Some people who have a troubled colon may choose between six and nine sessions during their first series. Others find hydrotherapy to be an effective ongoing practice and have sessions once a week or once every two weeks. Many people prefer a seasonal approach, and have a series of three colonics with the change of the seasons, or twice yearly. People who are pursuing organ detoxification follow certain protocols for supporting a colon hydrotherapy cleanse. A competent hydrotherapist will provide feedback so that you can decide the best course of action for your body.
Most hydrotherapy sessions last for 45 minutes or less. Many people feel good throughout the session. The vast majority of people leave a colon hydrotherapy session feeling well. A lot of people experience a sensation of lightness within their gut, especially people who arrived to the session feeling bloated. Some reported that they acquired a sense of connection to and awareness of this important part of their anatomy, through the colon hydrotherapy experience.
References:
- Lipski, Ph.D., CCN, Elizabeth. Digestive Wellness. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2004.
- Center For Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/index.htm, 2010.
- Gray, Henry. Gray’s Anatomy. Bounty Books, New York, 1977.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/constipation/, 2007.
For more info, contact Bonnie Rostan at The Ageless Zone at (775)826-8888.
