English 4 MIN READ 227 VIEWS January 27, 2025

How Colon Hydrotherapy Helps Clear the Path to Better Health?

Written By HealthKart
Medically Reviewed By Dr. Aarti Nehra

Colon hydrotherapy is also known as colonic irrigation or colonic cleansing. It is a safe and effective procedure that is used to eliminate fecal matter and other waste materials from the colon. While colon hydrotherapy has been around for a long time, it has become more widely recognised in recent years, particularly for its digestive and detoxifying abilities. Association of Registered Colon Hydrotherapists (ARCH) believes that this procedure positively affects people’s health and well-being. Let’s explore more about this therapeutic method.

What Is Colon Hydrotherapy? 

Colon hydrotherapy is a gentle rinsing of the colon with warm water to eliminate any encrusted faecal matter, mucus or gas. This is a process that allows essential nutrients to be absorbed quickly, and you feel healthier and rejuvenated later. Colon hydrotherapy involves the safe and gentle water infusion into the colon through the rectum. Generally, a professional called a colonic hygienist performs this cleansing process. An unhealthy colon carries a variety of problems ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to colorectal cancer. Therefore, hydrotherapy is used, which involves sending approximately 60 litres of fluid through a tube into a rectum. Toxins and wastes are then expelled through different tubes. 

Claimed Benefits Of Colon Hydrotherapy

Colonic therapy is a “one-stop solution” for various illnesses and problems. Doctors often prescribe the process of habitual checkups to ensure that your body is free of all disease-causing germs and toxic materials. The colon hydrotherapy benefits primarily help improve the body’s overall health. Here are some supposed benefits of colonic cleansing: 

  • Treatment Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Some studies claim that colonic cleansing helps in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. The study consisted of 18 participants who reported this problem with symptoms like abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhoea. When treated with colon hydrotherapy, they witnessed improved gut and bowel movements. They also reported feeling satisfied with the process. However, the study was small and included no control group. The researchers acknowledge the need for further studies on colon hydrotherapy benefits and side effects. 

  • Detoxification 

In an autointoxication theory of the ’90s, it is observed that bacteria in the colon cause toxins to leak into the rest of the body. This theory was later debunked, but many still believe in the observation that colonic cleansing detoxifies the body and keeps it clean from harmful bacteria. 

  • Weight Loss

Hydrotherapy makes some people recommend that it can aid in the loss of some weight, however, this has not in any way been proven. Following a rheometric, a person may look like they lost some weight. This condition may be passing, which may happen due to the loss of faecal matter and excessive water. 

Understanding The Procedure

A colon hydrotherapy procedure involves certain steps to help rid your intestine of parasites, microbes, and toxins. Before starting the procedure, proper cleaning is done to ensure that diagnostic and surgical procedures are safe to carry. Listed below are steps mentioned of this process:

  1. A tube with a nozzle is inserted into the rectum
  2. Water (sometimes mixed with vitamins, herbs, or other additives) is pumped into the colon through a tube
  3. The therapist massages your abdomen during the waiting period. This is done to move fluid around and clear all the bacteria
  4. After this, the liquid and colon content is flushed out of your body
  5. You will be taken to a toilet to evacuate the colon fully

This colon hydrotherapy procedure takes around 45 minutes to complete. 

Side Effects Associated With Colon Hydrotherapy

No research has found any of the claimed benefits to be 100% true. Meanwhile, people have reported some colon hydrotherapy side effects after undergoing the process. These side effects may include: 

  • Dehydration 

Although some weight loss is witnessed after colon cleansing, its effect results in pulling out a lot of fluids from the body. This imbalance is able to skew your body’s water intake and may lead to severe dehydrations which in most cases impacts the kidney. 

  • Electrolyte Imbalance

The imbalance of electrolytes like potassium and sodium in the body may lead to a loss of consciousness and kidney damage. 

  • Bacterial Imbalance and Infection

Colon cleansing might bring unwanted and unhealthy bacteria into the lower gastrointestinal tract by means of colon scourges. They also wash out potential healthy bacteria that may otherwise help fight the infection

  • Bowel Perforation 

This happens when a tear occurs in the wall of the lower intestine. It may happen due to a heavy liquid flow inside the body or tube. Its symptoms are fever, pain, chill, and nausea, which may lead to a fatal condition. 

Conclusion 

Colon hydrotherapy is a healing procedure that involves flushing the colon content out with water. People believe it can help treat certain physical ailments like digestive issues, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. However, it has been noted many times that these benefits can exist only at a high risk. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before making your final decision.

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