Botanica WestHolistic Healing & Therapy from a Master Herbalist

Colon hydrotherapy for some people is s right up there with a mammogram, pap smear or a root canal. It can be one of the hardest appointments ever to make but you know you need to get  it done or would surely benefit from it.

You may have questions about this procedure that can be very embarrassing to ask.

Not all colon Hydrotherapy units are the same. Pricing can vary quite a bit depending on where you live and the therapist. Just because a colon therapist are is at an advanced or teaching level doesn’t mean they are any good at it. On of the best sessions I ever had were by newly trained therapist and the worse was by a woman who trained under Bernard Jensen himself and practiced for over thirty years. I had mine also done by a chiropractor that left me totally alone for an hour on a closed system unit. I didn’t mind so much but I was quite new at this procedure and he obviously was not available to complain to.  But Now that I am more educated about this subject I can explain the differences to you.

To find a therapist your comfortable with call ahead on the phone and ask some questions. Most colon hydro therapist’s for some reason are generally woman. Ask if you could come in and tour the clinic so you can see how sanitary it is. Is it going to be a pleasant pooping ground so to speak. If the therapist is unhealthy and overweight that’s a dead giveaway that you won’t be getting any decent dietary advice. Are they genuinely interested in your health or are they intent on telling you how overly qualified they are. Don’t let them sell you on a huge package of colonics until you had your first one, that’s how you can tell if they’re in it for the money of they may need the money.

Many Colon hydro therapist are either trained in open or closed system.I started my therapy on the closed system until I discovered the open Libbe unit.  Even though I prefer the open system because it fits my needs doesn’t mean you would be comfortable with it.  Many therapist will only sell you on the closed system and poo poo the open system (pardon the pun). And vise versa. It’s like they both believe they have the only true religion. I believe both are beneficial for cleansing.

I personally recommend to start with a closed system and graduate to open system.

THE CLOSED SYSTEM

There are a few manufacturers of this system such as Dotolo,  Hydrosan and Toxygen for example.

They have a sterile plastic speculum the width of a broom stick that is disposable that enters into your rectum about two to three inches up past your rectal sphincter.

These units have flow monitors that at the sign of any pressure from you bowel will flip a pin and the flow will reverse outward. They have a safety feature that keeps the waters heat level to never go past 105 degrees. They have water purification devices in the unit to make sure your getting the cleanest water entering your system.

There is no foul odor during this process since the fecal matter is confined to the inside of the speculum. So you can pass wind safely as well! There is a clear exit tube where the fecal matter and whatever else is breeding in your colon can be seen by you and your colon hydrotherapist.

A hydro therapy session is normally 45 minutes long on your first visit the charge is a bit more since it could last over an hour since everyone is different. It can run cost wise for about 60.00 to 95.00 depending on the area. The therapist is with you at all times so it’s good to get to know this person first.

Now your laying on your back slightly elevated on a therapy table or a massage table with a backless hospital gown and there is always a large absorbent chux pad underneath you. Your covered with a sheet to protect your privacy.  The colon Therapist verbally guides you in inserting the speculum in to your anus.

Did you know according to some state laws the colon hydrotherapist is not allowed to insert the speculum into your rectum! Pretty stupid eh! What the H-E double hockey sticks did they certify them for! But don’t get me started. A good therapist will dim the lights, put on some music, light a candle and massage your belly. Ahh I had one like that…..then she left her husband and ran off with one of her patients. I can only imagine what kind of pick up line that guy used? Boy I miss that therapist. Hmmm maybe it was the dim lights. candles and the music?

In the beginning of your session most people pass a lot of gas from the putrid matter in your colon and that’s normal. You may have cramping and and urgency as well but not to worry hopefully it will fit through that tube. And if you do spew you don’t have to clean it up! Heh heh heh! You can see this waste pass by in a clear tube next to the unit where you wave goodbye to it and play guess what I had for lunch yesterday? Nothing truly ungodly rarely ever passes through the tube on the first visit, you got to pay the big bucks to see that and for many its worth it.

When the water runs more clear then the session comes to an end. If your still dumping you really need to stay longer and a good therapist will give you that extra time you need. When your therapist is done they give you something to drink to replace you flora and perhaps an electrolyte.  (I personally wouldn’t mind a shot of tequila before getting hosed myself) If there going to put something the size of a broomstick up my rear admiral they should buy me drinks first.

After the first colonic a well trained therapist can tell how many more you would need to get the job done and offer some good probiotics’, dietary advise and cleansing products to help things go faster if you wish. In some states they can put good flora, lemon water, activated charcoal, coffee, aloe vera, wheat grass or chlorophyll into the bowel but most of the closed systems are not equipped with that option especially in California.

Make sure your on time and you keep your appointments because there is a no show charge. These units have to be started in advance for you and appointments can run real close together. These people are professionals and you should respect a profession like this one because it is’nt one of the top ten professions I want to be when I grow up list’s favorite! if you know what I mean. This is definately a labor of love.

Draw backs to the closed system

Lack of privacy

Chance of leakage or blockage in the speculum

May have rectal discomfort for people with hemorrhoids due to the hose size.

Bowel pressure can blow out the hose and leave a mess.

THE OPEN SYSTEM

The open system is like a toilet bed and is sterilized between each patient. your back is slightly elevated and the controls are right by you. One regulates water pressure, one flushes the clear tube below you and another is for an extra tube that holds any liquid substance other than water that you wish to irrigate your bowel with. The far right one controls the water temperature. And there is a door bell so you can call the therapist in when shes/he’s needed. If you want her/him there for the whole duration she/he can stay with you the whole time. But call them in advance to let them know. In our clinic we have two machines going at once and the therapist works them both at the same time.

Like the closed system the machine has a water purification system and a temperature control that will shut the unit off if it ever reaches 105-106 degrees. This feature is tested daily for your safety. The cost for closed system colon hydrotherapy runs from about 50.-75.00, a bit less since the colon hydrotherapist doesn’t have to be in the room continually unless you want them there.

The speculum is 12 inches and the end that is inserted only goes an inch or two into the rectum  is as small as your pinkie finger ( or mine actuallybecause the speculum is smaller then my pinky and I have very small hands. There is s a small round ball at the end of the speculum that your rectal sphincter locks on too when inserted. It is attached to a flexible hose in the Libbe unit that continually pumps a slow continuous flow of warm water. That when it builds up in your colon the bowels  natural reflex is to push the water and the fecal matter out. The evacuation usually bypasses the the speculum and goes down the drain, but if the bolus is to large and dislodges the speculum it just pops on out. No worries you just ring the therapist and she stops the water flow, rinses off the toilet bed, re inserts the speculum and keep on going.

As your colonics series continues the waters volume gets deeper and deeper into the system until it get to the iliao cecal valve and that’s when the liver starts to flush. Ahh what a site that is. A good liver flush is quite an experience. For some emotional and others scary. But you know you got to the whole large intestine when the liver flushes.

Later we will discuss the strange critters that exit the bowel as soon as we get pictures!

But we are only discussing the subject on where to start!

Draw backs to the open system

Your alone in the room most of the time but only if you wish and that may bother some people. But in most cases our clients like to expel in private. You can have the therapist in the rom at all time if you wish but make sure to comunicate with your therapist in advance.

The unit is not fully padded so you may have to ask the therapist for a towel and a chux pad to cushion your back.

If your very tall with long legs you make feel a little confined on the unit since it is a one size fits all unit.

The unit is a little noisy for some. But that’s what an MP3 player is for.

HOME CLEANSING SYSTEMS

Are they safe? Lets talk about it!