So far 2009 has been the year of firsts. I took my first Bikram yoga class, tried laser hair removal, shot a gun for the first time, and as of this weekend had my first colonic. I’ve been hesitant for years to have a colonic, but from those I know who’ve gone through colonic hydrotherapy assure me it’s not scary or painful or downright disgusting. I enter in with nervousness of the unknown…
What to Expect When Having a Colonic:
My colonic hydrotherapist, Jeanne (pronounced “genie”), greets me with a genuinely kind smile, upbeat attitude and comforting warmness, a must-have for clients like myself who are scared, shall we say, to no end?
After filling out a health history form I was escorted back to her room and she explained the colonic procedure complete with a typographical chart of the colon and workings of her colonic machine. She walked out of the room, I disrobed from the waist down and sat on her table with a robe draped on top of my legs. Stop me if this is getting too personal.
Once the latex gloves came on and the lubricant at the ready. Wait! What am I writing about again? Oh, right, my colonic.
I am asked to lay on my side so that the disposable clear plastic speculum can be inserted into my anus. Seriously? Is there not a better word for that? Something more attractive sounding? Anyhow, it’s not as unpleasant as I had imagined and my one girlfriend described it perfectly, “It’s like putting a tampon in your butt. After a few seconds you don’t even know it’s there”. And she was right. This speculum is connected to the colon hydrotherapy machine and there is another small tube that connects to the water supply.
Warm water heated to your body’s temperature is slowly injected into the colon. This water, by the way, is ultra-purified and possibly cleaner that the water you are currently drinking. The water causes the muscles of the colon to contract, called peristalsis, and when you feel like you have to go to the bathroom, the therapist will stop the flow of water and this allows the waste material to be removed via the tube. You can even see what is coming out of you, if you’d like, but there is no smell.
I felt a little crampy from time to time, but Jeanne was able to give me a light massage on my abdomen to help move things along. We also chatted about health and the fact that we were fellow east coasters helped pass the time. A typical session lasts about an hour. After the session is up you’ll get up and use the restroom just to make sure nothing is left behind.
Some people say they feel 5 pounds lighter, but I just felt really good and was able to immediately go on with my day, which meant a quick stop at Target for some light shopping. I didn’t need any down time afterwards. I scheduled my second colonic for three days later, but you can do them back-to-back. Depending on why you are going to have a colonic in the first place will determine how many you need.
The Benefits of a Colonic:
- To remove accumulated waste from the colon that prevent the absorption of nutrients and water.
- To remove stagnant toxic buildup that can absorb into the bloodstream through the colon wall called autointoxication.
- To help prevent constipation
- To exercise the colon muscles
- To reshape the colon
- To rid the colon of parasites
- To reduce pressure in the intra-abdominal area
- To reduce weight
- To improve overall health
Side Effects and Safety Concerns:
Those with diverticular disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, severe hemorrhoids, blood vessel disease, congestive heart failure, heart disease, severe anemia, abdominal hernia, gastrointestinal cancer, recent colon surgery, and intestinal tumors should not have a colonic.
Pregnant women should also not have a colonic because it can bring on contractions.
Although I did not experience any side effects, you may become fatigued and/or nauseous for several hours after your session.
What to do Before Having a Colonic:
Jeanne sent me this to prepare myself before having a colonic. One week before I upped my greens, and stopped eating dairy, wheat, corn, caffeine and sugary processed foods.
1. 2-3 doses of fiber/day
1 dose equals:
- Soaked Golden Flax Seeds - in glass, put 1 rounded Tablespoon in double the amount of water. Soak overnight. Drink as is or add to juice, smoothie or protein shake. Drink at least 8 oz. water/liquid with this.
- Golden Flax Seeds – grind 1 rounded Tablespoon in a coffee grinder and add this to water, juice, smoothie, protein shake. Drink at least 8 oz. water/liquid with this.
- Ground Flax Seed or Flax Seed Meal – Add 1 rounded Tablespoon to water, juice, smoothie, protein shake. Drink at least 8 oz. water/liquid with this.
- 4 capsules Renewlife Fibersmart
2. Two Renewlife Cleansemore capsules every night (see how it’s working for you; can change to 1 capsule. Eventually you will only need to take it as needed, for example, if you eat something that can clog the colon like a bagel, white pasta, white rice, pork, beef).
3. Try not to eat gassy things the day before and day of the colonic, like carbonated drinks, legumes (kidney beans, pinto beans, lentils), cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc., even wine can be gassy.
4. Purified water - Drink ½ your body weight in ounces – not tap water. Drink a big glass of water when you 1st wake up to hydrate the colon (after long period of not drinking while asleep).
5. Avoid caffeine- coffee, black tea, soda & chocolate. They are dehydrating. Also, coffee causes the following problems: increases reflex response, increases heart rate, causes insomnia and heart palpitations, over stimulates the adrenals, irritates the stomach, and leaves a toxic residue in the body.
6. Eliminate beef and pork from your diet.
7. Try not to eat grains like bread, rice, oatmeal, raisin bran, tortillas, etc. for at least 2 days.
8. Eat a good size raw vegetable salad & greens daily. Be sure to eat something raw at each meal unless you have IBS or Colitis.
9. Eat fresh, raw fruits in season between meals. Eat melons alone.
10. Good oils – Flax seed oil / plant seed oil / fish oil – take as directed on label.
11. Probiotic – Good “friendly” bacteria – take as directed on label.
12. Take enzymes daily- “The length of life is inversely proportional to the rate of exhaustion of the enzyme potential of an organism. The increased use of food enzymes promotes a decreased rate of exhaustion of the enzyme potential. (Dr. Edward Howell)
13. Do not eat under stress (while working, driving, upset…). Eat slowly; chew food well. Try chewing 25 times each bite.
14. Soaking seeds, nuts, grains, & legumes before eating allows them to be converted to complete protein & the fats to be converted to usable carbohydrates & the starches to simple sugars. Your body will use up to 100% nutrition as a result.
15. Always put your feet up on a stool when going to the bathroom (in order to be in a squatting position). This position fully supports the abdominal wall & the bowel.-The modern toilet does not position the body correctly during elimination, which puts pressure on other organs. This will kink your colon & you will have incomplete elimination.
16. No sitting on toilet for more than 10 minutes, as blood will pool in the hemorrhoidal veins. (Gut Solutions- pg.115)
17. Exercise. Even good, balanced blood is ineffective unless aerated (oxygenated). Walk for 20 min. or use a mini-trampoline (Rebounder) 5-20 minutes every morning (to jump start your lymphatic system).
“EAT NOTHING UNLESS IT WILL SPOIL OR ROT BUT EAT IT BEFORE IT DOES.” -Dr. McCollum
Fellow Orange County Residents I highly recommend Jeanne Martin. Contact her here:
Waters Of Life Cleansing & Renewal
1755 Orange Avenue-Suite B
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
714-472-5617 / 949-574-5038
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