Generality
Hydrocolontherapy is a practice used for washing a tract of intestine . The procedure is carried out with special machinery, to guarantee safety in the application and entail the least discomfort for the patients.
During the procedure, the specialized staff that follows the entire session accompanies the hydrocolontherapy with massages on the abdomen, specially designed to promote relaxation and activation of peristalsis (ie the set of involuntary movements that the intestine performs to promote stool descent and expulsion).
Regarding "conventional" medicine, this technique is mainly applied in the preparation of the intestine for medical and diagnostic procedures, such as colonoscopy . However, some alternative medicine practitioners propose colon cleansing for other purposes, such as detoxification and rehabilitation of intestinal peristaltic capacity .
Hydrocolontherapy can be useful in the presence of obstinate constipation, as it can help the colon to regain its regularity.
What is Hydrocolontherapy?
Hydrocolontherapy allows washing of the intestine tract that extends from the rectal ampulla to the cecum.
The procedure consists in introducing purified, filtered and bacteriologically pure water into the rectum, through a soft and flexible two-way plastic tube.
To date, the cleansing (or washing) of the colon is adopted especially in the preparation of the intestine for endoscopic and ultrasound radiological investigations . To this end, hydrocolon therapy can replace the use of enemas or the traditional laxative solution, which is necessary before taking these tests.
Colon washing is a practice used since ancient times, which has its roots in Egyptian medicine (as reported in a document dating back to 1500 BC); however, it will have to wait until the nineteenth century before the procedure becomes quite similar to that practiced in modern times. Today, hydrocolontherapy uses modern technology and uses a hygienic and safe system, which does not involve too many problems for the patient.
When needed
As a rule, the digestive and intestinal systems are capable of spontaneously eliminating waste material. Hydrocolontherapy can support this physiological mechanism, performing a deep purifying action and stimulating peristalsis .
The cycle of colonic washes would favor the reconstitution of the beneficial bacterial flora and restore the normal environmental conditions inside the intestine, detoxifying the organism .
Faecal matter, toxins and other harmful substances that remain on the walls of the intestine, in fact, can potentially weaken the immune system, becoming foci of intoxication and inflammation. This can also expose you to the risk of contracting infections or incurring pathological conditions of varying degrees.
In addition to removing toxins, hydrocolontherapy can be effective in activating the lymphatic pathways and countering bloating and abdominal bloating due to intestinal fermentation.
This technique significantly reduces the "undesired" microbial population - including salmonella and yeasts such as candida - which, if it grows excessively, inflames the walls of the enteric tract, promotes the sense of tension and alters the permeability of the intestinal mucosa. The hydrocolon therapy could, therefore, favor the microorganisms that constitute the symbiotic intestinal flora, improving their habitat and facilitating their reproduction.
A course of treatment could be useful also in case of gluten sensitivity, intolerances and food allergies. The gut thus cleaned would find, therefore, its optimal functionality, favoring the natural immunity and rebalancing the process of assimilation of nutrients and elimination of waste.
Main indications of hydrocolontherapy
- Constipation
- Digestive difficulties
- Re-education of intestinal transit
- Meteorism and abdominal bloating
- Atonic colon
- Dysbiosis
- Preparation for colonoscopy
- Preparation for surgery
- Intestinal mycoses (eg candidiasis)
- Skin diseases
What can it be useful for
Hydrocolontherapy is particularly useful in the presence of functional disorders of the colon and in the rehabilitation of intestinal peristaltic capacity . Therefore, this practice can find application in the treatment of constipation, stimulating the intestinal tract to resume its regular activity.
Hydrocolontherapy can give good results also in the treatment of vaginitis and cystitis, as cleaning up the intestine with candida and other germs, inflammation at the level of the genitals can also be reduced.
Sometimes, the effects of the procedure can be reflected in the skin, contributing to the reduction of symptoms of dermatitis and eczema .
Hydrocolontherapy can also be useful in disorders associated with intoxication of the organism due to stress, sedentary life, low-fiber diet and antibiotic treatment, which can result in headaches, insomnia and fatigue .
This practice can also be a good complementary measure in cases of detoxifying dietary regimes.
Warning! Some hydrocolontherapy experts claim that toxins from the gastrointestinal tract can cause a variety of health problems, ranging from arthritis to asthma. According to the sources, therefore, the morbid conditions that can be treated with this method are decidedly more numerous than those mentioned above. However, at the moment, no scientific evidence or clinical study is available to confirm the real beneficial effects of hydrocolontherapy on such a wide spectrum of pathological conditions. As with other alternative medicine practices, therefore, the appropriate caution should be used .
How to do it
Hydrocolontherapy provides sessions of about 45-60 minutes.
The person takes a supine position on a cot or is made to lie on his side, with the leg flexed.
A small two-way rectal cannula allows water to flow into the intestine and remove waste material. The operator carries out calibrated pressure and stable temperature irrigations.
The water that enters from the anus cleans the colon, from the rectum to the blind; during the hydrocolontherapy session, the patient can see the waste coming from his intestine pass through a transparent tube. The closed circuit system prevents the onset of unpleasant events, such as, for example, bad smells.
During the treatment, 25-30 liters of purified and bacteriologically pure water are used. Instead, no medicines or other chemicals are used.
In the course of hydrocolontherapy, the patient is assisted by specialized personnel (usually a nurse or midwife) who accompanies the procedure with massages on the abdomen, specifically designed to promote relaxation and activation of peristalsis.
In order to guarantee optimal conditions of safety, precision and comfort, the device used by the operator is generally equipped with a system that limits all the sudden variations in water pressure on the supply network. The instrumentation must also be equipped with a thermostatic meter that guarantees a stable temperature throughout the duration of the session, and a water filtering system.
What is the difference with an enema?
An enema is a procedure that allows to free the last part of the intestine, by introducing a probe into the rectum, through which a fixed quantity of liquids is infused. This causes a rapid expansion of the lower intestinal tract, which results in a powerful peristalsis.
Hydrocolontherapy, on the other hand, involves an inflow / outflow of water that slowly dissolves the accumulated waste material and promotes its expulsion, without excessive stress on the system, reactivating the natural intestinal peristaltic capacity.
How to prepare
In general, before undergoing a hydrocolontherapy session, the patient must have been fasting for at least four hours and must abstain from alcohol.
If possible, in the 2-3 days preceding the appointment, a dietary regime can be adopted that includes vegetables and cereals, rather than fatty and difficult to digest foods; this helps to prepare the colon for treatment. Also, you need to make sure you are well hydrated before the procedure.
After treatment
After treatment, to enhance the beneficial effects of hydrocolontherapy, you need to make sure you drink plenty of fluids and reduce meat consumption for a couple of days.
To maintain results over time, the doctor can also correct any errors in the diet and incorrect daily habits: a sedentary lifestyle, stressful rhythms and poor physical activity are, for example, enemies of good intestinal function.
Side effects
Hydrocolontherapy is a safe and well tolerated technique, but not without more or less serious side effects. In some cases, the treatment can cause, in fact, cramps, swelling, dysentery, nausea and vomiting .
Before undergoing an intestinal wash, it is advisable:
- Ask your GP for advice, especially if you have health problems (such as heart disease or kidney disease) or during drug therapies .
- Contact only professional operators, who use certified machinery and know the techniques for performing the method scrupulously.
- Ensure that the procedure is performed with sterile and disposable cannulas, not previously used on other patients.
- Before and after the practice, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Precautions
Hydrocolontherapy must only be carried out in specialized centers, under the supervision of an experienced doctor. In fact, if poorly performed, this practice can have health consequences.
In particular, hydrocolon therapy can:
- Promote dehydration;
- Lead to intestinal perforations;
- Increase the risk of infection;
- Causes electrolyte imbalances.
Furthermore, excessive use of colonic washes can lead to the dependence of these to defecate.
Contraindications
Hydrocolontherapy cannot be performed in the following cases:
- State of advanced pregnancy;
- Recent colon or rectum surgery;
- Massive hernias of the inguinal wall;
- Suspected inflammation of the appendix;
- Gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation;
- Tumors of the rectum or intestine;
- Hemorrhoids, fissures and anal fistulas;
- Cardiovascular disorders;
- Severe hypertension;
- Brain aneurysm;
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm;
- Diverticular pathologies in the acute phase;
- Ulcerative colitis;
- Crohn's disease in the acute phase;
- Kidney failure.
Cost and number of sessions
Hydrocolontherapy costs approximately 100-150 euros per session.
If the problem that causes you to undergo this treatment is constipation that has arisen for a few months, two or three appointments may be sufficient, one week apart from the other.
When the constipated disorder is dated, however, about eight to ten sessions distributed over 2-3 or more weeks could be indicated. Later, as a preventive hygienic measure, one or two sessions can be recommended within a year.
In any case, the doctor can advise and plan a number of tailor-made appointments, established on the basis of the specific health problem to be treated. The frequency of the sessions is individualized, depending on the case and respects the patient's rhythms. Furthermore, the specialist can assess whether caution is needed in the use of hydrocolontherapy (such as, for example, in the presence of inflamed diverticula) and when to contraindicate the treatment.
In summary: presumed benefits of hydrocolontherapy
- It carries out a deep purifying action, stimulating peristalsis;
- It allows the colon to regain its regularity;
- It acts on the main symptoms due to the accumulation of toxins;
- Improves nutrient assimilation;
- Promotes liver and kidney functions;
- Improves skin condition;
- Strengthens the immune system.
