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Colon hydrotherapy (aka colonic): let the good times flow

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Posted 2/20/2008 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
I've been wanting to post on this for some time.  Has anyone tried this?  I gave into a homeopath's suggestion and tried this in December for 3 days in a row on an apple only diet during that time, finishing a few days before Christmas (I know, lovely), to cleanse out my best friend.  I don't know what is worse: this or a colonoscopy!  I felt good immediately after it was done, but then I got a tooth infection at the same time (probably aggreviated from chewing all of those stinkin' apples), took some antibiotics, supplemented with probiotics, some bleeding came back, and after I was finished with the antibiotics (10 day course) I felt significantly better.  Good enough to know, in fact, that I would be okay to go out with my friends and return to work soon.  So I don't know if it was colonic, the antibiotics + probiotics, clearing the tooth infection, or a combination of them all.

BTW, a colonic is where they insert a 1" tube in the rectum, fill you up with body temperature water at low pressure, then release a valve to let the water flow out when you feel "full", or in my case, panicked that I would burst.  The trick is to relax and not push, but to let it push out on its own, which is extremely hard when you do it all day!!

Posted 2/20/2008 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
I had that colonics were not good b/c they take out the good and bad bacteria. Then you have to rebuild it w/ probiotics. I don't think they are for me. To each his own though!
Posted 2/20/2008 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Colonics have never been shown healthy or beneficial for anyone, despite decades of use. If you choose to continue them, I just hope you do yourself no harm.

Posted 2/21/2008 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Matt - that sounds like torture! So, they had the water pumped in you all day for 3 days in a row? Sounds very uncomfortable, to say the least. I'm glad something worked for ya though. =)
Posted 2/21/2008 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
LOL! It is a form of Chinese water torture. No, it is about a 45 minute session for each day. They usually recommend spacing it out, but this homeopath suggested I try it and I was desperate. Looking back on some of her suggestions, I want to compare it to a witch doctor Rx. I'm not sure I'll continue because I really did not care for it and especially if nothing definitively good resulted from it. The stuff they make you take for the c-scope is probably enough of a cleanse, ya know? Anyhow, I was just curious if others have tried it with success and what others thought. I have to admit, when you finally do get a chance to sit on the toliet it feels so good to get so much stuff out, especially when most of your BMs are just small nothings. Guess I'll check it off on my 1,000 things to do before you die, LOL.
Posted 2/21/2008 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
"Colonics" were used & publicized in the 1990s by trendy celebs like Princess Diana. Therefore, a good thing to stay away from: my take on it. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)

Posted 2/21/2008 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
relativelyquantum,

I am currently undergoing colon hydrotherapy and I am several weeks into the program.

First, let me say that it is extremely unlikely to see any improvement after 3 days...I personally didn't see improvement until several weeks into the program. Also, the center where I go will NEVER treat you three days in a row...their rule is to space out appointments 10 days apart (in some cases 7 days) and they say there are health reasons for doing that.

The treatment is painless, nothing like the torture you experienced...at times you 'may' experience slight cramping as waste is being expelled from your colon, but it is only for a few seconds at a time.

I'm beginning to think that the people who treated you really don't know what they're doing...for example, I didn't have to go on an 'apple only diet' at all...it wasn't even discussed and why 'apple', why not lemon water, which is far better? In fact, why the diet at all?

Also, what you went through in 3 days, I went through in 3 weeks, so you might want to do some research into how reputable that center is. The first 3 treatments removes old waste, but not 'black tire', which in my opinion is vital before you can begin to feel better because that's where parasites, bacteria, candida, etc. are protected and trapped...if you don't remove that, you're just wasting money and time. It's like clearing out rubbish from your garage so that you can repair the wall...you stopped before the program had a chance to begin the real work.

At my center they tell you all the time to take probiotics after each treatment...they even have it on sale on the premises along with a host of herbs, some of which are required to continue with the program.

In regards to my condition...my health has improved a lot, I can eat foods that would normally make me sick for days. Yesterday, I broke my diet and I ate Mc Donalds (yeah I know) with "no" impact, I then ate about three bags of potato chips with no impact and today, again I ate Mc Donalds and I feel fine; there's not even a hint of fatigue and my bm's are normal.

Finally, if most uc suffers have compacted waste in their colons...most supplements, etc. will not be as effective as they should be until the waste and 'black tire' is removed. However, my center will not treat anyone with UC if they have ulcers in their colon. I have been treated by four different therapists and I have never experienced pain at my center...the environment is really nice, they play music or videos...they talk to you and explain the process and they are very gentle with the treatment; I actually look forward to it to be honest because I know I'm getting better.

relativelyquantum, if you don't mind me asking, where did you go for your colonic?

NBT

 

Posted 2/21/2008 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
One thing I never understood... When talking about colonics, people give the impression that we're filled with old fecal matter, but I've had sigmoid and colonoscopies with little to no prep before and there was nothing there! So where is all this old fecal matter hiding then?
Posted 2/21/2008 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I agree ediekirsten. I tend to think a lot of those people (like that guy on the infomercial that sells a colon cleanse product) are full of crap and just trying to sell their product. I've never had black built-up fecal matter come out while doing a prep either, which is another thing that infomercial guy claims we all have inside us.
Posted 2/21/2008 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
ediekristen,

It is compacted waste, which means it stays in your colon. Have you ever heard a doctor say, "Beef can stay in your colon for up to two years"? It's a fact that compacted waste can make you look overweight, when in fact it's waste in your colon...I've noticed that my stomach has actually gone down since I started this treatment. Another thing is just last week I watched a program on Direct TV where a doctor claimed to remove up to 15 feet of 'black tire' from patients and he's not the first to make that claim. There are many products out there like 'colonix' that do the same thing in removing compacted waste, etc. from the colon...so it's nothing new at all.

NBT
Posted 2/21/2008 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
But if it stays in our colon, why do we not see anything during a colonoscopy? My insides always look nice and clean, not coated in black waste.
Posted 2/21/2008 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
I've never heard a doctor (MD) say beef can stay in your colon for up to two years. In fact, that's one of the most ludicrous statements I've ever heard. I'm all in favor of people trying whatever they think may help them, but let's try to refrain from spreading voodoo science. If you think a colonic might help you, it just might. There's a lot of mind over matter involved in this DD. However, be sure the person treating you knows what they're doing because improperly administered or for people with weakened colons, colonics can cause rupture of the colon. If that happens, you won't have to worry about making a decision to have surgery. It will be life or death.
Posted 2/22/2008 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Judy, and (hopefully), amen! "Black tire" is pure baloney, and reminds me of that old saw about a sucker being born every minute. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 2/22/2008 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
NBT,
Thanks for the feedback and I am glad you have had a better experience. I should clarify that the homeopath was not associated with the place that gives colonics, but works with my brother and I guess some of her stuff has worked for others--even helped a couple ppl with UC. In fact, the colonics place were surprised that I was doing this and they had suggested spread out three treatments over a month, so I have no doubt they were legit and certified (I'm in Calif.). The part that was uncomfortable was being in a flare and having to deal with the incoming water. I also realized that I didn't have as much urgency with one of the ladies and finally came realize that when she was massaging my arms, back, feet, or whatever, it would break my concentration, so I had to say, "Can you not touch me right now?!" and I was able to keep the water coming in longer. I think the worst part is just never adjusting to having something up my butt (and I hope I never do, mind you). Might do better now when I am not flaring as bad.

You mentioned your place would not treat you if you have ulcers, but what about ulceration? Does that mean you should only go when in remission? Are you convinced it was the colonics that helped or other factors?

Can't say I am convinced it would help, conceptually, but still open to it. It may help more with people chugging red meat and potatos, as opposed to people whose colons are forcing ounce of waste out and getting annual coloscopies (I have watched 3 c-scopes so far and also have seen it looking pretty clean of tire waste).
Posted 2/22/2008 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Here be a couple links about colonics.

http://www.vibrantbodiescenter.com/VB-more%20about.html

If you have a stomach for it, here are some pictures.  Maybe this is what is meant by black tires.

http://aliveandwellcoloncare.com/_wsn/page5.html

I think I will add tires to my diet.

Posted 2/22/2008 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Judilyn said... I've never heard a doctor (MD) say beef can stay in your colon for up to two years. In fact, that's one of the most ludicrous statements I've ever heard. I'm all in favor of people trying whatever they think may help them, but let's try to refrain from spreading voodoo science. If you think a colonic might help you, it just might. There's a lot of mind over matter involved in this DD. However, be sure the person treating you knows what they're doing because improperly administered or for people with weakened colons, colonics can cause rupture of the colon. If that happens, you won't have to worry about making a decision to have surgery. It will be life or death. Judy, Just because you have never heard a medical doctor say this, doesn't mean that a highly respected Doctor of Naturopathy and a multi-dimensional Holistic Practitioner hasn't said it. I tend to believe those who actually work daily in removing this stuff from you, rather than a medical doctor who simply prescribes tablets from an office. This practice has been around much longer than most of us have been alive, so I wouldn't call it voodoo science.  My doctor has been in this field for at least twenty years (maybe even thirty); major networks have featured her program on their news channels (CBS), cable channels, etc. and she is highly respected in the field. I also mentioned in an earlier post that they do not accept patients who have ulcers in their colons; in fact they've never had a problem like what you described since they started, in over twenty years. What blows me away is that sometimes we practically denounce something we've never tried or try halfway, which is crazy; that's like taking antibiotics and throwing away 50% of the pills because you still feel like crap after the first day.  As you know, I have managed to get off all meds (including Remicade) through diet and so far, this treatment has had the biggest impact in getting me close to 100% and I'm only halfway through the program. I'm not asking anyone to try it...just have an open mind...it's not voodoo science. Respectfully, NBT  
Posted 2/22/2008 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
As I said, I'm in favor of people trying anything they think may work for them, because we never know what the result will be. Since it's helping you, go for it.
Posted 2/22/2008 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
I have always wondered the same thing - if we have colonoscopies and the doctors and techs are looking all around in the colon, how could they miss years old fecal matter?

Posted 2/22/2008 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hey relativelyquantum, no problem.

You are definitely right about some of us not needing it.

My colon seemed clean as well when I had a colonoscopy so who knows...what's interesting is that it seems like my immune system is stronger...I can eat things without the effects of fatigue, etc. though I haven't tried sugar yet. I don't think it's a good idea to go when your having a flare, but you may need to ask a therapist to be sure of that. Though I feel confident that colonics has helped, I won't recommend it to anyone until I have finished the program...to be honest this is why I didn't mention it earlier; I didn't want to promote something until I have seen the end result. It is for this reason why I haven't discussed who my nutritionist is, though it was he who recommended me to do the colonic. Colon hydrotherapy is no cure for UC, but maybe, just maybe it can provide a better platform for meds to work on to improve our overall condition.

This is a horrible disease isn't it?

It takes a lot of courage to break away from the norm and try a different treatment that could either lead to a cure or better treatments for the rest of us...this is why I salute you with all my heart.


NBT
Posted 2/22/2008 2:39 AM (GMT 0)

BTC said...
I have always wondered the same thing - if we have colonoscopies and the doctors and techs are looking all around in the colon, how could they miss years old fecal matter?

Because it's not there. GIs do scopes all the time and I've never heard of one mentioning this. Judy and Old Hat are right on. There is no such thing as built-up black fecal waste, and beef does not stay in your gut for 2 years. If a colon cleanse product does make you crap out black stuff, I'm willing to bet it was probably because of something in the product making it turn black.

quantum - Let me know how you get on with that new addition to your diet. Lol. =)

Posted 2/22/2008 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't call it "courage" to believe a story about beef staying in someone's colon for 2 yrs. Is the moon made out of romano cheese? / Old Hat
Posted 2/22/2008 5:07 AM (GMT 0)

I like my tires with BBQ sauce--the pesto just didn't seem to work out.

Seriously, NBT, I think that is cool it is working for you.  The lady that gave me a fill told me that she did have one patient seen regularly with UC and makes me wonder who else has tried it.  I guess I'd need to look into it more to see if any of the claims are reasonable enough.  But it really motivates you when many others have benefited. 

No clue about how long something says in your gut and I've heard all kinds of stuff, but never got the sources for the information.  Old Hat, I think the consensus is that the moon is now made of provolone.  My goal is to change it into ice cream and eat it with a spork, and I might even send out a email petition for it, that everyone so enjoys signing.  Okay, I am just being goofy.

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