Colon hydrotherapy procedure: benefits vs risks

I was hanging with my friend last week who I would describe as ambitious trying remedies to help with her “GI problems” She doesn’t have a diagnosed condition, but if I were her doctor, I would suspect it's IBS. She was telling me she started colon hydrotherapy (also known as colonics or colon irrigation). She swore it improved her bowel movements and that she was free of toxins and dead foods in her colon that had built up.

Colon irrigation continues to get attention when celebrities talk about their diet regimen and how they eat clean, detox, and get colonic treatments to remove toxins. I’ve known of colon hydrotherapy for years from walking by a center or occasionally getting Groupons for them.  I did some research and here is the skinny on it.

WHAT IT IS AND WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCEDURE

Colon therapy is an alternative medical therapy to remove toxins and feces from the colon and intestinal tract. Our body can retain toxins from foods that weren’t absorbed or completely digested. There are claims that this “build-up” causes harm to the body, (but to the contrary we aren’t supposed to artificially flush ourselves out). Constipation, weight gain, low energy, indigestion are frequent complaints from patients who want to try colonics. Colon hydrotherapy is the process of injected tubes of water or mixed herbs with other liquids into the colon through the rectum by a colon hydrotherapist. The procedure lasts about 30-45 minutes and you can normally see the waste that is taken out. Patients should immediately have a bowel movement after. 

There are several (hundreds of) facilities in the NYC area that offer the colon hydrotherapy treatment. I compared prices from around 40 registered clinics (wellness centers, holistic centers, colon healing centers, and spas) and a single session ranges from $100-175 (average was $125).  According to most centers, 3-4 sessions were recommended to really get your colon functioning again.

*Patients may also choose self-cleansing options including laxatives and an enema.  

GI DOC OPINION: RISKY

I talked to my GI doctor and per our conversation-risky treatment!

He said that patients need to be aware of electrolyte abnormalities associated with this procedure, which can lead to serious health complications such as cardiac arrhythmia or death.  He told me that he was involved where emergent surgery was required as a result of a colonic perforation. Perforation can occur because the trained therapists aren't medical doctors and are putting tubes in your body, and unlike a scope, they are putting them in blindly.

IS IT WORTH IT?

According to the Mayo Clinic, while the digestive system is efficient enough at removing waste on its own, proponents of colon cleansing say that the practice helps people to feel better, boosts the immune system and gets rid of toxins that are lurking in the gastrointestinal tract.

My GI doctor added that the procedure is not a cure, but you will have a good bowel movement after it’s done. However, he said the sense of relief after that is in the patient’s head because what you gained is actually short lived as the colon will fill with new toxins and stool on your right side of colon within 24 hours.

Personally, I will tell my friends that I support them if they need a placebo effect, but to please make sure where you get your treatment is using a certified colon hydrotherapist and FDA approved equipment. If they are questioning the cost vs its results, the Mayo Clinic suggests instead trying these options: drinking water and fluids, eating a fiber-rich diet and getting regular exercise. 

For more information visit: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colon-cleansing/AN00065