By Jackie Shoebridge
If someone would have asked me years ago what I wanted to do as a career, colon hydrotherapy would not have crossed my mind. In fact as a nurse for twenty years, I had never heard of colon hydrotherapy. When I became sick with Lyme disease and was undergoing treatment for it, I was told I needed to have a colonic to clean out the toxins that my body had to filter from the die-off Lyme. Since Lyme had ravaged my body, I was willing to try anything to improve my health. After a series of colonics, I realized that I had spent most of my adult life constipated and never realized it. I realized what it felt like to feel empty, without bloating and straining to have a bowel movement. Colon hydrotherapy changed my life, and it was then that I decided this is what I wanted to do.
So What Exactly Is Colon Hydrotherapy? Colon hydrotherapy, or colonics, is a safe, effective method of removing waste from the large intestine. It consists of a controlled flow of filtered, temperature controlled water gently circulating throughout the large intestine, coaxing your body to release stool that may build up over time. The colon is an important organ that not only stores our waste, but it also produces vitamins B and K, which are nutrients necessary for survival. The colon also helps keep the body hydrated by absorbing water from bodily waste and sending it back into the bloodstream. A healthy colon will help the immune system function properly and keep us healthy. But when waste sits in the colon for too long, it will start to ferment. This leads to intestinal problems like bloating, gas, irritable bowel, and leaky gut syndrome. Colon hydrotherapy helps prevent these conditions by gently cleansing the large intestine, while simultaneously exercising the muscles of the colon, helping to prevent constipation.
What Are the Signs of an Inefficient Colon? People may experience symptoms such as coated tongue, bad breath, acne, abnormal body odor, dark circles under the eyes, cold hands and feet, brittle hair and nails, fatigue, allergies, indigestion, chronic headaches, irritability, nervousness, nausea, depression, asthma, backaches, and frequent urination. Besides the fact that I felt empty for the first time after my colonic, I noticed my skin cleared up almost overnight. It was amazing! The heartburn I had suffered also disappeared after a series of colonics.
What Happens During a Colon Hydrotherapy Session? During a session, the colon is filled and emptied several times throughout the session by the hydrotherapist, while the client relaxes on the treatment table. The water then softens the stool and stimulates the colon’s natural peristaltic action to release the stool. Water and waste then exit through the waste tube, and the client can observe what is eliminated through a clear viewing tube, if so desired. Colon hydrotherapy is also used as an alternative to the harsh stimulants given for colonoscopy preparation. Colon hydrotherapy done the day before and day of your procedure has been shown to be just as effective as the laxatives and without all the side effects laxatives can have. Colon hydrotherapy is not a cure for disease, but by cleansing the colon without harmful medications, it may increase a healthy digestive tract, which in turn may support a healthy immune system, resulting in improved health and vitality. Please visit Gentle Waters website to view a colonic in progress. Jackie Shoebridge is a registered nurse, colon hydrotherapist, and reflexologist who has a passion for seeing people come to health through natural means.
To learn more about colon hydrotherapy visit www.gentlewaters.info. To schedule an appointment or talk with Jackie she can be reached at 715-933-1482.