Modern Gut Wisdom from an Ancient Healing Art
Published in The Union’s 2025 Healthy You Magazine, page 7.
For nearly two decades, I’ve served Nevada County as an I-ACT certified colon hydrotherapist. Though I originally planned to attend medical school, the transformation I witnessed in clients—relief, clarity, and deep somatic and spiritual shifts—was something I couldn’t walk away from. I later pursued a Master’s in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, aligning my education with what I had already observed in practice: the centrality of the gut, and more specifically the microbiome, to whole-body health.
When I began, few people had heard the word “microbiome.” Now, it’s everywhere—on social media, in casual conversations—but despite this surge of interest, microbiome science remains in flux. Definitions evolve. Research methods shift. And discoveries continue to challenge what we thought we knew.
The human microbiome refers to the vast ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, archaea, viruses, and their genomes that inhabit the body (Ma, Zuo, Frey, Zhang, & Li, 2024). The colon alone houses roughly 10¹⁴ microbes—compared to 10⁷ in the small intestine. These populations are shaped by age, diet, geography, genetics, and lifestyle (Govender & Ghai, 2025).
Thanks to landmark studies like the Human Microbiome Project and American Gut Project, microbes are no longer viewed solely as threats, but as essential collaborators. What were once feared as “germs” are now recognized as vital to our survival (Ma et al., 2024). They support immune function, regulate metabolism, blood sugar, digestion, even influence our mood and behavior. This has given rise to the emerging field of the gut-brain-microbiome axis (Ma et al., 2024; Zhou & Foster, 2015).
We’re at a turning point in how we view our human–microbe relationship. These microbes aren’t just passive residents—they perform critical roles that make the gut a complete and responsive organ system. A recent review by Ma and colleagues (2024) explores this complexity, examining whether microbes are innate or adaptive, beneficial or competitive, mobile or sedentary. Relationships vary depending on anatomical location, and when microbes cross into the bloodstream, they may trigger chronic inflammation or even organ failure. Some researchers now refer to the human body and its microbes as a “meta-host,” where our genetic blueprint is the innate genome, and the microbial genome—far more adaptable—is the adaptive genome and constantly shifts. Interestingly, only 0.1% of our human genome differs from person to person (Ma et al., 2024).
Even hygiene practices like tooth brushing, disinfecting, and bathing may be forcing microbes to subservient roles, raising new questions about balance and coexistence.
The gut-brain axis refers to constant, two-way communication between the digestive tract and the central nervous system (Zhou & Foster, 2015). This happens through neural pathways like the vagus nerve, and also assists hormones, immune signals, microbes, and their metabolites. Metabolites called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—such as butyrate, acetate, and propionate—are produced when beneficial gut bacteria ferment dietary fiber (Mimee, Citorik, & Lu, 2016; Archana et al., 2024). SCFAs play a key role in immunity, intestinal integrity, and neurotransmission. When the microbiota are imbalanced, symptoms may include anxiety, depression, inflammation, leaky gut, or histamine sensitivity.
I practice an ancient healing art in a modern world. Colon hydrotherapy, vagal nerve stimulation, nutrition, lifestyle interventions, prebiotics, probiotics, psychobiotics and emotional regulation all offer promising ways to optimize the host-microbial relationship. While many of these therapies remain under-researched or controversial, sometimes the best evidence is how someone feels.
If you’re curious about supporting your gut-brain-microbiome health, book a free discovery call through my website to kickstart your journey. Another great first step? Eat the rainbow of fruits and vegetables. It’s simple, it’s powerful, and it nourishes your microbiome.
It’s time to expand research and rethink wellness—not as the absence of disease, but as the presence of harmony between human and microbe.
References
Archana, P., Fadadu, S. D., Chavda, V. P., Apostolopoulos, V., & Patel, D. (2024). Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids in physiology and pathology: An update. Cell Biochemistry & Function, 42(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbf.4108
Govender, P., & Ghai, M. (2025). Population-specific differences in the human microbiome: Factors defining the diversity. Gene, 933, 148923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2024.148923.
Ma, Z., Zuo, T., Frey, N., Zhang, F., & Li, J. V. (2024). A systematic framework for understanding the microbiome in human health and disease: From basic principles to clinical translation. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 9(1), 237. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01946-6.
Mimee, M., Citorik, R. J., & Lu, T. K. (2016). Microbiome therapeutics—Advances and challenges. Advanced drug delivery reviews, 105, 44-54.
Zhou, L., & Foster, J. A. (2015). Psychobiotics and the gut–brain axis: in the pursuit of happiness. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 11, 715.
- Published in Uncategorized
Nurturing Your Microbiome Abroad: A Guide to Colon Health While Traveling
Traveling to a new country is an exciting adventure, but it can also present challenges to our well-being, particularly when it comes to maintaining a healthy microbiome and supporting colon health. The unfamiliar environment, changes in diet and circadian rhythm, as well as exposure to new bacteria can impact our digestive system. To ensure a happy gut while exploring the world, here are some best practices for microbiome support and colon health during your travels.
- Probiotic Powerhouse:
Start your journey by fortifying your gut with a high-quality probiotics. Probiotics, commonly found in fermented foods like yogurt and kefir, aid in maintaining a balanced gut microbiome. I strongly suggest you opt for local yogurt as soon as you arrive if at all possible. Travel-friendly probiotic capsules are convenient for on-the-go support although I encourage a foods first approach when available. Please bear in mind, not all probiotic supplements are equal. Stay tuned for a future post on this. - Hydration Heroics:
Staying hydrated is key to overall health, and it plays a crucial role in supporting your colon. Carry a reusable water bottle and make a conscious effort to drink enough potable water, especially in regions with different climates. In areas where the water quality is clear but may be uncertain, consider bringing a UV wand that alerts you when the water in your bottle has been zapped of any potentially harmful microbes.
If you feel like the water is going right through you or if it actually is (such as in Traveler’s diarrhea), consider drinking electrolytes apart from food. Coconut water and bone broth cooked with potatoes may be a great option for restoring your electrolytes. - Fiber Focus:
Maintain a fiber-rich diet to promote healthy digestion and support your colon. Incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes into your meals. This not only nourishes your microbiome but also helps prevent constipation, a common issue during travel. While some fibers are technically prebiotics I opted to make prebiotics its own factor here because it is that important (see number 4). - Prebiotic Prowess:
Foster the growth of beneficial bacteria by including prebiotic-rich foods in your diet. Garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, and bananas are excellent sources of prebiotics, encouraging a flourishing microbiome. - Mindful Eating:
Being in a new place will also present with it new edible delectables. Ask around and see what the locals in your new environment consume, how they consume it, and what they might consume it with, as you may also be expanding your microbiome profile by doing so. Even though you may be far from home, it may pay off later to remain mindful of your dietary choices. Proceed with caution and gradually introduce new foods to allow your gut to adapt. Opt for balanced meals that include a mix of fiber, healthy fats, and proteins. - Restorative Sleep:
Quality sleep is a cornerstone of overall well-being, including gut health. Prioritize a consistent sleep schedule, creating a conducive environment for your body to repair and rejuvenate. - Physical Activity:
Keep your body moving even while on the road. Physical activity supports regular bowel movements and contributes to a healthy gut. Explore the local scenery through walks, hikes, or even a light workout. - Herbal Assistance:
Incorporate herbal teas known for their digestive benefits, such as peppermint or ginger tea. These can help soothe the digestive system and provide a comforting routine during your travels. - Stress Management:
Travel can be stressful, and stress can impact your gut health. Practice mindfulness, deep breathing, or meditation to manage stress levels and promote a harmonious balance in your digestive system. -
Recreate a routine:
The more you can recreate a similar home routine while you travel, such as when you eat, sleep, and allow time to use the toilet, that in itself can help your body flow and continue daily bowel movements. -
Seek Local Guidance:
If you encounter digestive issues, consider seeking advice from local experts or doctors who are familiar with the regional health issues. They can offer valuable insights and recommend products to aid your digestive health.
Embracing these best practices for microbiome support and colon health while traveling will not only enhance your overall well-being but also allow you to fully immerse yourself in the wonders of a new destination. As you explore, remember that a happy gut is the foundation for a happy journey. Safe travels!
Darlene J. Weiss
Living Waters
Ready to book? Book now!
530.274.9738
- Published in Gut Health, Lifestyle Medicine
What’s feeding you?
When life speeds up, slow down.
Advice I recently gave to my friend’s daughter as she was coming of age and into her menstruation.
This was also advice I gave myself at 19, as I was grasping at straws as to what foods to eat or not eat. Pondering how to exercise and take care of my body, on a very basic level while constantly being inundated by new fad diets and programs being advertised daily. In hindsight, I was absolutely clueless to health.
Being raised in Las Vegas, my idea of health was slightly skewed, as doctors I met with never seemed to acknowledge the association of food to individual health. Buffets, fast food, and other popular establishments were seemingly in support of the standard American diet which severely lacked in the fundamental nutritional needs of the body.
Some of you have heard me say, that I had my first colonic at 19 year old. This sparked a new interest in fasting and discerning for myself, what my actual needs are versus what my wants were. This lead me to not just go along with what was being fed to me and those in my demographic, but to seek a balance. I was adamant to break my food addiction and fasting became my ally.
Within just a few months of beginning this journey, I opted to fast for an entire holiday season. Starting from Thanksgiving though Christmas (including Chanukah and Solstice) that I typically enjoyed celebrating with traditional foods, I refrained.
My intentions in attending the holiday gatherings had shifted from a consumption mindset to a connection motivation. I found that in doing this I had deeper conversations with those around me, I felt more spiritually empowered and clear minded in my motives. I also gained an ethereal empowerment in repetition of the words, rituals and traditions there-in.
One of biggest benefits to this holiday season, was being floored at how much extra time I found myself with. I wasn’t sorting out recipes, I wasn’t creating in the kitchen. I wasn’t food shopping, I was intentionally keeping to a minimum any conversations circulating around food. It almost seemed as if time slowed down instead of speeding up like holidays past.
However, I did find in conveying this information to others, some seemed to feel as if my actions and motives were a direct attack on who they were and how they lived, and/or how their choices affected their health.
I like to joke that when I fast, this is when I eat things with my nose. Though I may not be inhaling nutrients through my nose as if into my mouth to chew them and swallow- I’m instead digesting the flavors and smells as if I was. I implemented visualization, allowing my mouth to salivate and then swallowing that aromatic fantasy. This became pretty convincing almost to the point of feeling like the real thing. Of course, what really was feeding me in those meditations was my desire to rewrite this relationship as a whole, this relationship with food and famine- this is what inspired the process.
Ultimately, what I gained from this holiday fasting experiment was learning that it was my connections, that feed me. My connections that connect me to this world, and what I was choosing in the past, to fill the voids of certain connections I was missing, with foods. Examples such as losing my father a few years earlier, doesn’t hold a flame to being present and enjoying the connections as they arise in real life. While my life had heartaches, I began being filled with even more gratitude for what I did have. I credit this period in my life when I retired some old beliefs that were not serving me anymore.
To this day I continue to use fasting, and intermittent fasting, as a tool that reminds me of who I am at a core level. My longest fast to date was 45 days where I only consumed water, herbal teas, and fresh-pressed juice. I gave myself colonics everyday for 30 days, until I started oscillating them with oil enemas. To be fair, if I were to do this again today, I would optimize it with what I know now.
Reflecting on some of this in this moment, and with some issues we are facing as humanity on a whole, I felt it was important to remind myself and my loved ones that we are more than what we eat. Hence, my self-proclaimed famous quote ‘You could be doing all the right things, eating all the right foods, but if you are still an asshole, you are not healthy.’
This article, its author, and the company and website it is found on, assumes no responsibility or liability for any way the content, errors or omissions is perceived. This content is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.
Darlene J. Weiss
Ready to book? Book now!
530.274.9738
colonhydrotherapy colonic colonirrigation constipation contraindications digestion exercise fasting fiber food foodallergies functionalmedicine herbs holidays kellogg las vegas lifestyle local opensystem optimalhealth prebiotics probiotics routine sleep slow down theunion Traveling abroad yogurt
- Published in Lifestyle Medicine
Gut Health in 2020 and Beyond
The unfamiliar terrain of 2020 has taught us that taking care of our immunity is more important than we previously realized. Today the amount of contradictory information available to us is confusing for anyone beginning their journey to better health. There are so many fad diets, exercise plans, lifestyle changes, and retreat centers we can choose from. As we become more discerning, we recognize a need to blend traditional wisdom with contemporary science.
You might be surprised to learn that the basis of our immune system is in our gut lining. But this is not a new idea; internal cleansing has a long history beginning in ancient Egypt. It was described and recommended in the Ebers Papyrus, from the 14th century BC, as well as in an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association written by J. H. Kellogg, MD in 1917 who praised “the procedure’s efficacy for saving a dysfunctional large bowel.”
Folk remedies for colon care, like enemas and colonics and modern advancements, such as Functional Medicine, deserve recognition. Separately they both raise awareness around colon health for optimizing our immune system and general health, but together they can be a winning combination to help people feel better faster as they develop a deeper understanding of what works for them individually. Functional Medicine is on the leading edge of approaches to health and colonics are being integrated in some of the most exclusive wellness retreats and complementary therapy centers worldwide, such as the Absolute Sanctuary in Thailand, the Sea Wellness Clinic in Spain, the Gaia Retreat Center in Bali, and the Mt Rainer Clinic in Washington.
A colonic, aka ‘colon irrigation’ and ‘colon hydrotherapy’ and enemas use water to cleanse and flush out the colon. An enema is not as thorough as a colonic and typically self-administered, whereas a colonic is administered by a professional, and uses a device that allows for the control of the water flow.
Benefits for colonics range from feeling better overall, improved mood, clearer skin, relief of allergies, gas, bloating and constipation, to preparation for a colonoscopy. Stress levels, depression and anxiety can also decrease as gut health improves. Although there are some diagnoses that are not advised to use colonics (such as diverticulitis, Crohn’s Disease, bloody stool, cardiac or renal diseases, and others) a colonic can help you feel good in your body again, especially if your digestion has been less than optimal. You should discuss all health issues with a qualified colon hydrotherapist and your doctor prior to your session.
Although there are many different devices for colon hydrotherapy, the process generally infuses a client’s colon with warm, filtered water to aid in its removal of contents without the use of any toxic agents. In a closed system the client is lying on one side and the same nozzle, with a diameter of about 3/4”, is used to allow for the introduction of water and the disposal of waste with adjustable pressure. In open systems, the client is lying on their back and the nozzle, with the diameter of a pencil, delivers gravity-fed water and the waste is released around the nozzle into a basin. Whereas an open system is a more recent advancement, different people prefer different systems. In both systems it is the client that inserts the nozzle themselves (about 2”) and the colon hydrotherapist moderates the safety and dignity of the client while controlling the flow of water.
In its simplest definition, Functional Medicine is a systematic approach to identifying the root causes of disease rather than merely treating symptoms; it is understood that many diseases are caused by unwise lifestyle and nutritional choices. In Functional Medicine many aspects of health are considered. These include genetics, nutritional and environmental allergies and tolerances, exposure and detoxification of chemicals, heavy metals and molds. It is understood that imbalance in any of these factors can snowball into major health issues. Failing to consider these variables happens often with unfortunate consequences. Functional Medicine practitioners are trained to see them.
Let’s consider food allergies for a moment. Typically, testing looks for an immune response. But there could also be an inflammatory response in the absence of an immune reaction. This is the sort of thing a Functional Medicine practitioner might look for. Complimenting this kind of detective work, a colonic would both improve digestive health and reduce the person’s discomfort. Of course, other healthy lifestyle practices such as chewing food properly, breathing in a relaxed manner, reasonable exercise and adequate sleep are always helpful.
Optimizing our organism’s digestion is an essential first step to ensure our immune system is at its best. Colonics and Functional Medicine work synergistically to not only help us feel better faster and improve the quality of your digestion, they can also optimize your gut health and your immune system for the rest of your days. Then we can feel good in our bodies and enjoy our life!
Darlene J. Weiss
Published in The Union Newspaper
Ready to book? Book now!
530.274.9738
- Published in Gut Health