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

Living Waters

Published in The Union Newspaper

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