Facts About Colonics You Should Know

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The mere word “Colonic” makes some people shiver in their seats. Or on their toilets. Since our colons are organs, colonics sound like they would be some extremely intrusive procedure—perhaps even a surgical one. But colonics are actually rather common, outpatient procedures. And they can have a lot of benefits. Perhaps you’ve had your concerns about them because you consider your rectum an exit-only avenue (for those who don’t know, you’ll have to allow something in there for a colonic). Or, maybe you just believe that our bodies are self-healing and that your colon cleans itself out and repairs its own damage. That may have been true thousands of years ago before we had access to all of the toxins and artificial ingredients we eat today. But now, our bodies need a little outside help. Here are things you should know about colonics.

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What it is, exactly

During a colonics, a hydrotherapist sends water and other fluids into your color, in order to break up stuck feces, and flush it out. It’s very effective at pulling toxins out of your body.

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You should eat healthy before

Before going in for your colonic, you should try to eat healthy and do as much constipation-reducing at home as possible. To be clear, even the most regular of individuals benefit from a colonic. We all have stuff stuck up there. But if you are extremely constipated, a colonic can only do so much in one session. So avoid tons of dairy, gluten, and other things that cause sluggish intestines for a few days leading up to your procedure.

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Skip fluids two to four hours before

You’ll need to avoid fluids for two to four hours leading up to your procedure. You do this so that you don’t have to get up and urinate during the procedure, which can interfere with the results.

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You’ll put a tube in there

You—yes, you—will have to put the tube up there. Most colonic clinics give the tube to you to self-insert so that you can make sure you are comfortable. You may want to practice inserting small tampons up there (without releasing the filling) at home just to get used to the sensation.

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You’ll go in front of a stranger

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of it: you’ll essentially be pooping in front of a stranger. Your hydrotherapist will be pulling feces out of your body. You’ll just have to get over that—she sees it every day.

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Your hydrotherapist will relax you

Luckily, most hydrotherapists do things to relax you like massage your feet and abdomen with aromatherapy oil.

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You’ll get coffee up there

Once your therapist is done putting water up there, she’ll switch to coffee. It has detoxifying properties and, as many of us know, can trigger the intestines to move.

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And green chlorophyll

After the coffee, you’ll move onto green chlorophyll—another fluid that’s loaded with antioxidants.

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You probably shouldn’t look back

If you have a weak stomach, you may want to avoid looking back there while your hydrotherapist is at work. It’s not a pretty sight.

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Or maybe you should

If you think you can handle it, you may actually have an eye-opening experience if you look back there. You’ll certainly think twice about all the junk you consume.

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You’ll be amazed by what comes out

Most people have no idea just how backed up they are until they have a colonic. It really is a learning experience.

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You’ll feel ultra-light after

You’ll want to take a dozen photos of your stomach after because it will look flatter than it ever has. Some people actually release several pounds of feces in a colonic.

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You can have flu-like symptoms after

Some individuals experience flu-like symptoms and extreme nausea after a colonic. It’s advisable to take it very easy after one, and not return to work right away.

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There are varying levels of relief

As stated before, how much relief you feel after will depend on what condition your body was in before. If you’re severely backed up, you may need several sessions before feeling light and airy.

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They get easier over time

Colonics get easier and feel less odd with each session. Speak to your hydrotherapist about how often you should have a session. Everybody is different, and some individuals need a few sessions a month, while some only need a few a year.

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Things you should know about colonics