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Experience a revitalized well-being with colon hydrotherapy, a gentle and cleansing experience that supports digestive harmony and enhances your body’s natural equilibrium.
Colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation or colon cleansing, is a therapeutic practice involving the gentle introduction of water into the colon via a tube inserted into the rectum. This water softens and removes built-up waste, toxins, and gases from the colon. The goal is to purify and detoxify the colon, enhancing digestive health and overall wellness.
During a session of colon hydrotherapy, the patient reclines on a specialized table while a trained practitioner manages the procedure. Water is gently infused into the colon and the mixture of water and waste is then expelled through a different tube. This process may be repeated several times within a session, which typically lasts between 45 minutes and an hour.
Colon hydrotherapy is effective in eliminating compacted fecal material, undigested remnants, and other debris accumulated in the colon. This treatment supports better digestion, eases symptoms such as bloating and constipation, aids in detoxification, and boosts overall health and energy levels.
Enemas are good for cleaning the sigmoid and rectal areas of the colon, which extend to about 1 ft. A series of Colon Hydrotherapy treatments can clean out and remove impacted material from the colon, which is approximately 5 ft long. Additionally, CHT/Colonic promotes peristalsis and helps the gut muscles regain tone, therefore assisting the return of regular bowel movements.
Because of the modern diets full of animal proteins, processed food, fat and sugar, and stress, with constant pressure and lack of exercise, the colon becomes the repository of accumulated waste and toxins which disable the body’s purification system. The toxic material ends up re-absorbing into our blood stream and gets deposited in our cells. As a result of this auto-intoxication we feel and act far below our potential and can become susceptible to disease.
The benefits of colonics can include increased energy, improved circulation, clearer skin & eyes, mental clarity, weight normalizing, better digestions, relief from bloating and heaviness. By removing the waste material from the colon, the process of detoxification is given a boost and the harmful bacteria that is produced by encrusted fecal matter is removed from the body. Colon hydrotherapy helps your immune system to help itself, by giving it a chance to breathe and allow the lymph system to effectively cleanse your body. Colon hydrotherapy can assist the body with healing a variety of conditions: constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel, bloating, excessive gas, indigestion, allergies, candida overgrowth, skin problems, brittle nails and hair, abnormal body odor, unpleasant breath, backache, stiffness, arthritis, fatique, insomnia, poor concentration and headaches.
An enema can only reach a few inches into the colon, whereas the water during a colonic is potentially able to travel the entire distance of the 5+ feet of the colon. During an enema you generally will fill up once and hold it for a short time. But the gentle, repetitive inflow and outflow or warm water that you experience during a colonic that slowly dissolves accumulated toxic material and encourage release naturally, without any undue stress on your system.
So basically, enemas only clean out the lower part of the colon, missing about four feet of the colon. To clean the entire colon, a colonic is necessary.
We recommend that you refrain from eating about an hour prior to your appointment and make sure that you are well hydrated. If possible, a diet of vegetables and grains 2-3 days in advance rather than heavy foods will help prepare your colon for the treatment. Do not drink alcohol 24 hours in advance.
The most common post-colonic experience is to have a light delay in bowel movements and then the resumption of a somewhat larger, easier to move stool. Sometimes if the colon is weak and sluggish, there may be no bowel movement for several days following a colonic. However, this is not due to the colonic, but because of the weakness of the colon. Rarely is diarrhea or loose bowels experienced. This may be due to the extra water introduced into the colon. If it should occur, it is usually of very short duration.
Doing a colonic/CHT a week apart for three weeks is suggested, considering other healthy practices to accompany this modality, like healthy eating, exercise, mindfulness practices, and taking the appropriate supplements.
Following a CHT session, the body may feel relaxed. Give your body proper rest and favor warm, light food, plenty of liquids like herbal teas, juices, electrolytes. You should avoid cold raw vegetables and reduce your meat, alcohol, caffeine and sugar intake.
Acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that’s been around for about 2,500 years. It’s used to support wellness and improve overall mental and physical well-being. The acupuncturist places needles into specific points on the skin to help activate an energy in the body, called qi. According to traditional Chinese medicine, qi is the lifeforce energy in the body — it helps regulate and move things in the body to keep us well. Stress, environmental factors, lifestyle behaviors, and genetics are some of the things that can block qi in the body. The needles help to unblock or move qi to other areas in the body to help support wellness.
Acupuncture needles are solid, stainless steel needles that are usually not much larger than a strand of hair. Acupuncture needles are placed at a very shallow depth and go between tissues, making them less painful than a typical injection.
You might be more sensitive in certain areas, but acupuncture shouldn’t hurt. If you feel pain, tell your acupuncturist. They’ll adjust the needles or choose other points. Their goal is not to make you feel pain. They do a lot of work to position you properly and make sure you feel comfortable.
Indeed you can do acupuncture or massage while pregnant. It is safe and our practitioners are very well versed in how to treat pregnant women. Please let us know when you book a treatment if you are pregnant and how far along you are.
Elsa Lo Russo is a true pioneer in the field of holistic wellness. With over 28 years of experience as an advanced Colon Hydrotherapist (CHT) she has dedicated her life to helping individuals heal their bodies and minds through a holistic approach to health. Elsa is also a certified Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner, Meditation Instructor, Reiki Master, Iridologist and Biorhythm Coach, which gives her a unique and comprehensive understanding of the human body and its needs. Her holistic and compassionate approach to health through CHT emphasizes the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit, and she works closely with her clients to achieve optimal health and wellness. Elsa’s passion for helping others live their best lives has made her a sought-after practitioner and a valuable asset to the wellness community.
Cindy Nilson is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Full Mesa Carrier, Reiki Master and Intuitive advisor. Utilizing acupuncture, energy-infused acupressure massage therapy and body psychology, she integrates teachings from eastern medicine, shamanism, energy/chakra healing and archetypal patterns to provide a unique diagnostic perspective and treatment experience. Specializing in how stress, our thoughts and emotions affect the physical body, and resourcing from the 10,000 hours spent honing her work, Cindy creates new and exciting collaboratives to her foundations in acupuncture therapy. She believes joining Alive + Well is the joyous culmination of her work and is excited to share this beautiful environment and healing space with her clients.
Cindy holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University and a Masters degree from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine. In 1999 she received her Doctor of Oriental Medicine from the New Mexico State Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. A native of Central Texas, she has been in private practice in Lakeway, where she lives happily married, raising kids.