What To Expect After Your First Colonic

Okayyyyy today we’re chatting colon hydrotherapy, aka colonics. Scared yet? Don’t be. I’m here to dazzle you with an honest experience along with the ins and outs (pun intended) of why this age-old old wellness world therapy is something everyone can benefit from. Of course, please note I AM NOT A DOCTOR. This is my own personal experience. 

What To Expect After Your First Colonic

I first heard about people getting colonic cleanses in Austin, Texas as a method for detoxing the body. Now let me preface this whole post by saying I ALSO started doing coffee enemas as a way to detox. I bring this up because I think it’s definitely something that made a colonic way less scary for me. Especially in comparison to probably what most people think in general about colonics. But if Kate Upton can do these to feel lighter, so can you! Read on to find out more about that.

I finally decided to bite the bullet and try out a colonic session in 2018 when I accompanied my Mom on her doctors’ visits at the Cancer Center for Healing out here in Orange County, California. She was getting a colonic too so I had to join the party for a lil mother/daughter bonding time lolz. Anywho, I visited Advanced Colonics OC and I gotta say, like…WOW. I couldn’t believe I had waited so long to test this out! I had two done in a 6 month period. By then, I figured I had done enough research and had a good amount of personal experience to share. 

What is a Colonic?

As stated by Gil Jacobs in this Mind Body Green article, (he is the guru of colonics in NYC): “A colonic is a means of washing out the large intestine’s waste from years of food collecting in it that is not meant for human consumption.”

The way it was described to me by my wonderful colon hydrotherapist in the OC, Kitty Marteen (who has over 20 years of experience in this field), is the following:

the colon builds up plaque in the body from things like food, antibiotics, and more not properly digested. The colon is like a sponge and this plaque blocks the body from properly cleansing waste and consuming nutrients and water. As I was further instructed,

“A colonic is like your biannual teeth cleaning at the dentist, it removes that plaque!”

It’s been suggested that colonics could be a good idea for treating irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.

How Does it Work?

PREP

To start, this is an amazing way to detox and cleanse for us people with busy lives, AKA EVERYONE lolz. What I love about these is that there really is no prep needed for a colonic irrigation session. No recovery time afterward either. You should avoid eating or drinking 1 hour before the colonic session and then you can resume as normal. 

Next up, let’s chat actual logistics. Apologies in advance for painting this visual but I think it’s necessary for you to understand how this works if you’re really considering the treatment. The colon hydrotherapist inserts a small tube (lubed up with coconut oil) a small way into your a$$. I know, this is the part that kind of freaks people out and I totally get it. But, I swear to you, it doesn’t hurt AT ALL. It’s not even really uncomfortable. It just feels, like, different. You get the gist.

SESSION EXPERIENCE

Then, as you lay on your back in a spa-like setting, the therapist starts a machine that slowly releases water into you. You can’t really feel it at all until suddenly you start to feel full and kind of like you have to go to the bathroom. Then, the therapist stops the water and everything releases slowly out through the tube. A typical treatment is about 45 minutes to an hour. This process of filling with water and releasing happens a handful of times throughout.

Now, it’s not like, #2 that comes out. It’s gross, but it’s truly plaque that looks like pieces of dirt flushing out of you along with other waste leaving like acid, bad bacteria build up, etc. I actually had some candida (yeast overgrowth from what I presume is antibiotics I’ve taken from sinus infections over the years) and built up acid flush out during this last treatment a couple of days ago. Lovely, right? Sorry for the overshare.

Additionally, my therapist uses reflexology during the treatment. This is a nice bonus to really become in tune with your body. For example, she was able to tell what was going on with my colon by pushing on different acupressure points in my body. I’m a nerd so I think this stuff is fascinating. I bet you will think so too when you’re able to gather this info about your own bod.

Ricks Associated with Colonics

I did read about a few risks from this post by Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. They list dehydration, tears in the bowel, electrolyte imbalance in the colon, and infection from contaminated instruments as risks to consider.

How Do You Feel After A Colonic?

It’s all about improving your DIGESTION. I gotta say, the mental state I experienced afterward is very FREEING. I feel like I saw the effects of 10 years of shit I wish I hadn’t put in my body be removed. Watch out, world!

As supermodel extraordinaire, Kate Upton, puts it here in this interview with Well + Good, “Not only does it make you feel better—especially with all of the bad food I put in my body—but [I feel like] it helps cleanse you of any stress or any feelings you’ve been holding onto. I’ve noticed a big change in everything—in my skin, my attitude, everything.” And I couldn’t agree with her more!

From a physical perspective, there can be a few minor side effects. The first time I had no side effects except that I was more tired than usual that day. My second time around, I did feel a bit bloated. Oddly enough I felt it in my kidney area behind my back. Fortunately, this subsided within 24 hours. My body naturally detoxed whatever the colonic had stirred up and was leftover to be removed! So just be sure to drink plenty of fluids after to help continue to flush out naturally. 

What’s the Cost?

Honestly, for how effective this treatment is for one’s overall health, I was surprised at how affordable it is. I bought a 2 pack that also comes with personalized consultations for only $125 (~$62/treatment)! That’s like the same cost as getting yourself a mani/pedi, and not even with gel! 😉

Find out more about Advanced Colonics OC here.

SoOoOo, have you ever had a colonic? What are your thoughts about how it helps your digestion? Wanna find even more ways to detox that bod? Check out other health posts here about infrared saunas and dry brushing.

Until next time, folks!

XOXO,

Dani