Preparation for a Colonic
You do not necessarily need to prepare for a colonic, however it can definitely make the session flow easier and you may release more waste during your session. So here is the short answer for preparing for a colonic. For at least a few days before your session, try to avoid dairy products, refined carbohydrates(white bread, white rice, white flour, etc.), red meat, soy products, alcoholic beverages and carbonated drinks. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, salads, and raw vegetables. Drink lots of pure water and fresh vegetable juices. You may also have small amounts of whole grains and lean protein. This will not only make your experience more pleasurable, but it will start a cleansing reaction in your body. By eating this way you will also increase your energy and add more nourishment to your body.
Ok, now for the extended answer for those that would like to do more or would like to incorporated these tips and techniques into your daily routine.
Preparing for a Colon Hydrotherapy Session!
‘This is so much easier than I expected’
is what I hear most after the first colon therapy session.
What can you do to prepare? The key thing is to arrive and not put any agendas, protocols, conditions between yourself and the colonic. Bring yourself. Be prepared to receive and to experience.
The major practice before a colonic is to stop hydrating 1 hour before the session and stop eating 2 hours before. Your abdomen will be massaged and you will need to urinate less, if at all during the session.
Arrive on time or early without a rushed manner. You are treating yourself. You are taking care of yourself. Give yourself the time and space to appreciate the experience. The intestines work best when they are relaxed, when the parasympathetic nervous system is predominant. (Parasympathetics govern life-supporting organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, spleen, pancreas and lungs.) Laughing, breathing, exercising, relaxing, listening to soothing music, being in a supportive loving environment all help relax the intestinal nervous system. And if that’s not your situation, come on in anyway! Our hydrotherapy environment is designed for relaxation and rest.
If you are the inquisitive type, are motivated to take some action before the colonic or desperate to change your lifestyle, you might want to consider some of the following suggestions. No pressure. Keep it light.
The food addicted eating-disordered type might want to binge the day or night before the session. Hmmm! That would be a good habit to break. If your thing is overeating and bingeing, how about eating fresh raw vegetables until your full. You can try a big salad full of greens and sprouts or marinated veggies.
Some of you are using the colonics to begin to break poor and non-life supportive habits. Good luck. The internal cleansing has more power than you think in reorganizing you! The water goes directly into your core, your large intestines. Some consider the core or intestines to represent the unconscious or subconscious. Some waste may move from the small to large intestine during the process for ultimate elimination.
I congratulate you for making your health and well being a priority. I look forward to meeting you soon. When you schedule the appointment, be aware of questions you might have and bring them with you. Bring information that may complete your health profile and assist my understanding of your situation.
Please call if your question cannot wait until the session.
Menstruating women may receive colon hydrotherapy. It is helpful for PMS and does not interfere with the woman’s cycle. Women up to their sixth month of pregnancy may receive colon hydrotherapy.
Follow any medical guidelines you have been given if you have diabetes or any other compromising illness. Continue to consult with your physician for your health concerns.
Optional Guidelines
Hydration
Water is necessary to flush toxins out of the body, not to mention softening stool, hydrating your system and increasing energy. You want to drink distilled, filtered or reverse osmosis water. Tap water has lots of contaminants and should not be consumed. Focus on consuming one gallon of fluids daily including water, herbal teas, raw fruit and vegetable juices.
Avoid liquids 1 hour before, during, or within one hour after meals.
Fresh vegetable juices nourish the body without working the digestive tract and are high in enzymes and electrolytes. Green vegetable juices and wheatgrass are available at some local juice bars. Fresh lemon or lime juice may be added to water. Chamomile, nettles, peppermint, pau d'arco, red clover and hibiscus are examples of herb teas. Fruit and vegetable juices may be diluted with water.
Exercise
MOVE! Get moving whatever it takes whether swimming, walking, cycling, running, dancing, gardening, playing with children, cleaning, yoga, and tai chi. Walking is excellent. Rebounding is fabulous for toning the colon and other organs as well as for stimulation of the lymphatic system. Any form of exercise that pleases you is important. The movement stimulates intestinal circulation.
Supplements
Chlorophyll nourishes and oxygenates the body, builds blood, promotes peristalsis and alkalinizes our over acidic bodies. The fresh water algae like spirulina, blue green algae, chlorella, E-3 Live and wheat grass are rich in chlorophyll.
If you are not already doing it, add electrolytes to your regime meaning minerals and trace elements. Many people are already imbalanced in electrolytes and building a mineral reserve in your body may be foundational for a better colonic. Chlorophyll and raw juices count.
Many people have an imbalance in intestinal flora. That means they have more pathogenic bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites than friendly bacteria in thier system. Antibiotics can kill a significant percentage of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. The amount killed is largely dependant upon whether they are narrow-spectrum or wide- sprectrum antibiotics and how long they are used for. If you are forced to use antibiotics, use narrow-spectrum antibiotics for as short a time as possible and subsequently take probiotic suppliments.
Chlorinated water used on a regular basis can kill beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Stress, especially on-going stress negatively affects beneficial bacteria. Other pharmaceuticals such as steroids and NSAIDS (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs) can have a negative affect on the beneficial bacteria in the intestines. One may begin using probiotics or healthy bacteria to implant and restore floral balance in the colon. Acidophilus, and others such as bulgaricus and thermophilus are the primary ones.
Rejuvelac is a fermented drink high in friendly bacteria made from soaked wheat berries. Can also be made with quinoa, millet or barley too.
Diet
Make fruits and vegetables the foundation of your nutrition, 50% or more of your diet, if possible. Use simple seasonings such as hamilaian sea salt, olive oil, lemon juice, and raw apple cider vinegar.
Avoid cheeses, processed foods, additives, chemicals and preservatives, white sugar, flour, milk and red meat.
Avoid high concentration of complex carbohydrates such as grain, flour, soy, and potatoes.
Raw foods have living enzymes and promote elimination and intestinal peristalsis. They are not appropriate with symptoms of gas and bloat. In that case, lightly steam vegetables.
Chew your food thoroughly!
Avoid foods you know are hard for you to digest or bring you pain, gas and bloat. Avoid chewing gum. This will also create gas and bloating.Fasting and Cleansing
It is not necessary to fast before a colonic. If you are familiar with fasting, you know it is a good thing to do in unison with colonics. If you've never fasted before, I recommend having a colonic first and learning more about your body's needs before jumping into a fast.
Some are already fasting on juices and are incorporating the colonic with their fast.
One does not have to fast to cleanse. They can be 2 separate processes. However, one can combine the fast and the herbal cleanse with potent results.
Some people like to begin a bowel cleanse before they come in using various formulas.
Castor Oil packs are used to soothe abdominal tightness, cramping or pain and to loosen impactions. Rub cold pressed castor oil onto your abdomen and cover with a piece of wool flannel. Then wrap a piece of plastic around your waist covering the flannel, cover again with a shirt or towel and apply a hot water bottle or a heating pad set on medium for 1 to 2 hours. This is done minimally 3 days sequentially for best effect.
Castor is another alternative to loosening hardened bowel material and provides a rest at the same time. One has to recline while the pack is on the abdomen and liver (optional.)Self-help Techniques
Stress Management. These are various ways you can relax your intestines. Activities like this keep you preoccupied and focused on positive behavior.
Try deep breathing and Abdominal massage. This will increases peristalsis, loosens impactions and may move gas. Massage from right to left, up, across and down. You may also enjoy warm herbal tea or a glass of lemon water. You can also schedule a massage before your colonic session to help you relax and further detoxify.
Dry Skin Brushing from feet to shoulders detoxifies the skin and stimulates blood supply. Concentrate on abdominal area, chest, and arches of feet. Try following skin brushing with a cold shower to close the pores. Skin brushing is used dry and for lymphatic circulation with motions going toward the heart.
Hydrotherapy baths are used to detoxify. Do either an Epsom salt, dead sea salt or powdered ginger bath the evening following a colonic when possible. For Epsom salt or dead sea salt bath use 2 cups, for powdered ginger bath use 4 tablespoons to a half tub of water as hot as you can tolerate. Bath for 15 to 20 minutes. Sometimes it’s helpful to use other types of hydrotherapy to accompany the colonic in order to relax the abdominal muscles.
Sauna, steam, whirlpool and bathing are all helpful. Remember you are beginning to focus on you, on your relaxation, on loosening your intestines, hydrating and nurturing them before you come in preparation for the colonic session.