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A Conversation About Colon Hydrotherapy
By Mike Bundrant and Phyllis Gottshall, RN

HT: What is Colon Hydrotherapy?

Phyllis: Colon Hydrotherapy is introducing warm, filtered water into the colon through the rectum at a very low pressure. Actually, it's about ½ pound psi, which is really less pressure than an enema. The purpose is to soak the colon wall to allow whatever material is ready to be released from the colon to be soaked and released…again in a very gentle matter. There's no suction or siphoning. It’s gravity allowing the flow out of the colon.

I think that some people - because they are just hearing about it for the first time - think that colon hydrotherapy may be something new. There is actually a long history of colon cleansing to promote health. The first evidence of colon irrigation dates back to the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian times, where it has been found on their prescription tablets. The Egyptians used enemas to maintain health and they concluded that all diseases proceeded from foods. It goes through history ….in early China in 196 AD they used enemas, actually Chang Chung Chin, who is considered China’s greatest physician, prescribed enemas for cleansing and healing.

Then we jump over to Europe and France. In about 1480 Angelo Catho, a physician to King Louie XI, was credited for saving the king’s life by prescribing a colon cleanse. Enemas became so popular in the 17th century that no home was without the usage of an enema. By the time of the 19th century, we had the gravity irrigators which allowed more water to be introduced into the colon so there could be a deeper cleansing. In other words, water could get farther up into the colon. Really the instruments we use today are based on the early gravity irrigators.

Around 1917 Dr. Harvey Kellogg, an American surgeon and creator of Kellogg’s cereal, maintained through his experience in thousands of bowel surgeries that 90 percent of human diseases are due to improper function of the colon. So he was a really big component of colon cleansing.

HT: Why do you think he concluded that? Is it because the function of the colon is to remove waste from the body…and if its not functioning properly the food is turned to waste and not removed - and that leads to toxicity which leads to disease? Do you think that's what its all about?

Phyllis: Yes. When the colon is congested, the walls of the colon can get more permeable because it starts breaking down. The waste material can get absorbed into the body through the blood stream through little “pinholes” in the colon. I heard this great analogy at a conference I attended. If you have rain gutters that you don’t clean, they become clogged with debris. When this debris is left in the gutters, it rots and after a period of time, it begins deteriorating the rain gutter causing small holes and when it rains the gutter starts to leak. The same thing happens in the colon. Then, of course, the other organs have to work harder to get rid of these impurities. The skin, lungs, and lymphatic system are some of the main organs and systems that take on this task. The liver, of course, carries a big burden in this detoxifying process. Traditionally, at this point, the person begins treating the symptoms. These may manifest as skin eruptions, frequent sinus, nasal or respiratory congestion, aching joints, bloating and fatigue to name a few.

HT: So, cleansing the colon would be a way to strike at the root cause…

Phyllis: That's the way many people see it. And I think that's the way early practitioners such as Dr’s Bernard Jensen, and Norman Walker, who were big advocates of good nutrition and colon cleansing, saw it.

Colon Hydrotherapy is regarded as a holistic modality. We use FDA approved equipment and disposable personal equipment. In working with the client we’re not just looking at the colon; we’re looking at the whole body. The food a person eats, their stresses, toxins in their environment, life changes… all these play a part in how the colon functions. A lot more research is coming out about the body-mind connection…and we know through this research that the colon is also affected by how we think. Our education is very much ongoing.

HT: What kinds of things does the therapy help with? How do I know if the therapy would benefit me?

Phyllis: Let me just start out by saying what some physicians and other practitioners might refer clients to us for. Of course, cases of constipation…sometimes x-rays show that the colon is full of fecal matter and the doctor recommends they get their colon cleaned. Also, in preparation for diagnostic procedures such as a colonoscopy or barium

enema ….and following this procedure to get that barium out of the colon as soon as possible so that it doesn’t congest the colon. Before and after certain surgeries. Or, in cases of diarrhea or arthritis….these are some examples.

There are symptoms that might indicate colon congestion (people might experience these for other reasons as well, but it very well could be related to the colon). One is a white coating on the tongue…it signifies congestion and toxicity. Difficulty sleeping, interestingly enough….when there is a lot of toxicity in the body it can lead to sleep difficulties. When people have halitosis… the lungs trying to help the colon out …trying to rid the body of toxins. When the stool has a very bad odor…normally the stool shouldn’t have such a foul odor….this means the material has been sitting in the colon for too long and putrefying. Of course, if people are going too long without bowel movements…normally people should have 2-3 bowel movements per day.

HT: What kind of results over what period of time can people expect?

Phyllis: Because this a holistic practice, we individualize the sessions. Sometimes people will see results instantly….and feel better, lighter, clearer as soon as they finish the session. Other times people actually feel fatigued after a session before they begin to feel better…and need some rest. We tell them to drink a lot of water and eat healthy foods such as lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially green vegetables. People report

reduced joint pain, more energy, more frequent bowel movements and a greater awareness of their bodies. Many say they have more interest in caring for their bodies.

For people who have never done colon therapy or other cleansing programs, we generally suggest they do several sessions within a month. And then they can go on a maintenance program where they have sessions once a month. We individualize this according the needs of the client. Many of my clients have been doing colon hydrotherapy for years. These are people who are being very proactive about their health. I like to think of the clients being on a “health wheel”. Colon hydrotherapy is one spoke on the wheel as part of their overall health program to maintain high level wellness. Many of our clients include nutritional counseling, chiropractic work, acupuncture, fitness training, massage, to name a few, in their wellness program.

We consider ourselves as a team member with our clients. We do our part and we want our clients to consider themselves members of the same team and do their part to achieve High Level Wellness and have Vibrant Bodies.


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A Conversation About Colon Hydrotherapy By Mike Bundrant and Phyllis Gottshall, RN HT: What is Colon Hydrotherapy? Phyllis: Colon Hydrotherapy is introducing warm, filtered water into the colon through the rectum at a very low pressure. Actually, it's about ½ pound psi, which is really less pressure than an enema. The purpose is to soak the colon wall to allow whatever material is ready to be released from the colon to be soaked and released…again in a very gentle matter. There's no suction or siphoning. It’s gravity allowing the flow out of the colon. I think that some people - because they are just hearing about it for the first time - think that colon hydrotherapy may be something new. There is actually a long history of colon cleansing to promote health. The first evidence of colon irrigation dates back to the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian times, where it has been found on their prescription tablets. The Egyptians used enemas to maintain health and they concluded that all diseases proceeded from foods. It goes through history ….in early China in 196 AD they used enemas, actually Chang Chung Chin, who is considered China’s greatest physician, prescribed enemas for cleansing and healing. Then we jump over to Europe and France. In about 1480 Angelo Catho, a physician to King Louie XI, was credited for saving the king’s life by prescribing a colon cleanse. Enemas became so popular in the 17th century that no home was without the usage of an enema. By the time of the 19th century, we had the gravity irrigators which allowed more water to be introduced into the colon so there could be a deeper cleansing. In other words, water could get farther up into the colon. Really the instruments we use today are based on the early gravity irrigators. Around 1917 Dr. Harvey Kellogg, an American surgeon and creator of Kellogg’s cereal, maintained through his experience in thousands of bowel surgeries that 90 percent of human diseases are due to improper function of the colon. So he was a really big component of colon cleansing. HT: Why do you think he concluded that? Is it because the function of the colon is to remove waste from the body…and if its not functioning properly the food is turned to waste and not removed - and that leads to toxicity which leads to disease? Do you think that's what its all about? Phyllis: Yes. When the colon is congested, the walls of the colon can get more permeable because it starts breaking down. The waste material can get absorbed into the body through the blood stream through little “pinholes” in the colon. I heard this great analogy at a conference I attended. If you have rain gutters that you don’t clean, they become clogged with debris. When this debris is left in the gutters, it rots and after a period of time, it begins deteriorating the rain gutter causing small holes and when it rains the gutter starts to leak. The same thing happens in the colon. Then, of course, the other organs have to work harder to get rid of these impurities. The skin, lungs, and lymphatic system are some of the main organs and systems that take on this task. The liver, of course, carries a big burden in this detoxifying process. Traditionally, at this point, the person begins treating the symptoms. These may manifest as skin eruptions, frequent sinus, nasal or respiratory congestion, aching joints, bloating and fatigue to name a few. HT: So, cleansing the colon would be a way to strike at the root cause… Phyllis: That's the way many people see it. And I think that's the way early practitioners such as Dr’s Bernard Jensen, and Norman Walker, who were big advocates of good nutrition and colon cleansing, saw it. Colon Hydrotherapy is regarded as a holistic modality. We use FDA approved equipment and disposable personal equipment. In working with the client we’re not just looking at the colon; we’re looking at the whole body. The food a person eats, their stresses, toxins in their environment, life changes… all these play a part in how the colon functions. A lot more research is coming out about the body-mind connection…and we know through this research that the colon is also affected by how we think. Our education is very much ongoing. HT: What kinds of things does the therapy help with? How do I know if the therapy would benefit me? Phyllis: Let me just start out by saying what some physicians and other practitioners might refer clients to us for. Of course, cases of constipation…sometimes x-rays show that the colon is full of fecal matter and the doctor recommends they get their colon cleaned. Also, in preparation for diagnostic procedures such as a colonoscopy or barium enema ….and following this procedure to get that barium out of the colon as soon as possible so that it doesn’t congest the colon. Before and after certain surgeries. Or, in cases of diarrhea or arthritis….these are some examples. There are symptoms that might indicate colon congestion (people might experience these for other reasons as well, but it very well could be related to the colon). One is a white coating on the tongue…it signifies congestion and toxicity. Difficulty sleeping, interestingly enough….when there is a lot of toxicity in the body it can lead to sleep difficulties. When people have halitosis… the lungs trying to help the colon out …trying to rid the body of toxins. When the stool has a very bad odor…normally the stool shouldn’t have such a foul odor….this means the material has been sitting in the colon for too long and putrefying. Of course, if people are going too long without bowel movements…normally people should have 2-3 bowel movements per day. HT: What kind of results over what period of time can people expect? Phyllis: Because this a holistic practice, we individualize the sessions. Sometimes people will see results instantly….and feel better, lighter, clearer as soon as they finish the session. Other times people actually feel fatigued after a session before they begin to feel better…and need some rest. We tell them to drink a lot of water and eat healthy foods such as lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially green vegetables. People report reduced joint pain, more energy, more frequent bowel movements and a greater awareness of their bodies. Many say they have more interest in caring for their bodies. For people who have never done colon therapy or other cleansing programs, we generally suggest they do several sessions within a month. And then they can go on a maintenance program where they have sessions once a month. We individualize this according the needs of the client. Many of my clients have been doing colon hydrotherapy for years. These are people who are being very proactive about their health. I like to think of the clients being on a “health wheel”. Colon hydrotherapy is one spoke on the wheel as part of their overall health program to maintain high level wellness. Many of our clients include nutritional counseling, chiropractic work, acupuncture, fitness training, massage, to name a few, in their wellness program. We consider ourselves as a team member with our clients. We do our part and we want our clients to consider themselves members of the same team and do their part to achieve High Level Wellness and have Vibrant Bodies.