I conducted an email interview with Windsor’s certified colon therapist, Linda Carlini recently. Check it out the informative responses below:
Q) I heard that Colon Hydrotherapy messes with the balance between good and bad bacteria… does it really?
A) It is a misconception that a colonic removes the good bacteria in the colon, thus causing an imbalance. The truth is that washing out putrefied material in the colon increases the good bacteria. Good bacteria can only breed in a clean environment. We are supposed to have 80% good vs. 20% bad in our colon, but in reality we have the opposite ratio. If the colon is dirty, good bacteria cannot flourish. It’s only once you clean out all the garbage that has been sitting there for years, good bacteria can thrive. Usually within 30 mins. after a colonic the good bacteria starts to multiply. Valuable nutrients can better be absorbed in a clean environment than a putrefied one, so it doesn’t cause malnutrition, but rather encourages the opposite.
Q) How is the equipment sterilized to prevent infection?
A) I use hospital grade sterilizing solution to disinfect and sterilize all my instruments. After they soak in this solution, I put it in an autoclave just to be safe. I disinfect all the tubes and towels with bleach after each client. Also, i don’t take more than 3 clients a day to ensure proper sterilization.
Q) Is it a “closed system” that you use or an “open-system” and why does it matter?
A) I use the closed gravity system. This is to ensure that all the waste flows through proper tubing and draining so there is not mess, odor, and it’s more sanitary. Open system is where the waste is not enclosed and can become pretty messy and unsanitary.
Q) I heard that Colon Hydrotherapy can cause dehydration or malnutrition. Can it?
A) Some think that colonics can dehydrate the bowel. I have never had a problem with any clients feeling dehydrated after a colonic. The PH electrical balance in the colon is very neutral, ideally being slightly acidic. A strong acid or alkaline environment is not necessary because most of the digestion does not take place in the colon. Rather a major function of the colon is to re-absorb the fluid from the unformed stool, which is passed on from the small intestine. After the fluid is re-absorbed and stool is formed, the colon moves the stool in to the rectum and out of the body. The majority of material released during a colonic is formed stool that already has already had the fluid and electrolytes removed from it. So the amount lost is very minimal and easily replaced from the food and fluid we ingest.
Q) Does colon therapy cause dependency and the inability to go on your own afterwards?
A) Some people think that they can become dependent on colonics. This is totally false. Colonics are intended to create a clean and healthy colon. When the colon is sluggish and bowel movements do not return for a few days after a colonic, it is an indication that extensive colon work is need to remove the debris that has built up over the years. The build up of fecal matter has decreased the muscular action in the colon. Colonics get the muscle moving again, thus stimulating the bowel to move more frequently. Once a series of colonics is completed, the colon will only function better. My sister has a had over 100 colonics in a matter of a year when she was sick, and she still gets them regularly and her bowels still move twice a day.