Nutrition and Hydrotherapy Team Up for Good Health

Each year millions of people in the United States who suffer from constipation spend millions of dollars on laxatives for relief. They will often continue living with this miserable and sometimes very painful condition for many years. For some, the inability to have regular bowel movements can eventually lead to rectal bleeding, multiple hemorrhoid surgeries, the surgical removal of their colon and even death attributed to a chronic disease caused by toxicity in the body.

As a holistic health counselor one of the most common health problems that I see among my clients is constipation. Accompanying their constipation is often a long list of health symptoms and illnesses such as allergies, arthritis, joint pain, IBS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression and headaches. Some of my clients have reported taking more than 20 medications, at the same time, for their various health problems without realizing that often the side effects of these medications can actually cause their symptoms.

I consider constipation to be a very serious condition that requires immediate attention. The colon is one of the body's main detoxification systems, and if a person is unable to eliminate on a regular basis, this has the potential to lead to many serious chronic diseases which includes cancer.

I remember back in the 90's, when I was trying to heal my own body, what an impact it had on me when I read that the colon is one of the most important organs in the body. Before that time I had never even thought about the importance of my colon or its role in helping me live a healthy life. No one really talked about colon health or wanted to discuss it. Today it is still a difficult subject for many people to openly discuss, even with their health care providers. Once I learned the importance of my colon, I moved colon health to the top of my personal self-care list where it remains.

Because colon health and elimination are critical to living a healthy life, I help my clients overcome any reservations they may have about discussing this area of their body. Together, we investigate all areas of their health which includes the health of their colon. This becomes regular subject matter that they openly share with me and will often document in their food journals - "Finally I had a good poop...and another one!!" This is actually important feedback for me to hear because it helps me know if my recommendations are working for my client.

The primary way for a person to maintain good colon health is to regularly eat a whole foods diet which is rich in fiber. "The health of the colon is largely determined by the types of foods that are eaten. In particular, dietary fiber. In order to gain nutritional benefits from foods it is critical that they be properly digested, absorbed and eliminated. The best nutrition in the world will go to waste if the body is unable to process it," say Michael Murray, ND and Joseph Pizzorno, ND, two leading naturopathic doctors and researchers. That sounds easy enough. But, most people rarely eat whole foods, high fiber foods or healthy foods. Even when some good quality foods are eaten, it is not consistent enough to override the predominance of complicated and refined toxic "food stuff" that the typical American eats the majority of the time. In turn, millions of colons are abused and even permanently damaged due to their owner's poor self-care practices, dietary choices, overuse of medications and alcohol, and the failure to address the cause of colon problems such as constipation and diarrhea when they arise.

I have written about the importance of food and the impact it has in helping the body heal itself on my website Food Philosophy page. I have also listed many of the health problems that can be related to toxicity in the body, click here to read. If a person regularly consumes a poor diet consisting of primarily fast food, packaged food, soft drinks, restaurant quality food, snack food as well as other toxins such as alcohol and medications, this lifestyle can cause them to have excess toxicity in their body which can lead to inflammation and disease. This includes packaged and processed foods found in health food stores that contain sugar, are highly refined and have very little life giving nutrients and fiber. Environmental pollution is also of concern and over time can attribute to toxicity in the body.

Poor diet, lack of water, lifestyle, which includes a lack of exercise and irregular schedules, and illness can considerably slow the elimination process down leaving waste in the intestines for long periods of time. It is sort of paradoxical but fast food slows the elimination process down and slow food speeds it up. When there is a build-up of toxins in the body caused by constipation and old waste matter in the colon, it is referred to as autointoxication or self-poisoning. According to Dr. Ann Wigmore, founder of the Hippocrates Health Institute and holistic health pioneer, "Hippocrates claimed that chronic disease came from autointoxication. The deposits of accumulated waste in the colon release toxins which inflame the nerves producing rheumatism, neuralgia, melancholia, hysteria, eczema, acne, headaches and many other health problems." If you are a capable adult, no one but you is responsible for the health of your body. Any type of self-poisoning is the direct result of the quality of your own self-care. For those who are unable to care for themselves such as children and people who are ill or weak, it is the responsibility of parents, guardians, caregivers etc. to ensure that these people receive the care that they cannot manage for themselves. Critical to their health and well-being is preparing and feeding them quality food and water. It is unfortunate but many elderly and young children are existing on nothing but very low quality "food stuff" that does not nourish or keep their bodies running well and healthy.

People often ask for my opinion on supplemental colon cleanse products. I personally do not use a colon cleanse product because it is my opinion that food is the best health supportive option especially raw foods and vegetable juices which are highly detoxifying. It is also extremely important to drink lots of water every day. This does not mean that you might not benefit from a colon cleanse product. But it would be highly advisable to do this under the care of an expert. Each person is biologically different and some of these products contain many ingredients that might be beneficial for some and not for others. I do however view hydrotherapy, also known as colon therapy or colonics, as a very effective method of cleansing the body from toxic build-up and I include colonics as part of my own personal self-care. In his book Eating for Beauty, nutrition and raw food expert David Wolfe says, "Colonics can help channel and remove toxicity and emotions through the bowels instead of the skin. Physical beauty is a function of inner cleanliness." Physical appearance is an external reflection of the overall internal condition of a person's body.

I have found colonics to be beneficial in helping my body heal both physically and emotionally and I love the results. The amount of toxic garbage that can be eliminated from the colon is incredible. In the past I have booked one or two colonics a couple of times a year because I felt that since I am so health conscious, and have been for over a decade, that this was enough. But more recently I have been letting go of many things emotionally and decided that colonics would again be very beneficial in helping me with that process. I recently completed a series of five colonics (one a week) and was completely amazed that even I, who juices vegetables every day and eats lots of whole foods, still had old build-up on the walls of my colon. Each colonic session hydrated the old waste matter and enabled it to be released. It was really an unbelievable healing experience that I hope many of you reading this article will give a try. Even if you are eating healthy like me, you can still have old waste in your colon. It is unbelievable I know, but true!

Some of the benefits of colonics:

Removal of harmful toxins and parasites from the body quickly
Removal of old hardened waste
Allows for nutrients to pass more freely into the blood
Helps to work and strengthen the colon
Clears constipation and leads to regular bowel movements
Enhances the senses
Clears many health symptoms related to toxicity
Rehydrates the skin leading to a more youthful beautiful glow
Improves mental clarity, thinking and creativity

Colonics are an excellent preventive and healing self-care therapy but should never be used as a replacement for a healthy diet or to lose weight. Nutrients are what keep the immune system strong, keep the body healthy and are what aid the body in maintaining weight and natural weight-loss. Colonics should never be overused to make up for excessive and toxic lifestyles.

Criteria for selecting a hydrotherapist:
If you are considering colon therapy, it is important that you only use highly experienced hydrotherapists. These are people that have education and training certifications, have spent time as apprentices with other experienced hydrotherapists, and who have spent a number of years in practice. Good hydrotherapists will come highly recommended by others in your community. You will want to ask people you know for recommendations and only go to someone that people you know and trust can personally recommend. It is also important that you feel absolutely comfortable when you meet with your therapist. If you do not feel comfortable or feel that you can trust this person - leave and find someone else. This should be the same criteria for any health care provider. An excellent health care provider makes you feel comfortable, listens to you and has time for you.

Recommended hydrotherapists:
Since I view colon therapy as an important component of maintaining good health and the prevention of disease, it is important that I have experienced hydrotherapists that I can trust to provide the level of care that I want and expect for my clients. Included in my network of health partners are hydrotherapists Rachel Bastow of New York City, and Nancy Guess of Longview, Texas. It is no accident that I found both of these women, as they were highly recommended to me by people that I know and trust. I later discovered that we have similar interests in natural health as each of us used alternative therapies to heal ourselves. For Rachel and Nancy, hydrotherapy is very personal. They both healed themselves of chronic health problems using hydrotherapy and for many of the same reasons as I have, they have entered into the alternative and natural health field to help others. Both Rachel and Nancy have personal healing knowledge and experience, a great passion for their work and true empathy and care for others. I highly recommend their services.

Rachel Bastow, Hydrotherapist, New York City, New York:
Rachel Bastow currently lives in New York City and has been a hydrotherapist for 12 years. Rachel has a beautiful office located on 34th St. near Herald Square which she shares with her partners. Centered in one of the world's leading fashion capitals, it is no surprise that many of Rachel's clients are fashion industry professionals and are typically young successful women between the ages of 24-45 who want to maintain good health and beauty.

Rachel is originally from Australia but by the time she was 23 years old she was living in Japan. While in Japan her diet consisted of eating raw fish every day. While there she developed digestive and colon problems. She began to do her own enemas which led to the discovery that she had worm parasites that were three inches long. At the age of 25, Rachel visited a spa in Palm Springs, Florida where she had her first colonic. In addition to Rachel's own digestive health concerns, Rachel's mother had also died young of colon cancer making her more aware of colon health. These are the primary reasons why Rachel became interested in hydrotherapy and why she is so passionate about providing the service to others.

When I recently interviewed Rachel she said, "I wouldn't be doing this if it was harmful. I have only seen the positive. I have seen people completely change their lives with it." According to Rachel, she has been able to prevent people from having surgeries to remove their colons by helping them return to normal bowel functioning. She has also helped people heal very quickly from parasites that had gone undiagnosed by doctors for many years.

I have always had very positive experiences during my colon therapy sessions and have never had a bad or painful colonic - which is why I keep going back. I have also had both kinds of colonics, open-ended and close-ended. So I asked Rachel to explain why some people might experience some pain when having colonics. Rachel said that sodas cause gas pockets and can cause people to have very bad experiences. Her advice is to not drink sodas before having a colonic and to eat beets, salads and drink juices.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Rachel please contact her at 212.946.6302 or email her at rachelbas@hotmail.com. Rachel's office is located at 50 West 34th Street, Suite #16A12, New York, NY 10001. Please click here to view a February 2009 interview with Rachel by OZtralia.tv.

Nancy Guess, Hydrotherapist, Longview, Texas:
Nancy Guess currently lives in Longview, Texas and has been a hydrotherapist for 14 years. Nancy has a lovely office located on College St. in a beautiful home near downtown Longview. In the heart of East Texas, Nancy's services are in great demand as she is one of very few hydrotherapists that are located in the area. Nancy's clients are primarily people who have some type of health issue such as constipation, digestive problems, or are detoxing from prescription drugs. Nancy also receives client referrals from area doctors.

Until the age of 48, Nancy was unable to have regular bowel movements. Because she was unable to eliminate, she suffered from many symptoms and illnesses such as vomiting, feeling sick, passing out, swelling, splitting of her rectum, fibromyalgia, asthma, IBS, chalky skin, green nail beds and her hair would not grow. Nancy was able to regain her health through colon therapy sessions. She began to have normal bowel movements, lost 46 pounds, her skin healed and her hair began to grow again. "It was a lifesaver to me, " said Nancy. Hydrotherapy helped Nancy regain her health. This is the reason why Nancy became interested in hydrotherapy and why she is so passionate about providing the service to others.

According to Nancy, about one-third of her clients have parasites and raw fish such as sushi is notorious for causing it. Nancy has helped clients clear parasites that were 10-12 inches in length.

Some of the signs of parasite infection include:

Stomach pain and cramps
Constipation
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Flatulence
Food Allergies
Headaches
Indigestion
IBS

Nancy has even helped clients who have chronic diseases like cerebral palsy which prevents them from being able to eliminate on their own. Nancy said, "I have not seen anyone get sick (from colonics). It has helped thousands of people."

When I recently interviewed Nancy, I asked her what foods seem to be most problematic for people. She advised that dairy products, especially those that are highly processed like American cheese and other cheese products seem to cause problems for many people. She said that years ago when she was in school they had a piece of American cheese that had been in a bucket of stomach acid for eight years. The edges of the cheese were yellow but it would not break down.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Nancy please contact her at 903.297.7242 or email her at nancy.guess@cablelynx.com. Her Natural Solutions office is located at 212 E. College St., Longview, TX 75601.

The safety of colonics:
There is a lot of information out there about colonics but I should warn you to consider the source as well as who is funding the source. What is most important for you to consider is the expert and the healing track record. I was recently disappointed when I read the negative description of colon therapy on the American Cancer Society's website click here. The information is written in such a way that can lead people to believe that colon therapy is risky and harmful and can potentially lead to death. ACS's description of colon therapy reminds me of a very similar accusation that has been made with regard to vitamins and supplements. According to Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D., therapeutic nutrition specialist and author, there have been a total of 10 deaths in 23 years attributed to vitamins, and these are unproven. There are over 100,000 iatrogenic caused deaths in America each year. These are deaths caused by medical mistakes. Iatrogenic deaths rank third in America behind heart disease and cancer. There is a much higher risk for a person to receive perforation damage from colonoscopies and nurse administered enemas than receiving any type of perforation or harm from hydrotherapy. If anyone has any data on this that can prove otherwise, please send it to me. Interestingly, a new client that I met with this week had recently had a colonoscopy and has been experiencing stomach problems ever since. She said that she has a lot of anxiety about having them since a friend of a woman that she works with experienced perforation damage from a colonoscopy and died. Colonoscopies can help detect polyps and early stages of disease but they do not prevent disease. If you want to prevent disease the best way is through nutrition and the elimination of toxicity in your body.

What is promising is that many doctors are now embracing hydrotherapy as a part of a complimentary alternative medicine plan (CAM). But it is not supported by all medical experts. If you would like to read what many doctors are saying about hydrotherapy, click here to read a report by Dr. Morton Walker, "Value of Colon Hydrotherapy By Medical Professionals Prescribing It." This report was done in 2000 and includes feedback from many doctors.

What are some health experts recommending and doing themselves?
Gabriel Cousens, MD - founder and director of the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center, does not recommend more than three colonics in a week over a long period of time. He suggests that we need to be cautious and not over clean as that can cause a person's body to become more sensitive to our polluted environment. A little mucus in the system is needed to protect from pollution. Hydrotherapy is offered at his Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center where he is helping people heal on all levels (mind, body, spirit) and is curing people of diabetes.

Brenda Cobb, founder of the Living Foods Institute and cancer survivor - Healed herself from cancer by switching to a raw foods diet and incorporating three colonics a week. She then tapered them to two a week, then one a week, then one every other week, then one every third week, then once a month and then once a quarter. In Brenda Cobb's Colon Cleansing for Optimum Health, Brenda wrote, "no more tumors, allergies, headaches, acid reflux, indigestion, heartburn, hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, skin problems, arthritis, aches or pain. Even eyesight improved and my grey hair turned back. I know it sounds too good to be true, but it all happened to me and it has happened for many others who have tried this approach to regular systematic colon cleansing." Brenda is very busy helping many people successfully overcome cancer and other illnesses.

Andrew Weil, MD - said in an interview with Holistic Health Magazine, "I think if people like them (colonics) fine, but I don't think that there is any real need to do them. I think the best way to clean your colon is by doing it naturally, by eating a diet that is high in fiber, drinking plenty of water and getting enough exercise. This keeps your intestines pretty regular."

Elson Hass, MD - Integrative medicine doctor and director of the Preventive Medical Center of Marin, profoundly changed his life through the use of cleansing and natural healing. He is well known as the Detox Doc. At one time Dr. Haas was 40-50 pounds overweight, had back pain, digestive problems, sinus problems, allergies, fatigue and what he calls an accumulation of physical and psychological sludge that prevented him from being totally present in his body. Dr. Haas did a weekly series of colonics, then monthly for 18 months, and now he does them seasonally. Dr. Haas centers his practice around detoxification and is helping many people heal from all types of addictions and chronic diseases.

What can you expect?
There is considerable fear around the subject of colonics. I believe this is mainly due to the lack of education and information people have on the subject. It is my hope that this colon health article with help to demystify any concerns or fears that you may have.

The hydrotherapist takes a complete health history
There is often relaxing music and aromatherapy
Removal of clothes (partial or all) and then client is fully covered with sheets
The hydrotherapy equipment is sterilized with parts that are disposable such as the rectal tubes.
The rectal tube is inserted about 3 inches
Between 20-25 gallons of water is then monitored by the therapist for temperature and pressure. The water is used throughout the session and not filtered into the colon all at one time.
Depending on the type of colonic there could be some massaging
Elimination of a lot of waste
Open discussion and communication with the therapist
Afterwards you go into the bathroom and eliminate any excess water

Here are some photos of me having a colonic as well as photos of recommended hydrotherapists Rachel Bastow and Nancy Guess.

If you have any questions regarding hydrotherapy, please feel free to contact me or give Rachel and Nancy a call. Hydrotherapy is a gentle and effective way to help remove toxins from the body very quickly and can be extremely helpful to those that have many health symptoms related to toxicity in the body.

Remember to make colon health a priority on your self-care list each day! Good health, beauty and vitality is directly related to a person's inner cleanliness, quality nutrition, rest and emotional balance. The proper elimination of waste is critical to maintaining a healthy body.

Your food choices directly impact your body's ability to eliminate. Poor food choices can slow elimination down, cause constipation and cause the build-up of toxins in the body. Quality nutrition is vital to keep your body clean and to obtain a healthy disease free life. Nutrients provide energy to every cell in your body. Nutrients are necessary for your body to run. Most people think they are eating healthy but in reality they are eating nutrient-poor foods. If you are tired of feeling bad all of the time and want a better life, I can help you learn to give your body the best and most health supportive nutritional options. The choices that you make today will impact the rest of your life.

Thank you very much for reading my blog and please continue to visit often. Please also feel free to post any comments. I would love your feedback.

I wish you good health, happiness and love!

Danielle

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Nutrition and Hydrotherapy Team Up for Good Health

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