Most of what’s written about colon hydrotherapy is about who it might help. This post is about the opposite, because it matters more.
Colon hydrotherapy is not suitable for everyone. For some people it carries genuine risk, and no amount of wanting it changes that. I turn people away reasonably often, and I’d rather lose the booking than take one I’m not comfortable with.
Absolute contraindications
If any of these apply, I won’t treat you.
Pregnancy
At any stage. If there’s any possibility you’re pregnant, tell me before we go ahead.
Active inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis during a flare. The bowel wall is inflamed and more fragile, and introducing water under pressure is not appropriate.
If you have IBD in stable, well-managed remission, this is a conversation to have with your gastroenterologist first — not with me.
Active diverticulitis
An acute flare is a clear no. Severe diverticular disease is also generally unsuitable even between flares.
Recent surgery
Any bowel, rectal or abdominal surgery within the past six months. Healing tissue and pressure don’t mix.
Known or suspected bowel cancer or polyps
Including anyone awaiting investigation for suspected bowel cancer. Please prioritise that investigation.
Severe haemorrhoids, anal fissures or rectal bleeding
Rectal bleeding of unknown cause always needs investigating by a doctor first, without exception.
Serious heart, kidney or liver disease
Colon hydrotherapy affects fluid and electrolyte balance, which these conditions already make harder to regulate.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Well-controlled hypertension may be fine — we’d discuss it. Uncontrolled is not.
Recent heart attack or stroke
Abdominal hernia
Severe anaemia
Recent colonoscopy or bowel investigation
Please allow time to recover and follow your consultant’s guidance.
Things we’d need to discuss
These don’t automatically rule out treatment, but they change the conversation and sometimes the answer.
- IBS — often fine, occasionally not, depending on your pattern and severity
- Diabetes — particularly if poorly controlled
- Epilepsy
- Kidney stones or gallstones
- Prescription medication — some affect fluid balance or bowel function
- Long-term laxative use — worth understanding before adding anything else
- An eating disorder, current or historical — I’d want to talk about motivation carefully, and would often decline
- Recent illness with vomiting or diarrhoea — wait until you’ve recovered
- Being under 18 — I don’t treat minors
A note on eating disorders
I want to be direct about this one because it’s under-discussed in my industry.
Colonics are sometimes sought as a form of purging, or as part of a pattern of controlling weight and food. Some clinics don’t ask. I do, and where that appears to be the motivation I will decline and suggest more appropriate support.
This isn’t a judgement of anyone. It’s that taking that booking would cause harm, and I’m not willing to do it.
If any of that resonates, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders and Beat both offer helplines with people far better placed to help than I am.
Why the screening matters
Serious complications from colon hydrotherapy are rare. Where they do occur, they’re overwhelmingly associated with poor practice — inadequate screening, unsterile equipment, excessive water pressure, or practitioners treating people they shouldn’t.
The health questionnaire at the start of your first appointment isn’t a formality. It’s the main thing standing between a safe treatment and an unsafe one.
Please answer it honestly, including the parts that feel embarrassing or that you think might get you turned away. Being turned away is not the bad outcome here.
What to ask any clinic
If you’re considering colon hydrotherapy anywhere — here or elsewhere — these are fair questions:
- What health screening do you carry out before treatment?
- Is all equipment that touches me sterile and single-use?
- Is the practitioner present throughout the session?
- What conditions would mean you’d decline to treat someone?
- What insurance and registration do you hold?
A clinic that answers these openly is a good sign. One that treats them as awkward is not.
If you’re unsure
Ring or message me before booking rather than after. If your circumstances mean it isn’t suitable, I’d much rather tell you on the phone than have you travel to Chipstead for an appointment we can’t go ahead with.
And if you’re not sure whether a symptom needs looking at, the answer is almost always to ask your GP.
Colon hydrotherapy is a complementary therapy. It doesn’t diagnose or treat medical conditions and it isn’t a substitute for medical advice. This list isn’t exhaustive — your consultation covers your individual circumstances properly.
Get in touch if you’d like to check whether it’s suitable for you.