Your gut has not felt quite right for a while. A friend tells you enthusiastically about her colonic irrigation, and in the evening you search for “colon hydrotherapy Berlin” or “colon hydrotherapy near me”. Questions soon come up: how does it work? What does it cost? Is it worthwhile, and is it safe?
This article explains what happens during colon hydrotherapy, what the evidence says, which risks have been described and what to look out for if you are interested in it.
At a glance
- What it's about: Colon hydrotherapy is colonic irrigation with warm water via a closed device. How does it work, what does it cost, and is it worthwhile?
- Possible causes: An unsettled gut has many possible reasons; a health benefit of colonic irrigation has not been shown in reliable studies.
- What you can do: Look for qualifications, a preliminary conversation, hygiene and clear costs, mention previous illnesses and medication openly, and have warning signs checked by a doctor first.
- What can be measured: Gut flora, markers of inflammation and the gut barrier, and digestion values from a stool sample.
What is colon hydrotherapy?
Colon is the medical word for the large intestine, and hydro stands for water. In colon hydrotherapy, warm water is passed through a thin tube via the anus into the large intestine and drained out again, usually several times in a row. It is also called colonic irrigation or a colonic.
Today a closed device is usually used. Closed means that the water and loosened bowel contents drain through a tube directly into the device.
The difference from an enema is important. An enema uses a small amount of fluid, usually for constipation or for a medical reason. In colonic irrigation, much larger amounts of water flow in and out through a tube (PubMed 15540974).
What happens during a session
Exactly how a session works differs from practice to practice. In general terms, it goes like this:
- Preliminary conversation: this covers previous illnesses, operations, medication and whether the treatment is suitable for you at all.
- Preparation: you lie on a couch, covered with a towel. A thin tube is carefully inserted into the rectum.
- Irrigation: warm water flows in and out at intervals. Some practices gently massage the abdomen at the same time.
- Afterwards: you can use the toilet and get dressed. How long a session lasts and how many appointments are suggested varies.
Who is allowed to carry out colon hydrotherapy?
In Germany, colonic irrigation counts as practising medicine. Under section 1 of the German Non-Medical Practitioners Act (Heilpraktikergesetz), only doctors or people licensed as a Heilpraktiker (non-medical practitioner) may do this. A beauty salon or wellness provider without this licence is not the right place.
Feel free to ask: who carries out the treatment, with what training, and how are the device and accessories cleaned?
Is colon hydrotherapy worthwhile? What the evidence says
An honest look is worthwhile here. A systematic review analysed the literature on colonic cleansing for general health, from both conventional and complementary medicine. The result: there are no methodologically rigorous controlled trials showing a health benefit. On the other hand, several case reports and case series describe adverse effects. The authors therefore cannot recommend colonic cleansing to promote general health (PubMed 19724266).
Another review from family medicine reaches a similar conclusion: a benefit of colon cleansing has not been proven, whereas adverse effects have been described (PubMed 21814639).
This does not mean that nobody feels better afterwards. It means that a health benefit has not yet been shown in good studies. If you decide to go ahead anyway, do so with realistic expectations.
Risks: what has been described
How often incidents occur has not been well studied. But there are documented risks you should know about.
- Injury to the bowel: doctors in Australia report three cases in which the rectum was perforated during colonic irrigation given by alternative practitioners. All three needed surgery. They also name disturbances of the body's salt balance and transmissible infections as recognised risks (PubMed 15540974).
- Infections via the device: in the USA, between 1978 and 1980 at least 36 people developed an amoebic gut infection after colonic irrigation at the same clinic. After routine cleaning, the machine was heavily contaminated with faecal bacteria (PubMed 6283354). That was a long time ago, but it shows why hygiene and single-use materials matter.
Who it is not suitable for
Whether colonic irrigation is suitable for you is clarified in the preliminary conversation. Mention openly if you have or have had a bowel condition, have had abdominal surgery, have haemorrhoids or anal fissures, have heart or kidney disease, are pregnant or take medication regularly. Do not stop a prescribed medication without talking to your doctor first.
Blood in the stool, severe or new abdominal pain, fever, unintended weight loss or a lasting change in bowel habits need to be checked by a doctor first, not treated with colonic irrigation.
Colon hydrotherapy costs and colonic irrigation in Berlin
What a session costs varies from practice to practice. Ask beforehand about the price per session, the suggested number of appointments and whether any insurance will contribute.
An example from Berlin: the Natura Heilpraxis in Berlin-Grunewald (Auguste-Viktoria-Str. 91, 14193 Berlin) offers colon hydrotherapy. The first step there is a free introductory conversation. The practice also offers a supervised programme over several days which, according to the practice, can include juice fasting; according to the practice website, the 4-day programme starts from €650. The practice clarifies in a preliminary conversation whether it is right for you.
Transparency: the Natura Heilpraxis is connected to ORY. Yesha Karmeli, the founder of ORY, works there as a naturopathic practitioner (Heilpraktiker).
What to look out for when choosing a practice:
- A doctor or a licensed Heilpraktiker carries out the treatment.
- There is a preliminary conversation about previous illnesses and medication.
- Hygiene is explained, for example single-use materials for each person.
- The costs are clear in advance.
- Nobody promises you a cure.
Measure instead of guessing
Colonic irrigation tells you nothing about why your gut is unsettled. If you want to know how your gut flora and digestion are doing, you can measure part of it. The gut basic profile analyses a stool sample for gut flora, markers of inflammation and the gut barrier, and digestion values, among other things. The results are building blocks for a conversation, not a diagnosis.
The ORY team of experts or your doctor can help you interpret results. Possible reasons for an unsettled gut are described in the article Bloating despite a healthy diet. And if you are interested in liver cleanses, you can find more under Liver and gallbladder cleanse.
In brief
- In colon hydrotherapy, warm water is passed into the large intestine through a closed device and drained out again.
- It may be carried out by doctors and licensed Heilpraktiker.
- There are no reliable studies showing a health benefit.
- Rare but serious risks have been described, such as bowel injury and infections via contaminated devices.
- Whether it is suitable for you is clarified in a preliminary conversation; warning signs need a doctor first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does colon hydrotherapy cost?
It varies from practice to practice. Ask beforehand about the price per session, the number of appointments and whether any insurance will contribute.
Is colon hydrotherapy worthwhile?
A health benefit has not yet been shown in reliable studies (PubMed 19724266). Some people find the treatment pleasant. A preliminary conversation will clarify whether it is suitable for you.
What do people's experiences of colon hydrotherapy say?
Personal stories are individual cases, ranging from “pleasant” to “unpleasant”. They do not replace studies. Rare, serious incidents have also been described (PubMed 15540974).
Is colonic irrigation dangerous?
Serious incidents are rare but have been described, such as injury to the rectum and infections via contaminated devices (PubMed 6283354). A careful preliminary conversation and good hygiene are therefore important.
Where can I find colon hydrotherapy in Berlin?
In Berlin, colon hydrotherapy is offered by doctors' practices and Heilpraktiker practices, for example the Natura Heilpraxis in Berlin-Grunewald. Look out for qualifications, a preliminary conversation, hygiene and clear costs.
Who is allowed to carry out colon hydrotherapy?
Under section 1 of the German Heilpraktikergesetz, only doctors or people with a Heilpraktiker licence may practise medicine. Feel free to ask who carries out the treatment.
Important note: This article does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is for general information only. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, please contact your doctor.
Sources
- Acosta RD, Cash BD. Clinical effects of colonic cleansing for general health promotion: a systematic review. Am J Gastroenterol. 2009. PubMed 19724266
- Mishori R, Otubu A, Jones AA. The dangers of colon cleansing. J Fam Pract. 2011. PubMed 21814639
- Handley DV, Rieger NA, Rodda DJ. Rectal perforation from colonic irrigation administered by alternative practitioners. Med J Aust. 2004. PubMed 15540974
- Istre GR et al. An outbreak of amebiasis spread by colonic irrigation at a chiropractic clinic. N Engl J Med. 1982. PubMed 6283354
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