A colonic is best described as a gentle internal bath. Colonics are similar to enemas in some respects, but different in others. They are similar in that water is introduced through the rectum for the purpose of cleansing, but different in that you don't have a large volume of solution all introduced at one time which you must struggle to retain.
When you receive a colonic irrigation the therapist first thoroughly lubricates your rectal area and then gently inserts the lubricated speculum. Although the speculum may appear somewhat large, and feel a bit strange the first few times, there is generally no discomfort upon insertion. Next the therapist opens the intake valve of the colonic machine and allows purified warm water to be slowly introduced into the colon. Before the pressure builds to the point where you would begin to feel discomfort, the therapist reverses the flow of the colonic machine and the water and waste are gently withdrawn without you leaving the table. There is no straining to hold in the solution, you just lay back and relax and the therapist and the machine do all the work.
The flow is then again reversed and another pint or two of water is introduced. This alternating process of solution introduction and waste withdrawal continues for up to an hour. If you have been keeping your colon in good shape, you probably will have reached a point prior to that time where a clear flow has been achieved. In other words, your colon is now completely cleansed along it's entire length, from the rectum to the cecum. On the other hand, if you have been neglecting the care of this vital organ, it is likely that at the end of your session additional waste will still remain in the colon and will have to be removed by subsequent treatments.
During their first colonic most people are amazed at the amount of gas and the volume of waste removed. They are also very surprised at how much the colon therapist can tell from the outflow about their dietary habits and the condition of their overall health. A well trained, experienced, colon therapist can probably read more from the return of a single colonic than could be obtained from a battery of hospital tests performed over a several day period.
For the average person, the degree of bowel cleanliness achieved by a colonic irrigation would require many 2 quart cleansing enemas and would take a long period of time. On page 56 of his book (cited in the introduction) Dr. Walker estimates that it would take 12 to 15 or more enemas to get the same result as a properly administered colonic irrigation. My experience validates this observation. Enemas usually cause somewhat more discomfort, since during an enema the introduction of enough water to insure good results can cause distension and cramping. The colonic recipient on the other hand, is given only receives a pint or two at a time, and has it automatically withdrawn without having to get up to go to the toilet. Most people who have had colonic irrigations do not consider them to be an unpleasant experience. On the contrary, many people say they feel refreshed after the procedure, and children who normally balk at at the sight of the enema bag usually accept colonics with few complaints. (especially after their first one where they are often naturally apprehensive)
You know how brushing your teeth in the morning picks you up and starts to make you begin feeling ready to go for the day, and I'm sure you can relate to the fresh clean external feeling you experience after stepping out of the bathtub or shower, well that's the best way to describe how many people feel after an internal cleansing by colonic irrigation. Some typical comments I hear over and over after patients finish their treatment are:
I encourage you to learn more about the potential benefits of colon hydrotherapy, and then consider giving it a try yourself.