Colon Hydrotherapy from a Man's Point of View

Like many kids growing up in England, breakfast was often a bowl of Kellogg's Cornflakes. Back then, I never stopped to think about John Harvey Kellogg M.D., founder of the Kellogg cereal company, or the significance of dietary fibre in a healthy diet. Now, as an adult who prefers brown, wholegrain carbs over the white, processed variety, I also don't stop to think about such matters. The only difference is that I now know more about the benefits of a healthy digestive system and fully accept its importance in daily well-being.

I was introduced to colonic irrigation (a.k.a. hydrotherapy) 15 years ago in London. I had a stomach bug, which wouldn't go away despite antibiotics, and my doctor suggested that I try hydrotherapy. Best case; gentle intestinal cleansing might help to dislodge whatever it was that was causing me discomfort. Worst case; it wouldn't help, and I'd still have an infection, but it wouldn't have any negative effect.

In fact, it worked and my ailment was gone. I've had hydrotherapy several times since then, for general maintenance rather than medical reasons, but I still believe my doctor's evaluation to be correct. Hydrotherapy may or may not be effective at achieving what its proponents usually claim it to achieve (i.e. a non-specific improvement in health, resulting from cleansing of parasites and pathogens in the gut). And I am not aware of any hard scientific evidence which supports those claims - in fact, most doctors will tell you that the bowel is self-cleaning and that hydrotherapy removes the healthy flora which naturally live in your intestines (which is why any decent hydrotherapy clinic will give you a glass of warm water and a pill full of good bacteria after each session). However, I also do not know of any doctor who cautions against harm resulting from occasional bowel cleansing. So, if it can't hurt but may possibly do some good, why not try it?

I've only ever used the HydroHealth clinic in Central and, although there are several hydrotherapy services available in Hong Kong, have never felt the need to go elsewhere. HydroHealth provides a professional, modern and relaxed environment. The staff know what they are doing and the entire process is aimed at making you feel comfortable and in good hands. And that is important to me.

The procedure itself is not technically complex. In the privacy of your own well-appointed room, it involves putting on a hospital gown, reclining into a gynaecological-type chair attached to a bidet and painlessly inserting a short, lubricated tube into your rectum. When you're ready, an experienced assistant will come in and turn on the lukewarm water that flows through the tube. She (all the assistants are women, as far as I know) will tell you to relax and, when you feel internal pressure (similar to needing to go to the toilet), release yourself as if you were on the toilet. There is an exhaust fan built into the bidet (to remove any toilet odours) and all your waste passes through a transparent tube, which you can look at or ignore at your discretion. The procedure lasts about 45 minutes and the assistant will come into your room every 15 minutes or so to check that you are ok and answer any questions you may have about the sensations you're feeling.

I only felt anxious on the first visit, and only then because I didn't know what to expect. Each subsequent visit was as relaxed as seeing my GP for a flu jab. That is testament itself to HydroHealth's professionalism in what could otherwise be an embarrassing and intimate experience. I've read up on the Pros and Cons of hydrotherapy and really couldn't tell you of any solid, scientific benefits. What I can tell you, however, is that I've felt refreshed and energized every time and I've suffered no negative effects. It's always been an enjoyable experience overall and, even if the benefits are only psychological, that's worthwhile to me.

Scott Garfield