Frequently Asked Questions

What is a colonic?

A colonic is a gentle rinsing of impacted fecal matter, gas, and mucus from the bowels. A properly administered colonic is painless and leaves one feeling far better than before the session. One may experience minor discomfort like the sensations felt during a normal bowel movement.

What is a gravity-centered colonic?

A small instrument is painlessly inserted into the tip of the anus and connects to two tubes. One tube delivers water to the body while the other tube delivers the water and waste directly to a drainage system. What makes the gravity method different from the machine approach is a simultaneous in/out flow of water. It is not pressurized or powered by anything but gravity. This creates a peaceful and gentle experience, which allows one to have a much more thorough colonic. The treatment is non-aggressive and never overwhelming.

Dr. Norman Walker and Dr. Robert Woods helped popularize this method, better known as the Woods Gravity Method. Using a simultaneous in/out flow is based on a logical approach to the human body, which takes into account its physiological nature. Other methods fill the colon with force, which causes stress on the organ and the individual getting the treatment. A gravity-centered colonic awakens the peristaltic motion of the colon, rather than taking over the functionality of the organ itself. It gently rinses the bowels, restoring strength and normal, healthy functioning. One never becomes "dependant" on gravity-centered colonics.

The gravity method does not use motors or pumps during the colonic treatment. This translates to a comfortable and relaxing, yet very effective, treatment. This method helps the colon regain its strength by gently rinsing the old, encrusted fecal matter from the organ, instead of other methods that force water into the colon. The most important aspect of the gravity method is that it awakens the colon to do the work of elimination without any force. This means that your body will never become dependant on colonics. This cannot be said for machine-based technologies that they do the work for the colon, creating a dependency by weakening the organ through overfilling and over stimulation, causing stress and fatigue to the colon.

How often should one have colonics?

The results of the first treatment determine how soon one can return. The more room made in the bowels from an effective colonic, the more unprocessed waste will find its way to the bowel in the days and weeks that follow. This is when we want to "ride the wave of momentum" in order to assist the body in moving waste that has been in the body for some time and is a bit too dense and sticky to be passed during a normal bowel movement.

Diet matters greatly in answering this question. In order to support the cleansing process, we need to change how we eat. This does not mean we should make radical changes, but instead begin to slowly transition into a more cleansing diet. As we are transitioning, we can have gravity-centered colonics regularly. There is no magic number that one needs to adhere to in order to benefit from colon therapy.

What are the benefits of colon cleansing?

Consider the colon the sewer system of the body. Since the colon is at the end of the line, it becomes sluggish, backed-up, and therefore polluted. This in turn pollutes and weakens the entire body - tissue, organs, and bloodstream. We eventually become sick because the amount of waste in the tissues and bloodstream is too much for our daily routine. The waste in the blood stream that does not get filtered by the kidneys in sleep (dialysis) eventually contributes to general fatigue, cloudiness in one's thinking, bloating, and lack of energy to get through the day. By cleansing the bowels we can help restore the body to its natural state of being, which is healthy and vibrant. By decreasing the amount of waste in the bowels we effectively cleanse the tissues, organs, and bloodstream of the body. As we become "cleaner," we notice many changes - from increased energy and vitality to living free of disease and common illnesses.

Are there any negative side effects?

There are many opinions on this topic. Often we hear about people becoming dependent on colonics to properly evacuate the bowels. This is based on stories, which come from people that have used machines to cleanse the bowels. Our method is 100% machine free, so one never becomes dependent on colonics. In fact, we experience the opposite of this myth. Once the bowels are sufficiently cleansed they begin to regain strength and vitality, and therefore work better than ever before.

Is it true that regular treatments can wash away the "good" bacteria?

This is a good question, which requires some explaining. Most of us were raised on diets very high in animal products. Which means, we have more putrefactive bacteria than we do beneficial bacteria, Acidophilus Bacillus, among others. By cleansing the bowels, we decrease the amount of putrefactive bacteria. Along with bowel cleansing it is recommended that one's diet change to suit this new lifestyle. Meaning, we begin to reduce that which thwarts the growth of good bacteria. As we increase the amount of raw fruits & vegetables we support the growth of good bacteria. In a nutshell most of us lack greatly, good bacteria and eat a diet that simply doesn't allow the cultivation of that which is needed to sustain our lives in a healthy way.

Doesn't the human body eliminate waste on its own?

This question is linked to the previous one. The body does eliminate waste on its own, to some degree, depending on one's diet, bowel strength, and how unobstructed a person is. When we reach a point from eating dead, processed foods and too many animal products, we kill off the good bacteria, which is there to "mop up the mess left behind". Little by little, day after day waste builds up in the bowels. As waste accumulates we begin to move our bowels with less efficiency bringing about constipation. Which of course, we want avoid.

I have at least one bowel movement every day. Do I really need a colonic?

Well, that depends on the amount of meals consumed per day. Eating three meals a day should produce three bowel movements a day. Moving our bowels once per day while maintaining a diet of three meals per day would indicate that we are retaining two thirds of what we are consuming.

Why would I need treatments if I "go" everyday?

Even if we consider ourselves regular we can improve our health by maintaining regular colon cleansing. By assisting the body's natural attempts to rid itself of accumulated waste in the form of gas, feces and mucus, we increase our vitality and therefore avoid suffering from latent illness. The more we cleanse and detoxify ourselves the less we suffer from illness.

Will I need to rest or take it easy after my colonic?

After a colonic one's energy should increase and we feel much better and lighter than before the treatment. However, some people upon having their first treatment could experience a slight feeling of fatigue. This is the exception to the rule. Most folks feel great afterwards.

I have IBS. Will this help?

Oh yes. IBS is caused by the presence of acidic gas and waste. As we decrease the waste from the bowels the IBS will decrease, dramatically. Of course the diet is a major contributing factor. Which means, the diet needs to improve and include more alkaline foods as we embark on the path of detoxification. They go hand in hand.

Do I need to radically alter my eating habits?

At Release we meet you where you are at with your diet and personal history. We believe in guiding people through their personal transition from where their current diet is to a safe and logical place. According to each individual's desires. We do not apply a dietary template to everyone. We use the same concepts for detoxification but alter the foods used based on personal and family history.

How will colon cleansing improve my overall health?

The colon is the waste removal system for the body. If we allow gas, waste and mucus to fester in the bowels we bring about a situation not unlike a traffic jam. Inefficiency at the elimination point will slow down the small intestines right on up to the stomach. This common occurrence in people of frighteningly young ages results in many different ailments, symptoms and illnesses, ranging from acid reflux to acne, body odor to name a few. Ignoring these signs or suppressing symptoms with drugs will lead to more fatal illnesses. Not to mention the negative effects drugs have on our entire system. Removing the waste from the body will help avert these seemingly minor issues from becoming a real health crisis. Ignoring or drugging common illnesses like colds & flu's can set the stage for far more serious diseases to develop.

Can this assist in healing disease?

Speaking from personal experience; being diagnosed with "Seizure Disorder", at the age of eighteen, and sentenced to spend "the rest of my life" on medicine to control the seizures. I remained "medicated" for eleven years for that illness and used allergy medicines, which were "over-the-counter" drugs. This in conjunction with daily meds used for general pain, cold & flu, I was a walking pharmacy. After being introduced to a different way of eating, which included food combining, juicing, and greatly reducing or excluding, entirely, dairy and most animal products, I was amazed at how well I felt. This led me to reduce my seizure meds, over many months till I was free of the drugs and the disease. I remained free of seizures for four years till I received my first colonic. I have been free of seizures for eighteen years and almost ten years free of allergies. As for common illnesses like colds, flu, virus, sinusitis, upper and lower respiratory illness, etc. These illnesses no longer affect me. Colon cleansing greatly assist in healing the human body of chronic disease as well as many common illnesses.

I heard cleansing the bowels helps to speed-up the healing process. Can I have a treatment right after surgery?

Due to the slight expansion of the torso during a colonic, one should wait until there is no physical sensation of feeling sore. Anyone that has had surgical procedures within the region of the torso, head and neck would be advised to wait until they are completely free of pain and or discomfort before scheduling a colonic appointment. Colon cleansing will speed up the healing process for injuries and surgery once the appropriate amount of time has passed.

Will colonic therapy help prevent illness?

When human beings began figuring out plumbing and general knowledge for hygiene, like keeping separate the food supply and waste, we began to improve our domestic situation where infectious disease is concerned. This is an example external to the body. Imagine what our inner environment is like when we allow gas, fecal matter and mucous to fester in the bowels. As the bloodstream, tissue and cells begin to accumulate poisonous waste we become ill. This happens over our lifetimes, of course, but depending on the inherited vitality, illness often strikes when we are far too young. Keeping the bowels clean can help us to live long, healthy, illness free lives.

I suffer from acne. Will this help? My dermatologist told me that acne is hormonal or caused by dirt trapped in the pores or because of overactive sebaceous glands. How will cleansing my colon help my skin quality? I don't see the connection.

The skin is an elimination organ. There are five systems of elimination in the human body, the colon, kidneys, lungs, sinus & skin. These are the elimination channels of the body. The colon, which is the first organ for detoxification slows down after years of accumulation. When the bowels aren't able to pass waste, the body tries to push it through the other channels of elimination. Waste, gas and mucous contribute greatly to acne and many symptoms of the skin. Acne is essentially mucous and puss leaving the body through the skin. As we change the diet and cleanse the bowels, we begin to notice fewer and fewer outbreaks until we have radiant, smooth, youthful skin. There is truly no reason for anyone to suffer from symptoms like this and many others. Acne is an obvious sign of toxicity in the bloodstream. As we cleanse the bowels we effectively cleanse the bloodstream, tissues and even the cells of the body.