"It's a means of putting water into the large intestine, via a rectal tube," said Karen Smith-Buckley, a certified colon therapist. " There are two systems: a closed system and an open system. The difference being, on a closed system the client lays on a massage table, a larger tube is inserted into the rectum, and all the water goes in one tube, and all the fecal material comes out through another tube," she added.
Smith-Buckley said colon hydrotherapy is a delicate topic many people don't want to talk about.
"I think it's fear of the unknown," she said.
"One of the things people say to me is, 'Oh, how far does the tube go in?' And I think they think it's like a colonoscopy, where you're going to put the tube in quite a few feet. The tube actually goes in about an inch to an inch and a half, so yes, it's a little invasive, but nothing like a colonoscopy," she said.
Smith-Buckley's business in Greenwood is one of thousands of clinics across America that performs the procedure.
The procedure can take from 30 to 55 minutes, depending on the age and health of the client. During that time you can enjoy a massage, take a nap and even listen to music.
Although the topic of colon cleansing is taboo for many, more people are seeking the treatment in the hopes of shedding a few pounds.
But does it work?
"If you've got about 15 or 20 pounds of fecal material in your body, during the colonic, obviously you're going to lose a lot of fecal material," Smith-Buckley said.
"Once you get all that old fecal junk out, it makes it easier for you to absorb the foods and nutrition that you're taking in, and with the change in a healthier diet, and able to go to the bathroom more often, obviously you're going to have a flatter abdomen, you're going to feel better," she added.
Smith-Buckley also talks about health hazards and if the procedure is safe for everyone.
"If you are pregnant you should not have this done. If you are on dialysis you should not have this done, or you should have this done by talking to your doctor."
The key is talking to your doctor before having this procedure performed.
And for those of you out there who still think colon hydrotherapy is a way to help you squeeze into that perfect outfit?
"The only way you're going to fit into that size 2 dress, if you're wearing a size 8, is by changing your lifestyle. I do not believe in quick fixes. This is not what this is about," Smith-Buckley said. "Personally I would turn someone away if I knew that's what they were seeking," she added.
;)
