Colonic and its contraindications

This is a list of some of the conditions when Colonic will not be able to be performed.
Please, check the list before booking your appointment to ensure you are suitable for treatment.
If you are not sure, please call me.

    • Abdominal hernia
    • Active fissure (Tear or crack in the anus, usually very painful when active)  
    • Active Inflammatory Bowel Disorders - Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's, Colitis and Diverticulitis (only if medicated with drugs such as Sulfasalazine and Azathioprine, and if controlled and not having flare ups, colonic irrigation can proceed)
    • Active Rectal Fistula (Caused by an abscess ‘tunnelling into the rectum’ sometimes requiring surgery)
    • Anti-Coagulants (If on Warfarin, or a treatment dose of an injectable anti-coagulant such as Daltaparin or Tinzaparin, however, if on low dose prophylactic anti-coagulant and not being monitored by medical staff, then colonic irrigation can proceed)
    • Autonomic Dysreflexia (occurs in spinal injuries at or above T6)                                  
    • Bowel Obstruction
    • Bowel prolapse or rectal prolapse                
    • Carcinoma of the colon or rectum                  
    • Chemotherapy (a minimum of 3 months is required once bloods levels return to normal before proceeding with colonic hydrotherapy)
    • Diabetes - Uncontrolled/ Unbalanced - Risk of hypoglycaemia during a treatment
    • Epilepsy - Uncontrolled - Risk of seizure during a treatment 
    • Heart Failure
    • Hypertension (Severe or uncontrolled)
    • Inflamed Haemorrhoids (Piles)
    • Intussusception (the bowel "telescopes" on itself)
    • Liver function (Any condition that affects the liver and decreases its function needs to be assessed and if under the care of a medical professional)
    • Neutropenia - Low or no immune system
    • Pregnancy
    • Radiotherapy of abdominal area not discharged from medical care (A period of 2 years is required after radiotherapy before colonic irrigation can proceed)
    • Rectal Bleeding
    • Reduced kidney function
    • Tight Sphincter
    • Undiagnosed Persistent Diarrhoea
The following timelines given post-surgery/treatment are deliberately conservative
and could be less with the written support of a Medical Professional
    • Recent bowel biopsy - 3 months
    • Recent prostate biopsy made through the bowel - 3 months.
    • Recent abdominal surgery, laparoscopic or open – 3 to 6 months depending on severity of surgery and on medical discharge with no complications
    • Recent Gastric Band, Sleeve or Bypass Surgery – 6 months
    • Recent Gastric Band removal - 3 to 6 months full discharged and no problems
    • Recent laparoscopic investigation - 6 weeks and on medical discharge
    • Recent surgery of colon or rectum - 6 months


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Active Crohn's disease (Regional Enteritis) is an inflammatory also known as an auto-immune disease, which usually affects the lower ileum (but many involve other parts of the gastrointestinal tract). The colon is clearly damaged and inflamed which is one of the contraindication for colonic.

Aneurysm is a cardiovascular disease characterized by a sac-like widening of an artery resulting from weakening of the artery wall.

Colorectal surgery is performed to repair damage to the colon, rectum and anus. Growing scar tissue may occur after this surgery causing blockages that prevent normal waste elimination. Once again, Colonic could aggravate the situation.

Diverticulitis is the condition resulting from too many infected diverticula formed over a long period of time inside the colon, causing a narrower colon's diameter and resulting in possible internal bleeding and tissue breakdown. It is a very serious condition. (Diverticula are mostly common in the sigmoid region of the colon). The colonic could cause more damage to this irritated area since there is inflammation and colonic can only be performed when there is no inflammation.

Fistula is an abnormal connection between two parts of the body that isn't meant to be there, allowing substances as stools to move from one part to another and cause all sorts of problems.

Fissures are small splits or tears in the anal mucosa that may cause painful bowel movements and bleeding. Blood may occur on the outside of the stool or on the toilet paper, following a bowel movement.

Low/ High blood pressure not controlled by a Doctor.

Low blood pressure slows blood pressure, therefore blood vessels are not contracting sufficiently (often caused by anaemia, so oxygen delivery is compromised) danger of overload and blood pressure going lower.

High blood pressure accelerates blood pressure, therefore blood vessels are contracting too much. It becomes a danger of blood clotting.

Pregnancy: the colonic helps in soaking off the toxic waste from the body and gets carried out of the body by the Colonic's water through the intestinal tract. Filling the colon with water may put pressure on the foetus potentially damaging it.

Severe haemorrhoids: the veins (internal or external) in the anus are swollen and dilated, therefore may become painful and could
burst causing them to bleed. Once again, a colonic could worsen this condition but most importantly, insertion would be impossible.


If you need anymore information, please, email or call me on (00 44) 795 875 5536 within the hours of 9.30am to 8pm Monday to Saturday,
I will be happy to answer any enquiries you might have.

Your therapist at 4 Balance and Health, Edwige Cabanetos



Therapies offered at 4 Balance and Health are not substitutes for traditional medical care by your GP, they are complementary therapies that may be used in conjunction with conventional medicine. Should you be aware of any reasons why these therapies are contra-indicated to you or you have a serious health problem, please consult your GP prior to their use.