Colonic Hydrotherapy - Contraindications

Please review this lit before booking your appointment.

© RICTAT Contraindications to treatment. Updated May 2024

Absolute Contraindications

1. Abdominal Hernia including inguinal and umbilical

2. Active Fissure

3. Inflammatory Bowel Disorders – Colitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulosis, Diverticulitis. - If you are suffering with a flare-up, recent flare up, or have an unstable pattern of flare-ups. We cannot treat within 3 months of any flare up. Please provide any history over a longer period, at least over the last year or so.

4. Relative contra indication exceptions. Clients who are fully in remission. We have concluded that it is fine to treat people who have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease as long as you are in a stable state of remission. We will assess you and decide it is safe to treat them.

5. Active Rectal Fistula - Caused by an abscess ‘tunnelling into the rectum’ sometimes requiring surgery.

6. Anti-Coagulants (blood thinners) - Warfarin is administered to artificially affect and reduce blood clotting time. If you are on Warfarin, or a treatment dose of an injectable anti-coagulant (e.g., Daltaparin, Tinzaparin,) then it is contraindicated. However, if you are on low dose prophylactic anti-coagulant and not being monitored by medical staff, then fine to treat.

7. Atrial Fibrillation

8. Autonomic Dysreflexia (occurs in spinal injuries at or above T6)

9. Bowel Obstruction e.g., adhesions, volvulus, tumour, etc.

10. Bowel Prolapse or Rectal Prolapse

11. Carcinoma, (Cancer) of the colon or rectum

12. Chemotherapy

13. Diabetes – Uncontrolled/Unbalanced.

14. Epilepsy - We cannot treat unless you have a driving licence, (or would qualify for one.)

15. Heart Failure - Requiring care of medical professional, ongoing monitoring, and medication.

16. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

17. Inflamed Haemorrhoids (Piles) - May exacerbate symptoms and cause pain and bleeding.

18. Intussusception

19. Liver function - Any condition that affects the liver and decreases its function needs to be assessed and if you are under the care of a medical professional. See FAQ’s for more information.

20. Neutropenia - Low or no immune system. Severe risk of infection. Do not treat.

21. Pregnancy - Risk of miscarriage.

22. Prolapse of colon - Tissue is structurally weak and unsupported.

23. Radiotherapy of abdominal area not discharged from medical care - We cannot treat for 2 years.

24. Rectal bleeding - All rectal bleeding needs investigation by GP, unless a small speck of blood on the tissue after straining to pass a large stool.

25. Reduced kidney function Kidney function must be a minimum of 50% with two kidneys and 100% with only one kidney and not fluid restricted. Or renal insufficiency which requires reduced fluid intake under the supervision of medical professional.

26. Tachycardia or AF

27. Tight Sphincter - Unable to insert speculum without pain.

28. Under medical Investigations/awaiting medical results

29. Undiagnosed Persistent Diarrhoea -Needs professional medical investigation.

The following timelines given post-surgery/treatment are deliberately conservative and could be less with the written support of a Medical Professional, but does not override the decision of the therapist not to treat if they feel it is not safe or appropriate.

• •Recent bowel biopsy - 3 months.

• •Recent prostate biopsy made through the bowel - 3 months.

• •Recent abdominal surgery, laparoscopic or open - 6 months depending on severity of surgery and on medical discharge with no complications.

• •Recent laparoscopic investigation - 6 weeks and on medical discharge.

• •Recent surgery of colon or rectum - 6 months fully discharged.

• •Recent gastric band, sleeve or bypass surgery - 6 months fully discharged.

• •Recent gastric band removal - 6 months full discharged no problems.

RELATIVE CONTRAINDICATIONS

The following are industry agreed relative contraindications. The suitability of the treatment remains specific to the individual and must be assessed by a professional Colonic Hydrotherapist.

• •Highly anxious, stressed or emotional client.

• •Fainting (vaso-vagal attack.)

• •Joint replacement (hip, shoulder, knee.) Awareness of positioning on couch and as pain allows. NB. Hips – knees no higher than 90 degrees when they are on their side and pillow between legs during treatment if on side, awareness of possible dislocation.

• •Severe underweight or eating disorders.

• •Severe anaemia. Risk of fainting during a treatment.

• •UTI – Urinary Tract Infection, General infections /Antibiotic Treatment. Do not treat until the course of antibiotics for the infection has been completed.

• •Under medical Investigations/awaiting medical results.

• •Inflammatory bowel conditions. Fine to treat if in remission. See above (Point 3) for considerations.Reference - http://www.bnf.nice.org.uk/