How do I prepare for my colon hydrotherapy appointment?

There's no special prep or cleanse required. Eat light the day before, stay hydrated, and avoid a large meal in the couple of hours before your session so your digestive system can rest. Leah assesses your body's current state at your appointment and offers personalized recommendations.

Is colon hydrotherapy safe?

Yes, when performed by a certified practitioner using sterile, single-use equipment in a closed system. Leah is board-certified with nearly 30 years of experience. She screens every new client's health history before their first session.

Does colon hydrotherapy hurt?

No. Most clients find it relaxing rather than uncomfortable. You may feel sensations of fullness and gentle movement, but it should not be painful, and you're in control throughout.

How many sessions do I need?

Most clients feel a real difference within 3 sessions, ideally spaced about a week apart. Your exact plan depends on how long you've been dealing with symptoms and what's driving them, which Leah assesses in your first conversation.

Who should avoid colon hydrotherapy?

Per practitioner safety guidelines, colon hydrotherapy isn't appropriate for anyone with a history of seizures, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, colon or rectal tumors, bowel surgery history, GI perforation, current pregnancy, severe cardiac disease, severe anemia, abdominal hernia, liver cirrhosis, actively bleeding hemorrhoids, kidney/heart/rectal/bowel pathologies, or anyone under 18 or over 70.

Can I still come in if I'm on my period?

Yes, it's absolutely fine and often encouraged. Many clients report it relieves cramping, hormonal upset, and PMS symptoms.

How will I feel after my session?

Most clients feel hydrated, lighter, relaxed, and clear-headed. Because the session activates the parasympathetic nervous system, people often feel calm and positive afterward rather than depleted.

What is the difference between lymphatic drainage and a regular massage?

Regular massage works on muscle tissue with pressure and kneading. Lymphatic drainage works on the lymphatic system using light, rhythmic movement (or bio-electric technology) to encourage fluid drainage, not muscle release.

How does gut health affect mental wellbeing?

The gut and brain communicate constantly through the enteric nervous system and the vagus nerve. A more regulated gut supports a calmer nervous system, which can ease anxiety and improve mental clarity.

Where is Wholistic Wellness located?

Wholistic Wellness is located in Mar Vista on the Westside of Los Angeles, serving clients across Santa Monica, Culver City, Venice, and the greater LA area.

HOW MANY COLONICS DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED?

leahjoiner
Aug 2
2 min read

This is usually the second question people ask me, right after "is it safe?" And it makes sense — nobody wants to commit to something open-ended. So let's talk numbers, honestly.

The short answer: most people feel a real shift within 3 sessions

Not one. Three. Here's why.

Your colon hasn't accumulated years of stagnation overnight, and it's not going to fully reset in a single session either. One session begins the process — it starts waking up the parasympathetic response and gets things moving. But it's usually sessions two and three, ideally spaced about a week apart, where clients start noticing real, sustained differences: less bloating, more regular movement, better energy, clearer skin.

Why spacing matters as much as the number

I don't recommend cramming all three into the same week. Your colon's muscular contraction pattern — the Migrating Motor Complex — needs a little time between sessions to actually start doing more of the work on its own again, rather than relying entirely on the session itself. Think of it less like a deep clean and more like retraining a muscle that's been underused for a long time. That retraining happens between sessions, not just during them.

What determines whether you need more than 3

Everyone's starting point is different, and this is where the "one-size-fits-all" advice online falls apart. In our first conversation, I'm looking at:

How long you've been dealing with bloating, constipation, or sluggish digestion
Whether stress, trauma, or a chronically "on" nervous system is part of the picture
What you've already tried, and what hasn't worked
Any hormonal factors — this shows up constantly with clients in perimenopause or dealing with thyroid issues

Some clients feel fantastic after 3 and shift into occasional maintenance sessions every few months. Others — usually people with decades of chronic constipation or a nervous system that's been stuck in fight-or-flight for a long time — benefit from a longer initial series before we space things out.

What maintenance looks like after your initial series

Once your gut and nervous system have had a chance to reset, most clients come in seasonally or whenever life gets stressful enough to throw digestion off again — think a hard travel season, a big life transition, or just noticing old symptoms creeping back. It's not a lifetime weekly commitment. It's a tool you come back to when your body needs support.

The real answer

There isn't a universal number that applies to every body, and I'd be lying to you if I gave you one just to sound authoritative. What I can tell you is that in nearly 30 years of doing this work, the pattern holds: three sessions is where most people start to feel it, and your first session is where we figure out your specific plan from there.

Ready to book your session? Book a session or a free info call and let's map it out together.

Leah Joiner is a Board-Certified Colon Hydrotherapist with 30 years of experience, serving Mar Vista and the Westside of Los Angeles.