Flushing Out Profits

There's a big stink over colon hydrotherapy and whether nature needs help when it comes to flushing out one's system. Providers say the therapy, which involves flushing the colon with warm water via a tube inserted in a person's rectum, removes toxins and can boost energy and immune systems. The practice has been used by some hospitals, including Danbury Hospital in Connecticut, as a preparation for colonoscopy surgery, which would otherwise often involve a liquid laxative that patients often find unpleasant. But detractors, including a 2011 Georgetown University Medical Center paper of 20 different studies on the practice, found it was not beneficial, and in some cases harmful.

New Hampshire has more than a half dozen providers, and they say their practices are doing well and helping people deal with chronic constipation and digestive health issues. They also stress the treatment produces no odor. Diane Crosser, whose background is in holistic nutrition, has run Waters of Life Colon Care LLC in Rochester since 2006. There are a lot of people who are chronically constipated for whatever reason, says Crosser, explaining the practice cleanses the colon in ways nature alone can't. She has a base of clients who come anywhere from once a week to once a month or quarterly.

Before starting Colonic Connection in Peterborough, Deborah Clark was a stay-at-home mom and had worked in HR for 30 years. She got interested in the practice from her daughter, a chiropractor. Clark started her business in 2011 after going back to school to learn about anatomy and physiology. She says the practice is steadily catching on and runs her business full time. Clark says she gets satisfaction from helping people improve their overall wellness. Their skin is different, their hair is different, it's a feeling of wellness, she says of the benefits her patrons derive from their colon hydrotherapy treatments. To learn more, visit www.waters-of-life.com or www.colonicconnection.com.