By private appointment only
Colon hydrotherapy and IBS: what we tell our clients
Let's be clear before anything else: IBS is a diagnosed medical condition, and colon hydrotherapy is not a treatment for it. We never position it as one, and we'd encourage you to be wary of anyone who does. But because so many people living with IBS ask us about colonics, we thought the fairest thing we could do is write down exactly what we tell them in person, after more than twenty years in clinic.
The conversation we have
Your GP or specialist comes first, every time
When a client mentions IBS, our first words are always the same: talk to your GP or your specialist before you book anything with us, and bring your full history to the consultation. Not because we're covering ourselves, but because IBS is your doctor's territory, and our job is comfort and general wellbeing, not managing a medical condition. If your doctor has concerns, we want to know about them before you're ever on our table.
What the research says
Honestly? Not much, yet
There is one small pilot study from 2016 in which some people with IBS reported feeling better after a course of colon hydrotherapy. We mention it because it exists, not because it proves anything. It was small, it had no control group, and a pilot study is a starting point for research, not a finding you can build promises on. So we won't.
What we can honestly offer is our own experience: tens of thousands of sessions since 2003, and clients with sensitive guts who tell us that during calm periods a gentle session leaves them feeling lighter and more comfortable. That's a comfort and wellbeing story, not a medical one, and results vary from person to person. Anyone promising more than that is promising more than the evidence supports.
Two very different things
IBS and IBD are not the same
These two get mixed up constantly, and the difference matters a lot for whether a session is appropriate.
IBS: irritable bowel syndrome
IBS is about how the bowel behaves. It can cramp, bloat, and swing between constipation and diarrhoea, but there's no visible damage or inflammation in the bowel itself. During settled periods, many people with IBS can have a gentle session, with their doctor's blessing and our screening first.
IBD: inflammatory bowel disease
IBD, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, involves real inflammation of the bowel. An active flare of an inflammatory condition is a contraindication, which means we will say no, kindly but firmly, and ask you to come back when your specialist says things are settled.
The same goes for IBS symptoms that are flaring. If your gut is having a rough week, we'd rather rebook you than work on an unhappy bowel. Just give us a call and we'll find a better week.
How we screen
What happens at your consultation
Every first visit at our Caringbah clinic in the Sutherland Shire and our Newport clinic on the Northern Beaches starts with a private consultation and health questionnaire, before any treatment. For clients who mention IBS, that conversation goes deeper.
- We go through your diagnosis, your history and how your symptoms behave
- We ask what your GP or specialist has said, and whether they know you're here
- We check for contraindications, the same careful list we cover in is colon hydrotherapy safe?
- If anything gives us pause, we don't proceed. Your wellbeing comes before any booking
Your first visit is $145 all-inclusive, covering the consultation, your session, an infrared sauna and a probiotic. Details are on our pricing page, and every session ends with a probiotic and an electrolyte drink.
Why our screening is thorough
- Certified since 2003
- Michelle and Andrew are I-ACT and NBCHT certified therapists and instructors, and Australia's only LIBBE-certified trainers.
- We train other therapists
- We run our own I-ACT-affiliated training school, so careful screening isn't a policy for us, it's what we teach.
- Gentle by design
- Gravity-fed filtered water on a LIBBE open system, never pressurised, with single-use disposables.
Red flags
Symptoms that need a doctor, not a wellness clinic
Gut symptoms sometimes get filed under "my IBS" when they're actually something new that deserves proper medical attention. If you notice any of these, please see your GP promptly first, before booking anything with us.
- Blood in your stool
- Unexplained weight loss
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain
- A persistent, unexplained change in your bowel habits
- Fever alongside your gut symptoms
- Symptoms that feel different from your usual pattern
Asked and answered
IBS questions we're often asked
I have IBS. Can I book a colonic?
Is it safe during a flare-up of gut symptoms?
Will colon hydrotherapy cure my IBS?
What's the difference between IBS and IBD?
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
More answers on our colon hydrotherapy FAQ.
Have a chat with us first
If you have IBS and you're curious, start with your GP, then come in for an honest consultation. Our treatments support general wellbeing, relaxation and comfort. They are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.