We're just going to get straight to it. All three of the medical experts we spoke to strongly advised against getting a colonic unless it was prescribed by your doctor and overseen by medical professionals.
"There is no science to prove that colonics improve your skin in any way," said Dr. Guanche. "It is a way to dehydrate the body, and often patients who proclaim that they 'feel great!' because of their colonics actually look like hell. They are sallow, dehydrated, and sickly looking. In fact, the body process for nutrient and hydration reabsorption is being interrupted, and the delicate ecosystem of bacteria that aid in digestion is being disturbed."
She said that bacteria accounts for a third of any person's stool, and this is as it should be. Ultimately, a disruption in nutrients, water content, and electrolytes causes more harm than good. In fact, it can make you very sick or, in worst cases, result in death.
"Colonics can be dangerous," Dr. Friedler warned. "Equipment must be sterile, or it could lead to serious infection. Coffee enemas sometimes used in colonics have resulted in several deaths. People undergoing colonics are at increased risk of dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, bowel perforations, cramping, bloating, and nausea."