Before Your Iowa Colonics Appointment
How to Prepare for a Colonic
Preparing for your colonic is simple. You do not need a special cleanse, a full-day fast, laxatives, an enema, or a complicated food plan.
Eat and drink normally earlier in the day.
Then do not eat solid food or drink anything for 2 hours before your required arrival time.
Arrive 15 minutes early and empty your bladder immediately before the colonic begins.
If you need a small amount of water to take prescription medication, or a healthcare professional has instructed you to keep drinking fluids, follow those instructions.
The Six Things to Remember
- Eat normally earlier. No special diet is required.
- Drink normally earlier. Be normally hydrated before the 2-hour cutoff begins.
- No food or drinks for 2 hours before required arrival.
- Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled session.
- Come freshly washed. Shower or thoroughly wash the external anal area with soap and water.
- Empty your bladder immediately before the colonic begins.
When Should I Stop Eating and Drinking?
Do not eat solid food or drink anything for 2 hours before your required arrival time. Because Iowa Colonics requires you to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled session, your actual cutoff is 2 hours 15 minutes before the session time shown in your appointment confirmation.
Example: Your Session Is at 3:00 PM
12:45 PM — stop food and drinks.
2:45 PM — required arrival.
3:00 PM — scheduled session time.
What Should I Eat Before a Colonic?
Eat normally earlier in the day. Iowa Colonics does not require a special colonic diet, a liquid diet, a juice cleanse, fasting all day, or a multi-day food program before your appointment.
You do not need to arrive hungry. Just finish solid food before the 2-hour cutoff begins.
Can I Drink Water Before a Colonic?
Yes earlier in the day.
For the final 2 hours before your required arrival time: do not drink anything.
That includes water, coffee, tea, juice, soda, sports drinks, smoothies, and anything else you drink.
Hydrate Earlier
Drink normally earlier in the day so you are hydrated before the cutoff. Do not try to make up for the cutoff by drinking a large amount immediately before it begins.
Why Iowa Colonics Limits Fluids Before Your Appointment
During your colonic, you are connected to the closed-system equipment. Drinking close to your appointment increases the chance that you will develop a full bladder and need to urinate during the session.
If you need to urinate during your colonic, tell Joanna immediately. Do not hold it.
What About Prescription Medication?
Do not stop, delay, or change a prescription medication because of your colonic unless the healthcare professional managing that medication tells you to.
Medication and hydration instructions come first. If you need a small amount of water to take prescription medication, or a healthcare professional has instructed you to keep drinking fluids, follow those instructions.
Do I Need to Poop Before My Colonic?
No. You do not need to have a bowel movement before your appointment.
If your body naturally needs to poop before you leave home or when you arrive, use the bathroom. If you cannot poop, that is completely fine.
Do not strain, take a laxative, use an enema, or use a suppository specifically to make yourself poop before your appointment.
You Do Not Need Special Prep
Iowa Colonics does not require a full-day fast, multi-day cleanse, laxative, enema, suppository, bowel-prep product, special supplement program, forced bowel movement, internal cleansing, or prescription-medication changes just to prepare for your appointment.
If a licensed healthcare professional independently instructed you to use medication, a laxative, an enema, a bowel-preparation product, or another treatment for a medical reason, follow their instructions rather than changing medical care because of your colonic appointment.
How Should I Clean Myself Before a Colonic?
Shower before your appointment or thoroughly wash the external anal area with soap and water.
External cleaning is all that is needed. Do not douche, insert anything, or perform internal cleansing to prepare for your appointment.
What Should I Wear or Bring?
Wear clean, loose, comfortable clothing. Iowa Colonics provides the session-specific materials used during your appointment.
Know Exactly Where You Are Going
Iowa Colonics has one physical location in Fairfield, Iowa. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled session.
Iowa Colonics
1401 South Main Street, Suite 102
Fairfield, Iowa 52556
Free parking is directly in front of the Iowa Colonics office door. Look for the Iowa Colonics sign above the door.
What Should I Do When I Get There?
- Arrive 15 minutes early.
- Use the private restroom.
- Empty your bladder immediately before the colonic begins.
- Change privately.
- Tell Joanna about important new health information before the session starts.
Plan approximately 90 minutes total. The colonic itself normally lasts about 45 to 60 minutes.
Has Something Changed With Your Health?
Contact Iowa Colonics before coming in if something important has changed since you purchased or scheduled your appointment.
Examples include pregnancy, a new diagnosis, recent surgery or hospitalization, significant medication changes, bleeding or significant pain, dizziness or fainting, infection or fever, active vomiting, acute diarrhea, or another significant new health concern.
Iowa Colonics has specific eligibility and contraindication requirements. Review the complete safety rules on the Policies page.
Do not delay medical care to schedule or attend a colonic.
Your Appointment at a Glance
- Food: no solid food for 2 hours before required arrival.
- Drinks: no drinks for 2 hours before required arrival.
- Arrival: 15 minutes early.
- Bladder: empty immediately before the session.
- Colonic: about 45 to 60 minutes.
- Total visit: plan about 90 minutes.
Want to Know What Happens During the Colonic?
Learn how Iowa Colonics' closed-system colon hydrotherapy works, what the session feels like, how the fill-and-release process works, and what to expect while you are on the table.
Quick Answers Before Your Colonic
Can I drink water before a colonic?
Yes earlier in the day. Then stop drinking anything for 2 hours before your required arrival time. If you need a small amount of water for prescription medication or a healthcare professional has instructed you to keep drinking fluids, follow those instructions.
Can I eat before a colonic?
Yes. Eat normally earlier in the day, then stop solid food 2 hours before your required arrival time.
Do I need to fast before a colonic?
No. You do not need to fast all day. Eat normally earlier in the day and follow the 2-hour food-and-drink cutoff before required arrival.
Do I need to poop beforehand?
No. If you naturally need to have a bowel movement, use the bathroom. If you cannot poop beforehand, that is completely fine.
Should I take a laxative or use an enema?
Not specifically to prepare for your colonic. If a healthcare professional has separately directed you to use one for a medical reason, follow their instructions.
Can I take my prescription medication?
Follow the instructions of the healthcare professional managing your medication. Do not stop or change prescription medication because of your colonic.
Why should I empty my bladder?
An empty bladder helps reduce the chance that you will need to urinate while connected to the colonic equipment. Empty your bladder immediately before the colonic begins. If you need to pee during the session, tell Joanna immediately and do not hold it.
Iowa Colonics Preparation Guidance
Iowa Colonics-specific preparation instructions describe the actual operating practices used by Iowa Colonics. Medical warning information is separated from those operating instructions and linked to an authoritative medical source where appropriate.
Iowa Colonics provides colon hydrotherapy as a non-medical wellness service and does not diagnose, treat, or medically clear health conditions.
Published by Iowa Colonics. Iowa Colonics service information reviewed by Joanna Ayala, Certified Colon Hydrotherapist.