New gut-health research
For too long, conversations about bowel health have been wrapped in embarrassment, discomfort and silence.
Yet constipation, incomplete evacuation, bloating and irregular bowel habits can affect far more than a person’s time in the bathroom. They can shape comfort, confidence, routines, social connection and quality of life.
Now, colon hydrotherapy is being examined in a more serious scientific context.
A 2026 peer-reviewed review published in Gastrointestinal Disorders explores the potential usefulness of transanal irrigation and colon hydrotherapy in chronic constipation and beyond.
The authors examine bowel physiology, motility, the gut-brain axis, quality of life, practitioner involvement, potential risks and the need for stronger clinical research.
This is not a study of Bottoms Up Colonics or the Rojas Technique specifically, and it is not a randomised clinical trial. It is a scientific review of existing knowledge that helps move the conversation forward – away from assumptions and towards thoughtful, evidence-informed discussion.
Constipation is more complex than simply “not going”
The review makes an important point: chronic constipation is not one single condition with one simple cause.
It may involve normal-transit constipation, slow-transit constipation, difficulty coordinating the muscles needed for evacuation, structural concerns, medication effects, neurological conditions, hydration and dietary factors, or changes in the communication between the gut and nervous system. Different mechanisms may also overlap in the same person.
That complexity helps explain why one approach does not work for everyone.
The authors describe chronic constipation as a condition that may require a multidisciplinary and individualised approach. Depending on the person and the underlying cause, support may include changes to diet and hydration, movement, medication, biofeedback, medical investigation and, in selected cases, recto-colonic water irrigation.
The message is not that colon hydrotherapy should replace first-line care. It is that bowel support deserves to be considered as part of a wider, more personalised picture.
What did the review say about colon hydrotherapy?
Colon hydrotherapy uses controlled water flow to support evacuation of the colon. The review discusses it as a variable-volume form of therapeutic irrigation performed with equipment designed to regulate temperature, flow and pressure.
The authors suggest that, for appropriately selected people, colon hydrotherapy may have the potential to:
- Support bowel emptying and motility.
- Relieve constipation, bloating and digestive discomfort.
- Stimulate natural muscular contractions through gentle distension of the colon.
- Improve a person’s satisfaction with bowel movements.
- Contribute to quality of life as part of an integrated bowel-management approach.
These are promising areas of discussion, but they should not be overstated. The review also notes that the direct evidence for colon hydrotherapy remains limited, some existing studies are small, and reported improvements may be influenced by other factors. More high-quality, long-term randomised trials are needed to establish benefits, risks, appropriate treatment frequency and possible effects on the microbiome.
That balance matters. Good health communication should make room for possibility without turning possibility into a promise.
The gut does not exist in isolation
One of the most compelling parts of the paper is its discussion of the gut-brain axis.
The digestive system communicates continuously with the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Anyone who has felt their stomach tighten during stress, noticed their bowel habits change during an anxious period or experienced the emotional weight of ongoing digestive discomfort already understands this connection in a very human way.
The review considers whether improved bowel evacuation and reduced digestive distress may influence perceived stress, mood and broader wellbeing. It presents this as a developing area rather than a proven outcome: the biological connections are real, but direct evidence linking colon hydrotherapy to measurable neuroendocrine or immune changes is not yet sufficient.
Still, the perspective is valuable. It encourages us to see bowel function as part of a connected human system – not an isolated or embarrassing problem that should be ignored.
Why the way colon hydrotherapy is delivered matters
The review repeatedly highlights the importance of the procedure itself: the equipment, water quality, temperature, volume, pressure, practitioner training, client selection and clinical setting.
It also recognises the central role of the practitioner. A trained operator is responsible not only for the technical delivery of the treatment, but for assessing appropriateness, monitoring the person’s comfort and creating a relationship built on trust and empathy.
This strongly resonates with the philosophy behind Rojas Colon Hydrotherapy® at Bottoms Up Colonics.
Our approach is therapist-led, closed-system and body-responsive. Rather than treating a colonic as something fast or forceful, the Rojas Technique uses slow, guided fill-and-release cycles. A trained practitioner remains present throughout the appointment, responding to the client’s comfort, breathing and body cues while maintaining privacy, dignity and professional support.
The scientific review did not assess or endorse the Rojas Technique. However, its emphasis on trained practitioners, controlled delivery, appropriate screening and individualised care reflects principles that have long mattered deeply to us.
Safety, screening and honest conversations
Colon hydrotherapy is not appropriate for everybody.
The review discusses potential side effects including cramping, abdominal discomfort, fullness, bloating, nausea and perianal soreness. It also notes rare but serious complications, particularly when treatment is provided without adequate health screening, suitable equipment, pressure controls or properly trained personnel.
Contraindications and cautions may include certain active bowel diseases, intestinal obstruction or stenosis, colorectal cancer, acute diverticulitis, significant heart or kidney conditions, bleeding risk, pregnancy and recent gastrointestinal surgery or procedures. Individual circumstances vary, so suitability must always be assessed carefully.
At Bottoms Up Colonics, your appointment begins with a conversation about your health history, current concerns and what you hope to gain from the experience. If you have a diagnosed medical condition, severe or unexplained symptoms, are pregnant, have recently undergone surgery or are uncertain whether colon hydrotherapy is suitable for you, please speak with your healthcare professional before booking.
Colon hydrotherapy is not a replacement for medical assessment, diagnosis or necessary treatment.
A meaningful step forward – and a call for more research
Perhaps the strongest message in this review is not that every question has been answered. It is that colon hydrotherapy deserves better questions, clearer standards and stronger research.
The authors call for well-designed randomised controlled trials comparing therapeutic irrigation with established approaches such as dietary fibre and laxatives. They also recommend long-term research into safety and the microbiome, clearer professional standards, more consistent treatment protocols and objective outcome measures such as colonic transit time, stool frequency and quality-of-life scores.
We welcome that direction.
For more than 20 years, Bottoms Up Colonics has believed that bowel health should be approached with curiosity, dignity, education and care. This review does not close the scientific conversation. It opens it wider.
And for an area of health that has spent so long hidden behind taboo, that matters.
Curious about colon hydrotherapy?
If constipation, sluggish elimination, bloating or irregular bowel habits are affecting how you feel, you do not need to stay silent or work it all out alone.
Your Bottoms Up Colonics practitioner can explain how Rojas Colon Hydrotherapy® works, talk through your health history and help you understand whether an appointment may be appropriate for you.
Find your nearest clinic and book an appointmentRead the research
Borghini R, Borghini F, Spagnuolo A, Borghini A, Borghini G. Usefulness of Transanal Irrigation and Colon Hydrotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Constipation and Beyond: A Review with New Perspectives for Bio-Integrated Medicine. Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2026;8(1):6. Read the full open-access review.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Rojas Colon Hydrotherapy® is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure medical conditions. Individual suitability and experiences vary.
