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Helpful or Harmful? Flushing Out the Truth About Colonics

The alternative medical practice is touted for a range of health benefits, but there is little data to back it up

Beth Howard,

AARP

En español

Published April 15, 2026

Detox your body! Boost your immunity! Lose weight! The wellness pitches for colonics make these colon-cleansing procedures sound like the ultimate health elixir. But the evidence suggests this trend — amplified heavily on social media — may not live up to the hype.

“Because colonics haven’t been rigorously studied in randomized clinical trials, it’s very hard to support the claims,” says Dr. Josephine Ni, a gastroenterologist and an assistant professor in internal medicine and microbiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

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Here’s what you need to know about colonics, including the risks for people 50-plus and evidence-backed ways you can support your gut health.

What is a colonic?

A colonic, also known as colon hydrotherapy or colonic irrigation, involves pumping water, alone or in combination with other substances, into and out of the colon, purportedly to rid the organ of substances harmful to health.

Proponents of colonics contend that the colon harbors toxins responsible for everything from headaches to arthritis. Other people try colonics to ease symptoms of bowel conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or chronic constipation.

However, Ni says the digestive system is designed to naturally eliminate waste. “There’s no evidence that the body holds on to a lot of toxins,” she says.

And colonics may even be harmful, says Dr. Jennifer Phan, a gastroenterologist and medical director for the Hoag Irvine Advanced Endoscopy Center at Hoag Hospital in Irvine, California.

“Most physicians and large medical societies typically recommend against it,” she says.

For example, the procedure can disrupt the delicate balance of microorganisms in the gut microbiome. The gut is home to millions of bacteria that help tamp down on inflammation in your body and affect your metabolism, Ni says.

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These bacteria help your body absorb nutrients from food and protect against microbes that promote disease. “They can even influence your immune system,” Ni adds.

Emptying the colon with medications prior to a colonoscopy also affects the bacteria in your system, but the benefits of the procedure outweigh the risks.

“It may affect your gut microbiome for at least a period of time, until your gut can reconstitute,” Phan says. “But in this case, it’s necessary. We’re doing it for colon cancer screening.”

What happens during a colonic?

During a colonic session, up to 60 liters (more than 15 gallons) of liquid is infused under pressure through the rectum into the colon and then rinsed out. In addition to water, practitioners may add herbal solutions or even coffee to the mix.

Side effects are usually mild and include abdominal cramping, bloating, diarrhea and nausea, Ni says.

“What’s more concerning is you could end up with severe electrolyte imbalances because there’s no way of regulating what goes into a colonic,” she says. When that happens, levels of minerals like sodium and potassium can become too high or too low, interfering with healthy functioning. You may also experience dehydration.

There are other risks to consider as well. “Because we don’t know what goes into these preparations and whether they’re prepared in a sanitary manner, people can get infections, including transmission of pathogens if the equipment used is not properly cleansed or sterilized in between patients,” Ni says.

People undergoing a colonic can also experience injury from the equipment inserted into the rectum.

“There have been case reports of patients having colon ulceration, even perforations, which are tears in the lining of your colon,” Ni says. “There have also been reports of ischemic colitis, which means there is insufficient blood flow to parts of the colon, causing at least short-term, if not long-term or permanent, damage.”

Colonics may be particularly risky for older adults, who tend to have underlying conditions that put them at a higher risk for complications.

“If elderly patients, for example, already have cardiac or renal disease, they’re not able to deal with these electrolyte disturbances as well,” Ni says. “And because older people are more likely to have severe constipation, they’re much more susceptible to bowel perforation and ischemic colitis.”

Improving your gut health

If you have considered colonics to improve your bowel health, there are better ways to do it, doctors say. For starters, says Ni, “we know that Americans don’t take in enough dietary fiber and we don’t take in enough fluids.”

Ni recommends increasing your fiber intake to 28 to 35 grams a day. If you need it, you can use an over-the-counter fiber supplement, such as psyllium. Staying hydrated and getting regular physical activity also helps keep the bowels running smoothly. If you struggle with constipation and these measures don’t do the trick, though, talk to your doctor about medications that can help.

You can also improve your gut health — and overall health — by encouraging the growth of good bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.

One good way is to eat fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi. They contain substances called probiotics that promote a healthy microbiome, Ni says, “and they’re delicious too.”

Beth Howard is a North Carolina–based health and lifestyle writer. She has written for dozens of publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Prevention, Better Homes & Gardens and Reader’s Digest.

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