Before your appointment
How to prepare for your colonic
This is the guide we email every client once their booking is confirmed. It's here too, so you can read it before you book — and find it again when you need it.
Arrive
15 minutes early
Longer on a first visit, so your health form isn't rushed.
Stop eating
1.5–2 hours before
A full stomach makes the abdominal massage less comfortable.
Hydrate
2L+ on the day
The single biggest factor in how much a session releases.
Allow
A full hour
Treatment is 30–40 minutes; the rest is unhurried time.
Before your appointment
Don't eat for 1.5 to 2 hours beforehand
A full stomach can increase discomfort and sometimes nausea during treatment. It also makes abdominal massage less comfortable — and that massage is an important part of the session, helping release more stubborn matter adhered to the colon wall.
Don't fast, though. Arriving having eaten nothing all day doesn't improve the result and makes light-headedness more likely. A light meal two to four hours before is ideal.
Skip gas-forming foods for 24 hours
Not all of these will necessarily be an issue for you, but cutting back usually makes for a more comfortable and easier colonic:
- Wheat products — pasta, bread, biscuits
- Sugar and protein powders
- Red meat and heavy, greasy food
- Dairy
- Alcohol
- Fizzy and carbonated drinks
Hydrate — this matters more than anything else
Better hydration allows for a far more efficient treatment. Aiming for 2 litres a day is worthwhile for your health generally, but if you know you often fall short, increase your intake as much as you can in the two to four hours before your session.
One caveat: the abdominal massage you'll receive also stimulates the bladder, so empty your bladder just before you come in.
Fresh vegetable or fruit juices help on both counts — hydration plus a boost of antioxidants and phytonutrients to support your body through the treatment.
What to bring and wear
- Loose, comfortable clothing, so changing is easy
- Something warm — a significant release can leave you feeling a little cold afterwards
- A list of your medications, supplements and any relevant diagnoses or recent procedures
- Medical clearance from your surgeon if you've had surgery in the last 3–4 months, plus your specialist's contact details
There's a fuller breakdown of the day itself on our new patients page.
After your session
Rehydration is the priority — a colonic flushes water and electrolytes along with waste, so keep drinking steadily through the rest of the day. Ease back into eating with soups, broths, steamed vegetables and ripe fruit rather than going straight to a heavy meal, and skip alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours.
Our full guide covers this in much more detail, including which probiotic foods actually contain live cultures and what's normal over the following few days: what to eat before and after a colonic.
There are two 68 Melville Roads
One in Brunswick West and one in Pascoe Vale. We're the Brunswick West one, between Hope and Victoria Streets — 3/68 Melville Road, Brunswick West VIC 3055. It's worth checking your maps app before you set off.
Parking, trams & directions →Mobility and access
If you have minor mobility issues, let us know when you book so we can put you in the downstairs colonic room. For moderate to severe mobility needs we unfortunately can't accommodate you — the building is over 100 years old, with no lift and narrow doorways, and we don't have the equipment required. Please tell us as early as you can if this might apply, so we can talk it through before you travel here.
Rebates
Colonic hydrotherapy isn't covered by Medicare or private health funds, and isn't claimable through NDIS or Home Care Packages. See our fees page for current pricing, including infusion add-ons.
Questions clients ask most
How long will the appointment take?
Appointments are booked for a full hour. The treatment itself runs about 30 to 40 minutes — the rest is time to use the toilet, get changed, and not feel rushed at either end.
Your first appointment also includes a discussion of your health history, digestive function and what brought you in, plus an overview of the treatment. At every appointment after that, your therapist checks in on what's changed since your last session before starting.
How will I feel afterwards?
It changes from session to session. Most people feel energised, lighter and clearer. Sometimes, after a significant release, you might feel a little tired or even cold — which is why it's worth bringing something warm with you.
If you notice a strong detox response, a warm herbal tea, a miso soup, water or a fresh fruit or vegetable juice all help. There's more detail in our guide to what to eat before and after a colonic.
Can I have a colonic while I have my period?
Yes, you certainly can. It's actually a good time to have a treatment — your body is already in a natural cleansing and shedding cycle.
What will my bowel movements be like afterwards?
This varies from person to person, depending on things like bowel transit time, motility and your usual habits. Some people move their bowels the next day; others may miss a day or two. Both are normal — a colonic empties the bowel far more completely than an ordinary movement does, so there's simply less to pass until waste accumulates again. Raise it with your therapist if you'd like advice specific to you.
How many treatments will I need?
That depends on your digestive history, your health goals and how you respond to treatment. As a general rule, clients dealing with poor bowel movements often need three or more treatments fairly close together to achieve a deeper, more comprehensive cleanse. Most people can carry two to four kilograms of old matter in the bowel at any one time, so that spacing tends to be the most effective approach.
We'll never push you to book more sessions than you need. Read more on how many colonics it takes to see results.
I had surgery in the last 3–4 months. Can I still have a colonic?
Check with your surgeon first — it's an important question, and our hydrotherapists require clearance from your surgeon before offering any colonic treatment. Please bring your specialist's contact details to your appointment in case we need to clarify anything further.
Can a friend and I book at the same time?
Yes. We have two separate colonic rooms, so two people can be treated at the same time whenever we have the availability. Mention it when you book or give reception a call on (03) 9388 0080.
What if I don't have time to do all the preparation?
Come anyway. Our colon hydrotherapists are highly trained, experienced practitioners who have worked with clients arriving in every possible state of preparation — thorough, partial and none at all. Your therapist will tailor the treatment to support you on the day.
Ready when you are
Book online 24/7, or call reception and we'll find a time that suits.