What is an ION Cleanse?

A colonic hydrotherapy treatment and an Ion Cleanse both support the body’s detoxification processes, but they do so through entirely different pathways—one physical and mechanical, the other energetic and electrical.

A colonic hydrotherapy directly cleanses the large intestine by gently infusing warm, filtered water through the rectum. The water helps to soften, loosen, and flush out accumulated waste, mucus, and gas from the colon walls. It’s a physical cleanse that removes material matter, helping to relieve bloating, constipation, and sluggish digestion. The result is often an immediate sense of lightness and improved digestive comfort. However, because it directly engages the bowel, it can be more intense and requires privacy, preparation, and a longer recovery period for some clients.

An Ion Cleanse, by contrast, works through the feet using a basin of warm water, a small amount of salt, and a mild electrical current. The device creates positively and negatively charged ions that circulate through the water, supporting the body’s natural detox systems—particularly the lymph, kidneys, liver, and skin. Instead of flushing matter from the bowel, it influences the bio-electrical field of the body, helping to rebalance cellular charge and support elimination more indirectly. It’s entirely external, non-invasive, and deeply relaxing, making it ideal for those who are new to cleansing or who may be too depleted for a colonic treatment.

Why an Ion Cleanse can be a positive first choice for some clients

Both Ion Cleanse and Colonic Hydrotherapy work with the body’s elimination systems—but they operate on very different levels of depth, comfort, and energetic demand.

A colonic is a direct physical flush of the large intestine. It mechanically removes waste, old mucus, and gas through warm, filtered water delivered via the rectum. It’s thorough, immediate, and excellent for people whose bowels are sluggish or full of accumulated material. But it’s also a physically intensive therapy that asks the body to let go quite rapidly. For some clients—especially those who are older, fatigued, dehydrated, emotionally fragile, or energetically depleted—that intensity can feel overwhelming or temporarily exhausting.

By contrast, an Ion Cleanse is far gentler and more systemic. It doesn’t focus on one organ but rather on the electrical terrain of the whole body—the fluid matrix in which all cells are bathed. Through subtle ionic shifts, it helps restore charge balance in tissues, supporting detox through natural pathways: the lymph, kidneys, skin, and liver. It requires no internal water infusion, no undressing, and minimal preparation, which makes it more accessible for clients who:

• find colonics uncomfortable, invasive, or anxiety-inducing,
• have rectal sensitivity, haemorrhoids, prolapse, or recent abdominal surgery,
• are in a delicate recovery phase, such as post-viral fatigue or chronic illness,
• or simply need a softer energetic introduction to cleansing.

Energetically speaking, a colonic moves matter. An Ion Cleanse moves charge. The first clears physical stagnation; the second rebalances the electromagnetic environment that governs how fluids flow and cells communicate.

Many practitioners use the Ion Cleanse as a precursor or companion to colonic therapy—preparing the terrain, improving hydration and circulation, and easing the nervous system so that when a client does choose a colonic, their body is more receptive and less reactive.

It’s not that one is inherently ‘better,’ but rather that each serves a different layer of the detox hierarchy.

For the sensitive, the depleted, or those new to bodywork, the Ion Cleanse can be a softer, more harmonious starting point before progressing to deeper physical cleansing.

An Ion Cleanse supports the body by gently stimulating its natural detoxification pathways and restoring energetic balance. It doesn’t treat or diagnose specific medical conditions, but it can be particularly helpful for people whose systems are sluggish, congested, or under strain from modern environmental and lifestyle pressures.

An ion cleanse can help with:

Fatigue and Low Energy
Many people carry a heavy toxic load from environmental pollutants, processed foods, and stress. When cellular charge is low, mitochondria—the body’s energy producers—struggle to function efficiently. The Ion Cleanse helps restore electrical balance, which can enhance circulation, oxygenation, and lymphatic flow, leaving the body feeling lighter and more energised.

Fluid Retention and Lymphatic Congestion
The alternating polarity of the Ion Cleanse gently activates the lymphatic system, encouraging fluid movement and the release of stagnant waste. This can help those who feel ‘puffy,’ swollen, or weighed down by sluggish circulation.

Joint and Muscle Stiffness
Toxic buildup in connective tissues and joints can create inflammation and stiffness. The ionisation process helps draw acidic waste and metabolites from the tissues through the skin, promoting a more alkaline balance and a sense of physical ease.

Skin Conditions Such as Dull Complexion, Acne, or Eczema
When the liver and bowel are overburdened, the skin becomes a secondary route of elimination. By supporting detoxification through the lymph, kidneys, and liver, the Ion Cleanse indirectly relieves the skin of excess waste removal, often improving tone and clarity over time.

Stress, Anxiety, and Poor Sleep
The treatment’s deeply relaxing effect on the nervous system helps regulate the body’s stress response. Many clients experience improved sleep, calmer moods, and reduced tension after sessions, likely due to shifts in autonomic balance (sympathetic to parasympathetic).

Recovery After Illness or Heavy Medication Use
After viral infections, surgery, or periods of high medication use, the body often accumulates metabolic by-products and chemical residues. The Ion Cleanse assists the natural excretory pathways in processing and releasing these residual burdens, giving the organs of detoxification a chance to reset.

General Maintenance and Preventative Care
Because the process is gentle and non-invasive, many people use it as a regular practice to keep their internal environment balanced—similar to the way exercise supports cardiovascular health or massage supports muscle function.

In essence, the Ion Cleanse acts like an energetic rinse for the whole body, promoting internal clarity and resilience. Its greatest strength lies in helping the body do what it’s designed to do—cleanse, rebalance, and renew.

An ion cleanse is a gentle non invasive treatment but there are certain times or circumstances that make it an unwise choice.

You should not have an Ion Cleanse if any of the following apply:

You have a pacemaker or any implanted electrical device

Because the Ion Cleanse uses a mild electrical current, it could interfere with pacemakers, defibrillators, or insulin pumps. If you have any kind of implanted electrical or magnetic device, this treatment is not suitable for you.

You are pregnant or breastfeeding

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, your body naturally goes through strong hormonal and detoxification changes. Mobilising additional toxins could place unnecessary strain on your system or alter the composition of breast milk. It’s safest to wait until after breastfeeding has finished.

You have had an organ transplant or take immune-suppressing medication

An Ion Cleanse can gently stimulate immune activity. If you’re taking anti-rejection medication or have had an organ transplant, this treatment is not advised as it may affect immune stability.

You have open wounds, cuts, or infections on your feet

The feet are immersed in water during the treatment, so the skin must be intact. If you have any sores, fungal infections, or broken skin, allow time for them to heal first.

You experience epilepsy or have a history of seizures

Although the current used is very mild, any electrical stimulation could potentially trigger sensitivity. It’s best to avoid an Ion Cleanse if you have this condition.

You are currently receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or taking heavy medications

During active treatment cycles, your body is already processing strong chemical loads. Adding detoxification may place additional strain on your liver and kidneys. An Ion Cleanse is best introduced after these treatments have finished and your energy has stabilised.

You are severely dehydrated, feverish, or acutely unwell

The Ion Cleanse works by helping your body release stored waste, which depends on proper hydration and circulation. If you’re very run down or unwell, allow yourself to rest and recover before booking a session.

An Ion Cleanse is designed to support the body’s natural rhythms, not to force them. The best results come when your system is ready to release and restore balance gently.