The Association & Register of Colon Hydrotherapists

The Association & Register of Colon Hydrotherapists (formerly the Colonic International Association) was founded in 1987 by Dr. Milo Siewert as a professional association of qualified therapists graduating from his courses at the National College of Holistic Medicine. In 1990, it became a mutual association, independent of any teaching colleges, and adopted the aims and objectives still in force at this time.

It has been the lead body for colonic hydrotherapy since its inception and represents the largest number of Colon Hydrotherapists in the UK, maintaining a register of therapists who are in full and probationary membership within the Association and who must have qualified at a recognised training course. The executive committee is composed of both members and lay members, all unpaid, and the Association is governed along democratic lines.

ARCH is now a member of The General Naturopathic Council (GNC) which was formed to map the way forward for future regulation of Naturopathy, including colon hydrotherapy. It is funded by its members and the Princes' Fund for Integrated Medicine. ARCH has been a member since 2004.

Policy statement

To maintain and strengthen professional standards in colon hydrotherapy in the UK and Europe, thereby achieving best practice by therapists and assurance of safety for the public.

Objectives

• Registration: To maintain a register of suitably qualified therapists.
• Professional representation: in recognition of the professional nature of colon hydrotherapy, we are governed by our constitution, code of ethics and rules which embody educational standards, course pre-requisites, membership by exam. and interview, continuing professional development, therapist support, our probationary membership scheme, compulsory professional indemnity insurance and therapist behaviour.
• Policy forming: we lead the way in the UK and the continent in developing, setting and checking standards in colon hydrotherapy.
• Education: We offer a recognition process to colleges where colon hydrotherapy is taught by suitably experienced members. We set the minimum standards in education through our teaching syllabus, set the course pre-requisites for students and employ external auditors and examiners to verify all processes.
• Inspecting: We are the only association to carry out a premises inspection scheme of our members to ensure standards are kept high.
• Safeguard: through our well-established protocols, we aim to give confidence to the public and ensure their safety in visiting one of our registered therapists.

Membership of the Association and Register

We accept for membership graduates of our recognised colleges who fulfil certain pre-requisites: they should be pre-qualified as a medical doctor, nurse or in a substantial complementary therapy. Admission is by interview.

Colonic Hydrotherapy (irrigation) is taught at postgraduate level as an adjunctive therapy with only the relevant anatomical, physiological and practical tuition necessary to carry out the therapy itself. Courses do not include wider anatomy and physiology tuition, practice management, or, like most courses, bestow the automatic right to become a good therapist rather than a technician.

Furthermore, on the premise that practice makes perfect, experience in the therapy is all-important.

There are therefore three mandatory requirements for membership of all categories:

1. An ARCH recognised training course in Colon Hydrotherapy should have been successfully completed and a pass certificate held AND
2. Applicants should be a fully qualified Doctor of Medicine or Registered General Nurse or should have taken a course of at least two years full-time or three years part-time duration in a substantial body-based therapy, including in-depth anatomy and physiology, which should have been successfully completed, a verifiable pass certificate held, and this therapy should have been practised for at least two years.
3. The premises should reach the required standards upon inspection by ARCH.

Probationary Membership Eligibility

1. New graduates who comply with the above and who have successfully completed an ARCH recognised training course who have not practised colon hydrotherapy previously OR
2. Past Full Members whose membership has lapsed for more than one year.

Full Membership Eligibility

1. Probationary members who have completed at least one years practice under ARCH guidance and who have satisfied the Membership committee of their professionalism as laid down in the handbook OR
2. Full or equivalent members of Associated/Affiliated Institutes of Colon Hydrotherapy who have been in full time practice for at least two years including colon hydrotherapy treatments, and who wish to practice in the UK OR
3. Full members of the Association who have been registered before 26th October, 1991, and who have been practising without a break of more than one year OR
4. Colon Hydrotherapists who have been practising for 5 years or more in the UK and are acceptable to the membership committee.

ALL PROBATIONARY AND FULL MEMBERS ARE OBLIGED TO CARRY FULL PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY AND PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE. THIS IS VERIFIED ANNUALLY.

The Association & Register of Colon Hydrotherapists