Open vs. Closed System Colonics: Why We Chose the LIBBE Open System
By Shabnam Maleki, I-ACT Certified Colon Hydrotherapist · Colon Hydrotherapy & Wellness Center, Downtown Bakersfield
Quick answer: Both open and closed colon hydrotherapy systems introduce warm, filtered water into the large intestine. The main difference is how water enters and waste exits.
With an open system like the LIBBE bed we use, you insert a small, pencil-sized nozzle yourself, with clear instructions and personal guidance from your therapist. Water flows in by gravity, and waste exits through an outlet in the bed.
With a closed system, a therapist typically inserts a speculum connected to tubing and manages the water flow and waste release.
We chose the LIBBE open system for its privacy and client control. Throughout your visit, I explain each step, guide you through nozzle insertion, and remain available for support, especially if this is your first session.
If you have searched for a colonic in Bakersfield, you have seen the terms “open system” and “closed system” without much explanation of what they mean for you on the table. This is the plain version: how each one works, what it feels like, who tends to prefer which, and why we chose what we did.
How an open system session works
- The bed. You lie on a contoured bed (ours is the LIBBE, an FDA-registered device) with a built-in basin at the base.
- The nozzle. A new, sealed, single-use nozzle about the width of a pencil. Before the session begins, your therapist will explain and guide you through inserting it yourself, helping you feel informed and comfortable while respecting your privacy.
- The water. Warm, filtered, temperature-controlled water flows in by gravity at low pressure. There is no pump.
- Release. When your body is ready, you simply release. Waste flows around the nozzle and out through the bed’s outlet with continuous ventilation.
- Your part. Breathe, relax, and let your body set the pace. Sessions run about 40–45 minutes.
How a closed system session works
- The table. You lie on a massage-style table, usually on your side or back.
- The speculum. A therapist inserts a larger disposable speculum connected to two lines: one that brings water in, one that carries waste out to a closed tube.
- The water. The therapist controls the fill and release, often with a pressurized or gravity device, and typically uses abdominal massage to assist.
- Release. Waste exits through the sealed tube, so nothing is exposed; the therapist is present and hands-on for the whole session.
- Your part. Communicate with the therapist about pressure and comfort. Sessions run about 30–45 minutes.
Side by side
| Open system (LIBBE) | Closed system | |
|---|---|---|
| Who inserts the nozzle | You, in private, with your therapist’s guidance | The therapist |
| Nozzle size | Pencil-width | Larger speculum |
| Water pressure | Gravity, low pressure | Therapist-controlled; may use a pump |
| Privacy | Therapist nearby, in and out as needed | Therapist present and hands-on throughout |
| Release | Natural, when your body is ready | Managed by the therapist |
| Best for | First-timers, anyone nervous or private, anyone who wants control | Those who prefer a hands-on, therapist-led session |
| Hygiene standard | Single-use nozzle, filtered water | Single-use speculum, filtered water |
Why we chose the open system
- Privacy. Most people are nervous before a first colonic, and the thing they are nervous about is the insertion and the release. In an open system both happen on your terms, with you in control and the room to yourself. That alone is why many first-timers choose us.
- Gentleness. Gravity-fed water at low pressure, and a nozzle you barely notice. Nothing is forced.
- Your pace. Your body decides when to release, not a therapist managing a valve. Clients consistently describe it as calmer.
- Safety. The LIBBE is FDA-registered, every nozzle is new and sealed, water is filtered and temperature-controlled, and I-ACT certification applies to the therapist regardless of system. I am in the room or within earshot for the entire session.
None of this makes closed systems wrong. Well-run closed-system studios are perfectly safe, and some clients prefer the hands-on approach. If that is you, we would rather you find a certified closed-system therapist than feel uncomfortable with us. What we would not do is choose a studio of either type that cannot show you a certification, a sealed single-use nozzle, and a private room.
Why choose an open-system colonic?
We chose the LIBBE open system for its gentle, gravity-fed water flow, private setting, and client control with personal guidance throughout your session.
An open system offers privacy, comfort, and more control over your experience. It’s a welcoming option for first-time clients, with a certified therapist nearby to guide and support you while respecting your personal space.
Visiting us in Downtown Bakersfield
Colon Hydrotherapy & Wellness Center is at 1805 27th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301, open Monday through Saturday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Every session is on the LIBBE open system in a private room, led by me, Shabnam Maleki, an I-ACT certified colon hydrotherapist. Questions about the system before you book? Call or text (661) 699-6941.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an open and closed system colonic?
In an open system you insert a small nozzle yourself and release naturally into a basin in the bed, with gravity-fed water. In a closed system a therapist inserts a larger speculum and manages the fill and release through sealed tubing. Both are legitimate with a certified therapist and single-use equipment.
What is a LIBBE colonic?
LIBBE is the brand of FDA-registered open-system bed we use. It stands for Lower Intestinal Bottom Bowel Evacuation. Water flows in by gravity through a pencil-sized single-use nozzle, and you release naturally while lying back in private.
Is an open system colonic better for first-timers?
Most first-time clients prefer it, because they insert the small nozzle themselves in private, with their therapist’s guidance, and control the pace. That is why we chose it.
Does an open-system colonic smell or make a mess?
The LIBBE bed’s double-filtration ventilation system helps control odors, while waste flows directly into a designated outlet. In our experience, there is no odor during colonic sessions. There is no cleanup for you to manage. We clean and sanitize the equipment after every visit.
Is a closed system colonic safe?
Yes, when performed by a certified therapist with a single-use speculum and filtered water. It is simply a different approach; the therapist is hands-on throughout.
Do you offer closed system colonics in Bakersfield?
No. Every session at Colon Hydrotherapy & Wellness Center is on the LIBBE open system in a private room.
Colon hydrotherapy, infrared sauna, and ionic foot detox are wellness services and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual experiences vary. Consult your physician before beginning a new wellness regimen, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition.
Colon hydrotherapy is a holistic wellness service and is not a medical treatment. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Individual results vary. Always consult a qualified physician before beginning a new wellness regimen.
Book a session in Bakersfield
Colonics from $95 with an I-ACT certified therapist. Mon–Sat 7:30 AM–5 PM. Call or text (661) 699-6941.
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