ARCH – working for you for 30 years

It’s thirty years since a dozen dedicated therapists first got together to form the Colonic International Association, which went on to become ARCH – the Association of Registered Colon Hydrotherapists – in 2001. Today, ARCH has grown into the UK’s largest association for the industry, and you can now find ARCH therapists across the UK, from the South West to Scotland, Liverpool to London.

We are proud to live up to our motto of delivering ‘a professional approach from approachable professionals’, to help you find a better balance in your health and wellbeing.

How does ARCH help you?

ARCH is a members association, run by members for members, but it also exists to care for clients like you too. We set the highest standards in the industry, and we work hard to ensure every one of our members upholds those standards.

We work together with therapists across the country to keep our standards high through clinic inspections, training school accreditation and peer to peer advice and guidance. We also insist that all ARCH members keep their skills right up to date, with both a minimum requirement for continued professional development, and compulsory first aid training, forming part of their membership renewal every year.

Giving you peace of mind

Because we insist on the very highest standards, you can trust an ARCH registered therapist to deliver your treatment in a safe and professional way. Our members deliver tens of thousands of treatments every year, helping their clients to deal with the symptoms of IBS and digestive problems, and to enjoy a greater feeling of wellbeing.

We very rarely have any problems, but it’s reassuring to know that when you choose an ARCH member, you will have someone to turn to in the unlikely event that you do need help, or if you have an issue with your therapist. ARCH has a range of established procedures to resolve problems quickly and fairly between you and your therapist, and you can rest assured that our committee will deal with any problems you may have promptly and professionally.

Nationally regulated for your protection

As an ARCH member, your therapist will also be registered with either the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), or the General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GRCCT). These national bodies provide voluntary regulation for our sector including helping with any issues that cannot be resolved between you and your therapist, or through the ARCH complaints procedure, giving you extra reassurance.

We also insist that all ARCH members are fully insured, so you are completely covered.

Keeping you informed

At ARCH, we’re fascinated with all things to do with the gut and with health and wellbeing in general, and we’re always looking for new and interesting information to share with you through our ARCH blogs. Check back regularly and we’ll keep you informed about the latest research, news and views on everything from the gut to the microbiome, from diet and lifestyle to cutting edge science. This year alone we have covered everything from the amount of sugar in your chocolate bars, to the huge potential of fecal transplants.

An industry wide welcome

We’re celebrating our landmark with a 30^th Anniversary Conference at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday 10^th and 11^th June, and you don’t have to be a member of ARCH to join us. We’re delighted to welcome all therapists, from across the spectrum of complementary and alternative medicine, to come along for two days of world class training and education as we explore the gut microbiome.

We will be joined by one of the world leaders in FMT, Dr Mark Davis, who is flying in from the States especially for the conference, along with Prof Simon Carding, Leader of the Gut Biology Research Programme at the Institute of Food Research and Dr. Simon Goldenberg, Consultant Microbiologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

There are still places left, so book now at Eventbrite for this unique CPD opportunity.

Lots more to come

ARCH has achieved a great deal in its first 30 years, and there is still lots to come. This year we have worked with Skills for Health in creating a National Occupational Standard for our therapy, which will formalise training and professionalise therapists across the industry.

We’re also seeing our therapy slowly become accepted by the wider medical profession, from bowel prep for colonoscopies to help dealing with the symptoms of IBS and other conditions. There is still a long way to go, but you can be sure that ARCH will continue to lead the way, as we have for the last three decades.

So here’s to the next 30 years!