THE C WORD

Colonics. It often raises eyebrows when I say I’m a fan. And so I wanted to get to the, ahem, bottom of this. Before my first experience, over fifteen years ago, I had the same nagging questions as everyone else. What are the benefits? How does it work? Will it hurt???

I had always believed my body did a perfectly good job of cleansing itself, without the assistant of water and tubes. I assumed colonic irrigations were a fad. After a bit of research, though, I discovered this treatment was anything but new. Chinese and Indian civilisations, as well as the ancient Egyptians, have been practising colonics for centuries.

So I thought I’d get to grips with how my digestive tract works. For starters, our colons are around 5ft long – that’s a whole lot of colon squashed into a small space. It was starting to make sense that such an intricate system might need a little help now and again.

Having always had a sensitive tummy – particularly in times of anxiety and stress – I was starting to come round to the ideas of colonics. It made to sense to treat this organ at its source. When I heard the list of conditions colonics are known to treat – bloating, gas, stress, skin conditions – I knew I had to try it for myself.

And I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, it was fascinating, how my therapist could asses my digestive health just from examining my poop. Having sought treatment for IBS and low energy levels, my first colonic helped to kick start both of these complaints. I was a convert, and have since checked myself in for a treatment twice a year. My tummy always look flatter and I shed a few pounds – not to mention the increase in my energy levels. Colonics also make me more conscious of what I consume. I watch out for foods I know are hard to digest.

I’m always banging on about good gut health. Keeping an abundance of good bacteria in my belly is, for me, the key to feeling good. So admittedly I was a little nervous to hear colonics strip everything – the good and the bad – so after a colonic I would advise taking a course of high strength probiotics, to get the good bacteria back on track. I take Probiotics everyday anyway,  there are some great brands out there like Provenprobiotics.co.uk  Symprove.com and Terranovahealth.com 

So what can you expect from your first colonic? The treatment itself lasts 30–60 minutes and while, yes, there’s a tube, it’s very small and doesn’t feel too invasive. My top tip is to take something to read along with you, as a magazine always puts me at ease or music, music is good too! There is normally a sensation of needing the loo, though don’t worry, this is totally normal. A therapist is also always on hand, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, I ask lots!

After every treatment, I try to take it easy, and stick to eating warm, cooked food like vegetable soup. Alcohol and spicy foods are not a good idea! And while I totally appreciate this treatment isn’t for everyone, if you’re suffering from bloating or digestive discomfort, I really recommend giving colonics a go. And while we’re in the full swing of our January diets, there’s no better time for a cleanse. For those of you who are curious, the EF Medispa in St Johns Wood offer bespoke treatments for a range of complaints.

Have your own thoughts on colonics that you’d like to share? Pop them in the comments box below.