The 'colonic' was a favourite of the late Diana, Princess of
Wales, but it still has an image problem. Helen Carson reports.
Start the New Year with a tantalising fitness regime for a leaner
body and that all-important healthy glow. Real beauty starts from
within, according to Northern Ireland colonic hydrotherapy
practitioner Colin Doherty.
The 'colonic' was a favourite of the late Diana, Princess of
Wales, but Colin readily admits it does have an image problem.
"People are often surprised what a short time a treatment takes
and that it is not at all uncomfortable," he said.
And television health programmes such as The Salon and You Are
What You Eat are helping to destigmatise the procedure - as well
as convince sceptics of its benefits.
The entire regime takes less than an hour. It involves a 'digital
examination' to check for blockages, then a small speculum is
inserted into the back passage.
The speculum is attached to a machine which allows water to pass
into the person's body, flushing out waste through another tube.
Colin says: "We can pick up all sorts of information from waste -
whether the person has a leaky gut problem, for example, or
whether they have worms. The whole process is entirely painless."
So what type of person would benefit from a treatment? Colin says
most of us.
He says today's consumption of processed foods means we are all
taking in unwanted toxins which the body could well do without.
"Pesticides and colourings are all creeping into the food chain
and the digestive system cannot cope with it," he explains.
"Colonic hydrotherapy clears and washes out the large intestine.
"The reason we know there is a problem is that 50 years ago there
was no such thing as colon cancer. Food stuffs were natural then,
but modern food production methods mean that chemicals are leaving
residues in the digestive system and destroying the natural
bacteria."
Women who are taking the contraceptive pill often find themselves
getting constipated, he says. "I have seen young women coming in
here who think it is normal to go to the toilet only once a week.
Also, more young people go out now and over-indulge - the ones who
want to look after their body come to me."
Some GPs question the efficacy of colonic hydrotherapy, saying
there is no real evidence to suggest it has any health benefits,
but Colin maintains it is a preventative treatment.
He has recently opened a part-time clinic in Belfast (6a Rosetta
Road, telephone 90642211) alongside his original practice in
Castlerock (Moorbrook Lodge, 46 Glebe Road, telephone 20769700)
which opened five years ago.
With an estimated 80% of all known diseases starting in the large
intestine, Colin could well be on to something, but at £55 a time,
a course of treatment requires a sound financial commitment.
He says the number of treatments depends entirely on the
individual and further treatments of a liver, kidney or bladder
cleanse are free. The additional treatments are also combined with
naturopathic remedies to restore a healthy glow.
The ultimate endorsement of colonic hydrotherapy would be for it
to become available on the National Health Service, which Colin
hopes will happen in the future.
Already, it has gained the confidence of many doctors who believe
it could be an option for the future," he says.
THE PHRASE Colonic Irrigation strikes fear into the very heart
of even the most health conscious, fashion conscious, keep fit
devotee.
The thought of, to put this in the least offensive way possible,
having 15 gallons of water pumped into the body through one of
your most private orifices is not one that sounds appealing.
But for the one in three people in Northern Ireland who suffer
from bowel disorders of some variety, the treatment can be a
lifeline to a better quality of life.
Colin Doherty, from Ballycastle, is currently the North's only
registered colonic hydroptherapist, and says that having the
procedure really can be a life changing experience.
"Colonic Hydrotherapy, or irrigation as it is more popularly
known, can help people who not only want to detoxify but also
those suffering from chronic bowel conditions such as IBS,
intestinal parasites, diarrhoea, constipation and flatulence.
"It is a process that encourages healing, cleansing and the
reintroduction of healthy bacteria into the bowel which can
improve the function of the digestive system."
The treatment can have far‑reaching implications for the entire
body, and can help people who suffer from chronic headaches, skin
complaints and lethargy.
"Many of these complaints directly result from the body's
inability to properly dispose of toxins. The toxins will do their
best to work their way out of a person's system and that is how
skin blemishes occur.
"Similarly toxins in the system can lead to an increase in
headaches and a drop in energy levels. It can also lower the
immune system, as the body fights the internal toxins and not any
new disease."
Changes in our diets in recent years have led to our digestive
systems working at a sluggish level. While it should take just 24
hours for food to work its way through the system, in the average
Northern Irish person it can take up to 70 hours.
Each year a staggering 20,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed
with bowel cancer, and Colin said the simple and painless process
of colonic irrigation can greatly reduce this risk.
To many of us however, the mere mention of a colonic irrigation
treatment, makes us think of crazy celebrity led fads, and not the
beneficial medical treatment Colin would have us believe it is.
"The treatment has been around for 2,000 years and was widely
recognised to be of great medical benefit.
"However with the invention of modern medicine, treatments such as
this fell to the wayside and are now having a great resurgence.
"It is still relatively new to Ireland, and there are currently
only three registered therapists here. Prior to the opening of my
clinic at Moorlodge, Castlerock, clients had to travel to
Limerick, Cork or England for treatment but now that there is a
local therapist it is growing in popularity all the time."
Colin can list several celebrities among his clientele, but with
the nature of the procedure he maintains strict confidentiality
and a strong code of ethics.
"Being a registered practitioner, I make sure each client is as
informed as they can be of what to expect and I always try to be
sensitive to the client's needs and desire for privacy."
All clients undergo a thorough medical consultation before
receiving the treatment. While it can treat most conditions,
people who are pregnant, have recently undergone bowel surgery or
suffer from high blood pressure or a heart condition may not be
able to have the treatment.
I will turn people away if I feel the treatment has nothing to
offer them or could be harmful, but for most people the treatment
can be beneficial."
The procedure lasts between 30 and 45 minutes and Colin will
ensure that dignity is preserved at all times.
Once the tube is inserted into the anus, the client will be fully
covered and the the procedure will begin. Along with the water
therapy, Colin will gently massage the client to encourage the
removal of waste matter.
Staggeringly up to 20lbs of impacted faecal matter can be removed
from the body in a single treatment, with some clients dropping
two dress sizes almost immediately.
On average, however, 5Ibs of waste will be removed in a clean,
non‑messy environment.
I would not really recommend this procedure to people who simply
want to lose weight, but it can be a good way to boost your body's
digestive and boost the immune system.
To get an idea of how the treatment can be beneficial I spoke with
Vicky Ballantine, a Derry woman who sought Colin's help with a
long‑standing and severe gut disorder. (Honestly, I'm not a
coward!)
Vicky said: "After years of tests and examinations I was finally
diagnosed with a condition know as Gut Dismotility. The condition
affects the nerve endings in the bowel and the only way of
treating the illness is to take some of the older types of
antidepressants.
I was eventually referred to a bowel specialist in London who
informed me that the condition was not curable, but could be
treated. For the past number of years I have tried every type of
drug on the market, and am making my way through them for the
second time.
I was desperate for a treatment that could make a real
difference to my life and starting researching different
complementary therapies. You name it I've tried it!"
After reading about Bowen Therapy in the "Journal". Vicky decided
to attend Equilibrium in Derry to see therapist Rowena Corner.
While Rowena admitted that she had no experience treating this
rare illness, she researched what she could about it and
eventually referred Vicky to Colin.
"I immediately felt as though my life was going to change when I
met Rowena and Colin. Rowena was a gift from God and her referral
to Colin has made a huge difference."
After only three treatments, she says she has noticed a remarkable
change to her state of well‑being.
"For the first time in years I feel as though this will work and I
will start to feel better."
Beyond the physical improvements, Vicky says the psychological
difference to her life has been profound.
Colin has promised to make a new woman of me in six months, if it
took six years for an improvement it would be worth it, so to
expect changes so quickly is amazing."
Colin has been working as a Complementary Therapist for 11 years.
Having previously worked in London, he left the stresses of city
life behind after training in reflexology.
He is now also qualified to practice Reiki, Hypnotherapy, Tai Chi
and Aromatherapy among others.
"I have not looked back since," he said, "and it makes such a
difference to people's live to turn to complementary therapies."
For more information about Colonic Irrigation, contact Colin at
The Natural Health Clinic, Moorlodge, Castlerock on 028 207 69700.
0UR digestive systems 'are paying the price of modern life. The UK has the world's highest Incidence of colonic cancer, with 20,000 cases being diagnosed each year. The disease Is Britain's second biggest cancer killer, but Ignorance and embarrassment mean that few are willing to take the action necessary to prevent It.
A natural treatment which can counteract some of the damage we
do to our Insides has been finding favour with celebrities such
as‑Robbie Williams. Described as the ultimate detox It has been
practised for thousands of years. But the treatment In question Is
frequently greeted with an unnecessary degree of apprehension. As
Northern Ireland's only qualified practitioner of Colonic
Hydrotherapy (irrigation), Colin . Doherty says that the Benefits
of the treatment are more relevant today than ever.
"Our digestive systems take more punishment today through our
lifestyles and diet than they ever have. It makes sense that we
should try to counteract that through natural means.
"Many of the foods we eat leave residues In the colon, which
adhere to the muscle wall, disabling Its natural movement.
"The hydrotherapy process uses purified water to bathe the muscle.
A gentle flow of temperature controlled water loosens build‑up,
cleansing the body of dangerous toxins.
"The colon Is like an eco‑system In Its own right, and the
difference to visible when its natural balance Is restored. From
clearer skin to fresh breath and Improved Mental clarity and,
restored bowel regularity, the benefits far outweigh any Initial
embarrassment felt about the process."
The Natural Health Clinic practice has been building steadily
since Colin first opened his practise at Moorbrook Lodge In
January. He say~ that some of his other treatments such as
reflexology and aromatherapy are more Ingrained In the popular
Interpretation of alternative medicine, but that Northern Ireland
Is now coming to terms with the necessity to pay attention to the
health of the digestive system and the benefits of having a
healthy, detoxified colon.
Colin can be contacted directly on 028 2076 9700 for advice on
treatment or appointments.