The colonic way to a healthier you

Jun 14 2007 by Emma Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

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JOANNE WILLCOX is convinced she can make my hectic life easier. She is adamant she can make me less stressed, make my skin clearer and my hair shinier and she is going to achieve all of this through colonic hydrotherapy.

Yes you heard me right . . . colonic hydrotherapy . . . the one with the tube.

A big trend in the ’90s thanks to people like the late Princess Diana, colonic hydrotherapy’s profile has dipped of late but its fans swear by it for a healthy body from the inside out.

“Everything in modern life is so very toxic, our meat is injected with hormones, we should be eating organic but people don’t,” says Joanne, who has been working in the health industry teaching diet and nutrition for 22 years, and now runs a clinic from Herbert’s of Liverpool, as well as one at Crabwell Manor Hotel, in Chester.

Joanne, a mother-of-two, describes colonic hydrotherapy as an internal bath.

Filtered water is gently introduced to the colon and using special massage techniques and any ingested matter is cleared away.

Says Joanne: “It is well-documented that death begins in the colon, but people aren’t educated nutritionally.

“Colonic hydrotherapists are trained to identify imbalances and breakdowns of the body’s natural ability to manage itself.

“My job involves educating and supporting a person to become more in control of their health and well-being by examining aspects of their lifestyle and diet and recognising specific needs. It is my job to give someone their vitality back.”

I have to say, so convincing, not to mention glowing with health and energy was 42-year-old Joanne, at our first meeting I was intrigued enough to sign up, if a little apprehensive about the procedure itself.

But, while not quite so pleasurable as swimming in chocolate with Clive Owen, it was not the ordeal I had been expecting.

It definitely didn’t hurt, my dignity remained intact throughout, and Joanne’s cheery and relaxing chatter meant I almost forgot exactly what it was we were doing.

Our first meeting took 90 minutes as I had to fill in a questionnaire about my lifestyle, but the actual process takes between 45 minutes to an hour. Afterwards, I have to say I felt lighter and my head definitely felt clearer.

Unfortunately, a couple of hours later I developed what felt like a bad hangover, but Joanne warned me this would just mean the detox had worked.

The next day my stomach looked flatter, but most importantly I felt inspired to do something about my lifestyle and diet.

So I did, starting by booking in for another session.

• FOR more details on colonic hydrotherapy treatments, visit Joanne’s website at www.joannewillcox.com. For appointments with Joanne, call 0845 017 6020 or for an appointment with her at Herbert’s call 0151 709 7834.