Colonic Irrigation
Nicole Ferguson is a naturopath and has over 16 years experience in colonic hydrotherapy offering a fresh, modern, clinical approach to this ancient practice of colon cleansing.
When trying to improve or maintain your health by having a colonic irrigation treatment, what you put in side your body is so very important. So to ensure you really do get the best possible treatment at the highest standard, here at the Bodyworks Practice you can rest assure that you will receive good sound advice for after the treatment to keep you healthy.
Nicole is also a naturopath (nutritionist, iridologist and herbalist) which means she is degree level qualified and highly trained to educate you on nutrition, herbs and lifestyle advice to really help you get the best possible treatment and advice. The colonic is just the start of your journey and what you put into your body after the treatment is vital, therefore seeing a naturopath will excel your treatment and knowledge.
The Colonic Irrigation Treatment:
Colonic irrigation or otherwise called colonic hydrotherapy uses warm purified water inserted into the rectum via a small lubricated speculum to work on the bowel (large intestine). It may sound scary and uncomfortable but it isn’t. In fact, it can be quite relaxing and the after effects far out way any thoughts that may be running through your mind at present!
Waste may accumulate in the bowel over time and can have a significant impact on your well being. A wise natural healer, Bernard Jenson used to say ‘Death begins in the colon’.
All equipment used is only used once, it is sterile and completely disposable.
Probiotic implants are highly recommended for after your treatment, please see below for more information.
Nicole also offers food intolerance testing and gut health testing which, combined with colonic hydrotherapy, can really help you get to the root cause of some issues you may be experiencing. Nicole is happy to discuss this with you in the treatment. For further information please see
The colon
The colon / bowel / large intestine is roughly 5-6 feet in length and 2.5cm wide.
Naturopaths believe a healthy bowel will evacuate a stool at least once a day, it has been suggested that the optimal number of bowel movements is one bowel movement after every meal. So, if you are like most people who eat three meals a day, this suggests you should be going three times per day.
Many people suffer from either short term constipation (acute) or long term constipation (chronic), which has been for many years.
The NHS (2023) state: “Long-term constipation can lead to faecal impaction. This is where poo has built up in the last part of the large intestine (rectum). The main symptom is diarrhoea, which leaks through the build-up of solid poo. Faecal impaction may be treated with:
- stronger laxatives – prescribed by a GP
- a suppository – medicine you place in your bottom
- a mini enema – where fluid is passed through your bottom, into your bowel
- a healthcare professional removing some of the poo – this is not something you should do yourself.”
Many clients have tried the first 2 options with no relief, or have needed to take these regularly in larger quantities over time, this is where colonics may be really helpful.
Others may go too much which means they may not absorbing their nutrients as the food is passing too quickly through their body. This may not essentially be just a bowel issue it can be down to a number of factors Including the bowel bacteria which I believe can be re-balanced via the treatment and advice that I offer.
How is it carried out
A closed hydrotherapy, gravity fed tank system is used, which means the treatment uses the natural flow of gravity to feed the water into the bowel. Nicole feels, this is the safest method as it ensures there is never any pressure in the bowel it simply flows in and out with the flow of gravity. All the equipment used is fully disposable, and Nicole will stay with you the whole time throughout your treatment to ensure it is carried out safely and you are receiving specific advice from what we discuss in your treatment.
The treatment itself takes approximately 45 minutes. On your initial visit you will be health screened to ensure you are suitable for the treatment which is why it can take longer. A consultation form will be sent to you beforehand. please ensure this completed before you attend your appointment.
The most common fear of colonic irrigation is the insertion of the tube so let’s get the embarrassing part out of the way!! The speculum that gets inserted into your rectum is only about 2 inches long and its width is not even the size of some of the stools that you may release in a normal bowel movement.
The treatment itself is very discrete, there are no noises or smells and you lay on your back most of the time. Nicole will stay with you throughout the treatment and control the action of the bowel. This is done by pulsing the tube in peristaltic movement (wave like motion) and also by filling. Never should there be pressure in the bowel. Filling is where the water is held inside the bowel to mimic the effect of the bowel being full, it is not held for long don’t panic usually just a couple of seconds, Nicole will always work with your tolerance levels when filling you should never go past your own tolerable level. You will also get your abdomen massaged which can help facilitate the release of stools.
At times, the use of additional aids such as coffee, herbs or good bacteria Implants are used to ensure you are getting the best possible treatment.
Does it hurt ?
NO… Colonic irrigation should never hurt. At times, you may feel like you want to push or that you have an upset tummy. But, this certainly is not a treatment that suits the no pain no gain saying.
How many should I have ?
It is normally suggested that you carry out a course of treatments to begin with.
It may be recommended to carry out the first few close together so the bowel can continuously be soaked. Then treatments can be spaced out accordingly.
For a happy digestive system it’s normal to have 1 treatment every 3-6 months as a maintenance plan..
Are there any circumstances when a colonic treatment cannot be performed?
Yes. The below conditions are when a colonic treatment would not be carried out.
Active infections and active inflammation of the bowel wall such as diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, proctitis etc..
Congestive heart disease, severe uncontrolled hypertension, severe anaemia, pregnancy, liver cirrhosis / disease, long term steroid use, kidney disease, severe haemorrhaging, colo-rectal carcinoma, severe abdominal or inguinal hernias which cannot be easily reduced.
If you are in any doubt about any health issues you may have that are not mentioned then please do ask your doctor for written consent before hand and bring this along with you, or call us to discuss.
A full case history will be taken before commencing a treatment. If there is any doubt we will refer you to your G.P.
The Bodyworks Practice does not make any claims that we can cure disease.
Prices.
Initial consultation plus treatment up to 90 minutes – £115. Please note a £50 non-refundable deposit is required upon booking your first appointment, this is to be paid via bank transfer. The remainder is to be paid on the day.
Probiotic implants are highly recommended for after your treatment, please see below.
Accepted Payment methods: bank transfer, card and cash payments
Follow up treatments 60 minutes – £85
Pack of 3 colonics –
Including initial appointment £270
Follow up appointment packages £240
Packages are valid for 1 year and are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Should you book and pay your deposit then need to reschedule, the rescheduled appointment will need to booked within 3 months from the initial appointment. Please see T&C’s.
Extras:
Implants: These are performed after your colonic irrigation treatment, where a very small tube is inserted into the rectum and implants (one of the below) directly into your bowel so it can take action. Your bowel is the most effective absorption site in your body so why not take advantage and flood your body with nutrients straight away and restore the bacteria growth.
Please let Nicole know if you would implants on the time of booking where possible.
Probiotic implant £10. This is where we implant the good bacteria direct into your colon to ensure that any good bacteria that was removed in the treatment is encouraged to grow back with immediate effect. You can also take these orally for one month at least. Probiotic capsules are always recommended if you do not wish to have an implant.
Coffee enema £10. Nicole would still carry out the normal colonic procedure plus administer a coffee enema. You do not need to do anything Nicole will take care of it all and, to be honest, you never really feel anything that is going on at the time you should just feel great after. Please note it is advisable not to have a coffee enema after 2pm if you are caffeine sensitive
Herbal enemas – free if needed
Herbal medicine oral tinctures: You may find after having a chat in the treatment that oral herbal medicine taken regularly can greatly improve your health. Herbal tinctures can be mixed up for you at an additional cost of £12.50 per week. It is usual to have 2-4 weeks minimum to start with.
Preparing for Your Colonic Treatment:
In the days , weeks, months build up to your treatment time please ensure you drink plenty of water each day, throughout the day (ideally about 2 litres, or just start to increase your water intake). No caffeinated drinks on the day, try to leave a 2 hour gap from eating and when your treatment starts. You can eat after the treatment and Nicole will go through all of this with you. If you take laxatives or use suppositories please try to refrain from doing so on the day of your treatment so Nicole can see what state your bowel is in naturally.
To ensure you are in safe hands Nicole is a member of:
Nicole Ferguson is registered under ARCH, GNC and ANP. Being a member of these associations means that you, the public, can be assured that you are receiving a high standard level of treatment every time and that Nicole has met all the training pre-requisites required to carry out colonic hyrdrotherapy. Nicole is inspected at regular intervals and undertakes regular Continuous Professional Development to deliver the best possible treatment, safely and effectively.
Other treatments Nicole offers Can be found here: