COLONIC CAPERS
Relishing the physical, mental and creative challenge of colonic irrigation, Worthep takes it up the bottom in the name of bolder blogging.
It used to be rare to hear anyone talking about detox and you would never have dreamt of shooting the shit about colonic irrigation down the pub with the lads. Attitudes, and conversations, are changing.
The change here in Thailand started quite a few years back with holistic beach retreats mushrooming in areas where the were a hgh concentration of burnt-out party animals crying out for detox: enter fasting regimes and hosing down their insides, in the pursuit of the person they were before all the partying.
With the opening of the HydroHealth Colonic Centre on the fourth floor of the upmarket Erawan Centre in Chidlom, it appears the shift towards healthier living has finally arrived where it is most needed – in the choking metropolis. As Bangkok strives to be a regional hub for this, that, and the other (some may say it already is a hub for a bit of the other) the increased pace of life, diminished air quality and food-on-the-go dining habits of many Bangkokians makes this city the ideal place for the largest colonic health care centre in Southeast Asia.
Large, however, does not mean impersonal. With its mantra of ‘dignity’ the purpose-built centre (they even re-done all the plumbing to accommodate the water filtration system and water-intensive nature of the procedure) provides detoxification treatments that are both physically and spiritually uplifting. Targeting middle-aged/middle-income local and expatriate business people, HydroHealth, with its 12 state-of-the-art, super-hygienic colonic suites, six detoxifying massage lounges and four deep-penetrating, infrared sauna rooms, aims to educate the modern urbanite towards better health.
HydroHealth General Manager, Daranee Tirakawin, a self-confessed, hard-living businesswoman, was the ideal choice to head the revolutionary new approach to healthier living. With a full work schedule and hyperactive social life, Daranee suffered from frequent bouts of constipation, bad digestion and a bloated stomach. Her traditional response to her ailments was to take a variety of medicines prescribed by her doctor. Concern about the amount of prescription drugs she was pumping into her body prompted her to seek an alternative. Through family friends she was introduced to the HydroHealth Colonic Centre in Hong Kong and tried colonic irrigation for the first time. It was a huge psychological hurdle.
“Of course I was apprehensive at first,” said Daranee. “I was scared about the insertion and worried about the affects on my body. I have since become a complete convert to the technique and credit it with increasing my energy levels, correcting my digestive system and improving my complexion.”
Daranee is quick to point out, however, that while it may have been good for her skin, HydroHealth is more about health than beauty. The centre takes an ‘inside-out’ approach to healthcare; working on the body’s engine as opposed to spas or beauty clinics that simply polish up the bodywork. She is also keenly aware of the educative role she needs to play in turning the market on to this alternative approach to healthcare.
“People are slowly becoming more aware of their health. Many are beginning to realise you are what you eat and are radically changing their approach to healthy living. We offer a world-class facility and discreet expertise to help our clients reach their goal of ongoing good health. We also provide the highest standards of hygiene, using purified water of kidney dialysis grade as used in hospitals,” said Daranee.
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about colonic therapy but been too shit scared to ask:
What is Colonic Therapy?
Also known as colonic irrigation, this procedure cleanses the inner wall of the colon, a large part of the intestine, by removing waste products, eliminating the accumulation of toxins and stimulating the large intestine and digestive system to work efficiently and effectively.
How is it done?
A specially designed bed allows you to easily insert a pencil-thin lubricated tube into your rectum by yourself. When done, your personal hydro therapist adjusts the water flow and temperature and provides other forms of assistance such as answering the many questions you are sure to have, applying a hot pack, massaging your abdomen and even changing the CD. (This writer regrets choosing the new Linkin Park album for his debut colonic and opted for something much more New Age and relaxing for the follow-up.)
How does it feel?
Admittedly, the initial shock of penetrating yourself in the place where the sun doesn’t shine coupled with the strangeness of the first ten minutes or so of this alien process, is a little disconcerting. However, once you realise that you have another 30 minutes plugged into the chair, and notice that your hydro therapist is not sniggering at your predicament but is professionally committed to your treatment, the process and the body movements flow much more freely. It even reaches a point where you can relax enough to pick up one of the many magazines available and catch up on the latest Hollywood gossip or Thai political intrigue while the apparatus continues to sluice years of bad living from your overworked intestines.
And afterwards?
Different people react in different ways. This writer, who irrigated two days in a row, or back to back as the centre quaintly calls it, experienced a long-lost feeling of lightness around the bowels. After only one short weekend, he also began to feel as if he was starting to shake off the excesses, not only of the New Year but also the previous 40 years of hard living. From a confirmed cynic a more regular kind of guy is being born.
Colonic caution
Don’t try this at home folks! Detoxifying, while good for your body, should always be undertaken by professionals. Detoxifying too rapidly causes toxins to be released faster than the body can eliminate them and may cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and malaise.
So there you have it in a discarded nutshell from something you ate 10 years ago. While colonic therapy may be the new kid on the healthcare block, there is no denying that it can be the catalyst towards a healthier body and, more importantly, a healthier frame of mind. With the massive investment in the luxury facilities, the owners of HydroHealth are in this for the long haul. They are also aware of their responsibility to educate people about the benefits of the treatment. So much so, they may even be willing to offer you a trial session free. Give them a call, tell them Worathep sent you and, hey! who knows, they may have just what you’ve been looking for. Maybe we can meet up in the pub afterwards to discuss the results.
HydroHealth also offers infrared saunas, all the goodness of the sun without the annoying sand between your toes, and a detoxifying massage using essential oils. The centre can be found on the 4th Fl., Erawan Centre, Ploenchit Rd, Chidlom BTS. Call: 0 2250 7800 or log on to www.hydrohealth.co.th for more details.
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