When it was first suggested I should have a colonic irrigation treatment for a feature I thought it sounded like a great idea.

But when I told my friends and colleagues what I was planning their reactions were a mixture of horror and amusement - and suddenly I started to feel nervous.

As I was filling out my consultation form at Planet Janet asking about my health, our photographer arrived grinning at the prospect of one of his colleagues having colonic irrigation.

He was under strict instructions from me that there were to be no pictures of my bottom in the paper. After a few discreet shots he left us to get on with it.

My therapist Penny Star greeted me with a smile and led me to the warm therapy room.

A quick glance around and I couldn't see any machines which looked scary. We sat down and she talked me through the procedure and asked about my health and why I wanted the treatment.

I have always been prone to acne and long for clearer skin. Like many women, I can sometimes have a bloated stomach. My job can be stressful and I could do with more energy. A healthy diet of lots of fruit and vegetables can make a person a little bit prone to, ahem, a gassy tummy.

But without sharing too many details of my bowel movements, I am quite regular and generally healthy.

Before a treatment, clients are advised to take two teaspoons of fibre intestinal bulker such as psyllium husks, Regucol or Colon Care in water twice a day, followed by another glass of water at least five days beforehand.

Penny left me while I took the lower half of my clothing off, covered my modesty with a big towel and climbed on to the couch.

I reminded myself Penny had dealt with lots of bottoms before. She asked me to lie on my side facing away from her and to take deep breaths while she inserted the speculum. It didn't hurt.

Penny started the water and once the procedure was under way, I rolled on to my back and started to relax.

It was not a painful treatment but every now and then I got a stomach cramp. Penny gently massaged my tummy to ease the waste and any trapped gas out.

Occasionally I got a desperate need to go to the toilet.

"You are going," Penny said.

As all the gas and waste came out I felt an immense feeling of relief.

Penny explained she usually got through three canisters of water of about 20 litres each in a treatment which goes in and out the bowel gradually. But if I wanted to stop at any time I just had to say.

I went through the whole treatment without feeling any need to stop.

When she had finished Penny sent me to the toilet to let out all the excess water along with any remaining waste. I stayed there until I was absolutely sure my bowel was empty. I was worried one big bump on the bus ride home could have been a disaster.

Penny told me to have a warm drink and not do anything energetic in the evening. She advised me what foods I should be eating and what I should be drinking and told me to take friendly bacteria to top up my colon.

Under Penny's care, I didn't feel embarrassed and although the process could be uncomfortable at times, it was not painful.

By the time I arrived home I felt tired and hungry but relaxed and calm. I had a wonderful night's sleep.

My friends and colleagues have commented on how much fresher and healthier my complexion looked and I went into work the next week with plenty of energy to face the day. My bloated tummy also went down.

Colonic irrigation certainly isn't something to snigger at and I advised my interested friends and colleagues it was worth having.

A session of colonic irrigation at Planet Janet, 86 Church Road, Hove, is £55. For more information, call 01273 738389.

Maria Eady and Alison McDonald also offer colonic irrigation at 65 Buckingham Road, Brighton, on 01273 323696.

For more information about colonic irrigation and details of other therapists in Sussex log on to the web site for the Association & Register of Colon Hydrotherapists at www.colonic-association.org