A family legacy
History of colonic irrigation in Australia
The practice of colonic irrigation in Australia has roots stretching back to the early twentieth century, emerging as part of a broader movement towards natural health and internal hygiene.
Initially adopted by pioneering naturopaths and health retreats, the therapy was championed for supporting the body’s natural elimination pathways.
By the early 1980s and early 1990s, the modality had grown significantly—especially in Perth, WA, where Val Eastman opened the first Australian clinic using the DeWells machine. This period marked a shift towards accessible wellness centres and modern closed-system technology.
Val Eastman pioneered colonic irrigation in Australia from the early 1980s and championed natural, holistic wellness for generations.
Val travelled to America to learn from Dr DeWells, a gastroenterologist who developed hydro-colon therapy after seeing a need among patients with severe bowel problems.
She returned to Western Australia with two machines and established Colonic Irrigation and Nutritional Therapy in Colin Street, West Perth.
The same oxygenated machine still operates in our clinic today.
Our gravity-fed oxygenated closed system provides a gentle, continuous in-and-out flow through a two-way instrument. Warm and cool water may be used to support circulation to the bowel wall.