The former Hole singer credits the purifying treatment – which involves inserting a tube up into the rectum in order to flush out waste in the colon – for helping her lose more than 40lbs this year.

She told Harper’s Bazaar magazine: "Some people think it’s about weight loss, but it’s about detoxing. I would fast several times a year and go for regular colonics. They really did the trick for me."

Before finding her winning formula, Courtney’s weight was rocketing in the wrong direction.

When she attempted to follow a strict macrobiotic diet – allowing her to eat only grains, rice and raw vegetables and cut out caffeine, alcohol, bread and pasta – she actually gained 45lbs.

She said: "My daughter Frances and I were kind of going for it because the dessert is fantastic. I put on 30lbs and I put on another 15lbs out of emotional depression. Then I’m suddenly 182lbs."

Courtney eventually settled upon a dieting regime which included lots of fish, and two meal replacement shakes per day.

The 43-year-old, who now weighs just 139lbs, thinks her success proves that you don’t have to limit your diet too much in order to lose weight.

She said: "I hate reading magazines where the actresses are saying, ‘Broccoli and fish, broccoli and fish.’ You liars. You bulimic liars!"

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