An enema is a discreet and private method of self-administered colon cleansing.
Most importantly, it is extremely Easy to do and Home Enemas are extremely popular. Almost everyone who undergoes the experience has almost identical responses of "Wow! I feel hooked already"
Preparing For Enema
The wonderful aspect about enema is that it can be done EASILY without much preparation. It should be done in the morning on an empty stomach and preferably AFTER answering nature's call (unless severely constipated).
While for usual practice, there are no special diet requirements, however, for a Complete Detoxification, the following diet observations should be followed and enema should be Preferably done over the weekend
(i) Diet on the day before Enema Day
| Breakfast |
Papaya, Guava, Pear, Apple and Grapes or any other seasonal fruit. |
| Mid-morn (11 am) |
1 glass of seasonal fruit juice. |
| Lunch |
1 bowl of soup of vegetables having high potassium content and cabbage |
| Evening |
1 bowl of soup / juice |
| Dinner |
1 bowl of vegetable soup or seasonal vegetables with roughage. |
| Note - Take atleast 3 liter of liquid or water on that day |
(ii) Things to avoid for a complete detoxification
- Strictly avoid flour and its products the day before and on the day you will take enema.
- Avoid aerated drinks and alcohol on the day before and on enema day.
- Avoid eggs and Non-vegetarian food the day before and on the day taking Enema.
- Avoid vegetables like Potatoes, Lady's finger, Jackfruit and Brinjal.
- Avoid eating bananas the day before and on the day of Enema.
- Avoid eating pulses day before (legumes) the day before. You can take them on the Enema day for lunch (after enema).
General: Avoid smoking on the Enema day and the day before.
For home enemas, you can use a handy enema equipment. View it by Clicking here
How to take an Enema?
- The best time for taking Enema is in the morning 1-2 hours before breakfast or in the evening, 2 hours before dinner.
- Fill the pot with water. The temperature should be according to the need. For General Cleansing, the water should be lukewarm (97oF-100oF).
- Hang the Enema Can from a height of about 1 meter.
- (Optional) Add the amount of herb and its extract to be dissolved in enema water.
- Apply any oil (vaseline) of the enema catheter for lubrication.
- Ensure the catheter size is comfortable. (Size 10 or 12 is fine)
- Turn the Enema nozzle on to ensure that water coming out of the catheter in free flow without any air bubbles. Then turn the nozzle off.
- Now, practice the posture recommended in the enema instruction booklet, and slowly insert the lubricated Enema catheter approx. of its length into the rectum and turn the enema nozzle on. You will feel the water reaching in your upper rectum and left part of the intestine (colon).
- If you feel the water is enough for intestine or if you experience a faint desire to evacuate, then turn the Enema nozzle off.
- If you feel that the water in the pot is insufficient, turn the nozzle off and move the catheter out. Fill the Enema can once again with water; and insert the catheter back into the rectum.
- The passage of liquid into the large intestine should take 5-15 minutes.
The complete details can be had from the instruction book which comes free with the purchase of the enema equipment. To purchase the enema kit or its individual parts such as the can, nozzle or colon tube, Click here
Enema Difficulties
Some common discomforts felt while taking an enema:
Pain in the abdomen:
Sometimes abdominal (large intestine region) pain is experienced while taking Enema.
Solution:
If you feel pain while taking Enema, the first thing to do is to turn the Enema nozzle off. Then, press the region of pain with four fingers or palm and rub the area. After that continue massaging your abdomen in an anti clock wise direction.
Sometime pain is the outcome of a small amount of air taken in as water finishes from the Enema pot.
Solution:
- Be careful that the Enema Pot should not get completely empty. A stainless steel enema can is best for the purpose which you can buy individually by Going here OR it comes as part of your whole Enema Equipment
- Before beginning ensure that water flows smoothly to remove any air bubbles and turn the enema nozzle off.
Water Comes Out :
In some cases due to hard tassel matter or in cases of less rectal muscle elasticity in post stroke cases, water may come out.
Solution:
As water starts coming back, turn the Enema nozzle off and take the Enema Catheter out. Pass out all the water in the WC. Following this, two things to do to carry on taking Enema:
- Always introduce Enema catheter in Rabbit (Shashankasana) Pose. This is shown in the enema instruction manual that comes free with your enema equipment.
- Let the water flow in regulating the tap and then turn off the Enema nozzle off after 30 seconds. Then turn it back on after 2-3 minutes.
Water does not flow in or is obstructed
Sometimes the intestinal walls block the opening of the catheter
Soultion:
To overcome this, try moving the catheter a little out and then back in.
How often to take an Enema?
General
In the Nature Cure Hospital, Enema is recommended once to twice a day. But for a normal healthy person, looking for better health and well-being, should take Enema once a week. It is always better and convenient to practice it on weekends.
Hyper acidity or conditions of excess constipation indigestion.
People suffering from any of these conditions should practice enema twice to thrice a week or on alternate days for 1 Month to 3 months. Once the symptoms start disappearing and you begin to feel good, the frequency should be decreased and nature should be allowed to take over.
Note: Enema is not habit forming. Instead, after cleansing the large intestine, the intestine is actuated to perform better. The peristaltic movement (moment of contraction and relaxation of intestine which moves the faecal matter toward the rectum and Anus) also improves.
Types of Enema
Enema varies according to the temperature of the water.
Cold Enema:
50ºf-65ºf (or 10ºC-18ºC). It is helpful in decreasing fever and it is also beneficial in inflammatory conditions of the colon especially in cases of dysentery, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis and hemorrhoids.
Caution:
- Don't turn on the Enema nozzle fully. Take 10-15m. time undergoing Enema practice.
- In the case of ulcers and hemorrhoids, take 10gm of dried Neem leaves (powder) boiled in 1 liter of water, & then allow to cool. Strain this water and then use.
Warm Enema:
97oF-100oF(or 36oC-38oC) is recommended for general fitness and well being once a week. It helps to cleanse the rectum of the accumulated tassel matter. This is not only the safest system for cleaning the bowel but also improves the peristaltic movement of the bowels and thereby relieves constipation.
Hot Enema:
104oF-115oF (or 40oC-45oC) is beneficial on sudden occasions such as stoppage / obstruction of tassel matter and intestinal gas in which you may also feeling be mentally uncomfortable.
Hot Water Enema is beneficial in relieving irritation and pain due to inflammation or rectum, painful hemorrhoid. It also helps leucorrhoea in women.
It is also beneficial in general abdominal pain, abdominal pain due intestinal gas and pain of kidney, liver and spleen.
Caution:
- The quantity of water used should be liter and the enema duration should be for 10mins.
- In the case of ulcers and hemorrhoids, boil 10 gm of dried neem leaves (powder) in 1 litre of water, & then allow to cool. Strain this water and then use.
Graduated Enema:
In graduated Enema the amount and temperature of water is slowly decreased up to the 15th day. It is started with 2 liter of water and decreased by 125 ml per day up to 125 ml. on 15th day. In the case of temperature , it is slowly decreased from 100o F to 70o F (i.e. 2o per day). It is highly beneficial in cases where intestines are over dilated and it improves the intestinal function.
Who should avoid enemas?
- Pregnant ladies: In pregnancy (especially up to 7 months), enema should be strictly avoided as it increases the risk of abortion substantially.
- Persons suffering from an extreme condition of piles and rectum ulcers.
- Persons suffering from conditions of intestinal obstructions.
- Very weak people (after conditions of acute illnesses or otherwise)
Why Enema
Our modern lifestyle has given birth to an ever-increasing bouquet of health disorders where diagnosis is vague.
Physiological ailments such as lower backaches, indigestion, flatulence, acidity, chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome are widely rampant. So are psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, irritability and other neuroses.
These - coupled with our prolonged unhealthy lifestyles - has given birth to systemic disorders such as obesity, faster Ageing, Cancers, Rheumatoid Arthritis and auto immune disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Crohn's Disease, etc.
These disorders have been linked to an insufficiently clean colon and a poor detoxification of the body.
Experiences show that Enemas benefit greatly in such cases and help in maintaining youthfulness. The good part of our modern lifestyles is that Enemas are NOT a taboo any longer!
The "What & How" of an Enema
In this process, water (or the prescribed liquid) is inserted into the rectum through a colon tube or nozzle. The colon tube or nozzle is connected through a hose to an enema bag or tub which holds the liquid.
While lukewarm saline water is the most recommended, effective and safest for cleansing, certain additives may be prescribed for specific conditions as well as for therapeutic enemas.
Depending upon the quantity of liquid required, an enema may be classified as a low volume or high volume enema.
Low volume enemas may be sufficient for mild constipation. Certain therapeutic procedures such as coffee enema for cancer treatment and liver detox are also low volume procedures which do not require deep filling of the colon, and work on only the lower part of the descending colon, sigmoid colon and the rectum.
A high volume enema, on the other hand, is meant for deeper cleanses and detoxification of the entire colon. It is used as part of cleansing programs or then to correct chronic imbalances created by an unhealthy lifestyle or other factors such as medications, personal disposition etc.
An effective fasting program should also be accompanied by enemas to assist in the detoxification of the body. A fasting program slows down the excretory system, preventing the pushing out of the feces easily. It is here that an enema can help greatly.
Enemas are best done in the morning soon after answering nature?s call. A relatively clean colon helps realize the fullest benefits of an enema by allowing an unobstructed flow of the water into the colon. If necessary, it may be wise to have a mild laxative the night before to assist in a clean colon before the enema process is undertaken
Enema Dangers
Are enemas dangerous? All the reported dangers of enemas can be traced to indiscriminate or improper practice. In our opinion, there has been no citation for enemas being harmful, if done as recommended.
Possible Dangers listed are injury to anus or rectum due to improper insertion of the nozzle. Common sense should dictate this aspect and the golden rule applies ? never push when in pain; an easily implemented practice
Another contraindication reported is for people with heart or kidney ailments, as enemas can cause an electrolytic imbalance. Once again, this only pertains to indiscriminate use or to special people who need specific medical advice before an enema.
MYTHS about Enema
Myth #1: It is Difficult
Reality: Quite contrarily, it is one of the easiest methods of thorough colon cleansing. Following the instructions as provided in the enema instruction manual will make you aware how wonderfully easy the procedure is.
Myth #2: It is Habit Forming
Reality: In nature cure, patients who were given enema for months did not take even a day to leave it or live without it. Yes, if enemas are done incorrectly and without discretion, then rectal muscles can lose their natural disposition.
Myth #3: It Weakens the Intestine
Reality: It never weakens the intestine and rectum; instead taking enema rationally activates and strengthens them.
Enema greatly contributes to the strength of the digestive system.
It improves the blood circulation not only to the large intestine but also to the organs of the whole digestive system. It improves the digestion of food and also improves the secretion of the digestive juices/ enzymes.
How to do??
Home Enemas can be done by an easy-to-use Home Enema Kit, which beginners find extremely suitable. A detailed enema manual accompanies your enema kit which helps in making the process unbelievably easy and even fun!!