Fourteen Enema Tips: You won’t Believe Number Six!

1) Use an open-top enema bag or can. They are easier to keep clean and to thoroughly dry after use. Consider a four-quart model even if you don’t take that much volume, since it is easier to insert your hand into the bag for swabbing and drying.

2) Wear a glove when lubricating your anus and when inserting a colon or rectal tube. Not only does it keep your hand clean, the smooth surface protects those delicate anal tissues from rough skin and sharp fingernails.

3) Use a water-based lubricant designed for intimate areas. I use a product called Maximus. Its thick consistency is designed for anal sex use and stays moist for the duration of most enemas. It is made in Britain and is pricy compared to other lubes. I like it because it does contain glycerin, which I find can be irritating. Oils reduce the life of rubber goods.

4) Measure, don’t guess. Use a digital fever thermometer to obtain the correct water temperature for the enema. I prefer my enema water to be 102F. Designate an unbreakable pitcher for enema preparation. Mark the sides with a Sharpie for your customary volume to make filling easier. Do the same for add-ins, be it soap, salt or soda. Keep the appropriate measuring spoon with the additive. A paint stirrer stick works well for dissolving powders.

5) Fill the enema bag where you prepare the solution. Hang the bag from a convenient spot such as a towel rack, medicine cabinet door or IV pole if you have one. Add the solution to the bag then bleed the air out of the tubing. If you are concerned about volume, use the now empty pitcher to catch the expelled solution as you do this and then return the bled liquid into the enema bag. Some enema bag setups use tubing larger in diameter than the traditional quarter inch making it difficult to bleed out all of the air. Close the clamp after running a cup or so of solution through the tubing and force the air up and out by grasping the tubing in your fist and pulsing the tube by pressing on it with your four fingers against your palm.

6) f you are using a traditional latex single or double balloon barium catheter for a retention enema, try this to make insertion easier. Take a standard reservoir-tip latex condom and snip off the tip. Roll it over the balloons and snug it down so the catheter end protrudes though the hole you made. Lubricate as normal. The smooth condom surface will contain the pleats and make insertion easier. The condom will not affect balloon inflation and will also aid in extending the life of the balloons by protecting the latex.

7) Make yourself comfortable. A bed or massage table is an ideal place for your enema but the bathroom can be just as inviting with a little thought. Triple layer protection eases the mind and relaxes the body. Start with a waterproof pad large enough to contain any leaks, old crib liners work as do the ones made for incontinence. Next a large, absorbent towel positioned so it will be perpendicular to your hips. Finally a disposable pad to catch any errant drips or stray lubricant. A soiled tee shirt also works here if laundry day is imminent.

😎 The best support for your enema bag is an IV pole. It’s sturdy and designed to support the weight and can be easily adjusted for optimum height. Whatever suspension method you choose ensure that it can repeatedly withstand the weight without failure. “A pint’s a pound the world around” is worth remembering. I’ve broken several towel bars over the years by merely hanging a towel up after use. They age and weaken. If using a swag hook, confirm that it is screwed into a stud and not just the sheetrock. You’d be amazed at how large a mess two quarts of water can make when spilled.

9) Have a place to hang the enema bag after you’ve completed your enema session where the tubing and nozzle can drain. Refill the measuring pitcher with hot water so it will be ready to rinse out the bag and tubes while you expel. Doing this right after the enema flushes out any back flow that may have accumulated prior to washing the enema equipment once you are finished with your business.

10)Triple rinse (fill and drain) the enema bag and hose while you clean the insertable with soap. A hand-held shower head is handy for this.

11) Depending on the hardness of your water, rinse the bag and hose with a pint of vinegar to remove water spot buildup every ten or so uses.

12) Gently dry the outside and inside of the enema bag with a suitably sized lint free cloth. Wipe off the exterior of the tubing and the nozzle or colon tube.

13) Swab out the interior of the nozzle or colon tube using a couple of twelve inch craft type pipe cleaners carefully twisted together (make sure the wires are folded in to avoid scrapping the interior surface of the hose or tube.) You can also use the pipe cleaners to swap the first twenty or so inches of the enema tubing.

14) Hang the bag and the tubing to air dry in a place where air circulates. If you have a Seeking Health enema bag the tubing does not come off the bag’s metal connector. If that’s the case, let the tubing hang to the floor to dry before looping it.