Enemas and Diarrhea - should you or should you not?

With cold and flu season upon us, I would like to know what the knowledgeable Zity folk think about taking enemas if you have diarrhea. I've read opinions on both sides. First some assumptions. I'm talking about high volume enemas between 2 and 4 quarts, not a pint or two. Also assuming no high fever or other bad symptoms.

Tell us what you think and what you have experienced if you have taken enemas when you have diarrhea. I have not. My dear old Mom told me it was a bad idea. But I am curious about other opinions as well.

Back in the 1970's I was prone to bouts of diarrhea. When I'd feel it coming on I would get out my enema bag and right away take a very warm 2.5 qt soapy enema - the bag looks just like I show in my avatar photo.. If I did not take the enema, my stomach would have churned and I'd have cramps for a half hour or more before it reached the point where I have to run to the john. Using my enema I avoided the waiting; more than that I liked being in control of the situation - cleaning myself out before the diarrhea did.. It worked well, and once I was done with my enemas (always took at least two) I'd be all okay..

My mother in law believed that an enema would do well on most bowel issues - after all if you have diarrhea there must be something irritating in there? So she gave bicarbonate of soda enemas for diarrhea, it was supposed to soothe the bowels and relieve the pressure.

There was a small booklet back in the 60's about people with cast iron stomachs and one chapter discussed "bowel flushing" enemas to be used in cases of diarrhea etc. I don't imagine a mild rinse would ever be dangerous. I did try this after a mild case of food poisoning since I had to travel and did not want to be stopping every 15 minutes. I recall that it did help a lot. You do have to watch out for dehydration.

Vito paster: My brother-in-law received some enemas from his mother as a kid because they were traveling and she wanted to avoid the risk of having to look for a toilet in an emergency, so she cleaned him out.

When I had diarrea as a kid in the 1950ies, the doctor prescribed castor oil to help my system to get rid of something it was trying to get rid of.

As an adult, I took high volume enemas to flush my intestine for the same reason. And it worked.

I suppose it depends on the underlying cause of the diarrhea. But say it was after an especially spicy meal or something disagreeable to your digestive system, then taking an enema to completely flush out the colon soothes it and brings much faster relief than waiting for everything to make its way out on its own. I find enemas a good way to "reset" a disturbed digestive system.

I know that sometimes diarrhea seems like it is acidic because it burns as it exits. So a chemical "base" substance like baking soda would help balance the pH of the diarrhea and since baking soda is a soothing substance, even used for itching of the skin and insect bites, why wouldn't it be soothing to the bowel. I realize that if you are going to use an enema to "wash out the colon", you would need to give a large volume enema, like two quarts of solution. And I would think that the enema may need to be repeated until the colon has been cleaned of whatever is irritating it.

Question: How much baking soda do you mix per quart of water when you are going to use it as an enema to sooth the bowel of a person that has diarrhea?

Has anyone ever really tried baking soda enemas for diarrhea?

I've used 2 to 3 quart enemas when I had diarrhea with 1 teaspoon per quart of baking soda, fairly warm enemas ~ 103 degrees F, that so far has made it go away for me. Takes care of the diarrhea and feels really good and relaxing.

If the diarrhea is caused by a bacteria, a warm baking soda enema will help to flush it out. For a simple upset stomach, my girlfriend and I give each other emollient enemas using a bulb syringe. The quantity is small as the idea is to retain them so around eight to ten ounces maybe twelve at most of potato starch or slippery elm bark or flax seed added to boiling water then strained once it cools. I like a lukewarm emollient enema while my girlfriend prefers a bit warmer. We do this at night before going to bed receiving the enema in a knee chest position and holding that position for five minutes then lying on the right side for five minutes and then sitting for another five minutes so that the enema coats the entire colon and penetrates deeply. We place a pillow under our hips and sleep retaining the enema. Often it is completely or almost completely absorbed by the time we get up. In the morning we may do a warm thick potato starch enema just thin enough to be able to suck it into the eight ounce bulb syringe and receive it lying on our left side knees bent. We will feel it while sitting to eat or walking around but it must be retained or another is given. Eventually it too is absorbed. This reminds me of the potato starch enemas I was forced to receive from my mother when I had chronic diarrhea for several weeks one time every morning due to antibiotics and I hated not being allowed to expel the enema yet I came to love feeling the bulb syringe tip in my anus and the thick warm liquid being squeezed through the anus into my rectum. An astringent enema with lemon juice added to the water in the quantity of two to three ounces to two liters of warm water also halps. A small alum enema will also stop diarrhea.

In case of diarrhea, I do nothing but poo for two or three times, using a combination syringe to inject a few ounces of warm water at the end of each poo to rinse my rectal passage out, not for the laxative effect, but to wash out any poo that can easily cause a lot of irritation.

But, if the diarrhea continues more than a few hours, I get out a Coloclean unit and prepare it for a bigger flush out. The first bag is warm water, the second is a more soothing solution with some added Arm & Hammer soda. There is about 3 liters of solution in each bag full. I use the Coloclean while lying in bed, taking each fill slowly and holding the solution as long as comfort permits. When the urge to poo begins, I open the outlet clamp and poo through the speculum into the waste bag which gets emptied into the toilet. Pooing through the speculum avoids rectal passage irritation.

If the diarrhea is a result of something I ate, I may decide to take a full dose of Castor Oil to clean me out top-to-bottom and wait until the Oil has finished working before starting with the Coloclean.

At the end of the Coloclean flushing, I occasionally take a bag full of coffee which is also soothing.

As a 9 or older boy (1959-62) anytime I'd get a "24 hour flu" event with either diarrhea and/or puking--the Pediatrician would say I needed to get a (soapy water) enema --Asap.with the water at a solid 103°F. One was enough.The diarrhea & puking stopped. It worked everytime.

I rarely get diarrhea, but it seems that when I do an enema can at least give me a few extra hours to sleep. You don't need anything strong, just tap water or salt and soda. This has no research basis behind it, just what I noticed - calmer bowels and no trips to the bathroom for a few hours. And when your'e sick and want to sleep that can be welcomed.

Sure beats the time I wound up napping on the bathmat so I would be close.

@Pecan nutjob That's a really great idea. I try to take a bag or two the night before I travel as well.

When my brother, sister, an I were kids, if we got diarrhea, we got two salt and baking soda enemas. We had to take as much warm water as possible, then hold it for five minutes. That was the tough part, after taken more than we usual got.

As an adult I’ve taken many a two quart salt and baking soda enemas for diarrhea. Works every time...

"A Minnesota Doctor" (Eichenlaub) advocated bowel flushing enemas for a variety of issues including diarrhea. His suggestion was salt and soda.

His book is on Google books as well as Wayback Machine.

I've had good success in mitigating the problem

Another quack. No medical evidence to support tthis.

@Rigel said,

Another quack. No medical evidence to support this.

Funny thing, a few years ago after my last Colonoscopy, when the GI Doctor reported his findings and condition of my colon. He asked, “do you have any complaints or questions?” I said, “my only complaint is occasionally diarrhea a few time a year.” He replied, “a warm baking soda enema will calm down your colon and give you relief.” I said, “oh really. Thanks.” He then asked, “is there anything else?” And I replied, “no, that’s it.” Then he said, “if you have the means when you get home, give yourself a baking soda enema. It’ll help get rid of the gas used during the Colonoscopy.” To which I replied, “I do, I’ll give it a try. Thanks Doc.”

A few years ago I ate some smoked salmon from a lunch buffet. Within an hour I had nausea and cramps followed by diarrhea. I went home and gave myself two quarts of fairly strong Castile soap enema thinking that I wanted that bad shit out of me as soon as possible. Then I had two quarts of saltwater and took a nap. By dinner time I felt good enough to eat a little. Coincidence? Or did the enemas help flush it all out?

Coincidence? Or did the enemas help flush it all out?

Oh, just the thought of smoked salmon sitting out in buffet - I can feel the diarrhea cramps staring 😞 . I do think the enemas did help, as they made a way for it to go through you faster.

@Cheryl77177 said,

Coincidence? Or did the enemas help flush it all out?

It was no coincidence. The two enemas did their job.

My grandmother was a retired RN, and I know from personal experience growing up, that her go too remedy for diarrhea was a couple of salt and baking soda enemas. Then 60+ years later, a gastroenterologist suggest I do the same thing for occasionally diarrhea a few time a year. Just goes to show you, grandma really knew what she was taking about.

About a two quart soap suds (ivory of course) enema defiantly has stopped diarrhea the few times I’ve had it.

I find an enema or two always helps me feel better if my bowels are out of sorts whether it be a case of constipation, bloating, or diarrhea. If I have been having diarrhea, it always seems to improve after an soapy enema to clean out anything irritating my bowels.

Enemas are supposed to cause diarrhea!

My experience has been, taking a large volume enema, tap water or sse does limit the diarrhea action. This in combination with drinking more fluids, but no food for 24hrs. So 1 and done. But, that being said…everyones body is different….so next time try what you think will work, rather than just keep running to the toilet! 🤪

I was debating taking an enema after waking up with an upset tummy, light nausea, and distinct discomfort in my intestines. Have read this and other threads before and I figured the worst that could happen is that I have a less-than-satisfactory enema session and less bathroom trips.

After about 3 somewhat loose and uncomfortable BMs in 2 hours (confirming my suspicion of having diarrhea), I went for it. I prepped a hot (107°F) 4-qt. soapy Ivory solution and let the good times flow, all while resting on my back and on a towel. It was more crampy than usual but I managed the whole bag and a minute of retention.

It was a relief to feel almost everything come out in one bag, and the heat definitely helped to ease the belly discomfort despite the cramping soap. I emptied and felt good, though I still felt a tad nauseated and felt the subtle cramping of soap in my colon. I figured there'd be no better time than to take a baking soda enema in hopes that it eases the discomfort.

Thus, another 4-qt bag is prepped and taken with some mild cramps. My tummy seemed to be stirred and I had to stop just a few ounces away from taking it all, but goodness was it a wave of comfort across my tummy. It was surprisingly relieving and I can see myself doing this whenever I get mild diarrhea and tummy discomfort.

I may take another enema just to flush out what's left of the baking soda (kinda defeats the purpose to retain solution and still have bathroom trips), but I am content. I highly doubt enemas are a "cure" for such, but I see them more as a hot pad on one's tummy during a period: a welcomed relief from the discomfort! Just much more direct.

I truly believe that large enemas will flush out what is causing the diarrhea.

If I don't feel good with a queasy stomach and the squirts, I do a bag until clear.

I take 1 TBSP baking soda/qt water, usually 3 qt. total volume enemas when I have loose bowels. We all know the feeling, aches in stomach, cramps, then the pooping of a lot of brown fluid and chunks, bad smell, etc. That's when the baking soda enema is given, sometimes twice if some of the original bowel feelings are still present. Always calms down the colon, I sleep well, and the next day is great.

In the case of a Diarrhea a complete clean out will be necessary. Even by taking a high enema you will exclusively be able to cleanse the large intestine, so you should swallow a laxative that will work in the small intestine too - the best will be a good dose castor oil, this taken on an empty stomach.