Diarrhea and enema

I don’t know why, but something I read many years ago just came back to mind. It was a list of "old wives' tales"—or home remedies—and, if I recall correctly, it mentioned using a baking soda enema for diarrhea. Is that even a thing? And does it actually work?

I can think of one instance a baking soda enema definitely works for diarrhea, and that’s the un-fun situation of bile acid diarrhea.

If you have a dodgy gallbladder, as I did without knowing it for many years, or if you no longer have a gallbladder, as I do now, there can be times when too much bile is released into your digestion. This results in extremely urgent and, characteristically, burning diarrhea, as if you’ve eaten something spicy even if you haven’t.

A baking soda enema helps buffer the acid and wash out the bile.

I personally run to the constipated side so have never tried a baking soda enema for viral or bacterial diarrhea; that happens to me very rarely with years or decades in between and usually makes its exit just once.

I read in an old book written by a Minnesota doctor that he recommended a salt & baking soda enema for diarrhea. It just helps to help clean you out faster.

This happened several years ago. About an hour after I had a luncheon buffet, which included smoked salmon, I developed gastric distress, which included nausea and diarrhea. Between trips to the toilet, I made a dash for home and barely made it before another round. I immediately gave myself two bag enemas thinking that the sooner I get cleaned out, the better I will be. I don’t know if it was the enemas or just coincidence that I was already empty, but I felt much better almost immediately. I think it is beneficial to get cleaned out quickly in those circumstances.

I had chronic diarrhea caused by too many antibiotics and got, much against my will because I was not allowed to expel them, potato starch emollient enemas each morning just after my loose bowel syringed by my mom using a small white bulb syringe. It was prescribed by my pediatrician. I guess it helped as my diarrhea stopped after a while.

I remember many years ago when I was about 7 or so, I was sick from eating something disagreeable which gave me the trots and throwing up most of the night. First thing in the morning the doctor arrives, checks me out, tells Mom I'll live, but to give me a good salt & soda enema in the afternoon, and another next morning. At this point I'm not too sure about the living bit as my Mom was not the best enema giver (hanging the bag as high as tubing would allow). True to form, the highly hung enema hurt like hell, but I had to admit it settled my gut and I felt a lot better. In later years, after taking control, I have used this formula successfully for bouts of upset or acidic gut and it works great.

Isn’t salt and baking soda enema the Next step towards a soap suds. I will let your imagination finish the list

I have had good success with enemas to correct diarrhea. "A Minnesota Doctor" did suggest bowel flushing enemas consisting of salt and soda. They usually worked very well!

I have suggested these to others and I got positive feedback regarding the outcome.