Is soap safe?

Is soap safe in an enema?

There have been a lot of posts in recent times about soap and enemas; and, wanting some clarity on the subject, I went to my medicine cabinet and got out a fresh bar of soap in the box. The active ingredient is Triclocarban 1.2%; but that left 98.8% of the bar unknown. Reading further, there was a warning; i.e.,

Warnings: FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Ssssoooo, that's what Proctor & Gamble seemingly has to say on the subject of using their product in an enema bag, or as a drink...

Hmp! Interesting!!!

It is my thought that in our youth, there were not a lot of chemical additives in products that we purchased and used. And, I guess to extend shelf life, provide a better fragrance, or color, etc., many chemicals have been added to products for one reason or another.

For example, I trained with the American Cancer Society to facilitate their Fresh Start (smoking cessation) program in the early 90s, and one of the most startling points about cigarettes, was the fact that there are in excess of 200 chemicals in each one, to include formaldehyde.

Ssssoooo, tis obvious that I am not going to find the other 98.2% of components in my bar of soap at this instant. P & G does not share that information at the website either. Proprietary information?

Just sharing... Have a gr8 day!

If you go hit the green "boards" button at the top left of the page, then scroll down to "recipes" and you will see 12 pages of threads. There are numerous pages on soaps. You should take a look at them. There is a lot of information that will likely answer many of your questions. That way you won't have to wait for an answer.

As a generalization, SOAP is safe, detergents are not.

Triclosan is a disinfectant, also found in some toothpastes, but you don't swallow and absorb toothpastes.

Triclosan is an active ingredient in many antibacterial soaps & sex toy cleaners.

i would assume this would not be good for use in an enema since it would kill the healthy bacteria in the colon.

this would also be a good reason to rinse thoroughly after cleaning enema equipment

No antibacterial soaps, or detergents. By the way, in Calif. if a healthcare worker gives a patient an SSE, they can be charged with practicing medicine without a license; the soap is considered an Rx. They MUST have a Dr.'s order. In the 50's-60's, it was left to the discretion of the head R.N. on any floor, as to what a patient needed. In those days, Docs wrote standing orders for diet,ambulation and often enemas as needed (P.R.N.) If the head nurse thought you needed one, then you got one.

Not quite true about detergents. One Detergent is actually approved for internal use, docusate, and it is in fact the active ingredient in the Enemeez® mini-enema, and years ago in the Index mini-enema from Johnson&Johnson IIRC. Docusate is the active ingredient in most over the counter stool softeners. It exists as Potassium, Sodium and Calcium salts, all of which I would regard as equivalent (there isn't enough Potassium, Sodium or Calcium to be significant).

In Australia, a concentrated Docusate Solutions specifically for enema use used to be available. When diluted, the enema contained about 1% Docusate. At that concentration it is extremely difficult to hold, and how they ever got the recommended 300-500ml into the patient is a bit of a mystery, let alone retain it.

If you want to try it, buy some 240mg docusate capsules and either dissolve them in warm water, or put a hole in them with a pin and squeeze out the contents. 3-4 grams per liter 12-16 capsules/liter) is a very effective enema, and difficult to hold.

Docusate should only be used with water based enemas. Do not use it with mineral oil!

Antibacterials are in general a bad idea in the colon. They tend to disrupt the flora in the digestive tract and can lead to overgrowth of some organisms. In rare cases such as Clostridium Difficile overgrowth, this can be life threatening. C-Diff infections are a major problem in hospitals. This disruption of the normal intestinal flora is one of the reason many antibiotics have GI side effects.

While what Mattheww said is correct, these are specific compounds made for internal use. The docusate sodium is also a wetting agent. Docusate sodium, and a few similar compounds are made for internal use, not washing your car or kitchen floors like most household detergents people have available. Furthermore, the oral dose of docusate sodium dose is measured in milligrams, not ounces like enema soap is measured.

The key is to use the appropriate materials in your enemas.

Pardon my nOObness but SSE? Super Sonic Enema?

I sold docusate sodium for 14 years (Trade name Colace). We offered a liquid form, generally added to baby formulas in bottles, but we also promoted Colace enemas. We would hit nursing homes and suggest Colace enemas vs. oil enemas in the elderly, since the oil sometimes ran out down the legs and they would slip & fall (fractures). We soldColace as a safe detergent that made water wetter to penetrate the stool, soften and aid in passing it. I don't remember the dosage, but it was done with an eye dropper in baby formulas, or an ounce or so in a one liter enema. It worked too! I tried it!

BTW, SSE is the standard medical abbreviation for soap suds enema. BaE is for Barium enema.

One of the "mainstays" of the scene seems to be the soap enema. I don't know if this is peculair to me, but I don't seem to tolerate soap well. It kind of makes me sick, and so I generally use clear water. Any thoughts or comments?

You don't mention e2e2 what kinds of soap, or how huch it takes to make you feel not well, so it's difficult to comment on your dilemna. I've found one to two tablespoons of Castille or J&J Baby shampoo per 2qts of water are absolutely no problem for me. Not sure if you're trying to take much higher concentrations, or perhaps using soaps not safe for internal use.

In my own experience(I am a giver not a taker) each person handles soap and diffferent amounts of soap differently. You can try by using a much smaller amount of soap(which could be why you got sick) in your enema solution. It may have also been the kind of soap you used. I use Dr. Bronner's liquid peppermint soap and plain Ivory(grated fine) for my sub's enemas. Other soap may contain chemicals that irritate the bowels.

Hopefully others will comment their experience to help you.

A 25-years younger colon thrapist wrinkled her nose when I told her recently that Ivory soap swished in the enema can was a mainstay when I was growing up, so it may be a generational thing in part. She does like to finish off her personal colonics with a coffee enema.

Use what you feel comfortable with.

Plain water is perfectly fine. Soap is never necessary, it often speeds up expulsion but can be uncomfortable for some people.

There is no sense using a solution that makes you feel worse instead of better when you are through.

I've always used Ivory Soap.

It is free of dies and perfumes.

Soap accomplishes two purposes

It causes mild irritation, stimulating contractions, and it lubricates the poop, to make it come out easier.

Whether to use soapsuds comes down to the reason for the enema. If it is to produce a poop, you need something.

Glycerin is an option.

For me Ivory soap gives a good cleaning out, but for a truly comfortable enema baking soda is my real choice. I use a tsp per quart.

For me soap is for special occassions. I have no desire to give myself colitis so I always rinse well. My preference is the enema herb concentrate - burdock root, red clover flowers, rasberry leaf, yellow dock root and wild yam - which my kind colon therapist provides. The routine here is a water wash followed by a long herbal soak. Talk about feeling clean when that lot comes lout. Poo smells nice(r) too!

Since I relish the slightly stinging irritation, my favorite enema is Ivory soapsuds, a bit on the hot side, from the rectal syringe at maximal pressure that instrument can provide (without machine help.) I grate the soap, and add enough to make a fairly saturated solution, i.e. when it cools there's a soap goo that falls out of solution (but as everyone knows, "It floats".)

I tried a couple of different varieties of Bronner's, including peppermint and almond (and I can't remember whether I ever tried plain or not) but never could hold it long enough to finish taking the two quarts that is my usual volume. Maybe I mixed it too strong: it was about an ounce to two quarts, iirc.

I always follow a soapsuds enema with a tap water one, which ought to rinse out well enough to remove concerns about discomfort that lasts past expulsion. In my experience, after an enema nearly always feels better than before, and after a second enema nearly always feels better than after the first (even if it was tap water.)

Ivory soap seems to work best for me. It really cleans you out. Plus it reminds me of my childhood enemas.

On this side if the great waters ^^ we have Neutral, which is basically just sodiumstearate (and some other fatty-acid salts) bound with some glycerine and salt. Nothing else in it, no binders, no stabilizers, no colourants or parfumes. stuff is awesome and has a decent smell aswell (nice and neutral)

I almost always use a mild soap, the Dr. Bronner's (?) either unscented or peppermint. Occasionally I will follow-up with a clear water rinsing enema, but maybe only about 1/3 of the time.

Ivory most of the time or Dr. Bonner's Peppermint

Ivory, Ivory with peppermint added, peppermint tea

I certainly hope that it is... I take 4 or 5 a week with appropriate rinses!

I dont' like soap either - makes me vomit. Doesn't mean I don't get soap enemas though!

I'm a wuss. I don't use soap. To me, it burns. I did, however, spend several hours grating a 12 pack of Ivory for a friend. I found it to be very relaxing and could understand how people could eroticize the scent. The gratings of each bar fits perfectly inside a snack size Ziploc bag. So I have a stash of twelve bags full of Ivory soap, a wash basin, a Rubbermaid pitcher, a tube of K-Y Jelly and towels always at the ready for mine who takes his enemas here since he has no privacy at home. We don't share enemas. He takes them solo and he uses the Ivory soap. He likes his water white and soapy so that's what he gets.

" So I have a stash of twelve bags full of Ivory soap, a wash basin, a Rubbermaid pitcher, a tube of K-Y Jelly and towels always at the ready"

Incredibly erotic soundingto me

It is quite sexy. The soaps are arranged in a decorative tin and put inside the basin along with the other goodies. My bags, bulbs, hoses and nozzles are quite visible hanging in my shower. There are latex gloves, cleansing wipes, lush toilet tissue, salt, baking soda, Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap and Fleet enemas on the bathroom shelves. And a candle, matches and incense matches placed on the top of the sink to eliminate odor. I try to make it as comfortable and inviting as I can.

There are only two, no three things wrong with my bathroom. First, the carpet is very thin and the floor is uncomfortable to lie on. Second, the bathroom is way too small. And third, I have no one to give enemas to on a regular basis.

~ Dianne

The soap flakes themselves are amazing. They're as beautiful as snow and as soft as cotton. The scent and texture when I grated it was really calming to me. I could see how people who had Ivory soap enemas as a child or as an adult could be enticed by the aroma, the milkiness, the softness and the comfort. It was almost enough to turn me into a convert. Time will tell.

I think the sight of lather dripping over the top of an open bag is a turn-on. I must confess that I have reduced the amount of soap I use over the years though, high concentrations are a bit hard on the system. I do use Ivory, and castile, sometimes peppermint castile. But I don't put in as much as I used to.

I have to admit, although I don't use soap, I read stories about it and find it a turn on. I wish I could handle something as harsh as soap but even the tiniest bit burns me. But when I read about pitchers and bags spilling over hot, milky water, I get turned on. Mostly about giving, though. I love the thought of giving him the enema even though we both know it is going to be painful and having him submit to it anyway. I'd love to give a nice, hot, soapy enema to a lover and massage and kiss his tummy through the cramps and care for his needs while the water churns inside him. And to bathe his face with a cool washcloth while he expels the first of several enemas. It's such a thrill for me.