I don't use soap.

For many years now, almost never rinse, and usually use 1-1.5 tsp/quart of Castile soap. Feels fine going in, coming out, and even afterward. And my colon and rectum are extremely sensitive to irritation. If I was up at the higher soap concentrations I read here like a tablespoon (3 tsp) or more per quart, I think I'd probably need to start rinsing.

i usually use saline but occasionally I like the very mild irritation of dilute Castile soap. It just feels a little more interesting when I'm in the mood for it.

Eric

I almost always use plain water as I find that soapy enema require a second plain water enema to avoid carry over effects causing unscheduled trips to the bathroom sometimes at very inconvenient times. When I do us soap, it is Ivory and it would be when I have extra time for rinse enemas or special play time with my husband. I find plain water does a very effective cleaning job when I have a regular enema session on Wednesdays and Saturdays following what the schedule that I grew up on. I never "need" an enema, but I do WANT them!! 😃

Denise

Well water. We're on a well with great water coming up from over 400 feet down into the bowels of the earth, but this wasn't just a fun job (sorry,couldn't resist). We run our water through an ultraviolet purification system so we don't have to use chlorine, which is a distinct advantage over many uban water sources. I figure this, if I'm not willing to drink it, I'm not going to stick it up my ass. BTW have you ever heard this statement? "Oh yeah???, well, you can take all of that Freudian anal crap and shove it up your ass!" I heard that about 50 years ago, if I had been drinking milk at the time...it would have come out my nose. Nozzle Tov.

I live with IBS-Constipation. I have to give myself enemas every day or two. When I have used plain water, it can very easily get "stuck", it's hard to get good results and my colon tries to absorb the water. (In other words, I don't have an effective enema.) I make all of my enemas hot and soapy. I need the soap to induce peristalsis and irritate my colon, which makes a very effective enema. Very rarely, I will take a rinse enema but always two soapy ones first. That being said, the hot, soapy enemas produce a good cleanout with intense sexual stimulation most often resulting in an orgasm which plain water does not.

With the combination of complete bowel emptying AND an orgasm, I feel like a new woman. Like @Vicki_V says, no woman should be without an enema bag. I sure know that to be true! My old red bag hangs in the bathroom just like my Grandma's did. I used to hide it when we had company but now I'm no longer embarrased. I need my enemas - its a fact of life!

I usually use plain water. I have tried lots of soaps, some are better than others as far as am concerned. A couple were rather harsh to me, but I have found Dr. B's and J&J have been the best. A tad of Dr. B's peppermint soap is fine, too much and I don't enjoy it much. J&J's works best for me. I can mix it strong or weak, it always feels good. I use soap now and then. I like baking soda the most. Seems to work great to help clean me out. I usually use that after a fill up with soap. I can get the water a tad hotter with baking soda in it, but not hot enough to injure myself.

After a couple rinses with baking soda, then plain water. By the time I have a couple rinses with baking soda and then a couple more with plain water, I am clean and the returns are also clear.

I live with IBS-Constipation. I have to give myself enemas every day or two. When I have used plain water, it can very easily get "stuck", it's hard to get good results and my colon tries to absorb the water. (In other words, I don't have an effective enema.) I make all of my enemas hot and soapy. I need the soap to induce peristalsis and irritate my colon, which makes a very effective enema. Very rarely, I will take a rinse enema but always two soapy ones first. That being said, the hot, soapy enemas produce a good cleanout with intense sexual stimulation most often resulting in an intense orgasm which plain water does not.

Mom's Egirl,

How soapy and how hot? Just curious.

Eric

I think she's worse than I am, but I use J&J 1 tablespoon/quart or one of the quart Bronner's capfuls per quart of water. Another "recipe" I use is two bars of Ivory in the measure and a bar of Kirks held in the running water (about a quarter on).

It's hard to compare soap concentration because the hardness of the water affects how much the soap remains available. I have very soft water at my place, so the soap sticks around.

How hot? Usually 105-108ish for the soapy and 108-110ish for the rinse, at least in my estimation. Hot tub temp or a little warmer.

@ericmacson Regarding the water temp, I am guessing because I don't use a thermometer, 108-109 ish degrees. It is by no means scalding hot but a comfortable hot. As far as soap, I have a few bars of Ivory in a plastic 2 quart pitcher. I run the water over the soap bars and slosh it around until it's pretty sudsy. It produces the perfect enema solution for me.

Like @moliere stated below, I could be a little worse with the horrible constipation of IBS than he presently is. I try to drink at least a half gallon of water each day and try to get in as much walking as I can and I take one or two caps of Miralax in a glass of orange juice each morning. It makes my bowels rumble and produces alot of gas but no bm. The good thing about Miralax is that the stool isn't too hard when I take an enema and makes it easier to expel.

We're all on this journey together and its good to see what works for everybody. ?

@ericmacson Regarding the water temp, I am guessing because I don't use a thermometer, 108-109 ish degrees. It is by no means scalding hot but a comfortable hot. As far as soap, I have a few bars of Ivory in a plastic 2 quart pitcher. I run the water over the soap bars and slosh it around until it's pretty sudsy. It produces the perfect enema solution for me.

Like @moliere stated below, I could be a little worse with the horrible constipation of IBS than he presently is. I try to drink at least a half gallon of water each day and try to get in as much walking as I can and I take one or two caps of Miralax in a glass of orange juice each morning. It makes my bowels rumble and produces alot of gas but no bm. The good thing about Miralax is that the stool isn't too hard when I take an enema and makes it easier to expel.

We're all on this journey together and its good to see what works for everybody. ?

Mom's Egirl,

Thanks for the reply. You appear to use much soapier solution than I would tolerate, but I'm very sensitive to colon irritation and usually use 1-1.5 tsp/quart of Castile soap at about the same temperature you do. I'm glad you've found the right soapiness of your enemas to be effective for cleaning you out. Mine are with rare exception only for stimulation and enjoyment, so I don't need such a strong soap solution to clean more thoroughly. I have a form of IBS since childhood that produces intense abdominal cramping, but I've not had a real attack in many years. However, it might explain part of why my colon is so exquisitely sensitive to enema irritation, so I need to keep my enema solutions mild to be able to enjoy them. I only use the soap when I'm in the mood for some mild irritation and cramps, and I'll occasionally add some mild 5-8% glycerin. I'm glad you're able to enjoy your necessary cleansing enemas and get some nice sensory/sexual satisfaction from them, too. Might as well enjoy them while you're doing required maintenance. As you say, "We're all on this journey together and its good to see what works for everybody." I agree and I'm grateful we have Zity that lets us find each other and share our mutual experiences like this.

Eric

Yesterday I tried an experiment. I have most always used tap water for my every 3 day maintenance enemas. I have had to take 2.5 qts. to get a good clean out and that is about my limit, as I have a "semi-colon". I tried some J & J baby Wash (3 pumps) in one quart of water. It went in easier and with only one quart, I felt not so FULL. I waited until the urge hit and I got a clean out equal to the larger quantity of tap water without setting off all the stretch receptors in my bowel. I may switch to this solution for routine cleansing.

I have to be careful as to the amount of soap I use. The last 2 times I used too much soap and vomited both times.

..................I have to be careful as to the amount of soap I use. The last 2 times I used too much soap and vomited both times.

I'm lucky I've never vomited or felt nauseated in >50 years of enema use, even with the strongest solutions. But if I use too much Castile soap, over about 2-2.5 tsp/quart, I get a very uncomfortable chemical irritation and a lot of cramping which I try to avoid.

Eric

The advice i have always gone by, which i think i learned here many years ago from @SwitchableSusie, is to never put anything up my butt i wouldn't put down my mouth. so, i wouldn't drink soapy water and so i don't use it for enemas, it feels very extreme to me. i like a saline solution but i will try bicarb to see if it makes more cramps. i would like to try glycerine, or a vegan milk and molasses!

I like plain water no problems to worry about

Growing up, whenever my siblings and I received an enema. It was an Ivory soap followed by a salt and baking soda rinse enema. As preteens then teenagers, once we were responsible for ourselves in the enema department, we followed the same routine when we swapped enemas with one another. After I got married, my wife and I realized, that we could drop the soapy enema. Finding, we got the same results using only salt and baking soda rinse enemas. Something, I’ve continued to the present day.

I like a mild solution of very warm water and a bit of J&J. That seems to cause a faster expulsion for me. I seldom rinse after a J&J enema and see no reason to. On the other handI when I used Ivoty soap for my enema, my colon would be irritated for a cople hours and sometimes the next morning. If you notice Ivery soap leaves soap skum residue on your equipmemt.

Salt solution is fine for a prolonged retention time without a lot of water absorption, handy for a late night enema.

Baking soda makes a very mild solution that is easy to take a very large volume enema. But for me that enema gets stuck and takes for ever to completely evacuate. I avoid the baking soda enema.

The first enema always contains just enough soap solution to make it slightly milky. This is always followed by rinsing with clear water and a little salt.

Over 30,000 gallons here of just plain tap water

I don't like soap, might use a few drops of a light one if handy. If I have time to organize, my go to is herbal teas. Like chamomile, but not limited to that. I tested all the teas you can find and more. Love aromatics, like rosemary and sage that make wonderful infusions. Salt is added to everything. Plain water, hopefully warm, I only use it if there is no other resource on hand. Nothing wrong with it, just kind of boring. Of course, sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry....

The problem I have is with plain water, loads up in my system and stays there. Anything I put in the water helps, salt helps with the electrolyte balance where soap irritates my system and says it wants out.. I almost always add a bit of soap. Soap also makes cramps, which I like to a point. Can cause accidents too.

I have tried various soaps over the years but plain water is the best for me.

@hoseman1 I agree with you. Using plain water gives me the same problem, getting it all back out. While soap is useful and has its place, it can cause irritation and needs a plain water rinse. Salt added for electrolyte balance is very important too. I have more often lately, started using glycerin added to my tap water enemas. I find it effective for constipation and don't always need to do a rinse afterward. Lol , Jeanette