Enemas and the immune system

Hello all, as I'm sure we're all aware by this point a global pandemic is ongoing as a result of the coronavirus known as Covid-19. In order to increase my chances of only having mild systems if I do pick up this bug, I have been looking at ways of maintaining a healthy immune system.

I'm not expecting studies or anything conclusive, but my question is this. Do you feel that enemas in general, from the rectum clean to the full colon cleanse weaken your immune system? For example, do you find that you get sick easier after an enema?

I'd love to go for a full clean out, but I also don't want to put myself more at risk, so I will likely wait it out or until after I get the bug (if I do).

I'm sure you can find lots of colon health quacktioneners on the web who promote that enemas strengthen the immune system. So called doctors like Gundry, Pedre, and Oz also sell products to improve gut health and support the immune system with no scientific evidence . I don't see where enemas will improve or weaken your immune system (note I am not a medical professional). I wouldn't change my private indulgences due to the virus.

Stick with the basics - wash your hands often, avoid crowds, sanitize your environment, don't go to Seattle. 😄

Hello all, as I'm sure we're all aware by this point a global pandemic is ongoing as a result of the coronavirus known as Covid-19. In order to increase my chances of only having mild systems if I do pick up this bug, I have been looking at ways of maintaining a healthy immune system.

I'm not expecting studies or anything conclusive, but my question is this. Do you feel that enemas in general, from the rectum clean to the full colon cleanse weaken your immune system? For example, do you find that you get sick easier after an enema?

I'd love to go for a full clean out, but I also don't want to put myself more at risk, so I will likely wait it out or until after I get the bug (if I do).

Enemas to clean out the colon in this scenario will have a negative effect on your immune system. You want to keep your immune system healthy and on high alert---especially the old farts around here. 😁 😁 😁

Removing the bacteria from your colon will make it easier for opportunistic infections to tale hold.

Also, Covid-19 is a virus, not a bacteria and it has specific receptors for the lungs and respiratory tree..

Thanks Switchable, I think ill hold off on the enemas until all this blows over. I want to do the smart thing here.

Well as a very long time everyday user i can say it sure does help me! i,m sure we are all different , and i do have an awesome colon i enjoy very much , cleaning out seems to really boost my immune system i can find no reason it shouldn't help others..... its well proven the colon is involved with the immune system so use it if you want too!

The other side:

Taking enemas limits your ability to leave the house and be in con tact with people you don't live with.Therefore lowering your chances of exposure.

You have to have crossed the line into bulimia for enemas in and of themselves to really impact the immune system.

If you are on cardio-related prescription drugs you want to wait at least two hours after taking your prescriptions before taking any laxatives or enemas, just to give those meds time to clear your digestive tract and get into the bloodstream in a correct dose. It can get swept through the digestive system too quickly.

Same for blood pressure drugs, birth control and several others

So, in conclusion an enema does not by itself have any effect on your immune system. It can help you stay away from other people.

If you have an illness that compromises your immune system, it may deplete your electrolytes and worsen any problems you already have

Unsure if enemas help the immune system as I have not experienced it myself. However if you do use enemas during these times, be sure to wash your hands very well before touching any of your equipment, wipe down counters and other areas your equipment may come in contact with using household cleaners and sterilize your equipment before using them

I asked a question in another enema thread about whether repeated enemas affect your gut flora. No one responded. If so, should you take probiotics?

The correct answer is I think we don't know what the effects are offically. It is evident that enemas wash out the gut flora, especially if done until clear. What effect does that have? Probably depends on the individual. I haven't seen anything published on it, but that doesn't mean much.

@GreyDesigner said

I asked a question in another enema thread about whether repeated enemas affect your gut flora. No one responded. If so, should you take probiotics?

Had I seen your post I would have responded.

Of course enemas affect you gut flora and they do it in a big way..

Enemas wash them away. When you are playing and think you need a clear return, consider that you have washed away considerably more than 95% of your gut flora.

Normal feces is 20-50% bacteria by weight. For that reason, No one here who takes regular enemas has "normal feces".

Probiotics will help, but usually, pills or capsules from one manufacturer will usually have a limited variation in species so you need to obtain them from a few companies to have a diverse flora.

Thanks, @SwitchableSusie. Whenever my doctor prescribes antibiotics, such as recently when I had a bad sinus infection, he tells me to take probiotics. I guess my question should have been: If you only take an occasional enema, do you need to take probiotics, or is that only required for frequent enemas?

Thanks, @SwitchableSusie. Whenever my doctor prescribes antibiotics, such as recently when I had a bad sinus infection, he tells me to take probiotics. I guess my question should have been: If you only take an occasional enema, do you need to take probiotics, or is that only required for frequent enemas?

No, you do not need probiotics if you take an occasional enema and after your enema you still expel brown water.

That shows the colon is not squeaky clean and you probably have enough bacteria remaining to innoculate your colon to get the bacterial flora started again, but it will still take a couple of weeks for your body to form "normal" feces.

If you want to take an enema for fun or relaxation, or anal sex you should not try to always get a clear return with high colonic, large distention enemas. Get the chunks out, do your anal play and then let your colon rebuild its bacterial flora. It is the lower colon you want clean when you anticipate playing in the back yard.

After a colonoscopy prep, it takes at least two weeks to have a newly formed, diverse species and volume of colonic flora develop. THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS HAVING A BOWEL MOVEMENT which will happen in two to five days.

Thanks again, @SwitchableSusie. That was a very informative and thorough explanation.

""ENEMAS WASH THEM AWAY. When you are playing and think you need a clear return, consider that you have washed away considerably more than 95% of your gut flora.""

So what is the long term side effect of this?

""ENEMAS WASH THEM AWAY. When you are playing and think you need a clear return, consider that you have washed away considerably more than 95% of your gut flora.""

So what is the long term side effect of this?

See these links

https://iai.asm.org/content/76/8/3360

https://www.probioticsgazette.com/lack-of-good-bacteria-in-stomach-symptoms/

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20140820/your-gut-bacteria#1

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265506

https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/happens-digestion-good-bacteria-body-out-balance-2678.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7670/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-gut-flora-797425

https://naturalsociety.com/scientists-lack-of-good-gut-bacteria-could-be-giving-you-cancer/

https://www.clinicalomics.com/topics/translational-research/microbiome/microbiomes-missing-bacteria-linked-with-ulcerative-colitis/

https://www.aboutibs.org/gut-bacteria-and-ibs.html

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/improve-gut-bacteria#section3

https://www.leaf.tv/8128757/what-are-the-functions-of-intestinal-flora/

https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/colon-health-may-rely-on-gut-bacteria.html

https://www.livescience.com/46076-antibiotics-colon-cancer-risk.html

https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/pdfExtended/S1931-3128(16)30199-8

https://ezinearticles.com/?Why-You-Need-Bacteria-in-Your-Colon&id=27587

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.4161/gmic.26489

That’s overkill! 😁

That’s overkill! 😁

There is MORE!

People will believe what they want to hear. No matter the facts.

Our bodies adapt to our lifestyles.

Those of us who take enemas WILL have a different mix of gut bacteria than the general population. Whether that's good, bad or indifferent is not clear.

The intestine in people who take enemas WILL show permanent signs of much greater stretching than those who don't, however the stretching is not in and of itself permanent Tracked over a lifetime it would be noticeable. what the longer term impact would be is less clear.

muscle tearing is probably quite rare and heals slowly but does heal.

We all are just who we are. We have our life. it is that person's life

Stop obsessing

Our bodies adapt to our lifestyles.

Those of us who take enemas WILL have a different mix of gut bacteria than the general population. Whether that's good, bad or indifferent is not clear.

The intestine in people who take enemas WILL show permanent signs of much greater stretching than those who don't, however the stretching is not in and of itself permanent Tracked over a lifetime it would be noticeable. what the longer term impact would be is less clear.

muscle tearing is probably quite rare and heals slowly but does heal.

We all are just who we are. We have our life. it is that person's life

Stop obsessing

Two good points - first, with the lifetime of soapy enemas I've taken since a teen, without any rinse afterwards, I wondered about my gut - but now that I'm in mid-70's I don't think I messed things up.

Secondly, I always wondered when I went for various sigmoidoscopies if my colon appeared stretched from the 2 -3+ at enemas I engaged in... I also wonder if the beer belly I have is a result; I'm not fat otherwise. My mom had the same thing, despite her vigorously watching her diet. She was into lots of enemas...

Those of us who take enemas WILL have a different mix of gut bacteria than the general population. Whether that's good, bad or indifferent is not clear.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional - just got interested and looked up some articles on the internet. If someone has better and more accurate information please post and I will delete this!

There are four major bacterial phyla in the colon with over 10 to the twelfth number of bacteria existing there. Everybody's intestinal flora is different. The basic flora is established early in life by a number of factors (genetics, breast feeding, birthing method, mothers bacterial makeup). The flora balance changes over time based on diet, exercise, geographic location, age, medications and other factors. When you take an enema the flora will re-establish. It may change some based on your diet, activity level and other factors just as it will for people who don't take enemas. People given large doses of antibiotics to treat infections literally kill all the good and bad bacteria - then re-establish a flora - that is much more dramatic - and complete - than taking an enema. A good reference about gut flora if you're interested is:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_gastrointestinal_microbiota