Enemas and fevers

When I was a kid sick at home, the minute my temperature reached 100.5 I was getting an enema. No way out of it. Doctor said a good enema or two would bring down my fever so into the bathroom I was marched to receive a big soapy enema. I never knew if it worked or not because eventually every fever breaks or you die. So, when the fever goes away, even if it’s 3 days later, Mom gave the enemas all the credit. Is there actually any medical data proving 2 qts of hot soapy water up your butt brings down a fever?

I think a cold bath would be more effective.

An enema may or may not bring down a fever, but it sure feels stimulating. Especially if given by a sweet young lady who enjoys giving then. DocHoliday (I haven't been here in a long time, glad to be back. Always happy to chat with the pretty ladies).

My sisters and I received herbal enemas when we were sick, usually catnip and they were given cool, not very cold but definitely cool when we had a fever. They did work.

The BBC TV series Doc Martin in far out rocky coast of Fort Wayne, has his ready pharmacist. Ms Tischell is always wanting to take him in hand, in various subtle ways. In one episode, she has a wall plastered with gallon pastel Kantleak bags. (i realize they have no idea what a gallon is, so you may call them 3 Liter, but gallon makes my point better )

Pastels of blue, green, yellow, and red all neatly overwhelming a wall with at least 18 of them. Then i began to watch for them, to see how sales were going. If you will put this hint into the things and arrangements of the show that make no sense, suddenly it all makes sense! Write your own story, if you will and all complaints are satisfied completely.

(i realize they have no idea what a gallon is, so you may call them 3 Liter, but gallon makes my point better )

This is England, they know what a gallon is (though there it would be likely the imperial gallon). I was there at one point and saw some shops selling things in increments of 454 grams.

When my siblings an I were kids, if we were sick with a high fever, we got aspirin an a couple of cool salt and baking soda enemas. The enema aspirin combination worked for us. The enemas were for short term relief and the aspirin for long term relief. I’m speaking only for myself and my siblings experiences growing up in the fifties. When your sick with a high fever and feel like crap, a cool salt and baking soda enema really feels good. First we’d be giving a couple of aspirins, taken to the bathroom and placed on a bed of towels on the floor. Given the first of two cool enemas an once in, held for ten or fifteen minutes and expelled. Then, it was back down on the towels for the second cool enema, an once in, it too was held for ten or fifteen minutes an expelled. By the time the second enema had been expelled, the aspirin was starting to take effect, an our fever was coming down. Helping us feeling much better.

I never had a cool enema, but when growing up almost any ailment meant a couple of aspirin and a warm soapy enema. Anything else was just extra.

To the question: No. There is no medical or scientific data to support the notion that an enema will reduce a fever. If anyone has verifiable evidence of peer reviewed studies that prove me wrong I'd love to read them. There is, however, lots of anecdotal evidence to support the supposition.

I have read some online articles in relatively trustworthy sites that a cold water enema or bath, can increase the fever by causing shivering in the patient.

Many old medical texts and nursing manuals suggested enemas to help reduce a fever. The Wayback Machine will display many of those with a search. My grandma was hospitalized with a terrible infection and fever. She was given cold enemas due to the extreme fever. After she passed away, my mom had the enema bag at home and she told me, and my sister, of the many cold enemas grandma received.

I only got enemas as a child when I was sick and my memories relate that to brining down a fever. I’m sure the reason I got them was to lower that fever and I hated them because they hurt! Cramping was part of the enema and my mom told me to relax and it wouldn’t hurt. To this day the word relax reminds me of enemas. The enjoyment, cravings and eroticism all came later.