Are bag enemas with soapy water really needed?

Many people here talk about bag enemas with soapy water.

I'm wondering - is this really needed? If you receive two quarts of plain water you will go poopy for sure, and void your lower colon.

I understand soap for giving a bulb enema, since one wants to trigger a reflex response, but what's the use when just the volume of water is enough to wash things out?

Growing up in the nineteen fifties, my siblings and I received enemas for a number of different reasons. One of the primary causes was constipation.

When our grandmother, a retired registered nurse, taught us personal hygiene as preteens. She taught us to give ourselves at least two enemas for constipation. The first was a two-quart Ivory soap enema. Followed by a two-quart rinse enema with salt and baking soda added. The soapy enema acts as an irritant and helps stimulate the colon facilitating a bowel movement. And the rinse enema is used to help remove any soap residue left in the colon by the soapy enema.

As kids, whenever we received enemas for constipation, the normal routine was a soapy followed by a rinse enema. However, the rinse enema was sometimes repeated. When we asked why we needed a second rinse enema, we were told, I just want to be sure your colon is good and clean.

I received enemas from my mom and a few from grandma from as early as I remember. All of those were plain warm water, as far as I know. I never saw any soap put into the water during the preparations that I saw, which was most of the time. I was an adult before I got my first enema with soap. I was maybe twenty-two, out of town on training for my employer, when I decided rather than sit in the bar I would stay in my room. I was bored, but remembered a drugstore just a block away. I went to see what they had and found a Fleet Bagenema disposable enema bag. When I got back to my room and began preparations, I saw it came with a little packet of castile soap. Reading the directions, I put it in the bag and had a very effective yet pleasant enema.

Reading up in home health books and such, I learned castile soap was commonly used in hospitals and such. I found a drugstore near me that sold the little packets of castile soap and used them from time to time, eventually getting a bottle of Dr. Bronner's castile soap. I have since switched to J&J baby shampoo as my favorite. I tried Ivory after reading here that it was commonly used for enemas. I found it too harsh for my liking.

But to answer the original question: Yes, plain warm water works very well for an enema if you hold it a few minutes to let it work. I still do it today, sometimes, even though I have several soaps available to use. Probably not good enough for a cleansing enema, but that is not why I do enemas.

You can go either way. Soap does trigger a stronger response from the colon, but it isn't necessary. It also isn't likely to be dangerous, so do what you want.

Reading up in home health books and such, I learned castile soap was commonly used in hospitals and such. I found a drugstore near me that sold the little packets of castile soap and used them from time to time, eventually getting a bottle of Dr. Bronner's castile soap. I have since switched to J&J baby shampoo as my favorite. I tried Ivory after reading here that it was commonly used for enemas. I found it too harsh for my liking.

@Cheryl77177 J & J Baby Shampoo is my go to also. It is mild and soothing and I add a heaping Tbsp of Backing soda to it. I think a lot of people should try it! 👍😊

All of the enemas I got from mom were with epsom salt. I started using soap as an adult to increase the sensation of my enemas. Bronners pepermint came first. Then baby shampoo because I’m not a fan of cramping. Baby shampoo or salt continues to be my go-to.

Some may believe any enemas are not necessary. That's not how I was raised. I've experienced most solutions and received a few soapy enemas that had quite an impact on me.

I use a sse now and then if a "deep cleanse" is desired. Most of my enemas are just a simple twe. I stay away from most "Fleets" due to the harsh chemicals, and an m&m is far too much.

For me, the procedure and equipment are the primary enjoyment factors, especially when an adept administrator assists. An occasional soapy enema may trigger some memories of times long past!

There many things in health procedures that proved to not helping, causing damage and having just a placebo effect. Again it's probably safe to say that using just small amount of proper soap now and again for healthy person should not be a problem, same way plain water enema can be dangerous too. Yes, as other people have said soapsuds enema recepies in old medical books, but long time ago blood letting was a norm. Be safe

Ivory soap was the usual solution that my Mom used on me when I was growing up in the 50's through 70's with the doctor's approval. She stirred a bar in a pitcher of warm water until it was milky coloured and sudsy. My grandmother used green liquid medicinal soap which seemed to be much stronger.

It all goes back to why are you taking enemas....yes, simple water works...of course a little salt and baking soda make it even safer...but what of all the pageantry....the preparation.... the talks.... the memories... it all works to bring that "pleasure"...I do not think any of us take enemas "just" because of constipation .... at least I do not. For the same reason I do not do it alone.... I understand the ones that prefer it that way. Enjoy it anyway you can. If it works for you I see no harm in a few bubbles or in a more gourmet mixture to fill your belly with. It is all personal....the same as pleasure....

Only fairly soapy enemas work for me. Without soap, I can’t seem to empty completely and a significant amount of water remains trapped, leaving me feeling quite bloated and uncomfortable for hours afterwards. With the right amount of soap, all it takes is one trip to the toilet and I’m good to go!

This question of soap or no soap in a enema solution doesn’t really have a answer. It’s more about individual preferences and that males and females tend to have different views . Personally I prefer using soap in my first enema, it does a far better job of cleaning out my Colon rather than using plain water. My last enema will be plain water. From other post’s i’ve read men generally tend to take their first enema and only enema using water ,salt water ,or baking soda, Women generally tend to use two enemas, the first one using soap and plain water for the second enema.

@Clis said,

It all goes back to why are you taking enemas....yes, simple water works...of course a little salt and baking soda make it even safer...

My siblings and I got enemas as far back as I can remember for a variety of reasons, and never got an enema we didn’t like in one way or another. Up until we started school, we never imagined anyone would dislike getting enemas. Because we overheard a lot of kids at school fuss about their moms giving them enemas. When mom, grandma, or our teenage aunts informed us we were going to get an enema or two, the feelings deep down inside us started. Even today, those feelings are difficult to describe. They were a mixture of different feelings all thrown together at once. Some of the ones we understood were excitement, being scared, feeling naughty, and anticipation. Then there were the ones we didn’t understand, like getting an enema after a spanking or those of a sexual nature. For example: My brother and I got a hard-on when told we’re going to get a spanking, receive an enema, or both. Then, once in the bedroom or bathroom, being undressed or told to take all our clothes off. Laying across the bed or their lap. Then, as we got older, to get down in the knee chest position. Once in position, being lubricated with an index finger, covered in Vaseline, buried deep inside moving around for fifteen or twenty seconds. Then being replaced with an adult rectal or long curved douche nozzle and the warm water filling our insides. Trying to anticipate possible cramps, hoping you wouldn’t get any or they’d be small ones. Once the bag was empty, holding the enema for five or ten minutes, and finally relieving yourself. Then, depending on the circumstances, doing it all over again. Enemas overall for us, were pleasurable, even though they had their painful moments. Like getting a spanking before receiving an enema. Then, sitting on the toilet afterwards, could be a little on the painful side.

As kids, we received a soapy followed by a rinse enema or two for constipation. If we were acting moody or out of sorts, we received a rinse enema, sometimes two. If we got in trouble and received a bare bottom spanking, we got a rinse enema afterwards to help calm down. When we were sick in bed, under doctor orders, we got a soapy followed by a rinse enema the first day, afterwards it was daily rinse enemas until the illness passed.

After our RN grandmother taught us personal hygiene as preteens, and enemas became our responsibility. My siblings and I gave each other enemas for health reasons in the beginning. But they quickly turned into enemas for pleasure. Once we were teenagers, we used enemas for both pleasure and to relieve teenage sexual tensions. And I might add, the last reason listed, worked really good for the three horny teenagers. 🍑 💦💥

I think that soap is not really needed. It was historically added, most likely since people had limited medical knowledge, including medical professionals.

Said that, recently I developed quite an obsession with heavily soapy enemas. I do like preparation, how it looks in a bag, how it smells... All my enema sessions begin with 2qts of very soapy solution.

I never take an enema without alot of soap. I buy my glycerine soap in blocks of different sizes and trim it into a large plug. Some hot water and 4qts of soap leads to heavy cramps and the plug melting makes me have an explosion and a mess. I am very clean afterwards. I never do a clean water afterwards. I like the irritation to last in my bum. Just a lasting punishment

The enemas that I got at home were just plain water and for several years of giving myself enemas they were plain water. I was aware of adding soap from reading our home health book about enemas but never tried it. Then one day while browsing the aisles of a local drugstore, I spotted a Fleet Bag Enema and bought it out of curiosity. It had a Castile soap packet in the kit so I used it. It sure did clean me out. That got me trying the different soaps that I read about.

I use either Dr. Bronners Castile soap or J&J baby wash when I feel the need to get cleaned out, but many times it is just plain warm water. Back in the day when I could talk my wife into a bit of enema play, it was always plain water to make it easier to hold while doing other things.

There many things in health procedures that proved to not helping, causing damage and having just a placebo effect. Again it's probably safe to say that using just small amount of proper soap now and again for healthy person should not be a problem, same way plain water enema can be dangerous too. Yes, as other people have said soapsuds enema recepies in old medical books, but long time ago blood letting was a norm. Be safe

There are actual studies on this. Soapsuds enemas are more effective than tap water enemas, which are more effective than normal saline enemas (but soapsuds is also more irritating to the colon). They have also determined that if you are careful giving them soapsuds enemas are safe and effective. And those are studies done since 2000.

For what we do the additional effectiveness of soapsuds is probably not necessary, so do what you want. Tap water can clean you out pretty good.

Bag enemas require just one insertion, so for us at home it was welcomed when we finally switched to the bag from the bulb. The whole process became more enjoyable with less exposure. We got always body warm plain water. Sometimes camomille tea, but never soapy water. In childcare education classes doctors/nurses also recommended to use only water if enemas have to be administered for any healthcare reason. Soap or not I think it is a personal preference. One likes it the other not.

In the “old days” if you were in the hospital prepped for surgery, from what I've read in nurses manuals, you were likely going to get soap mixed in your enema. Nurses knew that soap stimulates the colon to constrict harder than plain water, and docs wanted you to be cleaned out. I imagine those infamous 3H “soapsuds” enemas were not gentle nor comfortable.

What I do know (long story) is when I need home care after being in the hospital, a visiting nurse gave me an enema with a disposable bag containing a packet of soap. I was constipated from excessive pain medication, and the enema was so uncomfortable with cramps that I cried. HOWEVER, The soap did what it was supposed to — in spades! Blessedly, the young nurse who I would come to know like a sister after that experience, gave me a second enema with only warm water. It was also productive, and it felt heavenly!!

Nowadays, if I’m feeling tied up, a little J&J baby soap Is all I’ll need, and it’s very comfortable.

The soap irritates the bowels and increases the cramping and the sense of urgency to expell making things more interesting. Soap gives me a more thorough and quicker emptying. Sometimes I just feel like a want a soapy enema with some good cramps. For many who received soapy enemas in their childhood it also feels like the correct way to take the first enema of a series. Most of my enemas are plain water, but I do like to use Ivory or one of the Dr. Bronner's liquid soaps for some variety and to keep things interesting.

@Vicki_V said,

I imagine those infamous 3H “soapsuds” enemas were not gentle nor comfortable.

Then said,

I was constipated from excessive pain medication, and the enema was so uncomfortable with cramps that I cried. HOWEVER, The soap did what it was supposed to — in spades!

Having been on the receiving end of 3H enemas from my RN grandmother's pumpkin enema bag on a yearly basis from age 8 thru 16. They were by no means a walk in the park. Growing up, my siblings and I liked the routine enemas we received, because they felt good, and we always felt better afterwards. However, her 3H enemas were anything but routine or comfortable. At first, as she was sliding the colon tube in, it felt weird but good. Even once fully inserted and the flow running, it felt good, but then the cramps start. By the time the pumpkin bag was empty, I was crying because of the strong cramps. She wasn’t running the flow fast. It was running relatively slow and being paused from time to time for cramp relief. Once empty, I had to hold it for five minutes. And trust me, that was the longest five minutes of my life. When the 3H soapy enema was finally finished, she gave me a 3H rinse enema. It wasn’t nearly as rough as the 3H soapy enema but still wasn’t very comfortable. When it was all finally over, my insides never felt so clean and empty.

That was the first two quart 3H enema grandma gave me at age eight, two months before my ninth birthday. My last 3H enema at age sixteen, from her pumpkin enema bag was three quarts. Some years were better than others, but none were pleasant or easy. The best part of 3H enemas for me, was the following week, when our aunts administered a large rinse enema during bath time every evening for a week. A routine she followed every year after our 3H enemas.

I remember hearing a nurse friend of my mother asking her one day while she over drinking coffee with my Mom, “Mary, do you ever add soap to your Son, Mike’s, enemas? I listened and when her friend left, I asked Mom why she didn’t.. so the next day, Mom gave me my enema with a large dose of Ivory dishwashing soap.. it made me really ill. A couple of days later, her nurse friend had again stopped by for some conversation and a cup of coffee. I slipped into the kitchen and told the lady what had happened when Mom gave me a soap suds enema. She said “oh no! Mary what kind of soap did you use on Mike?” Mother told her! Her friend said “oh, no! Mary, you should never use a detergent like that! Use 3 or 4 squirts of Ivory liquid hand soap or run some hot water over a bar of soap as it fills a gallon container! Be sure and mix the solution real good by either shaking the bag after you first add the warm water and then the soap or even better stir the solution while it is still in the container by using a large spoon! Well, Mother listened and the very next day Mom gave me another soap suds enema using Ivory liquid hand soap and I loved it! It burned a little.. but it didn’t make me sick!

As already mentioned, most not too recent nursing text books recommended using 1 to 2 litres of mild soapy solution for an effective cleansing enema by swirling a soap bar or some squirts of liquid soap in warm water until the solution just gets cloudy. The mild irritation of the mucosa prevents the enema solution of getting stuck without causing severe cramps. A second rinsing enema with plain water is not needed and was only very seldom used in hospital settings.

If you get accustomed to these mild cleansing enemas you might also discover the extra benefits of enemas such as release of sexual tension due to strong orgasms caused by the warm solution entering slowly but steadily your intestines.

For me, a big yes😍There are different effects of a soapy enema. Kirk’s Coco Castile and Dr. Bronners peppermint are two I use occasionally. They produce effective expulsions and depending on how soapy, a pleasant cramping and a certain delightful urgency🤪J&J and other baby shampoos can be a milder experience but still, for me, a great soapy 1st bag to start a series of enemas for health and fun🤪I can’t imagine not doing rinses after that 3 quart bag of liquid glycerin, my soap of choice and warm water that starts my enemaplay😍And my rinses always include sea salt and sometimes baking soda😘

I think what we visualize “a good enema” to be makes a difference. In other words, seeing the bag and getting a peek what's in it plays a huge role in our emotions.

I remember lying in bed with a terrible nauseating headache, looking up at my husband hanging my fountain syringe and seeing a small amount of clouded soapy water spilling out and running down the side of the full bag. The sight of being given a “warm soapy enema” instead of a “warm tap water enema” instantly heightened my feeling of anticipation.

I’m no psychologist, but does “warm and soapy” stimulate our mind as also anticipating “warm and wonderful?”

Oh yeah, I’m holding three quarts of J&J baby shampoo, 45 ml of liquid glycerin and very warm water right now😈Riding the cramps and edging means a really thorough expulsion is imminent 😍And next, a bag or two sea salt rinses followed by a relaxing green tea enema😍

My Mom used and I use bars of soap and either shake it up or leave a bar in the enema bag to induce a really good BM. I grew up with soapy enemas and they cramped, turned me on and were very effective!

I have been constipated all of my life and it really takes soap to not only loosen things up but also make my stomach cramp. Which, by the way, excites me sexually and it really cleans me out!

Water enemas feel good, especially on the warm/hot side; however, when I want and need a good bowel movement or pleasure, taking a plain water enema is just frustrating. It won’t clean me out or provide the relief I want and need. Soap for me? Yes! That’s this girl’s opinion on the matter. ✔️

I was pretty late to the party in terms of soap in enemas. For the longest time I only did water with some salt or baking soda. A year or two ago I started trying soap and loved the light cramps it caused. But eventually it became too much and will only use soap occasionally. Anyway do whatever feels right (and is safe)!

I was pretty late to the party in terms of soap in enemas. For the longest time I only did water with some salt or baking soda. A year or two ago I started trying soap and loved the light cramps it caused. But eventually it became too much and will only use soap occasionally. Anyway do whatever feels right (and is safe)!

Growing up I will say that my mom only knew how to make one kind of enema, namely warm water with Ivory soap delivered from a combination syringe. Conversely, my wife prefers to take as well as to give warm water with some baking soda. In all honesty it seems much gentler than the soapy ones but I don't think it cleans you out as well. We've been using the silicone bag that we got at the Wellness Institute some years ago and being translucent a baking soda enema appears to be clear although we have never tried soapy water in it.