Epsom Salt Enemas

When I was a boy and my mother was told by her new doctor to stop giving me enemas and was told to start giving me oral laxatives. One of her choices was Castoria. Another choice was Ex-Lax. Still another was Milk of Magnesia. She even tried the Chewing Gum laxative - Feen-a-mint and something called Black Draught. She even tried Epsom Salt mixed in water. I did not like any of them. Especially the Castoria and Epsom Salt solution. But, when I read people were giving them Epsom Salt enemas, I tried them and liked them. But, then, when I washed my hair, I began noticing the soap was stained brown. My wife takes baths with Epsom salt in them and the precipitate that is left on the side of the tub is hard to get off and similar to the brown goo that is in the soap after I have used Epsom Salt in my enemas. As a result, I don't use it any longer and I don't have a brown mixture with the shampoo soap.

I have enjoyed Epsom salts enemas and they have provided a very nice clean out.

What get me the most is the after effects of using Epsom salts. Even with 3 or 4 rinse enemas after, I get really runny stool afterward, no matter how much Epsom salts I use.

I wish there were a way to stop that. I have found I needed to use a tampon or two for a couple days after to stop any “leakage” be it gas or liquid that happens to happen.

I know I am cleaned out well after using Epsom Salts, I just don't need the long lasting after effects.

I think the future will be a lot less Epsom salts usage and just plain water. That seems to work well.

I sure do enjoy my enemas even if it is a short clean out with my Shower shot. That works well and I can use it twice daily if necessary.

I used Epsom salts in an enema once. At the time, I did not know the correct amount of salt to include in the enema. I put way too much in the water. Once the enema started to flow, I knew very soon I had made a mistake in measurements. I had severe cramps and started sweating profusely. It seemed like forever for me to finish releasing the enema. I was sweating my ass off while sitting on the toilet. While I am wary of trying it again, I might do it if I'm feeling adventurous.

Women and men have given me sensual Epsom salts enemas by slowly massaging my anus with a lubricant, stretching it open with one and then two fingers, and then using enema bulb syringes with lubricated long and thick nozzles with two quarts of warm water containing two to four tablespoons of Epsom salts. Over time I have been able to receive four tablespoons of Epsom salts without cramping or other discomfort.

When I take a series of 3-qt enemas, the first one is always Epsom Salt and soapsuds together in the same enema.

I follow up with soapsuds enemas until clear.

Done it all my life.

When I take a series of 3-qt enemas, the first one is always Epsom Salt and soapsuds together in the same enema.

I follow up with soapsuds enemas until clear.

Done it all my life.

@LisaK,

Never done it, never will, but Lisa, since you’ve done so many, don’t you ever get a difficult-to-remove white precipitate with the Epsom plus soap mixture?

Eric

I don't get any adverse effects to indicate that anything is remaining. It IS hard to clean the bag, if that's what you are asking.

I DO get another pint or so out a couple of hours later, when in recovery.

I have never used Epsom salts in an enema. Whenever I feel I need to be cleaned out really good I drink about 4-tsp in a full glass of water, 8-12oz, and about 3-hours later when I am cleaned out I start on my regular hot soapsuds enemas. I make them about as hot as I can stand and start out with a 2-qt enema and progress them up to 3-qt enemas, but have rarely been able to take more than 3-quarts.

My question is, what is the most common amount of Epsom salts to use in an enema? I may want to give this a try, since it tastes horrible to drink.

@faultless50, I use 2 TBSP of epsom salts/qt. of water. Make sure the water is very hot, when the epsom salts dissolve, the solution cools some.

Retired US MD here, far too long since I studied real chemistry, but dissolution of MgSO4 heptahydrate is an endothermic reaction, cooling your enema water? Interesting.

Eric

I've played around with strong table salt enemas, but never Epsom salt enemas. Afraid it would hurt my colon lining.

Once in a while I too use Epsom salt as a laxative. For me I like to take a strong laxative several hours before starting an enema series. When I use Epsom salt as a laxative I cheat a little, I swallow a urinary catheter (20 fr) leaving about 6 inches protruding from my mouth, I then use a bulb syringe to inject the Epsom salt liquid - this way I don't get the terrible gag reflex by trying to drink the mixture.

As for dosage, I use 2 TBLS per 10 oz of water, I take one dose then an hour later I take a 2nd dose. I also drink a shot of olive oil with each dose. I also try to consume a pint or more of water with each dose and sometimes more between doses.

This will give you a fairly good cleanout of the small bowel and a reasonable start to a good cleanout of your lower tract.

Now this part I got from an old doc friend I used to get together with: Epsom salts taken as a laxative do two things 1 - they cause the colon to draw in water and create a flushing action. 2 - they cause certain organs to relax along with some parts of the colon. Epsom salt will cause your liver and gall bladder to relax some - that is why some liver cleanses use Epsom salts as the main ingredient to relax or soften it. According to my doc friend Epsom salts can cause the upper part of your colon to relax some.

I often use a 4qt green tea enema as the final fill of my weekend series, now to be clear I seldom use Epsom salt as a laxative but when I do I have found it very easy to take my final 4qt fill.

My partner Barb uses an Epsom salt laxative way more than I do taking it the same way by swallowing a catheter. She does it to shed a few lbs when she feels the need.

Nice thread.

BJ

@BigJane,

I won’t copy your whole post from just now, but fascinating notion. Outside of a medical procedure, I’ve never heard of anyone swallowing a catheter to give yourself a liquid to bypass your taste buds and gag reflex, but it’s obviously an inspired idea as long as you can tolerate the catheter itself. To me, MgCitrate is salty and annoying enough to swallow several bottles of for a colonoscopy prep, but really pretty tolerable when required real medical reasons. However, if I ever needed something in the future even worse, apparently like Epsom salts, I might think of buying a latex catheter to swallow first. Several years ago, I really did have one colonoscopy wherein the oral liquid prep solution, probably about half a pint taken 2 or 3 times in one day, though I cannot remember the name, was absolutely the most horribly VILE and BITTER taste I have ever had in almost 70 years. I almost vomited every time I drank it and to this day cannot imagine anything ever tasting worse. I told the GI doc I refused to drink it ever again, and he switched it to MgCitrate or Miralax the next colonoscopy.

My own reflex might preclude your catheter method, but it might be worth a try. Good thinking.

Eric

I have used Epsom Salts in my enemas in the past… but have not in several years. I stopped using epsom salts after I observed a precipitate lining the tub when I washed my hair. The precipitate was a result of Epsom salt residue that had settled in my hair from my use of that substance in my enemas. When I stopped using epsom salts, the precipitate disappeared after I washed my hair.

As for the use of Epsom salts as a laxative, my Mother, after her new doctor advised her to stop giving me enemas, tried Epsom salts solution a couple of times when I refused to take Castoria. I don't know which one I hated more… Mom found out that I could tolerate Ex-Lax chocolate wafers, Milk of Magnesia pills, Black Draught tablets, and Feen-a-mint laxative gum alright. But, none of those laxatives worked like they were supposed to. In fact, to tell you the truth, more times than not those laxative did not work at all which resulted in increased doses, which had the same result.

Any experiences with epsom salt solutions? Good or bad!

In the case of a false dosage of Epsom salt the kidney may collapse - this taken orally or anally.

Be careful with this stuff. Years ago I was taking enemas with Epsom Salt and i found that when I washed my hair .. I had epsom salt residue in the suds. My Mother never used Epsom salt in my enemas. However, I did take many a dose of oral Epsom salt solution as a laxative after Mom’s new doctor told her to stop giving me Enemas! Why? Epsom salt? I didn’t like Castoria, Black something, or Milk of Magnesia liquid.

I use it often in the first round of many enemas, including all cleansing enemas.

It is a good strong purge! Very effective!

The big down side to it is that you have to be careful with the dosage. The margin between a fully purging dose and a serious overdose that can damage the kidneys or cause upsets in the heart rhythm.

I only use it in the first round, but don't rinse the bag for the later rounds, they are just soapsuds with no additional Epsom Salt.

So, OK to use, but do it carefully. Watch your dosing!!