Was only soap used?

Back in my early days Ivory soap was cheap enough and worked very well if used with soap sticks also. Mommy is hurts and stings. and she replied and it will work good too.

A couple of notes on ingredients mentioned in posts here:

Turpentine is an unsafe enema ingredient which you can find mentioned in 19th century nursing books (easily located on the net). It was highly irritating and went out of use because it was found to cause kidney damage. As far as I can tell it was regarded as obsolete by the early 20th century. [Edit 14/5: The turpentine used in enemas would have been wood turpentine, produced by the distillation of pine resin. Mineral turpentine, used e.g. as a paint thinner, is a petroleum product and a completely different substance.]

Green soap is a concentrated form of soft soap (potash soap) in the form of a thick liquid or gel. In the 70s, and perhaps still today, it was sold in Scandinavian countries for cleaning purposes (såpa). I never tried it in an enema, but I expect it would be potent because it is concentrated. Some products sold today under names like ‘tincture of green soap’ contain isopropyl alcohol or other disinfectants and would be dangerous to use internally. So do your research before trying unfamiliar ingredients.

Any of my recollections of receiving an enema growing up always brought to mind "Ivory's Soap".

Most of my childhood enemas were lengthy affairs with either the bulb or the bag and plenty of hot soapy water. Ivory soap was mom's favorite. There was no clear water rinsing involved. Just multiple soapy fills until she was satisfied with the returns. I do remember an enema though that mom prepared for me to self-administer when I was older. She filled the family bag from the tub faucet without using any soap. I asked why she wasn't using any soap and she replied that you didn't need soap every time and that plain water will give a good enema if you relax and take a full bag. Of course she was right.

Since I was given enemas from early infancy, I can only assume they were soapy ones, probably with Ivory. When I became aware of what an enema was, when I was three, I know my mother used Ivory soap, as I can recall a bar of it floating in the very warm water in the bathroom sink as I was about to get my enema and can, of course, also recall the smell of it as it dissolved. I began to think of it as the "enema smell." However, when I was six or seven, before she started using the enema bag on me, I remember her once utilizing whatever soap was in the bathroom. It wasn't Ivory, but it was mild enough, though it gave me the same cramps that Ivory did. And she didn't use vaseline to lubricate the nozzle of the 3oz. bulb syringe. She just swished the nozzle around in the soapy solution and then inserted it into my rectum as I lay over her lap. The insertion didn't hurt, but I always squealed when the nozzle went in. I think it was the knowledge that I was going to get cramps very shortly that prompted the squealing. Then, when she started using the enema bag, when I was seven, she switched to putting baking soda, instead of soap, in the water, at the suggestion of my enema-happy aunt (another story entirely). I don't think it made any difference, I still squealed and groaned...and cramped!

You know what i remember the soapy water but dont remember seeing the soap, so i would just have to assume it was bar soap

Well I know that there was ivory soap in them. But Mom gave me enemas with the same yellow folding travel syringe that she used to douche with. The bag always smelled like that yellow Massengill douche powder and smelled strongly of it even when I got an enema. However I don't know if she added any to the enema water. But I think that smell alone could still get me hard. But I have not seen it around for quiye a while.

It was ivory soap, and to this day the smell of ivory soap causes and instant erection...

I remember as a kid finding out about medical books in the library. Some of the books were quite old and several had discussions about enema recipes. A several i remember were "Flax Seed" ,"Turpentine" and "baking soda". Not sure how many of those are still practiced nowdays, but 60-70 years ago i guess they were all the rage.

I rmember as a child. Mom placing a bath towel on the kitchen table. She would then look at me and say, Anthony i"m going to give you a enema, and I want you to cooperate. As she was saying this, she placed a pot ful of warm soappy water on the table and the red bulb syringe. It was a small one about 2 oz's. But I was a small child about 4 or 5 years old. Next she would tell me to take off my pants and brief's. When I didn't move fast enough she pulled them off, and layed me flat on the table. Anthony spread your legs for me. The jar of vasaline was also on the table she smared it on the nozzel,,,and went to work. I cryed,,,,and tryed to get up. Mon held me down, and worked that syrange. I smelled the ivory soap,,,smelled the rubber.

Most of my enemas growing started with at least one soapy enema with several plain water rinses. Occasionally my mom would hear of others that used different solutions. Once she tried veg oil but it made a huge mess and she never tried it again. She used salt sometimes in the water but mostly just soap and plain water.

My late mother was an old-time nurse, 1929 to 60's.

She used salt water. Darn, not soapy.

And cold cream on the black adult nozzle for sis and I. I love the smell of Pond's old time cold cream.

The neighbor kids got the same Armstrong Art Weave Hot water Bottle/Combinations, until their

mother bought one, instead of borrowing. Looked in their medicine cabinet, black nozzles there.

Wish could have seen daughter get hers.

Our bags were Red Orange and black with a thin black hose. It still have it, but leaks some.

Growing up the enemas were always soapy and soap always Ivory. I was probably in my 30s before I ever knew that an enema could be anything else.

I think the "maintenance" enemas I received from Mom depended upon how much time she wanted to spend. If she used ivory, then I would get a rinse enema. One and done enemas were just water. If I was sick, it was always a soap suds or two, followed by a rinse or two. The multiple ones when sick were spread out through the day.

Mine stopped using Ivory Flakes when I was switched from bulb to bag. She also used that bag for douching and was afraid to put soap in it, for fear of irritating herself, even after rinsing the bag out.

None of my 3 Pediatricians ever ordered an SSE. They always specified tap water, or saline. They said that soap was too irritating for kids. (this was in the early & mid 50's)

Somehow milk and molasses found it's way into the old enemas; I'm not sure who's recipe but it did cause cramps!

Anyone who has ever had green soap used on them in a hot water Enema

My enemas were always hot water with a bar of ivory soap floating in the water, The water was always milky white with soap running down the fromt of the comfy eopen top enema bag.

Funenemas, what a lovely picture you have provided!

My experiences always involved mom bringing in a pan full of soapy water (ivory) and pouring it into a red open top bag. Smell of Ivory soap always brings up those memories.

Regarding soap, my mom always used Palmolive Soap. It was green and produced some pretty extreme cramps in an enema depending on the concentration. I suppose that consistency was questionable. I didn't always get a soapy enema, but when I did, the results were often explosive and very complete. Because of the guesswork, some of the soapy enemas were far more difficult to receive and to hold for any length of time.

As an aside, the worst fate that I ever had to endure was getting my mouth washed out. I learned to watch my tongue around my mom and grandma. The taste of Palmolive turned my guts inside out from the top end. A hot soapy enema was a breeze compared to a mouth soaping.

I can still remember now some 60 years ago my mother putting in a old bar of ivory soap into the half filled open top red bag and shaking it about to produce to soapy mixture that I was about to get in my colon because i had admitted to not having a bowel movement in recent days. I was both fascinated and fearful.

Twist

When I need a good cleanse, I use Epsom Salt and soapsuds together in the same enema. Always in a closed-top bag so I can be sure they mix properly.

When I need a good cleanse, I use Epsom Salt and soapsuds together in the same enema. Always in a closed-top bag so I can be sure they mix properly.

OMG, Lisa! Talk about a clean out...you'll get one with that mixture. When I'm especially in need of cleaning, that's my solution of choice, also. It brings some serious results! And pretty quickly, too!

Deb

As a young child, it was strictly Ivory SSE enemas for me, but over the last couple of years (I'm 67 now), I've found that a mixture of soap (either Dr, Bronners castile or J&J Baby shampoo) and Epsom Salts provides a very effective and satisfying enema. They feel great and work well, and are the recipe of choice for my enemas these days.

I am unsure what was in that first enema. After that almost all my enemas have been prepared by me. At first they were just tap water, but somewhere along the line I learned about adding soap, I even tried Fel-Naptha!!!! Now that's a real enema!!!!! Also learned to add table salt at times. Now days I like castile soap as an irritant. First hears about Kirk's Castile and used it for awhile. But that stuff is powerful, and it is hard to know when the solution is strong enough to do the job but not so strong you will never be able to hold even a quart. I've gone to using Bonner's Castile because it is a liquid soap and I can use an exact amount of soap.

Not only all the enemas that my mother gave me, but every enema given by every mother in our neighborhood, were with Ivory soap or Ivory Snow, mixed in the water until it was as white as whole milk. No skim milk enemas here! The worst part was, none of the moms seems to have heard of a rinse enema afterwards. Even the lady next door to us, who was an RN, never gave her kids a rinse. Those enemas really stayed with us.

My mother add milk with the soap suds for my enemas. I would help her prepare it on the kitchen stove as the cold milk needed to be heated. Her and I would proceed the the one and only small bathroom in our house. The enema was given with an Adult Rectal Bulb Syringe. Several enemas would be given until the return was white.

Well, we were pretty much a tap water or soapsuds enema house. Never could be sure which it was going to be until Mom released the clamp on the bag hanging on the medicine cabinet door and I saw the fluid spurt into the sink. Clear was tap water while soap suds was definitely cloudy. A bar of Ivory was kept in a glass in the cabinet solely for an enema and as a last act before I was told to lay down Mom would squeeze the bag to float the Ivory bar to the top of the bag, reach in, place it back in the glass, while I dreadingly lay down on the floor. There was no rinsing enemas in those days so the irritating SSE stayed with you for a good while. I do remember after a nasty case of upset stomach our pediatrician recommending salt and soda enemas for a couple of days afterward...although upset at first (as I was with any enema) those enemas were the most comfortable ever. After that though it was back to the old routine.

Now my mother being a firm believer in the classic "Good" enema always saw fit to prepare a nice & very warm soapy with either "Sunlight" yellow soap or alternatively the white "Simple" soap for that supposed gentler effect (Yeah think again !) & on occasion the contents of the "Hospital" dispensary issue, rectangular glass receptacle distinctly marked ENEMA SOAP !! -- Aaaaaah them memories ... Of course being such a well organized / prepared lady she had a variety of watery weapons at her disposal (& got to see / feel/appreciate all), however the greater proportion being administered via the Big white enamel douche can, 6 foot long smooth (rolled ends) clay red india rubber hose with selected black nozzle to take care of the business end of proceedings ...Ooooh ! they were gooood, one definitely got a "Rush" every time literally --guaranteed ! .Geez the anticipation alone while listening to the rustle of soap striking the can echoeing away while one awaits their fate, was truly something else to add to what's coming next.

Of course when still in early childhood one didn't necessarily think so !! Presumably as with many others here & on some occasions with childhood health condition pre-determined, one got to sample the glycerine syringe expertly delivered .... OMG weren't they something else -- no 10 Minute hold with that little bugger.

Even Dr.Higginson got to put in an occasional appearance with a Squirt or 10 but one would assume that was all about time constraints. Even that paraphernalia was kinda fascinating --The shiny dark Blue rimmed white enamel dishbowl 3/4 filled with very warm soapy water, fat rubber floaty thingy hiding within, then came that pfffffft, pffffft, pffffft sound as the air was dispelled, which certainly got ones attention --- If one just so happened to hear that you knew too late, as either way one of us were going to get a "Good" enema. Me being the prime candidate more often than not, my attention span reduced to practically zero while observing what's coming next. Makes ya bum clench just thinking about it !

As regards the salt additive -that rarely ever got a look in -- however glycerine did (hiding in the said "Enema Soap" gel), found that out later but that's another story.

All things considered, still love that nostalgia thing !!.... So guess what's next on my agenda after unloading on you all -- Any wonder they once referred to this situation (Medically Speaking) as the "ENEMA HABIT"-- Although a good enema can generally resolve a range of issues ! -- So glad to see we all agree.

🦘