Hospital Enema Green Soap

Phisohex® was a detergent that contained a powerful anti-bacterial agent, hexochloraphene. The FDA (and its equivalent in many countries) restricted the amount of Hexochlorophene in products (or banned them outright), and made effectively made them prescription only products about 1972 after hexachlorophene was linked to a number of deaths. I believe the Phisohex always contained a warning about keeping it away from mucous membranes, so using it an enema would have been a VERY BAD idea. A related product, Phisoderm®, was reformulated without hexachlorophene as a result of the FDA action. Phisohex was withdrawn from the market in 2013.

If you ever want to know anything about the biochemistry of substances that effect the intestine, maheww50 is the guy to ask.

Phisohex used to he THE presurgical scrub in the OR before it was replaced by compounds like Betadine. You definitely do NOT want Phisohex in your colon.

This string is about a long list of old time medications. I do remember green soap, but only as tincture of green soap because I had to use it on a dreadful case of poison ivy that I got on a Girl Scout camping trip when in junior high. I never used PhisoHex, but did have to use PhisoDan which was the shampoo version when I had bad dandruff when going thru puberty. For a girl it was bad enough getting your period, but then had to put up with zits, cramps, moodiness and in my case acute dandruff to boot.

I remember my Mom would sometimes use castile soap it came in a brownish color bar. But most of the time she used the ivory soap bar for enemas. I think the castille soap produced less cramping as the ivory did, and boy did she use a lot of ivory soap the water looked like milk. 😜

I posted earlier in the thread that Palmolive soap was green in both the bar and liquid form. My mom had a thing for Palmolive. Maybe it was "Madge" from those old commercials. Women soaked their hands in it for the softening effect. It certainly didn't soften the effects of a soapy enema, save for the softened, liquid stool thereafter. It sure tasted nasty. I was cautious with my language after a few "Ralphie" moments.

The castile soap packets became quite common in the clinical setting back in the late 60's or early 70's. I recall the packets suggested it for enemas and shampooing. I got a few soapy enemas with castile and tolerated them far better than the Palmolive.

As far as diarrhea goes, I almost always use enemas to deal with it. It seems quite effective in most cases. This is especially true if the issue relates to food consumption. A soothing enema beats a sore bum from unpredictable bouts of the runs.

There was once a product called tincture of Green soap. I have to suspect that is what you are referring to. Don't think it is still available today.

As for Palmolive Dish washing liquid, which BTW I use on my dishes, would not even consider using in an enema.

READ THE BOTTLE The word "soap" is NOWHERE to be found on the packaging, It only calls it "Detergent" because that's what it is, anchemical detergent made to break chemical chains and cut through grease. Not something I want or you need in the intestine.

My maternal grandmother had a large jug of "Green Liquid Medicinal Soap" (about 1/2 gallon size) that she used for making hot soapsuds enemas. She used 2 Tbsp of the soap per quart of water, and it sure gave me strong cramps as she forced me to hold it in for 5 minutes. When I was allowed to expel the enema the soap would make my rectum and anus sting and I would strain extra hard to force it all out. There was never a rinse enema with tap water, and my anus would be sore for quite a while afterwards.

Back in the 60's and 70's a few drugstores still carried this same soap and the label said it was for cleaning cuts.

There was once a product called tincture of Green soap. I have to suspect that is what you are referring to. Don't think it is still available today.

Tincture of green soap still exists, used for cleaning—I don’t know how widely these days—and apparently also by tattoo artists as an antiseptic. It contains potassium soap, but most significantly 30% alcohol.

The one time I had an enema I was in the hospital. It started out with regular soap suds, then three clear water enemas. I was 13 and wasn't happy about such a thorough clean out but they were going to do X-rays and said I needed to be cleaned out.

I seem to remember something about green soap since my mom was a nurse. I think now though that when a bag enema is used it comes complete with small packets of Castile soap made expressly for that purpose.

I remember my Mom would sometimes use Castile soap it came in a brownish color bar. But most of the time she used the ivory soap bar for enemas. I think the Castile soap produced less cramping as the ivory did, and boy did she use a lot of ivory soap the water looked like milk. 😜

It doesn't take much Ivory to make the water milky! I've heard that Johnson's baby shampoo also makes for a nice clean out!

I wasn't subjected to green Palmolive Dish Detergent, but my mom always bought the green Palmolive soap bar and it was used for soapy enemas as well as mouth soaping. It was very strong for an enema, and even stronger for reminding me to watch what came out of my mouth.

Apparently, green soap enemas used to be given the night before surgery. This makes some sense as green soap has some antibiotic properties and surgeons used it to scrub their hands pre-op. I kinda doubt a green soap would really make a person's colon sterile though.

Also, given green soap's antibacterial properties, I'd think it it's unsuitable for routine enemas because the microcritters in your colon are pretty essential for processing poo.

I only got a Palmolive “ green soap ” enema once when sick. The store was out of Ivory?

All I know was seeing it on the bathroom counter and the smell as I walked into the bathroom.

It definitely gave me a good bubbly cleanout😀🤣😅. Once in Blue Moon, I'll buy a “ trial size ”.

Mom knew best.

What does the “ BP ” mean after “ Green Soap ” ?

My dear mother was a registered nurse in the late fifties and when she did enemas at home, only on herself and my father for preparations a few times that l knew of for medical procedures she would use maybe a tablespoon of lvory Snow powder in two quarts of warm water mixed in a pitcher.

What does the “ BP ” mean after “ Green Soap ” ?

Presumably British Pharmacopoeia. A search on the Latin term ‘sapo viridis’ or ‘sapo mollis’ indicates that green soap was a potash soap or soft soap. Old recipes can be found in old books, but I wouldn’t recommend trying them unless you know something about soapmaking. If you get the proportions wrong and end up with an excess of potassium hydroxide, it is very nasty stuff.

While a patient in the catholic hospital in the 50's, the enemas were given twice prior to surgery- the night before and the early morning of. A team of 3 nurses gave the enemas- one to manage the hose, clamp and nozzle; one to manage the enema-stand; and one to hold our ankles firmly to the mattress as we lay naked bare bottom on our tummies while getting our enemas (it was a children's ward with 8 occupied beds). The lead nurse prepared the enema by adding green liquid soap from a squeeze bottle every time. The enemas were harsh and very soapy and sudsy…. michael https://en.zity.biz/gallery/image/16548

I used Palmolive dish soap only once. Never ever ever again.

I used Palmolive dish soap only once. Never ever ever again.

I once had a girlfriend give me a Dawn dish soap enema. She had no clue as to NOT use soaps of this nature for enemas.

She came out and surprised me with a filling of this viscous mixture to which the results were unbearable to say the least!!!!

I looked like a dishwater blonde, tattooed, DD cup, long legged, tanned all over portable Lawrence welk machine!!!!!

I recall having a few tincture of green soap enemas. They were NOT comfy, but VERY effective. “Tincture” refers to being dissolved in ethanol. As most of us who've tried wine enemas can attest, ethanol makes an enema hard to hold, and NOT very comfortable. I suspect that is responsible for some of the discomfort of a green soap enema.

I recall having a few tincture of green soap enemas. They were NOT comfy, but VERY effective. “Tincture” refers to being dissolved in ethanol. As most of us who've tried wine enemas can attest, ethanol makes an enema hard to hold, and NOT very comfortable. I suspect that is responsible for some of the discomfort of a green soap enema.

Growing up I got a real bad case of poison ivy and mom had to wash me twice a day with tincture of green soap, but I never heard of it used for enemas. Even used topically it was ugly stuff and I remember the smell of it to this day. As for enema soap, my younger sister is a pediatrician and gets packets of a clear castile soap from her practice and each is labeled as ‘enema soap.’ It works, too.

Delmar the red soap that you referred to was probably Lifeboy,a very strong bath soap ! An enema with that stuff would have made your insides burn for a long time!