There is a type of disposable enema popular in Asia, especially Japan, that is called a "fig" because it is shaped about like one. It contains NO fig-based products. I am told it is essentially glycerin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIRtvwUxEkY
As far as "Herbal" enemas are concerned, consider the following:
The 7 myths of nutritional supplements
DOUG CUTTER
SPORTS MEDICINE
Jan 21, 2004
A recent article in the sports medicine literature detailed seven myths regarding nutritional supplements. In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act detailed the vast array of dietary supplements available over the counter. This business has grown from annual sales in 1993 of $4 billion to more than $20 billion 10 years later. Consumers have paid a high price for easy access to these substances - mislabeled products, unfounded claims of quick health and performance, and serious side effects, including death. I would like to briefly discuss these seven myths about nutritional supplements.
• Myth 1: Dietary supplements are not drugs.
The dietary supplement act defines supplements as "products intended to supplement the diet by increasing total dietary intake of one of the following: vitamin, mineral, herb or botanical, amino acid, or another dietary substance." Many supplement manufacturers have pushed this definition to its limit. They do not look at the supplement's effect after it is ingested, but explain how it is found naturally in its product. A prime example is ephedra, which can be found in herbal forms. However, pharmaceutical ephedrine has been studied and regulated for years due to its effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
• Myth 2: Dietary supplements are safe.
Dietary supplements have been suspected as a contributing factor in the death of athletes, and the primary suspect is ephedra. A recent study of Poison Control data showed that ephedra was responsible for 64 percent of adverse reactions to herbal products in the United States although it represented only 4.3 percent of all herbal sales. According to an FDA commission, there are reports of this substance causing myocardial infarctions, strokes and death.
• Myth 3: Labels accurately reflect the content of supplements.
Mislabeling is a common practice on supplements. The label might say the contents contain a certain level of the supplement, but many times it will have either little or none or, even worse, much more than expected. Content discrepancy has been found with ephedra, St. John's Wort, and glucosamine/chondroitin supplements.
• Myth 4: New "ephedra-free" supplements are "stimulant-free."
Many of these new products claim to be ephedra- and stimulant-free. Most contain Citrus aurantium (aka bitter orange or zhi shi), an herbal substance containing synephrine, octapine and tyramine. Synephrine is chemically similar to ephedrine and is the active ingredient in some weight-loss supplements.
• Myth 5: Dietary supplements cannot cause a positive drug test.
Recently, athletes have found themselves suspended from competition after using dietary supplements. Substances such as Ma huang contain ephedrine in high enough doses to test positive. When in doubt, do not use any supplement if there is mandatory drug testing because you may not know for sure what is in "all natural" substances.
• Myth 6: Dietary supplements are proved to improve performance.
Most claims regarding improved athletic performance are based on testimonials, not scientific trials. Creatine has shown performance improvements, but under controlled laboratory situations, not on the athletic field.
• Myth 7: There is no hope of controlling dietary supplements.
Several congressmen are sponsoring legislation that would add certain supplements to the Controlled Substance Act. Some states have already banned the sale of ephedra. (Virginia has not.) There are efforts to change the dietary supplement act to regulate the sales of certain supplements. Most importantly, the public must be informed regarding their choices in buying these products and clearly understand the realities and myths.
Dr. Doug Cutter is director of the Sports Medicine Center at CJW Medical Center (Chippenham). Look for his column on the third Wednesday of each month. Contact him at hunter.durvin@HCAhealthcare.com or at: C/O Balance, Richmond Times-Dispatch, P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, VA 23293
Given that info, I'm sticking to soapsuds for most enemas, and Epsom Salt and Soapsuds together when I want a strong purge.