Enemas, Intestinal Bacteria, & Health

I've searched the various threads here regarding enemas and health, specifically the effects of enemas on the bacteria in one's intestines. Certainly the mainstream medical community cites the destruction of this bacteria as one of the deleterious effects of enemas. In the various threads here I've read all sorts of opinions regarding this as well as a number of things to do to counter it, primarily either eating acidophilous yogurt, taking pills that have active bacteria in them or taking and enema to which yogurt with active cultures has been added. I've also read here that the bacteria will regenerate itself in 3-6 hours regardless of what you do.

What I'd like to see is actual clinical evidence that (a) an enemas destroy the intestinal bacteria and (b) if that is so, what you can do to restore them. With regard to (a), my own thoughts are that that plain warm water enemas or an enema with very mild soap added will not do much or any harm to the bacteria. I think the big problem happens when a lot of soap is used or several SSEs are taken (e.g., "enema until clear") or the soap is harsh or you take several of these enemas daily for a long time. I personally only take one SSE (maybe two) followed by a plain water enema and a 1-quart coffee enema about once every 1-3 weeks.

I've only ever seen statements from the medical community where the bullet points include "destroys intestinal bacteria" and the usual "does no good at all". These are presented as statements of fact but do not include any references to clinical studies. Likewise, though, the benefits of enemas are presented in similar fashion by those of us in the "E" community. Now I will not stop taking enemas unless there is proof positive that they constitute something that's life threatening to me. I doubt that will ever be presented. Anecdotally, I know how enemas make me feel: relaxed, a feeling of well being, and sexual stimulation. Those are good enough health benefits for me.

Most enema solutions do not "destroy" colonic bacteria, but depending on how many and frequently you take enemas, you physically wash them out just like rinsing you hands after playing in the mud.

Normal feces in people who do not take enemas are 20-25% bacteria by weight. If you take enemas, the bacteria simply are tremendously reduced.

So, how long, on average, does it take to restore them?

I'm not a daily enema user but primarily weekly or bi-weekly. I don't really see this as a problem but I've had discussions with my wife about it. She sees the stuff from folks like Dr. Oz and others in various women's magazines. I'd like to be able to provide some information that counters this. In particular, it would be helpful if it had a basis in clinical research. Most of what we talk about here is anecdotal.

If you do not consume specific live colonic bacteria in your diet (probiotics) it could take a few weeks to a month to re-grow the volume a "non-enema" person would have. It takes a little less time if you do consume probiotics.

BY happenstance, I just read a story on something called 'C. Dificile' of which I had heard nothing about before. The story was published in a Canadian national magazine called "McLean's", the July 15th, 2013 issue. I don't know if it is available online. This disease, however, is what is relevant to the topic. It is apparently caused when all of the 'good bacteria' in the intestine have died or been destroyed and the 'bad bacteria' that are left are causing damage to the human carrying them, to the extent in some cases of being fatal. (This is all my paraphrasing from the story.) Apparently, one common treatment for this condition is a 'transplant'... yes, I couldn't believe my eyes either, sounded like it could have been a story from Zity's library... and suitable donors were family members. The donor poo is injected up the anus of the sufferer, thus repopulating the 'good bacteria' in the sufferer's intestine. A poo enema, I guess. Apparently there is a further study being conducted in Stratford Ontario, where a Doctor has developed a synthetic poo that can be used for this 'therapy'. It is called "Repoopulate". When blended with about 33 varieties of 'good bacteria', it is an equally effective enema as the 'real thing'. This stuff is considered as less distasteful than using the 'real thing'. But NOWHERE in the article was it recommended to take bacteria by mouth.

Now I am not a 'poo' enthusiast. I know there are some out there, and I don't judge. But the things that caught my interest in this story were the fact that it is possible to lose all the good bacteria (they didn't say how, but with all the new medications.. well, who knows) and that here is yet another successful use of enemas, even possibly saving a life.

Yay enemas! 😄

P.S. to my previous note about 'C. Dificile' , I have had tons of enemas all through my life (I am now 69), and have never lost all of my 'good bacteria'.

. . . . the things that caught my interest in this story were the fact that it is possible to lose all the good bacteria (they didn't say how, but with all the new medications.. well, who knows) . . . .

Repeated use of antibiotics can destroy the good colonic bacteria and result in an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile.

By the way, C difficile has been a problem for at least the last 15 years, maybe longer.

I now have a C. DIFF problem every time I take an oral antibiotic for a variety of infections. Apparently only Flagyl and Vancomycin taken orally kill off the overpopulated C. Diff.

It was suggested by my Fam Doc. to always take oral probiotics when I am on any antibiotics. It has worked well. I never had this problem before my colon cancer surgery and radiation therapy. I took irrigations for years and never had this problem before. I think it must have something to do with "chemo.", radiation and shortened bowel .

Since all the variety of different bacteria in the colon keep each other in check, C. Diff. must be the "bully" on the block and are resistant to most all antibiotics. This can be a potential lethal problem in the elderly, debilitated patient. Probiotics work but are expensive.

You have clearly been over medicated with antibiotics.

The FDA and DEA should put antibiotics under strict control and narcotics should be over the counter just like booze. The war on drugs is a deadly failure.

My mom ended up with c. Diff. after repeated antibiotics to keep her diverticulitis under control. She was very ill and was in isolation at the hospital for three weeks. She's very lucky to have survived.

Take antibiotics only when absolutely necessary and always take probiotics when you take them. Eating yogurt made with live cultures can benefit you. I've heard of people using yogurt rectally to balance their intestinal bacterial flora but I have no experience with it and no accurate knowledge of how to do it or if it works.

Your digestive enzymes eventually do restore themselves. Can take time. One reason enemas should be used infrequently.