Question about soap - J&J

Soap suds enemas are generally ok but known for possible risk of severe colitis (not used in hospitals). Definitely irritating to the lining of the colon - not that you'll really know unless the colitis is severe (usually not). Likely will just have more mucus.

The best soap for me personally in my enemas is Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap!!!

As I stated in another post I too read of a case of hemorrhagic colitis induced by a large amount of concentrated soap. The patient was a mother in delivery. She had a still born infant. Definitely a malpractice case.

If soap was so dangerous we would be finding people with nozzles up their butts and not needles in their arms.

If soap was so dangerous we would be finding people with nozzles up their butts and not needles in their arms.

I have to agree.

Likewise for alcohol enemas. We'd be hearing about a lot more of them dying than the ONE alcoholic who died from a 2 liter sherry enema in 2004.

Thank you all for responding. I searched for an article because of personal harsh results form soap suppositories and wanted to know if it was just me. I should have tried harder to find soap *suppository* article. I sit (with a couple of glycies working in me as we speak) correct(al)ed. :-)

Have to be careful with the types and amount of soap. Sounds great to have soapy suds enemas but must be followed by a rinse one to insure all the soap is washed out.

SOME NEWS ABOUT IVORY SOAP. I recently went to my Primary Care dr complaining about lower leg pain. I was concerned since I'm 'Type 2' diabetic. She suggested that I put a bar of soap in bed down by my shins. (HUH???) So, since having several bars of Ivory in the cabinet I selected one for the test. I then sent an e-mail asking if I should remove the wrapper from the bar of Ivory soap. She replied in the afirmative, but then went on to say that Ivory is very ROUGH and that I should use Dove.

Well I'm using Dove now and can't see that it is doing anything.....but WTFOver, maybe I'm not giving it enough time. Isn't "ObamaCare" wonderful??

I'll keep the Forum informed

the boxcar

Boxcar, the use of a bar of soap down low in the bad has been around for several years. Different holistic sites, various people's pharmacy forums have all at one time recommended giving it a try for leg cramps. Some say it works, others say it doesn't. For you, I hope it works.

Thanx RAIN....sure makes me feel better about my Primary Dr. She was just suggesting a 'possible' help I'm now sure.

the boxcar

Yes. Ivory's formula has changed, making it milder.

The article also says that dove is milder than, at least original formula, Ivory.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_%28soap%29

Very interesting LaxMe thanks for sharing.

I used to buy Neutrogena bar soap, cause it had a high glycerin content and it worked well. It is a tan color and dissolves easily. It is rather expensive. MAKE SURE you don't buy the ACNE blend of it, because it dries out any oils present. It's also available in a liquid with a bottle pump.

I've also used Dove bar soap and it was very gentle. I mostly use J & J Baby Head to Toe wash and sometimes Dr. B's Peppermint (a little strong). I also have Kirk's Castile and Ivory on hand. Mostly I use plain water.

You're ever so welcome, Kid. It is such a privilege to have a site like this to post to.

In 1996, the most common result I received when searching for "enema" was Blink182's "Enema of the State", followed by steroid enemas for IBS. The most commonly referenced relevant site that I remember was that of "Ben Dover". for many years, there was also a site for "Asian (disposable) Enemas", hosted on a university site, by either a long-term student, or more likely, because of it's longevity, an employee..

Jimmyt44, I tried Neutrogena too, because of it's high glycerine content. I found it to be exceptionally and disappointingly mild. I even tried it a s a soap suppository, which, it seemed to me, worked much more gently than, say, Ivory. I hope that you get better results than I was able to.

I have a comfort zone with Ivory soap.

if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!

Ivory and Dr. Bronner's sometimes work well for me, but I've found glycerine, or glycerine-based soaps provide an even-more-effective evacuation; if it reaches the cecum (uppermost portion of the colon), you'll know by the unformed matter you'll pass, and the "hollowed-out" sensation afterward.

Also remember that glycerine is an organic (carbon-based) compound, as opposed to the variety of sodium - xxx -.sulfates used in shampoo. No links to any serious issues here that I'm aware of, but I'll go to something a little closer to nature when the opportunity presents itself; (the "unofficial" chemical name for soap is sodium tallowate, BTW).

And as an afterthought, you could also administer one or two of Fleet's packaged liquid glycerine suppos, or a small bulb of solution just before a bagful of suds.

I've also been told that glycerine injected into the colon produces gas, which stimulates peristalsis, but can't confirm that one. If someone out here got beyond first-year Chem, please enlighten us.

I have used lots of glycerine in my time and never found it to cause gas production.

Sodium tallowate is the name of A soap, NOT soap. There are lots of different soaps.

Carbon based compounds are no closer to nature than non-carbon based chemicals. You can do good and bad with either.

I have used Neutrogena for some enemas as a change of pace. I use the original, which is a semi-transparent amber color. Someone here or on another enema message board taught me that if you cut a piece of the bar, maybe 1/8, and microwave it in a cup of water it makes a liquid that is easier to use in an enema than trying to dissolve the bar.

The Neutrogena does leave me with a different feeling when finished than the Dr. Bronners castile soap I otherwise use. Not bad, just different.

My two go-to soaps are Doc Bronner's and Ivory. I like to try other soaps when I find suitable ones though too.

My main problem with ivory is the residue it leaves on my equipment. I notice quite a film on my solution prep pitcher after an Ivory soapy. I have to imagine a similar film can build up inside the red bag. I haven't found this to be the case with Bronner's.

I'm eager to try Kirk's Castile as it gets good reviews here. It is readily available in the US Midwest.

Two others I'm curious to try that I've found in stores are Yardley's London and Clearly Essentials Natural Soaps. Wondering if any other members have experience to share from using those soaps in enemas.

While Ivory is my first choice (it's what Mom used), I've been using baby shampoo for years without any sort of problems. It's gentler than Ivory and heck, you can get it into your eyes without it stinging. Dr. Bronner's is good too, but there's nothing wrong with using baby shampoo.

Ivory soap has always been the favorite in my mother's house as well as my own. At times some other soap was used but only because a bar of Ivory was not available.

Janet S

Janet, I can still sense the smell of a puddle of ivory soapy water floating through my nostrils. And, to this day, it still incite my senses.

Pleasant memories... Gosh, it might even be fun to relive those experiences with the right woman.

James

In just a few days, I will have the house all to myself for a couple weeks, and I've been thinking what kind of enemas I might enjoy. As I read the threads above, I think I may start out with a couple of good warm Ivory SSE's as a beginning. It's been quite a long time since I've done any Ivory SSE's, and I feel over-due. 😃

Note - not a doctor, just a reader.

There aren't many studies about enema solutions other than case studies. There is one I found where they noted that SSEs did cause noticeable surface epithelium damage in almost all patients on immediate biopsies from the valves of Houston, but didn't go into what that meant. A doctor or nurse would be better to comment, but based on the long term history of SSEs I'd lean towards it not meaning much and the epithelium being rapidly regenerated.

There are several case studies on what happens when people take "stupid enemas", including detergents (one was Hibiclens - a very strong antibacterial soap), and some are unspecified but probably very strong soap solutions of unspecified soaps. Granted these are all the ones that went wrong and resulted in a trip to the hospital, but chemical colitis does not sound fun. Personally I play it safe and dilute my soap before injecting it.

I use a pvc brand castile soap as it less expensive ,i have used dr bonners and when i did i could taste the peppermint while the enema was flowing. i dont taste it with this soap

Last night I took my first SSE in a long time - usually it's straight saline which I did night before last. I have a large bottle of "Dr. Woods" Castile soap, unflavored, which I use at a teaspoon per quart. Last night was another 4 quarts, again like night prior. It smelled nicely of the soap and gave me almost the same experience as the plain saline the day before. I held both for 30-35 min just for the delightful rectal/abdominal sensations and visual belly distention. The only noticeable change from saline was a few extra episodes of low rectal urges to expel, but very manageable since I was plugged well with a DBCatheter. I don't think I've ever tasted soap when I've done this, which would be an interesting sensation, but that might require higher soap concentrations than my colon is happy with.

I believe surgeons and GI docs don't like soap used before a colonoscopy because the surface epithelial changes moliere refers to may make them feel a need to biopsy the colon wall when really it's nothing but soap irritation. I've read enough here about docs either not objecting to plain water enemas before procedures or in fact telling the patient to do it that it obviously doesn't create a colonoscopy problem. I have had more than my share of colonoscopies due to polyps and family history of a lot of cancers. When I was doing them back in the mid-70's, the standard prep I was told to use included at least two 2 quart enemas the night before. I think I may revert and do as some others here and add a couple of enemas to the oral prep solution the night before, since even 3 bottles of oral MgCitrate left more colon debris than my doc was happy with last February. I'm due for another in 2019-21 depending on whether DREs show anything.

Eric

Not something I would do.

Not so sure Baby Shampoo is really just soap.

It can have other things in it that make me uncomfortable injecting it into the rectum.

I would stick to what I know to be actual soap, not chemical detergent!!

Knorris: Remembrances from chemistry classes a long time ago.

Soap is produced by making some kind of grease (vegetable oil, most often) react with a strong base sur as sodium hydroxyde (caustic soda) or potash. You then get both a soap and glycerine. The kind of soap depends on the kind of grease and the base - if you use palm oil and caustic soda, you get so-called "sodium palmitate".

Soap is thus largely an "organic" compound, except for the sodium or potassium.

I've found baby shampoo to be harmless and fun....that's why it's baby shampoo