Soap

I always got soapy enemas when I was a child. Don't know if it was Ivory or not, but it worked! Once the results weren't satisfactory and I got three that morning!

Since IVORY chose, in their 'wisdom', to change the smell (a hunnert years ago) I've switched to Dr. BONNER's "peppermint" castile liquid. I keep a small 'squeeze bottle handy and squirt 2 squeezes into a 4 qt bag. I vary 'squeeze pressure to change intensity per mood, etc. I then take 1/2 the bag at a time.

Second fill of the 4 qt bag is with 2 'heaping' Tbs. of salt and another 2 Tbs of soda. --and again, 1/2 a bag at a time.

Works good.

the boxcar

Why do we use soap in our enemas? Because my mom, aunt, their mom and probably relatives before them used Ivory soap. The practice continues to this day.

Janet S

I have used both Ivory and Dr. Bonner's Peppermint Castile soap. My experience is that I can't tell the difference between plain water and Ivory soap. But with the Dr. Bonner's, I feel a major difference, starting with the water flowing in. And it causes cramps, and I think the cramps are what causes a better clean out. I guess I just like cramps on the first enema and then I do plain water for the rest of the series.

In my experience the best soap for an enema is the natural ivory soap.

I generally use just plain water or sometimes plain water with a touch of baking soda. I have used both Ivory and Dr Bronners and both work well. Sometimes though, adding too much soap causes immense cramping and I like my enemas to be pleasurable and without a lot of cramping. Soap is good for me as a change of pace

I agree with Janet S that tradition has much to do with use of ivory in enemas. A few swishes in the family enema can was just following what earlier generations experienced. The same might be said of what type of equipment (open or closed top bag, can, bulb) is used by a family.

Hard to think of an enema without soap or the cramps that it causes. Funny how the feelings created by the soapy enema are so good you want more

I've said before that the mere fragrance of Ivory soapsuds causes a swelling in my pants. My sister admits she gets wet from the smell. Being raised on almost weekly enemas since birth, we've neer hated them, and by our teens, we were dedicated klismos. We both feel that a good strong Ivory soap enema scrubs our colons clean, and over the years we've grown to appreciate the attendant cramps. We also both use a strong solution of Kirks if we want strong cramping. An opaque milky solution of Kirks, taken hot (106F) and held 15-20 minutes will make you swear a demon is tying your colon into a pretzel. I agree that Dr. Bronners peppermint is also a good cramper. Sis and I use it when we meet for enema fun, because we can enjoy hours of happy sharing without stinking up the house.

Hard to think of an enema without soap or the cramps that it causes.

I agree completely.

Have used Dr. Bronners for nearly 30 years. It has never failed to deliver the desired results (whether that be soft an easy or disciplinary cramping or anywhere in between).

With my radiated colon soap causes intense cramps and sometimes vomiting. I stick with tap water.

I love the Olive oil and goats milk soap my friend make best enema solutions I have come across mild slippery and effective. She makes it and it's gone soon as the batches cure great stuff !

There may be some bit of soapy cleansing effect to a soapy enema, but I think MOST of the effect is just that it stimulates the colon to push it out. I use just a little bit of Ivory bar soap or castile soap, too much makes the enema too crampy. But, just the right amount makes the enema SO much more effective! When using Ivory bar soap, I hold the bar in the stream of water filling the bag for about 10 seconds, then pull the soap out and fill the bag the rest of the way. Once I have taken about 2 enemas anf gotten fairly cleaned out, then I can take a larger enema and really enjoy the filling, and the tingling, distended sensations.

Jon

Soap may help the water penetrate the stool a little, but there shouldn't be more than trace amounts of fat in it so the soap isn't really necessary for that. I saw another claim that the soap was there to "lubricate" which is completely absurd, as there isn't enough soap for that.

As has been noted the main effect of soap is as an irritant to the colon, causing a more forceful and thorough expulsion. They have done biopsies before and after soapsuds enemas and have noted some epithelial damage from soap (also from glycerin, bisacodyl and tap water, so it isn't unique to soap), but I have seen no studies showing anything more than short-term visible changes.

I use soap in my first enemas because they work much better because of that little extra "kick".

With my radiated colon soap causes intense cramps and sometimes vomiting.

So be cautious in preparing and taking enemas!

Standing in the bathroom in my flannel PJs and robe, having dragged myself out of bed and filling a fountain syringe with as warm a water my insides will stand. Feeling sick as a dog (as my mom used to say) with an achy flu, chills, headache, cough and low-grade fever for the last couple of days.

I keep a bar of Conti Castile soap for these rare occasions when the vintage medical books recommended a "warm soapy enema" when I'm actually sick. Reaching inside the bag and swishing the soap until the water is cloudy is the classic prep to taking a "serious" SSE that separates this from any other enema. My brain "says" that my body needs this cleanse to help recover. This isn't emotional therapy after a tough week on a business trip.

I lay myself down on soft towels and take a disciplined enema step by step, like it recommends in the book. Tried to hold it 10 minutes, more like 5. What pours out of me is more than I expected -- and there are cramps. This is good. Indeed, my body needs this cleanse. This feels like a medical procedure, as a nurse would have given in the past when a patient is sick in bed.

After rinsing and cleaning the syringe and hanging to dry, I crawl back in bed and sleep for the rest of the afternoon. Waking up, do I feel better? My stomach feels calmer. I feel more rested. My husband arrives home from work and sees the syringe hanging in the shower. He asks if I'm feeling any better. I think so. Is the feeling "just in my head." He takes my temperature with our oral digital: just 99-something, although I feel warmer. Am I feeling OK enough to get up and have some soup, which he fixes for me? Yes, I'm feeling a little better. I think the enema did, after all, although I may be romancing this notion. However, it was like the book recommended.

January 2015

Growing up it was Dove soap in our enema bag. After moving out on my own I have used Ivory and Dr Bronners. After reading posts here I have tried J & J baby shampoo. I feel that using a bit of soap for the first bag in a series helps stimulate the colon for a better clean out.

As a little girl most of my enemas were plain warm water. If mom put in soap, it was very little, and I don't know what kind. My sister and I gave each other and ourselves small enemas with the bulb while playing in the bathtub. So those small enemas had whatever soap was in the water, sometimes even a capful of bubble bath soap, but was probably so diluted in six inches of water as to not be a factor.

One time I bought a Fleet BagEnema that came with a castile soap packet. I liked it. I found a pharmacy that sold the castile soap packets separately for a few cents apiece. That led me to a bottle of Dr. Bronners castile soap which is pretty good. I prefer the unscented. Over the years I tried Ivory, Neutrogena, and J&J baby shampoo. I am not a fan of Ivory. It is not a nostalgia factor for me, and castile or J&J is not as harsh but still works well for me.

I have always used something to increase the power of water Soapsuds is the best, because it's relatively mild, but does cause enough irritation to cause strong expulsions

I think janet s in post 60 nailed it. I'm sure the soapy enemas I got as a child from my mom were because her mom gave her soapy enemas, going back a few generations. In my family, the soap used for enemas was always Ivory soap and its still what I use to this day. When I was little, as soon as I got a whiff of the Ivory soap I knew my mom was going to use the syringe on me. I can't imagine an enema without Ivory soap. The only time I use plain water is to rinse out the Ivory soap from the first enema. Some traditions are worth carrying on.

I am, like many, a fan of Ivory bar soap. I like the cleansing effect. Also, it can be used, in a greater amount, for punishment. The irritation it causes, is connected to cramps, which is a punishing effect.

I almost never use plain water. Like many others Here it's usually Ivory or Dr Bronners.

I use additive-free "simple" soap - but rarely. Despite trying other formulas over the years, mainly our enemas are glycerin or glycerin-and-water

I use it to generate some mild Irritation and cause more and stronger peristalsis, but not as strong as say bisacodyl or senna extract.

It also lubricates, and makes everything slippery so it comes out easier

5 years out in the wilderness

Surprise me 😁

Grew up with the ivory soap enema and soap stick… I pass on the soap sticks these days, but it's always ivory for an enema.

Yes I used some doctor bronners last night. Quite warm with plenty of soap. My ass smelled like lilac.

At one time I used baking soda in my enemas. The effects were decent without much cramping. Some years ago while discussing enemas with my digestive health PA, she suggested I stop using baking soda as the sodium content wasn’t good for my blood pressure and to begin using soap instead. I settled on a half tablespoon of Dr Bronners in two quarts of water as the ideal, for me, amount.

That's hardly any soap