Baking Soda or Not Baking Soda

Hi

There is a big difference in taking an enema with or without baking soda, at least for me. When I take a plain water enema, my maximum lays around 3 liters and feels best at 2,5. I can go for 4 but it's difficult.

But adding baking soda makes it a lot easier, going 4 liters is close to easy. I even thing I would be able to go beyond (a task in the future).

What is the chemistry behind it, how or why is it suddenly possible to do it even without cramps? The muscles suddenly relax and the water just keep floating in.

Hope to get it solved :-)

Tap water is actually a mild irritant to the colon. Normal large bowel pH is mildly acidic. NaHCO3 is rather alkaline and soothing to the lining of the bowel, but can be TOO soothing and not want to expel all of it. I reserve baking soda for diarrhea attacks, where the high pH makes it hard for bacteria to survive and can wash out viruses.

So you are telling us that baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, which is a strong buffer that maintains a pH of 7 is mildly alkaline? Not from my chemistry classes. Is that what they taught you in chemistry?

I do find a backing soda enema relaxing though.

the hoseman1

@ hoseman 1 all combinations of water and sodium bicarbonate solutions will have a ph > 7.0, e.g. a 0.1N solution has a ph of 8.4 (critical tables),

Not a chemist to understand why baking soda increases retention time during an enema, though can attest to fact that retention time of the enema is increased and also makes for smooth a delivery.

To make the precise mix tap water - baking soda the proportion is 14 % baking soda .

In case of using cooking salt (who is bad for arteries) the proportion is 9 % cooking salt (NaCl)

I'm no chemist but I can confirm that adding baking soda to an enema makes it easier for me to hold. I avoid baking soda in the last enema of a series because sometimes it just doesn't want to come out.

I too have discovered baking soda and love it's smooth texture in water. 14% or 9%... How does one measure a percentage of a liquid using a powder?

To make the precise mix tap water - baking soda the proportion is 14 % baking soda .

In case of using cooking salt (who is bad for arteries) the proportion is 9 % cooking salt (NaCl)

I too have discovered baking soda and love it's smooth texture in water. 14% or 9%... How does one measure a percentage of a liquid using a powder?

NO NO NO not 14% and not 9%

The mix for isotonic solutions is 1.4% for baking soda OR 0.9% for table salt.

You measure 9 grams per quart/liter (1000ml) for table salt or 14 grams per quart/liter (1000ml).

Buy a digital scale. You can get one for $25 these days.

I agree with the other posters on this thread that baking soda does, indeed, make an enema easier to retain. So, when I'm going for an extended retention time to get the maximum cleanse, I'll add baking soda (essentially one tablespoon per quart) to my tap water. That solution given at 105F really keeps my colon calm while I retain the enema for 15-20 minutes.

When I'm simply taking an "enema 4 fun" I'll just use plain tap water since I'm not planning an extended retention. And the results are pretty quick!

Have fun and play safe!

Deb

I have been using Baking Soda in my enemas since "Nurse Nancy" turned me on to it over 20 years ago. The buffering effect results in an easy to take and retain enema.

Earlier in the week I visited my GI and had a long talk with the PA about enemas. She asked what I was using and I told her Baking Soda. She confirmed that a Baking Soda solution enema was fine, but that I should watch for out-of-range blood work. She did not say what specifically but was content that I was getting periodic blood work done by my PCP.

She also said that a soap enema was fine to use. I told her I combine Baking Soda and soap. She suggested that if I was going to take a second enema during the week I should use soap only. Enema use didn't seem to be concern to her as long as I did not aggravate my hemorrhoids. While I was there we set up for a colonoscopy later in the year.

Personally I find that two tablespoons of Baking Soda and a half tablespoon of Dr. Bronner's soap in three quarts of 105F water is the best ratio for me. Minimal to no cramping, easy retention, and very good results.

Alright, that makes more sense. thank you for this recipe, I have had an unpleasant experience with salt and soda enema not too long ago, and i think it was due to improper proportions.

In terms of baking soda, the amount has never been an issue with me. Two teaspoons, heaping, to a quart, to two tablespoons. I personally have not detected any difference/ Now add salt to the mixture, and the game changes.

Wow, many good answers but I am still looking for the reason.

I think it's a placebo effect myself. The sodium in it keeps water in the gut but I don't think the bicarb does anything.

I agree with Cheryl77177, Baking Soda in the enema mix, maybe easy to retain, but not easy to get out of the bowel.

I don't know about volume, but baking soda makes the enema much easier to take for me. No to little cramping even if constipated. It is my favorite additive.

Lifeknox is a very old enema expert and was a prolific writer to its every aspect (and i mean that literally)

He highly advocates tablespoon baking soda per quart of well filtered water. He says it alkalizes and thereby comforts and even prevents carcinogenic build up. He also recommends the 105F bag-ful.

The general thought with the naturopaths i have read and talked to say, our insides should be Alkaline, but skin should be Acidic. That is why we should oil our guns after playing with them, maybe? But on a deeper subject, the colon is just happier in its normal atmosphere.

I'm a bit confused here. Do you add salt to a baking soda enema or not. If you do what effect does that have?

Do you add salt to a baking soda enema or not. If you do what effect does that have?

I use both. Feels good; I don't retain a lot.

BDRElover,

A while back Switchable Susie explained to me that both are not necessary. One or the other is better, i believe she said. I had been mixing a gallon at a time with 2-3 table spoons of soda with 1 table spoon of salt. Heat and mix into 3 quarts filtered water then pour into plastic jug with 1 quart of room temp water, with goal of water temperature not to exceed 105F. But now per that expert advice, i have been only using 1/4 cup soda per gallon, nothing else. By the way though, when mixing the 2 into hot water, there was a mild reaction. So, conceivably Taking in a little of a soda sauce, followed by receiving an experimental lightly salted one might be surprising, aye?

There is a new product on the shelf at Walmart called, "Dead Sea Salt" by WestLab $7 for 2.2lb bag. It has magnesium chloride in it (Epsom Salt has magnesium sulfide) and some other stuff. 1/4 cup is too much per gallon for me. I am about to cut it in half (1/8 cup) next time. (some say, sulfide build-up is worse than chloride)

The bag says ingredients: Maris Sal,, (http://www.simplyskin.eu/dead_sea_salts.html)

Typical Chemical Composition:

Magnesium Chloride 31-35%,, Potassium Chloride 20-28%,, Sodium Chloride 3-8%,, Calcium .1 - .8%,, Bromide .3 - .65,, Sulfates,, .05 - .25,, Insolubles 0 - .3%,,

and Water of Crystallization 32 - 40%

"Water of crystallization or water of hydration or crystallization water is water that occurs inside crystals" per

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_of_crystallization

A while back Switchable Susie explained to me that both are not necessary. One or the other is better, . . . .

It's not that one or the other (table salt or baking soda) is better; only one of them is necessary to make an isotonic solution.

I find it easier to remember one teaspoon of salt per quart of water. and a bit more, say about 1.5 tsp of baking soda per quart. Even if under, it is easy to handle.

Epsom Salt has magnesium sulfide

Epsom salt is magnesium sulphate not sulphide. You would not want to use magnesium sulphide.

In case of using table salt the right proportion is 0.9 % in weight.

In case of using baking soda the right proportion is 1.4 % in weight.

Like Suzie writes don't mix salt and baking soda, make it simple and efficient.

Just tried the salt solution, and it worked really well. would using 1/2 soda and 1/2 salt do anything? or is it just one OR the other?

Just tried the salt solution, and it worked really well. would using 1/2 soda and 1/2 salt do anything? or is it just one OR the other?

You could use 0.45% NaCl and 0.7% NaHCO₃ for an isotonic solution. But why complicate matters to this degree?

I have no idea as to the chemical solutions or formulas, but for me, baking soda is an option that I sometimes use. I can take more, hold more, and with baking soda, it nearly eliminates the cramping.

You could use 0.45% NaCl and 0.7% NaHCO₃ for an isotonic solution. But why complicate matters to this degree?

just wondering if it would have different effect, is all

also, would using full strength salt and soda be too isotonic?

just wondering if it would have different effect, is all.

also, would using full strength salt and soda be too isotonic?

I doubt whether the effect would be significantly different, though there’s no harm in trying.

An isotonic solution is one that has the same concentration of (in this context) sodium ions as your body fluids, so ‘too isotonic’ doesn’t make sense. The significance of an isotonic solution is that there is no net gain or loss of water to your colon.

If you use 0.9% salt (NaCl) and 1.4% baking soda (NaHCO₃), you will have a hypertonic solution. This will draw more water into your colon so that the concentrations become more nearly equal.