Did You Say “Enema”? Do They Really Have Health Benefits?
Did you know that enemas have been used for their health benefits for centuries? Ancient Egypt was the first society to document the use of enemas as far back as 1500 BC.
The infamous Ebers Papyrus mentions the use of enemas to stimulate defecation and administer nutrients. The remedy is described as a treatment to cool the anus by injecting a mixture of balanite oil (derived from seeds of the soapberry tree), honey, and carob water.
Many ancient cultures from Babylonia to China utilized enemas, believing they would assist in reducing or eliminating many physical ailments, including headaches, allergies, asthma, fever, and even sexual dysfunction.
What Different Types of Enemas Are There?
An enema is used to cleanse your bowel by introducing fluid through a tube into the rectum. The fluid causes your muscles to contract and expels the softened stool from your colon.
There are several types of enemas, each thought to have their own benefits. Several common elements used in enemas include:
- Purified Water
- Organic Coffee
- Herbal Teas
- Sea Salt
- Probiotic Cultures
By introducing these elements in the colon, their constituents can be absorbed quickly and distributed throughout your body.
Amazing Health Benefits of Enemas
Enemas can boost your health and wellness in a variety of ways. Reported benefits include supporting your immune system, skin, blood pressure, and energy levels. Weight loss and heavy metal removal are other possible advantages of enemas when herbal cleansers are used.
Enemas with purified water can help clean your colon and soften the stool to relieve constipation. They are also used when performing CT scans in hospitals to open up the viewing area.
Sea salt enemas can help clear the discomfort of constipation. Sea salt contains trace minerals that help draw water into your colon. This increase in water can cause more feces to be expelled than from a water enema alone.
Coffee enemas help to detox your body, provide balanced energy levels, and can relieve the discomfort of constipation. Because people are exposed to toxins via air, food, and water on a daily basis, experts believe you can benefit from coffee enemas because they stimulate the liver to rid your body of these accumulated pollutants and waste matter. Coffee enemas may likely work by stimulating your gallbladder and liver to increase bile flow, which signals the liver to detoxify your body.
Herbal enemas help heal and cleanse your body. The herbal tea compounds in an herbal enema are thought to be absorbed by the intestinal wall, passing directly into the blood for healing benefits. Some herbs that are used in enemas include teas made from chamomile, red raspberry leaf, and burdock root. Chamomile is a calming herb that is often used in enemas to decrease intestinal spasms and cramps. Chamomile enemas are also said to help reduce pain and swelling associated with hemorrhoids.
Probiotic enemas can help with gut inflammation. Enemas with added probiotics can help good bacteria to repopulate in your colon. Studies show a relationship between a healthy gut biome and good brain health due to the gut-brain connection. A clinical trial showed that 31% of children aged 6–18 with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis who were administered probiotic enemas were in clinical remission at the end of the eight-week trial. None of the children in the placebo group were in remission at the close of the clinical trial.
Precautions with Enemas
Be sure to use purified (chlorine-free) water for your enema. Enemas may occasionally cause electrolyte and bacterial imbalances which could lead to dehydration, so be sure that you follow proper directions and don’t overdue the use of enemas. Heat the enema solution to a comfortable temperature (so it is warm, not hot, or between 94 – 104° F). A rectal burn can occur if the solution is too hot before introducing it into the rectum. Although not common, a bowel perforation can occur due to improper insertion techniques of the tubing. Overall, enemas can be an excellent adjunct to support good bowel health.
Resources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04939.x
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-019-0380-x
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/enema-benefits#bottom-line
https://blog.daveasprey.com/enema-solutions-cleanse-detox-recipes/
https://www.healthline.com/health/coffee-enema#takeaway
https://www.drlindai.com/detox.html
https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/enemas/
