Here is a step-by-step guide to administering an enema at home:
What you’ll need:
- A couple of large, old towels
- A pillow
- A teaspoon of organic almond oil, olive oil, or coconut oil for lubrication
- 2 litres of filtered water at body temperature
- A clean enema kit
- A relaxing essential oil (we love lavender)
- A book or magazine — it’ll come in handy!
Plan ahead
Find a warm, comfortable place to perform your enema, such as a private bathroom with a sunny window or heater. There should be a place for your enema bag to hang from (it should be about 2-3 feet above the floor).
Make sure your resting area is close to the bathroom, if not in it. Once you perform the enema, you may only have a few seconds until the body decides it needs to evacuate. If this happens and you’re not near a toilet, you’re in for some trouble!
Assemble the enema kit
Your enema kit comes with;
- A bag for the liquid
- A hook to hang the bag up
- A hose
- A plug
- A rectal tip
Set up your enema bag:
Rinse your enema bag with warm tap water before using for the first time. Attach the hook to the bottom of the bag (this is important as it is how the bag hangs). Fill bag with the 2 litres of body temp water (must be filtered). Screw in plug and connect tube to plug (keep water bottle upright so water doesn’t spill out into tube yet) thread on the clamp to the tube and keep it toward the lower end of the tube. Connect the rectal piece to the tube and holding the rectal tube upwards so water doesn’t spill out. Turn enema bag up side down and hang hook on door handle or something that is approx. 1 meter above the ground.
How to administer a home enema
- Once the bag is in place (hanging on a door knob, towel rail etc) hold rectal tip over a drain (sink, toilet or bath) and open the clamp with one hand to allow water to flow out of the rectal tip. Once you get a flow of water, close clamp quickly to ensure you don’t loose much water. This allows for any air in the tube to be released before inserting into your rectum.
- Lay a towel on the floor next to your hanging enema bag, have the enema bag on one side of you. Ideally have it hanging on the right hand side of you so as you roll to your left you are rolling away from the bag. Have your oil (lubricant), essential oil and book/magazine at arms reach as you lay down, put your pillow under your head for comfort.
- Lubricate the rectal tip of your enema bag, ensure the clamp is closed firmly to avoid leaking.
- Roll to your side to insert the rectal tip into your anus. This should not hurt; the rectal tip is small but do not force or rush the insertion.
- Once tip is inserted into the rectum approx. 2 inches inside the body, roll back onto your back with the tube unobstructed (do not sit on or kink the tubing).
- Once you are comfortable unclip the clamp half way to begin the flow of water into the bowel, this stream will vary depending on how high you have hung your enema bag and how tight/loose your clamp is.
- If you feel any discomfort or urge to go, simply close the clamp and take a few deep breaths. I like to use some coconut oil and lavender oil on the abdomen to help gentle massage the water in the bowel and keep the smooth muscles relaxed. If you need to take a break and sit on the toilet, make sure you close the clamp on the tube before removing the rectal tip or else the water will continue to flow onto the floor of the bathroom. If this happens, don’t worry, It’s only water! It can take some practise to get the process smooth.
- Depending on how full / obstructed your bowel is will depend on how much water you can take internally. If you are feeling fine, continue to take the entire 2 litres of water into the bowel, close the clamp, remove the tube and lay still for 5-10 mins if comfortable, when you feel ready so and sit on the toilet to evacuate. If you have strong urges to go and need to take breaks to evacuate then your process will be a little more up and down on/off the toilet.
- Do not worry if you can only take part of the water, this is not a competition and your bowels capacity will change each time depending on faecal matter build up, gas pockets, tension in the intestinal tissue etc.
Cleaning up after your enema
Once you have finished, thoroughly disinfect the rectal tip, wash your bag out with tap water and store it somewhere to dry out. Do not use bleach or any harsh chemicals inside your enema bag. Depending on the solution you use for your enema, your cleaning protocol may vary. These bags are re-usable and can be taken on overseas trips if you find traveling difficult on your digestive system.
Using other liquid solutions in an enema bag
Other solutions that can be used in an enema include; Himalayan sea salt, coffee, probiotics, bone broth, ACV and Bi-carb soda. Please seek advise from a health care professional before trying alternative solutions to water.
Written By: Nicola Johnson
Owner of pH Clinic, Certified Advanced Colon Hydrotherapist, GAPS Practitioner and Yoga Teacher
