How often can you do enemas? Enemas: evidence, benefit and harm

We all imagine what an enema is: the benefits and harms of this procedure cause a lot of controversy and doubt. For some, this is a terrible word that reminds of unpleasant sensations and a painful condition;for others - the usual procedure, the conduct of which is not difficult and almost every day. Truth as usual in the middle. But basic information about cleaning the intestines, indications and contraindications for it, and also how often one can do enemas, everyone should know.

What do we know about enemas?

One and the same word - enema - denotes both the procedure for cleaning the intestines, and the medical instrument by which this purification is performed.

With the help of the same tool, a certain amount of liquid( from 100 ml to 2 liters) is introduced into the large intestine, which is determined individually depending on the purpose of the procedure. After the introduction of fluid, the intestine is completely emptied, thereby cleaning and eliminating toxins.

How often you can do enemas, the doctor determines individually for each patient. But without special evidence, the procedure can be carried out independently no more than twice a month.

What are the enemas?

At first glance, always the same procedure for cleaning the intestine can achieve completely different purposes. This also determines the technology and features of the enema.

The following types of procedures are most commonly used:

• Cleansing enema. This type of procedure is used for chronic constipation, as well as for urgent cleaning of the intestine, for example, before surgery or examination of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. It is to this type of enema resorted to poisoning for the purpose of detoxification, as well as those who want to lose weight. Cleansing enema is carried out boiled water, the temperature of which varies from 25 to 27 degrees. The volume of the infusion liquid can vary from 1 to 2 liters.
• Hot enema. A distinctive feature of this procedure is the temperature of the infusion liquid. It is much higher than body temperature and can reach as high as 42 degrees. A similar procedure can be prescribed for spastic constipation, and it should be performed better under the supervision of a medical professional.
• Cold enema. This type of procedure is aimed at activating the work of the intestine and is prescribed for atonic constipation. The water temperature for the enema in this case varies from 15 to 20 degrees.

What type of procedure is necessary, and with what frequency it should be carried out, can only tell the attending physician after the examination of the patient.

Indications for prescribing

At home, many do not wait for the appointment of a doctor and conduct a procedure for cleaning the bowel by enema alone. If this is an isolated case after poisoning or constipation due to unsuitable food - the enema will only bring relief. But when its independent application becomes systematic, it is necessary to consult a doctor to determine the cause of the problem and to eliminate it.

Only the doctor prescribes an enema: the benefits and harms of this procedure can be balanced, since this procedure serves only as a part of the complex treatment of intestinal problems.

Most often, the procedure for its cleaning can be included in the treatment of such diseases as chronic constipation of various origins, "lazy" intestines, constipation due to the taking of certain medications. Also, this method can be included in the course of cleaning the body during curative fasting.

How often it is possible to do enemas and what to do if the treatment turns out to be ineffective, the attending physician makes a reservation when prescribing a course of treatment.

How to carry out the procedure correctly?

The technique of holding an enema is not at all complicated, and it can be done at home independently, knowing some features.

Before preparing a cleansing enema, you need to prepare an infusion fluid. It is best to use boiled water at a comfortable temperature. If necessary, you can add a little potassium permanganate to get a light pink solution or a decoction of chamomile. The maximum allowable volume of liquid is 2 liters, but at home it is enough to use 1-1.5 liters.

The enema itself is a rubber container that resembles a heating pad, a rubber hose with a valve and a tip. All components of the enema should be clean and sterilized.

The person who needs to clean the intestines should take a comfortable position: the most successful is lying on the left side. The plastic tip of the rubber hose is smeared with vaseline or other neutral fat and gently inserted into the rectum. After that, the valve on the liquid supply hose opens.

If the fluid enters too quickly, causing unpleasant sensations, you can adjust its pressure, the rubber rubber hose.

After the entire volume of the enema is introduced, it is necessary to hold it in the intestine for 10-15 minutes, then empty it.

If the procedure is carried out correctly, then after it a person should feel lightness and comfort in the abdomen.

Enema for children: features of

Enema for children can be indicated in case of painful constipation or poisoning. Many women do not dare to do an enema on their own, afraid to harm the baby. If the mother is not confident in her abilities and doubts the ability to conduct the procedure correctly, it is better to entrust her to medical workers. Children's intestines are more tender, and it is much easier to injure him than an adult.

If the enema for children is carried out at home, it is important not to overdo it with the volume of the infusion liquid. It is calculated individually, based on the age of the small patient. For the youngest, it is better to use rubber pears: they allow you to quickly enter an accurately calculated small volume of liquid.

In the case of treatment of children, it is important not to abuse self-medication and, at the slightest sign of impairment, urgently seek qualified help.

Frequency is important!

No wonder many people who have problems with the intestines are concerned with the question: how often can you do enemas? The fact is that an excessive fascination with this seemingly innocuous procedure can lead not only to aggravation of the existing problem, but also to cause the development of new diseases.

Without prejudice to the microflora and intestinal motility, an enema can be performed every 2 weeks.

Using the scheme of medical starvation, diet or methods of cleaning the body, it is important to remember that the enema can not be used every day. The minimum allowed interval between procedures is 24 hours. The maximum rate is 7-10 days. Choosing for yourself a similar technique, it is not superfluous to consult a doctor, whether it is possible to specifically apply to you in such an amount of enema: the therapist can determine the indications and contraindications of this procedure by the results of the survey.

What happens if you abuse it?

For people who suffer from chronic constipation, the use of enema is not often the only way to empty the intestines. And a person can fall into some kind of dependence - you do not need to change anything and treat, once in two or three days you can make an enema, and the problem is solved.

But this approach triggers a cyclic mechanism: the intestine is gradually "unlearned" to work, evacuation becomes more and more difficult, and without enema again can not do.

Therefore, if the need for an enema occurs more than twice a month, it is worth immediately visiting a specialist. He will prescribe a corrective diet, mild laxatives and additional examinations. Enema is not a cure, it's a temporary remedy.

In addition, frequent interventions in the intestine disturbs its natural microflora. The balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria varies, which can lead to the development of intestinal diseases of varying severity. And it is very difficult to restore this balance, and it takes a lot of time and money.

Therefore, it is so important to observe the frequency and rules of the procedure for cleaning the intestines. Do not abuse enemas, it is better to pay more attention to their diet, drinking regimen and motor activity, and then you will forget about the enema for many years!