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Enemas
This page is designed to inform you on the steps to doing an enema, what you need to perform it, clean up, tips, tricks, and more.
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This page is designed to inform you on the steps to doing an enema, what you need to perform it, clean up, tips, tricks, and more.
Coffee Enema Guide
Before You Start
– Wait 45-90 minutes after meals (Recommended but not mandatory).
– Check the temperature of the coffee enema liquid (98-100°F) and use warm or cold water to achieve it
**Administering the Enema**
* Use 4 ounces of coffee concentrate and 16 ounces of water for a 16-ounce enema, or 8 ounces of coffee concentrate and 32 ounces of water for a 32-ounce enema
* Add hot and cold filtered water to achieve desired temperature
* Create a clean area with a brown towel and disposable pad
* Try to have a bowel movement before the enema
**Inserting the Enema**
* Attach the plastic hose to the enema bucket and close the clamp
* Fill the enema bucket with coffee and expel any air from the tube
* Apply Apothicare No-Petro to the last 2 inches of the tube
* Insert the tube into the rectum about 4-6 inches
* Open the clamp and allow the coffee to enter slowly
**Retaining the Enema**
* Lay on your right side for 15 minutes to retain the coffee
* When ready to evacuate, walk to the toilet and release the coffee
**Tips and Reminders**
* Go slowly and avoid spasms and discomfort
* You may need to adjust your position during the enema
* Most people prefer lying on their right side during the introduction of coffee
Remember to stay calm, patient, and gentle when performing a coffee enema.
With the clamp closed, place the enema bucket on the floor next to you (more experienced people or those with special needs may prefer (or need) to place the bucket on the edge of the tub or hang the bucket about 16-18 inches above the abdomen.)
Insert the lubricated tip gently and slowly into the rectum. Move it inward about 5-8 inches.
To start the introduction of coffee into the rectum
Go slowly! At first it will often take 3-4 small introductions of coffee (with calming periods in-between) to “take an enema” completely – this may take 10 minutes.
MOST IMPORTANT is to allow coffee to enter slowly after opening the clamping valve
The coffee liquid may take a few seconds to begin flowing. If the liquid does not flow, you may gently squeeze the line or reposition it.
Depending on your “set-up” make sure that the coffee does not enter too quickly:
Pinch the tubing to regulate the flow
Simply raise the bucket up and down from the floor to use gravity to regulate the flow of coffee.
When there is a strong sensation or “cramp” in the rectum after “fast introduction”
Stop the flow
Try to relax and BREATH; distract yourself until your body relaxes
The body will relax quickly (after 10-30 seconds) and then when you feel relaxed again introduce a bit more coffee.
After Introducing All The Coffee
Remove the tubing carefully (sometimes there is coffee still in the line)
Start the CLOCK … try to relax: read, practice breathing and/or Mind/Body exercises
Often laying on the right side is comfortable (although you may be more comfortable in another position – the point is to retain the coffee, not “clean us out”). Interestingly many feel most comfortable with one or both legs on/up the wall. Some people are able to get up and go lie on a towel in bed, instead of on the floor. Walking around with the coffee inside is not recommended however, though some are successful.
If you HOLD for 15 minutes we call you an “Olympian” though do the best you can. About 10-12 minutes would be a great goal, although this is not necessary all the time, and generally not possible when we are starting out.
When you are ready to evacuate, sit to the toilet and release the coffee. Commonly, there will be “secondary releases” that often contain more stool after the initial release. These often occur 30 seconds to 3 minutes after the initial release. Occasionally, less fluid will be released than at other times often signaling dehydration. If there are cramps/discomfort and inability to release the enema (“clutching”) then see Enema Tricks And Hints in this section for solutions.
Enema Bucket
Rinse the enema bucket and tube thoroughly with water (NO SOAP). Please be sure to allow HOT water to thoroughly rinse from the bucket out though the tubing.
Spray the external and internal bucket as well as the tubing with diluted H202 (hydrogen peroxide).
Evening only (Cleaning after the last enema of the day) — AFTER rinsing as above please, in addition, pour about 1oz. H202 directly into the bucket and making sure it drains completely through the tubing to sterilize the bucket and tubing. Then let the enema bucket air dry each evening.
Deep Cleaning: Lugol’s solution 3 drops in 1-2 cups of water. Let set in bucket 10 minutes then rinse with clean water.
Castor Oil Enemas: Rinse with hot soapy water and wipe down with paper towel to remove oily residue. Note: Most people will have a Coffee enema bucket and a castor oil enema bucket as it is difficult to remove all the castor oil inside the bucket.
Soiled Items
Into SEPARATE plastic bags place all soiled TOWELS and in a second plastic bag place all DISPOSABLE ITEMS
USE PLASTIC BAGS for disposing of paper products (under pads and other clean-up items including baby wipes, flushable wipes, and additional amounts of toilet paper).
Remember, you will do best if you have a bowel movement before doing the coffee enema.
If intestinal gas is a problem, some mild exercise like walking before the enema may eliminate the gas.
It is not essential but is helpful if the coffee liquid fills the entire colon. You can assist by first lying on your right side for 5 minutes, then on your back for 5 minutes, and then on your left side for 5 minutes.
If liquid will not flow around the entire colon, you may gently massage your abdomen.
If the enema makes you jittery, reduce the amount of coffee.
Coffee enemas can lower blood sugar in some people. If you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, please talk to a healthcare provider, as it may be a good idea to eat something just before or after taking the enema.
If you feel out of sorts or a little bloated after the enema you can rub the top of the toes of both feet, but particularly the bottom of the left foot. These are reflexology points which can be helpful by massaging or rubbing your feet. You can also rub the entire foot, especially any part that is tender.
Trouble holding the enema:
Be patient. Practice makes perfect.
The liquid may be too hot or too cold. Be sure the water temperature is comfortable. (1 or 2 degrees above your body temperature). Use the candy thermometer or finger test to check the temperature of the solution.
Lying on the right side allows gravity to assist the coffee’s flow past the descending colon. This often allows the colon to more easily fill and thus not stretch any one area excessively (causing spasms and the need to evacuate).
If the liquid won’t flow:
Try stirring the coffee liquid remaining in the enema bucket with a spoon or chopstick as small coffee grounds could be clogging the little hole where the outflow tube is attached.
If you can’t release the coffee enema liquid – “clutching”:
Try rubbing your back at the lower ribs on either side of your spine (over your kidney area) – you can use a tennis ball while lying on the ground or sometimes even sitting in a chair; also pressure applied from a clasped hand or fist can do the trick.
Another technique that may help is using trigger points. These points are often sensitive to the touch initially and interestingly have a reflex nervous system connection to the digestive tract and rectum in particular. Try to find and massage tender spots on your cheeks, behind your knees, or on the muscle just below the elbow.
Intestinal Spasms and Cramping
These symptoms, which can be uncomfortable at times, are often caused by too much fluid or a few other reasons. If it becomes difficult to instill the full amount of the coffee liquid or it is difficult to hold the enema the full 12-15 minutes or on the other hand. Following is a list of possible remedies which have proved useful to patients:
Review your Technique
Be sure that the tip of the enema tube is inserted 3 to 4 inches past the anal sphincter. Do not try to force the tube into the colon. The temperature of the enema solution must be around body temperature. Don’t raise the enema bucket too high. If the flow is too rapid it can set up spasms. About 16 -18 inches is the correct bucket height. Even at that height, spasms can occur. If so, immediately lower the bucket to allow the flow to back up a few inches into the tube to relieve the pressure. After 20 to 30 seconds slowly start raising the bucket toward the original level. The flow can also be controlled by pinching the tube with your fingers or adjusting the plastic clamp to a partially closed position. It may take some time to get the enema completely instilled, but this is acceptable.
Lower the Dosage
This can be accomplished by either using less coffee concentrate in each enema, or by using only part of a prepared coffee enema liquid. Please consult with a healthcare provider.
Heat Over Abdomen
This can be applied by a hot water bottle. Mild heat has a calming effect on the irritated, hyperactive intestinal tract.
Add Potassium Compound To The Enema
Potassium compound solution helps relieve spasms by supplying potassium to the depleted intestinal tract. It can also help to promote bile flow when given rectally. This solution is the same as that used in the juices. The dosage is 2 Tbsp. in each enema. Procedure should be discontinued after 2-3 days.
Back-To-Back Enemas
Back-to-Back enemas are helpful when an enema is “clutched” (not quickly and easily released upon sitting down on the toilet).
1st OPTION — First try just with diluted coffee: introduce 8-16 ounces of coffee and then get up directly and release into toilet WITHOUT HOLDING COFFEE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. Then introduce 8-16 ounces and retain for 12-20 minutes and then evacuate in toilet. If this does not allow for easy release please follow step 2 with your NEXT coffee enema.
2nd OPTION – Same idea as Option 1 except please add solution of potassium compound (2 TBLS) to the second enema to promote effectiveness. So first use diluted coffee: introduce 8-16 ounces of coffee and then get up directly and release into toilet WITHOUT HOLDING COFFEE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. Then introduce 8-16 ounces diluted coffee with the potassium compound and retain for 12-20 minutes and then evacuate in toilet. If this does not allow for easy release go to STEP 3 with your NEXT coffee enema.
3rd OPTION – Same idea as Option 1 & 2 except please add 3% hydrogen peroxide (1-2 tsp) to the second enema to promote effectiveness. So first use diluted coffee: introduce 8-16 ounces of coffee and then get up directly and release into toilet WITHOUT HOLDING COFFEE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. Then introduce 8-16 ounces diluted coffee with the 3% hydrogen peroxide and retain for 12-20 minutes and then evacuate in toilet.
