To give an enema means you are injecting fluid into the rectum. The fluid consists of pure warm (about 103 degrees Fahrenheit), water to which baking soda or salt can be added to make it isotonic. The amount of water is designed to gently and painlessly fill up the colon. This amount varies from person to person and should not be decided upon before treating the patient. An enema is used to treat constipation and should be used only as a last resort. Some people give an enema as a preventative measure to rid the colon of toxins.

You should not be embarrassed when talking about enemas. This is a great method to relieve constipation. The enema solution is placed in the rectum and then released and the person usually has a complete relief of constipation. This procedure does a good bowel cleaning. An enema should be painless for the person. To give an enema you must follow certain guidelines.

Giving someone an enema first requires figuring out what supplies are needed. An enema bag and a preferred solution are the common supplies required in the process. A popular choice is to make the enema solution personally. However there are premixed solutions available for purchase. With the solution ready, have the person receiving the enema lie on a level surface, bending his right leg at the knee. This position allows the person more comfort during the procedure. This will also ease the overall process.

After this, the enema bag needs to be gently positioned inside the anus. Since this may not be comfortable for some people, it is advisable to lubricate prior to inserting the tube. Once the tube has been inserted into the anus' entrance, the enema solution can be poured slowly into the colon. Breathing deeply at this point can help to alleviate any of the accumulated anxieties from the experience.

A common unwanted symptom after receiving an enema is dull cramps. When the cramps begin, the patient can decrease the discomfort by slowing down the introduction of the solution into the anus. Once the solution bag is depleted, the bag and tube should be removed. For the most effective results the patient should wait five minutes before releasing the solution.

If your physician suggests a barium enema, it is nothing to be concerned about. Barium is a cream colored liquid which makes abnormalities visible during the x-ray procedure. The substance is introduced into the large intestine through tubing in a procedure much like the "regular" enema.