Quality water for colon cleansing and enemas
The quality of Water for colon cleansing and enemas is very important.
When you first start using enemas and for your first enema in a series, it is best to use plain, filtered water. An irritated colon doesn't need to be further irritated with any other substance. Taking your first enema with just water will let you know whether or not your colon is irritated.
What kind of Water to use?
Tap water has a lot of chlorine in it. Chlorine can destroy some of the healthy bacteria that live in your colon. Repeated enemas with tap water can cause a lot of health problems over time. Use good quality bottled water or get yourself a water filter. Any water filter to start with is better than none. From the simple charcoal filter, to UV filter, to reverse osmosis system for your home, your choices are endless. Water filters can be (but don't have to be) expensive, so just look around and stick to your budget.
How much Water?
Every individual has his or her own capacity, and it will change from one enema to the next. The cleanliness of the colon and the amount of gas present will have a great effect on the volume of water that can be taken. Medical researchers have determined that the average adult human colon has a capacity of 6 litres. I believe that this measurement may have been made using colons removed from cadavers, who wouldn't complain about the pressure. Do not try to fill you colon with this amount of water.
Fifty or so years ago, most adult patients receiving barium enemas were given 3.5 litres of the barium solution and made to hold it during the X-ray procedure. At the same time, the enema bags sold in drugstores held 2 or 3.5 litres, and many people felt that they could not be properly cleaned out unless they took the full bag.
You may want to experiment by taking the largest enema that is comfortable then rolling from side to side very slowly and seeing if the water runs downhill to distend the lower side more. You probably will find that the lower part of the colon will be noticeably more swollen, indicating that it is your abdomen that is unable to expand to allow the colon to accept any more fluid.
If you have been suffering with constipation for a long time your bowel is already stretched. But to eliminate the chance of stretching the bowel, most physicians strictly limit the amount of water used to 2.5 litres. I recommend a maximum of 1.5 litres administered slowly to lessen cramping. Less is more in this case! Often a amount of 500ml is sufficient.
It’s important to remember that enemas should never hurt beyond some mild cramping. If you never use force to administer or retain your enema the threat of stretching the bowel is essentially eliminated.