This rectal bulb syringe may be used to administer small enemas.

This 2qt (about 2 liters) enema bag, or "fountain syringe", equipped with a rectal nozzle, is to be filled with water or a solution, then suspended near the patient using the hook. Then, the nozzle (shown equipped) is inserted into the anus and the clamp is released. This bag may also be used for vaginal douches.

An enema (plural enemata or enemas) is the procedure of introducing liquids into the bowel via the anus. Enemas can be carried out for medical reasons, as part of alternative therapies, and also for erotic purposes, particularly as part of BDSM activities. In earlier times, they were often known as clysters. Download high resolution version (948x716, 61 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (948x716, 61 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1500x1112, 176 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1500x1112, 176 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A vaginal bulb syringe. ... The intestine is the portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine. ... Male Anatomy The anus, in anatomy, is the external opening of the rectum. ... Eroticism is an aesthetic focused on sexual desire, especially the feelings of anticipation of sexual activity. ... A collar is a common symbol of BDSM. BDSM is a term which describes a number of related patterns of human sexual behaviour. ... Categories: Stub ...

Medical usage

The three main usages of enemas are:

• (Mechanical) laxative effect; the patient expels excrements with the enema water in the toilet after administration. Enemas (known as clysters) were the primary method for alleviating stomach aches up to the 19th century in the Western world bourgeoisie and nobility. They may also be used for cleaning the lower bowel prior to a medical or surgical procedure. Enemas given for that purpose may consist only of plain water, or may contain some chemicals in solution (such as soap).

• The administration of substances into the bloodstream in a manner similar to that of suppositories. An enema may also be used for hydration purposes. See also route of administration.

• A barium enema is used as a contrast substance in the radiological imaging of the bowel.

Enemas are nowadays administered mostly with bulb syringes for small quantities or fountain syringes (bags, similar to douche bags, and often dual-usage, or rigid recipients) for larger quantities. In former times, they were administered using clyster syringes. The word mechanical can mean one of several things: A device or principle described as mechanical relates to a mechanism or machine, or the realm of Newtonian mechanics. ... A laxative is a preparation used for the purpose of encouraging defecation, or the elimination of feces. ... Feces (also spelled faeces or fæces) are the waste products from the digestive tract expelled through the anus during defecation. ... Flush toilet A toilet is a plumbing fixture devised for the disposal of bodily wastes, including urine, feces, penis, semen and vomit. ... Categories: Stub ... Stomach ache is a non-medical term used to describe various forms of nausea or abdominal pain. ... The term Western world can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ... This article is about a common cleaning mixture. ... A suppository is a medicine that is inserted either into the rectum (rectal suppository) or into the vagina (vaginal suppository) where it melts. ... In chemistry, hydration is the condition of being combined with water. ... In pharmacology and toxicology, a route of administration is the path by which a drug, fluid, poison or other substance is brought into contact with the body 1. ... A barium enema, also called a lower gastrointestinal series, is a medical procedure used to examine and dignose problems with the human large intestines. ... An X-ray picture (radiograph) taken by Röntgen An X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range of 10 nanometers to 100 picometers (corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 PHz to 60 EHz). ... A vaginal bulb syringe. ... Categories: Stub ...

A French engraving, ca 1780 shows the long-standing prurient interest in the clyster

Except for the barium enema, enemas are now rare in mainstream medical therapy. They are sometimes used for relieving acute constipation, or for applying topical anti-inflammatories in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. French engraving of a clister, ca. ... French engraving of a clister, ca. ... Categories: Stub ... In medicine, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine and, in some cases, the small intestine. ...

In certain countries such as the United States, enema usage went well into the 20th century; it was thought a good idea to cleanse the bowel in case of fever; also, pregnant women were given enemas prior to labor so as to reduce the risk of feces being passed during contractions as well as inducing contractions. This latter usage has since been largely abandoned, in part because the health benefits are unclear and because women generally found the procedure unpleasant. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Fever, also known as pyrexia, is a medical symptom which describes an increase in temperature to levels which are above normal (37 degrees Celsius, 98. ... Faeces or fæces (American spelling: feces) are semi-solid waste products from an animal digestive tract expelled through the anus (or cloaca) during defecation. ...

Non-medical usage

The paraphilia directed towards enemas is known as klismaphilia. Enemas are available as a service from many practitioners in the sex industry to cater to klismaphiliac desires, and may be used as part of BDSM activities. Paraphilia (in Greek para παρά = over and -philia φιλία = friendship) is a mental health term recently used to indicate sexual arousal in response to sexual objects or situations which may interfere with the capacity for reciprocal affectionate sexual activity. ... Klismaphilia is the paraphilia of deriving sexual pleasure from enemas. ... The sex industry is the industry formed of commercial enterprises which employ sex workers. ... A collar is a common symbol of BDSM. BDSM is a term which describes a number of related patterns of human sexual behaviour. ...

A small enema may be taken prior to anal sex in order to remove feces. Roman men having anal sex. ... Faeces or fæces (American spelling: feces) are semi-solid waste products from an animal digestive tract expelled through the anus (or cloaca) during defecation. ...

Colonic irrigation

Colonic irrigation or colon hydrotherapy is a large enema which cleanses the whole colon. It was in vogue for hygienic purposes at the beginning of the 20th century (see John Harvey Kellogg) and remains popular as an alternative health therapy in most parts of the world. Advocates believe that, when carried out by trained personnel using sterile equipment, it can be a safe and valuable tool for eliminating toxins from the body and restoring normal muscular activity in the colon. In anatomy of the digestive system, the colon or large intestine is the part of the intestine from the cecum to the rectum. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943) Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (February 26, 1852 – December 14, 1943) was a medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas and exercise. ... A toxin, in a scientific context, is a biologically produced substance that causes injury to the health of a living thing on contact or absorption, typically by interacting with biological macromolecules such as enzymes and receptors. ...

Ritual use

Ritual enemas were practiced by the Maya and many other Central American and South American Indian tribes; some tribes have continued the practice to the present day. Substances used in the enemas include alcohol, tobacco, peyote, and hallucinogenic drugs. While the precise nature of the substances used by the Maya are unknown except from pictures of pots bubbling liquids, it is presumed these contained alcohol or other drugs. The word Maya or maya can refer to: The Maya – a Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America the modern Maya people the pre-Columbian Maya civilization the Maya language Maya – a concept in Hindu/Vedic philosophy a state of misperception of reality the inherent force of... Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... In general usage, alcohol (from Arabic al-khwl الكحول, or al-ghawl الغول) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage). ... Species N. glauca N. longiflora N. rustica N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of 2002-08-28 Tobacco () is a broad-leafed plant of the nightshade family, indigenous to North and South America, whose dried and cured leaves are often smoked (see tobacco smoking) in the form of... Binomial name Lophophora williamsii Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small spineless cactus whose native region extends from the southwestern United States (including the states of Texas and New Mexico) through central Mexico. ... Hallucinogenic drugs or hallucinogens are drugs that can alter sensory perceptions, elicit alternate states of consciousness, or cause hallucinations. ...

References and further reading

• M. R. Strict, Intimate Invasion: The Erotic Ins & Outs of Enema Play, Greenery Press, 2004. ISBN 1890159514.