Enema

Enema is feared by most people, but it is the most innocent and least harmful of all forms of purgation. One - two litres of water at body temperature is introduced through the anus buy the help of a nozzle. The water reaches the lower portion of the colon. This water is retained for 2/3 minutes and then expelled out mechanically along with the retained wastes.

There is controversy about the use of enema. A few recommend enema every day of the fast. Some favour only sparse use of enema and some do not recommend it at all. People who advocate enema every day, feel that the morbid matter which had reached the rectum and descending colon should not be allowed to be stored there, as it might get reabsorbed by the circulating blood. This is not true. From colon and rectum only the water is absorbed.

1. It is drain on the patient’s vitality.
   
   
   
2. It causes the removal and washing away of the matter which normally protects the lining of the colon.
   
   
   
3. It can snap tiny muscles of the intestinal wall which could lead to its becoming weak. Later this could be the cause of constipation.
   
   
   
4. Doctors have noticed that bowel action is restored more rapidly after the fast when enema is not used.

All however are agreed that enema should be given when the following conditions are present:

1. When the faecal matter has become too hard.
   
   
   
2. Or when patients with haemorrhoids find that a hard faecal plug has formed.

These conditions also can be prevented if the patients are kept a few days on boiled vegetables and fruits before fasting starts. Tonic enema can safely be used and does not produce any of the above harmful effects.

Here one half pound of water at a little lower than body temperature is introduced through the anus by the help of a nozzle. Water should be retained for 10-15 minutes and then the bowels are moved. It could be relevant to mention the experiment carried out by Dr. James McEachen in a sanatorium in Escondido near California, U.S.A He gave fasting treatment to 710 persons form August 1952 to March 1958 and his findings may be enumerated:

• After fasting, 394 showed great improvement.
  
• 260 were moderately benefited.
  
• 60 showed no improvement.
  
• The average percentage of improved or remedied was 83.4.

At Arogya Mandir, Gorakhpur (U.P), under my supervision, we carried out experiments on 1189 fasting persons between April 1970 to November 1974. Fast were from three days to three weeks and in few cases lasted up to five weeks. Our results were encouraging:

No. of cases of complete recovery: 69.67%
No. of cases that showed improvement: 26.99%
Cases where fasting could not help: 3.33%

We met with a few drawbacks while collecting the data:

• The patient did not stay long enough.
  
  
  
• The patient did not co-operate due to emotional stress.
  
  
  
• The patient could not be contacted after leaving the hospital.
  
  
  
• The benefit which accrued much after the fast could not be recorded.