Esmarch’s irrigator

The health of a person is greatly influenced by the state of his intestines. For its forced cleansing, a procedure used to relieve constipation or clean the digestive tract is used. This manipulation is carried out using a special device – Esmarch’s mug. The device was invented by Friedrich Esmarch (a German surgeon) over 200 years ago. Since then, its appearance has changed little, although its manufacture using new, modern materials has made its own adjustments. The technique has been used since ancient Egyptian times to relieve a range of ailments from fevers to intestinal parasites.

In a medical procedure called an enema, fluid is put into the rectum to remove waste from the colon. The main advantage of the Esmarch mug over a conventional enema is the presence of an open neck for filling the container with a medicinal composition, the tightness of the product, and the ease of use of the device, which belongs to the category of reusable medical products. Doctors generally recommend the use of an enema before elective surgery or for diagnostic procedures such as colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and abdominal ultrasound. In modern clinical practice, the procedure is also used for the introduction of nutrients after severe intoxication and detoxification of the body.

To date, there are no clear conclusions about the health benefits of the procedure, it is believed that the regular use of enemas is not necessary and that this procedure carries great risks. Despite the seeming simplicity and the possibility of carrying it out on your own at home without the help of a medical worker, it is still a third-party intervention in the work of the body. So, for its implementation, certain indications, consultations with a specialist, doctor’s prescriptions are needed. Failure to comply with the methodology, the introduction into the body of unnecessary or even harmful substances can lead to very sad consequences.

So before you decide if an enema is right for you, read about some of the possible benefits and risks of enema.

What is Esmarch’s mug and the procedure for the procedure

During the time that has passed since the invention, the device of Esmarch’s mug has not changed. It consists of three elements: the mug itself, that is, the container, a soft tube about 1,5 m long, a tip with a clip, a loop or a small faucet. The container can be rubber or silicone, of different sizes. A pre-prepared liquid is poured into the mug, the composition of which may vary depending on the goals pursued. The solution should be warm, as too hot liquid will begin to be absorbed immediately, and cold liquid can cause intestinal cramps and other discomfort. After preparing the site of the manipulation, selecting the tip and collecting the device, the prepared solution is carefully poured into the container of the Esmarch mug, making sure that no air remains in the tube. Then the tip is lubricated with petroleum jelly, the patient is placed on the couch on its side with the leg bent to the stomach, the anus is lubricated with gel (cream, petroleum jelly) and the buttocks are spread apart, the tip is gently inserted no more than 7-8 cm and the buttocks are squeezed, holding the tip, so so that the liquid enters the intestine slowly, after the introduction of the required amount of liquid, the tip is smoothly removed, continuing to squeeze the buttocks.

After holding the liquid for several minutes, users expel it along with the contents of the colon.

According to research, enemas are recommended by doctors as a last resort for constipation after laxatives and high-fiber foods fail to provide relief.

Pros and Cons of the procedure

The cleansing effect of the enema is not scientifically based and is the subject of debate, although many adherents of the cleansing qualities of the procedure remain. For example, there is a claim that a coffee enema can increase energy levels, improve mental performance and mood, and help with depression and sluggishness. In addition to the benefits of the enema is the fact that it promotes weight loss by removing excess undigested waste from the colon.

Despite the benefits, this procedure is not without its own risks, especially when performed at home and without professional supervision. For example, enemas can sometimes lead to a number of unpleasant side effects, such as:

• nausea;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• leaching of beneficial intestinal microflora;
• damage to internal organs.

In addition, the manipulation itself can damage the rectum and other internal organs. While a single-use enema is unlikely to cause much harm, frequent treatments increase the risk of interfering with the body’s natural absorption of nutrients.

Some people may become addicted to the procedure and have to deal with “lazy bowel syndrome” in the future. Regular use of an enema can also lead to a condition called hyponatremia, or water poisoning, which is an electrolyte imbalance.

The use of Esmarch’s mug in alternative medicine

Alternative medicine often emphasizes the importance of detox for optimal health and comfort.

Detoxification is any procedure in which harmful toxins are removed from the body, and an enema is just one of these options.

Unfortunately, it is not a fact that these dangerous substances that must be excreted from the body accumulate. In addition, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that all disease states are the result of the accumulation of toxins, and it has not been proven that procedures such as colon cleansing will help flush the body. For various reasons, the Esmarch cup procedure for the purpose of colon cleansing remains a subject of criticism in the scientific community.

The use of enemas in alternative medicine to stimulate the intestines has been known since ancient Egyptian times. The first clinical use was first recorded in a 16th century BC medical text. called Papyrus Ebers. Esmarch’s mugs have been recognized in the Western world as a medicine after the discovery that microbes cause infections.

The idea that waste in the colon leads to disease throughout the body was developed sometime in the mid-1880s by James Wharton, a professor of medical history. This happened when bacteriologists discovered that intestinal bacteria convert protein residues in feces into toxic compounds. It was believed that they enter the bloodstream and lead to dangerous diseases. As a result of these assumptions, the theory of self-poisoning from one’s own intestines has arisen, and it is believed that colon cleansing is a medicinal method.

Researchers today have a different understanding of how the human body works, and it is now believed that the so-called “toxins” in our intestines are not the cause of disease. However, it has been clinically proven that enemas can be helpful in some cases, such as:

• with constipation;
• with prostatitis;
• in the absence of a reaction to a laxative;
• with a long absence of emptying (a week or more);
• with colonoscopy.

Enemas can relieve constipation if the bowel does not respond to laxatives and other treatments. Esmarch’s mug is also used before the colonoscopy procedure.

Manipulation is performed by injecting a saline solution into the colon through the rectum using a device for that specific purpose. This type of enema was previously prescribed to women before childbirth, but today doctors do not consider it necessary.

Despite all the shortcomings, there are cases in medical practice when enemas can really help, for example, with constipation or before various procedures. Esmarch’s mug helps to remove waste from the body, but this does not mean that the intestines are inherently dirty.

Medical experts agree that the gut is a self-cleansing organ, whose health depends on the balance of bacteria and fungi naturally present in the colon.

A cleanse can actually eliminate some of the good bacteria from the colon and disrupt normal digestion and fermentation of undigested food.

Why is Esmarch’s mug dangerous?

An enema usually does not cause any problems when properly performed by a doctor. However, in rare cases, they can be dangerous. A systematic review published by the American Family Physician found that some studies reported dangerous complications from enema, namely:

• electrolyte imbalance;
• septicemia;
• intestinal ruptures.

While alternative medicine promotes the Esmarch Cup as a way to detoxify the body and cleanse the colon of harmful chemicals, the scientific community has a very different take on enemas.

In the clinical setting, they are mostly used when absolutely necessary, and researchers believe that a healthy gut is a self-cleansing system that regulates the balance of bacteria on its own.

The use of enemas should be carried out with strict adherence to the doctor’s recommendations, you should not apply the procedure for more than 7-10 days in a row, do not “experiment” with the injected solutions, then you can significantly reduce the likelihood of complications.

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