enema and dirty water

[h90]

OK, that is a very stupid topic, but I read it in a book and can't stop thinking about it.

Story line of the book (fiction): People had only very dirty water and no way to heat it, so they drank their own urine, but that doesn't work infinity of course.

After they got rescued they got told that they could have used the dirty water for enema. The body there is able to resorb the water, but less likely to get an infection or get poison into the system.

It was of course just a story and might be complete nonsense. But I can't get it out of my mind....is that really a way to survive on dirty water?

I could stop buying bottled water and fill the tap water into my a....

[Tolley]

I have read that patients lives were saved by giving chicken soup enemas to people who couldn't keep food down for whatever reason.

[Langsuan Man]

Is this thread going to deteriorate like the one on coffee enemas did ?

[h90]

Is this thread going to deteriorate like the one on coffee enemas did ?

It is really interesting me, but yes very high risk for that.....Hope I don't run into problems with the mods for creating that thread

[h90]

I have read that patients lives were saved by giving chicken soup enemas to people who couldn't keep food down for whatever reason.

Interesting....

[outboard]

a quick google search suggests that in an emergency situation an enema can be used for re-hydration.

the large intestine functions to remove water from excreta in forming a solid stool, the liquid used for best effect would contain similar levels of sodium and chlorine as the body's natural balance (so slightly salty water).

How safe is it ?

Firstly the type of bacteria in the water could be a problem, a lot of contamination of water is due to faecal mater entering the water supply and as such you may be introducing an exotic bacteria into your body that can happily survive in your bowel and may find the environment conducive to its own mass production

Secondly any intrusion of the anus comes with some risk of damaging the very tender skin in that location and causing bleeding which provides direct entry to the blood stream.

Also there is many documented cases of the popular american pastime of taking their coffee up the arse (coffee enema) leading to many complications including death.

and finally it will drown your gerbil.