Intestinal Drainage
Sometimes, some of the temperature spikes occurring during a fever are not due to germs but are caused by the toxic wastes that are poisoning the body. Among these, intestinal wastes figure prominently.
The intestines consist of a tube about 18 feet long (the small intestine) and one that is 5 feet in length (the colon, or large intestine). The diameter of the intestines can vary between 1 and 3 inches. A large and varied quantity of matter can lie stagnant in the intestines. When daily eliminations do not occur, fermentation and putrefaction can easily result because of the heat and humidity that governs this region of the body. A large number of toxins can be produced this way, increasing the level of the body’s poisoned state. The efforts the body makes in its attempt to neutralize and eliminate these wastes will be added to those it is making to kill the germs. All this can lead to a rise in temperature.
In this situation, emptying the intestines with the aid of one of the enema methods described in this chapter will provide rapid relief to the body and a lowering of the fever. An enema consists of introducing water into the intestines so that the stools are liquefied, which facilitates their evacuation. The two methods described here, the rectal douche and the 1-quart enema are particularly easy and provide quick results. Both methods can be performed by the patient in privacy; no assistance is needed.
THE RECTAL DOUCHE
The rectal douche is the mildest type of enema. The amount of water injected into the anus fills only the bottom end of the colon: the rectal ampulla. The water is introduced with the help of a bulb-style enema syringe that contains a little over 1 cup of water (3 deciliters, to be precise).
The rectal douche allows rapid, easy introduction of water into the colon, water which, when expelled, creates a vacuum and draws down the fecal matter located higher in the intestines. The abrupt evacuation of the water and fecal matter that results triggers intestinal peristalsis, pushing the other matter out of the body.
Care should be taken to make sure the syringe is completely full of water in order to avoid the injection of any air. The water used should be at body temperature.
Perform this operation as follows: Inject the water into the anus with the enema syringe while standing up. Once the water has been injected, remove the cannula and sit down on the toilet. Do not try to hold the water in; it should come out all at once. The douche should be performed two or three times in a row. The water expelled will be clearer each time, showing that the colon has been partially cleansed of the wastes burdening it.
THE 1-QUART ENEMA
This enema fills the descending colon with water. The water that is introduced can flow by its own weight once you are seated on the toilet, which is not the case with enemas that use several quarts of water.
The materials necessary for this enema can be found in a complete enema kit, which can be purchased at a drugstore or any medical supply store. It includes a container for the water, a long rubber tube, and a cannula equipped with a faucet. Fill the container with water that has been warmed to body temperature and place it on a table or dresser. Thanks to the force provided by its own weight, the water will easily make its way into the intestines. The cannula should be placed in the anus with the faucet closed. Open the faucet only after getting down on all fours and leaning your head and torso forward to facilitate the water’s penetration.
Sometimes, to further facilitate this penetration, it may be necessary to change position to some degree or take deep breaths. If the water pressure becomes too strong or painful, the flow of liquid can be halted by closing the faucet.
Once all the water has been introduced into the colon, the cannula should be withdrawn. Either standing or sitting, hold the water for a period of five to ten minutes in order to liquefy the stools. Next, sit on the toilet and release this injected liquid along with all the matter that has dissolved into it.
Unlike the rectal douche, this procedure should be performed only once at a time. Once is enough to evacuate sufficient wastes to bring the patient relief.
Summary
Emptying the intestines is sometimes necessary during a fever in order to reduce the quantity of wastes the fever needs to burn.