Milk and Molasses Enema

[medicrnohio]

The other night at work I had an order to give a patient a milk and molasses enema. Having never done this before and only heard in nursing school that they used to be given I asked the other nurses about it. No one had really ever given one. The nursing supervisor said they worked great but couldn't tell me why. So here is my question...why and how do they work?

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Brings back old memories.......

renerian

[suebird3]

tencat said:

Hmmm.........It sure makes me look at molasses in a different light.......and all this time I thought a Brown Cow was a drink you could get in a 50's diner....

Not exactly something I would consider while doing the enema. I am sure it beats the "3 H" enema, anyday.

[medicrnohio, RN]

Thanks for all your replies. I was a little hesitant about giving this enema at first because I had only heard of it in nursing school. But the nursing supervisor who has been a nurse for 30+ years said it would be fine and very effective. It was definitely effective!!!! I had to laugh though because the recipe they gave me said 'Mix in enema bag and serve.'

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

AAHhhhhhhhhhhhhh relief! Another brown cow success story!

[MamaTheNurse, BSN, RN]

I haven't given one since Moses wore short pants but they did/do work great and before the poop smell started, the warm milk and molasses mixture used to make the whole unit smell like my grandma's molasses cookies baking in the oven - yum!!!

[grannynurse FNP student]

MamaTheNurse said:

I haven't given one since Moses wore short pants but they did/do work great and before the poop smell started, the warm milk and molasses mixture used to make the whole unit smell like my grandma's molasses cookies baking in the oven - yum!!!

I remember giving my first one, in 1964, at Brooklyn Staate Hospital, where i went to school. I thought they had gone out of use.

Grannynurse

[Mississippi_RN]

Mommy2Katiebaby said:

I dunno about "evidence based," but if you ever give one you will see the evidence, rely upon it. And the major side effect of lactose intolerance / milk allergy is... diarrhea, not anaphylaxis. And enemas rarely need to be sterile, as the lower GI tract certainly is NOT.

That...and some of the prescribed enemas, like Fleet's, can cause imbalance in fluid and electrolytes in really sensitive patients (like Renal/Dialysis patients). I had a Nephrologist tell the staff last week about a woman who was a bad renal patient who died after recieving Fleet's enema... too much phosphorus for her...

[Stardaisy82]

As a nursing student, I observed my instructor give a M&M enema last semester, She told us it was used because of the high conc. of sugar in the mixture that was the trick to pull everything down and out!

[hollyster]

suzanne4 said:

This has been used for probably more than 100 years, it has been around at least since my grandmother was a little girl.

This was used before any of these companies made the newer things........plus it is 100% natural..........

If it been used for more than 100 years and is still used. I would call it evidence based.:chuckle

[Monica RN,BSN]

Wondered if warm milk and molasses mixed and drank instead of given anally could be just as effective???

[sammybabie]

Hello

I have given this type of enema in the UK in the early 90's. Where it is know as warm milk and black treacle. Remember it as being most effective.

Sammy

[jsteine1]

MamaTheNurse said:

I haven't given one since Moses wore short pants but they did/do work great and before the poop smell started, the warm milk and molasses mixture used to make the whole unit smell like my grandma's molasses cookies baking in the oven - yum!!!

I'm an oldie but goodie, but never heard of this one! Whatever works!