Sneha Vasty

An oil enema is the insertion of a small volume of unctuous substance into the rectum. Oil enemas, otherwise known as sneha vasti are commonly used in Ayurvedic therapy as part of panchakarma.

This treatment helps to flush out all the toxins in the lower body. It is even more beneficial after receiving a week or more of prep, meaning internal and external oleation.

Vasty literally means bladder. It is named vasty because in the past, an animal bladder would be used as the pump to get the oil into the body.


An oil enema can provide the following benefits:


lubrication of the rectum and colon
preparation for higher-volume enemas
relief from gas and bloating
softening of hard stools
relief of constipation
reduction of other symptoms, due to excess Vata dosha
a gentle complement to your cleansing regime
An oil enema is an effective alternative for individuals who are unable to administer high-volume enemas. These people include pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakness due to illness.

How to Give Yourself an Oil Enema


An oil enema can be a bit messier than a regular enema, but following the advice below will help to reduce the risks of spills and leaks, as well as help you get the most benefit from your oil enema.

Buy the Appropriate Equipment

Using the right equipment is very important  if you don't want a mess along with the administration of the enema. First of all, an enema bag is much too large for the volume of oil you will need, and it will take much longer to clean it afterwards. But, most importantly, if you use an enema bag you will not be able to achieve the appropriate pressure needed for injecting the oil all the way into to colon. Because oil is an unctuous substance, it will not flow as water does through enema tubing - therefore you need a syringe to inject the oil.

There are a 2 types of syringes available:

Bulb Syringe -  Bulb syringes range in volume, from 1oz – 26oz (30ml – 780ml.) You will need nothing larger than an 8oz size (240ml) for an oil enema. These syringes are easy to find, however, they can get a little messy and may not be the best choice. Because the bulb syringe self inflates when you release pressure from it, if you do not maintain a firm grip on the bulb for the entire time it is in your rectum, you will draw oil from your rectum back into the syringe. This means that you will end up with less oil in the colon than you were hoping (you can't squeeze it back in because then you will also inject a fair amount of air.) Also, along with the oil, the bacteria and matter from your rectum will be drawn into the syringe. That is not particularly sanitary, as these bulbs are difficult to clean inside.

The smaller the bulb syringe, the less problems you will face. It easier to administer the oil enema with a smaller sized bulb syringe. A larger sized bulb syringe  will make it more difficult.
To make it easier to use, lay in a position where both of your hands can reach the enema syringe, or get assistance from another person.

Standard Syringe - For the administration of the oil enema, a larger sized standard syringe is preferred over a bulb syringe. A standard syringe will not draw oil that has been injected into your rectum back in. With a standard syringe you also do not have the risk of injecting air into the colon, as you do with bulb syringes. These are easier to clean and sanitize for reuse than the bulbs.  The only draw back of the standard syringe is that it is hard to find in a variety of sizes.  Sizes ranging from 30 ml - 100ml/cc are common, but a larger size than that is difficult to find. If you want to inject more than 100ml of oil into your rectum, you can either refill the syringe once emptied or fill more than one syringe with oil and keep them close in reach.

Preparation for Oil Enema


Unlike the larger volume enemas, there is no preparation required for oil enema. However, oil enemas  should only be done after a meal. Administering the enema after the lunch time meal (between 10am and 2pm) is best because your body's ability to absorb peaks at this time. Administer this enema while you still have a full stomach.

Of course you still want to have the basics covered:

• make sure the room is warm, because you will probably want to be naked from the waist down 
• choose a comfortable spot; you will remain there for 30 minutes after injection 
• place some old towels where you be laying to catch any spills or leaks 

How much oil should you use?


60 ml - 90ml of oil is enough in most cases, however more oil (up to 240ml) can be safely administered.

What kind of oil should you use?


You can use any natural oil. Sesame oil, almond oil and castor oil are commonly used.
Castor oil is best if you are suffering from severe constipation, as it is a purgative.
Use sesame oil if you are the type of person who is prone to becoming cold.
Use almond oil if you are prone to becoming hot.

It is ideal to obtain a medicinally prepared herbal oil, as these are the most beneficial. Sacharadi thaila or Dhanwantaram thaila are the most suitable. Any Ayurvedic supplier will have herbal medicinal oils. Choose the 'vasti pakam' grade for injecting into your colon.
If you want increased absorption, use the following Ayurvedic recipe for sneha vasti. The rock salt aids the absorption of oil and the dill seeds are a strong carminative.

Small oil enema(matravasti):
60 ml - 90ml suitable oil (Sacharadi thaila or Dhanwantaram taila)
15g of Anethum sowa paste (roasted and powdered dill seeds)
10g powdered rock salt

Large oil enema:
240 ml suitable oil
30g of Anethum sowa paste
15g powdered rock salt

Using a mortar and pestle, mix the salt, dill seeds and oil together. Once mixed, filter them through cheesecloth or fine muslin. Squeeze the cloth to release any remaining oil from it.

Warm the oil


Heat the oil until lukewarm. The best way to heat the oil is by keeping the container that the oil is in, inside another container that is filled with warm water. You can also heat it over a low temperature on the oven. You will want it fairly warm to increase it's absorption in the colon, but make sure you do not heat the temperature above 104 degrees F (40 degrees C.) If the oil is too hot it may scald the delicate lining of the rectum.
Fill your syringe and make sure everything that you need is in place. You do not want to wait too long before you inject because the oil cools quickly.

Insert and Inject


Before you begin, squeeze the syringe until a small amount of oil comes out. This will release any air in the syringe. If you are using a bulb syringe, maintain your grip and make sure to not let the bulb inflate and draw the air back in.
Lay on your left side with the left leg straight, and right knee bent. You can rest your head on your left arm or on a pillow. Your right hand should be able to reach your anus; if it does not, you will need assistance to administer your enema.
Lubricate the anus and the syringe nozzle, and gently guide the nozzle into the anus until you have passed the internal anal sphincter (about 3 inches.) Remember to relax! Once the nozzle is in, it is time to inject the oil. It will only take a moment to get all of the oil inside the colon.
Leave a small amount of oil in the syringe, if you inject it all into the rectum you risk injecting air as well. If you take air in, it will become more difficult to retain the enema.

Remove the nozzle and retain the oil


After the enema is administered, slowly remove the nozzle from the rectum and squeeze the muscles of your anus. Retain the oil for 30 minutes. If oil comes out before 30 minutes has passed, repeat the vasti right away. Oil that does not remain inside does not serve the purpose.
While you are laying down, massage the abdomen in a counter clockwise direction to move the oil deeper into the intestinal tract.
After you have held the oil enema for 30 minutes, you can evacuate in the toilet. If oil does not come out, it is ok, this just means that it was absorbed into the tract. If it is going to come out, it will do so within 9 hours. If 9 hours has passed and no oil comes out, it is no problem - it means it was all absorbed.

Be aware of post-enema leaking

Some oil may leak out, even a few hours after the enema. Wear a pad or old underwear that you do not mid getting oil stains on.
Keep in mind that if you pass gas after your oil enema, you are likely to pass some oil along with it. Of course, holding intestinal gas is never recommended, so make sure you are wearing something that will absorb the oil, or go to the toilet before expelling the gas.
You will only have to be cautious of leaks on the day that you take your enema. All remaining oil will be absorbed or expelled by the next day.

How often should you take an oil enema?


For maintenance purposes, an oil enema can be performed daily, in doses under 60 ml (15 ml – 25 ml is usually plenty for daily use.) Volumes over 90 ml should be done on an as needed basis, for a maximum of 7 consecutive days.

Precautions:


Do not administer an oil enema if you are currently suffering from:
diabetes
rhinitis
cold or flu
indigestion
diarrhea
obesity
consumption of poison