Cindy, unless you are very severely constipated, a properly administered cleansing enema won't be at all painful. You might experience some slightly uncomfortable fullness, but not pain.

Plain filtered water is fine for enemas once or twice a month or so, but if you ever take enemas more frequently, then I recommend using an isotonic saline solution to prevent an electrolyte imbalance from possibly occuring.

Isotonic means that water is neither absorbed by your body from the enema, nor does it draw water out of the body, as do the chemical Fleet type phospo soda disposable enema units.

To prepare the saline solution, simply add one teaspoon of Sea Salt or non-iodized table salt to each pint of water. The water temperature should be at 103 degrees F at prep time. Use a bath thermometer to get it just right.

Then lay back, relax, and you'll find that the enema is not such an unpleasant experience after all.

Here's 2 links where you can find more information on how to give yourself a safe, effective, and comfortable enema:

http://valerie_cct.tripod.com/enemas.html

http://www.iquestsight.com/enema.htm