A nutrient enema, also known as feeding per rectum, rectal alimentation, or rectal feeding, is an enema administered to provide nutrition in cases where normal eating is not possible. In modern medicine, nutrient enemas have been superseded by tube feeding and parenteral nutrition (intravenous feeding).[not verified in body]
History
This treatment is ancient, dating back at least to the second century AD when documented by Galen,[1] and commonly used in the Middle Ages,[2] remaining a common technique in 19th century.[2]
A variety of different mixes have been used for nutrient enemas throughout history. A paper published in Nature in 1926 stated that because the rectum and lower digestive tract lack digestive enzymes, it is likely that only the end-products of normal digestion such as sugars, amino acids, salt and alcohol, will be absorbed.[8]
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