On a lighter note, I see the mention of enemas to alleviate the constipation induced by painkillers. When I was an older teen, I had a kink for these stories or pictures about 17 or 18th century young females getting an enema from a maid or from their husband (which, I read later, was a suggestion of the unmentionable – sexual intercourse). I however never had the nerve to buy equipment, which I assumed was no longer sold.

On a long stay in the US, I discovered that enema equipment was still on regular sale there. Still, I was somewhat nervous. I’m shy and did not feel too good queueing at Rite Aid with a box written ENEMA, and besides… the whole shebang sounded too weird.

The idea left my mind until I was injured. Not something grave, but it was painful and the clinic gave me a good dose of painkillers. These had the side effect of plugging me up good (and I did not understand immediately the relationship between painkillers and constipation, silly me). I tried oral laxatives and glycerin suppositories to no avail.

I mentioned my predicament to a friend of mine who was big into “natural medicines”. With some tact, she mentioned the “old fashioned simple remedy” once popular in the US. I decided it was a good occasion to try it.

The rest is history.