A douche is an aqueous solution that is administered against a part or into a cavity of the body. It acts as a cleansing agent or antiseptic. Douches are directed to the appropriate body parts by using bulb syringe. They are more frequently dispensed in the form of powder with directions for dissolving in a specified quantity of warm water. Compound sodium borate solution National formulary is used as nasal or pharyngeal douch. Douches can be used to clean the body cavities and to promote healing of wounds.

Medicaments commonly employed as douches include:

1. Cleansing agents, for example, sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate;
2. Antiseptics, for example, chlorhexidine and lactic acid; and
3. Astringents, for example, tannic acid and zinc sulfate.

Douches are classified into the following four types:

1. Eye douche—used to remove foreign particles and discharges from the eyes, is applied gently at an oblique angle and is allowed to run from the inner to outer corner of the eye
2. Pharyngeal douche—used to prepare the interior of the throat for an operation and to cleanse it in conditions of formation of discharge of pus
3. Nasal douche—used to cleanse nasal passage
4. Vaginal douche—used for irrigative cleansing of the vagina and should be sterile in nature

Example

Potassium permanganate vaginal douche

 

	Potassium permanganate	1.0 g
	Purified water (q.s.)	1000 ml

 

Potassium permanganate is soluble in water. Potassium permanganate is triturated with appreciable amount of purified water in a pestle and mortar. Trituration is continued until potassium permanganate gets dissolved completely in water. The solution is filtered through sintered glass filter. To this, purified water is added to make up the volume and is packed in a suitable container.