7 Amazing Benefits of Coffee Enemas and How to do Them at Home

nutrition Mar 07, 2016

I imagine this topic of coffee enemas either intrigued you or freaked you out, or maybe a little of both. I totally understand. The first time I heard about people doing coffee enemas, I was pretty skeptical. Could that really be good for you?

I’ve had several clients lately ask me about coffee enemas, and if I thought they were beneficial.

Well, from much reading and researching, it’s clear there are numerous, powerful health benefits that a coffee enema can offer.

I know many of you are thinking, “Why on earth would I want to give myself a coffee enema?” I’m sure it probably sounds unpleasant, but I’m going to share several reasons why it may be worth considering. Plus, as you’ll see in the step-by-step instructions at the bottom, the process really isn’t that bad.

I first learned about coffee enema therapy from Dr. Kharrazian in his book, Why Isn’t My Brain Working. He recommends performing them to help stimulate and strengthen the vagus nerve. Often times when someone has chronic digestive problems, brain functionality needs to be evaluated. There is a very strong gut-brain connection, and communication from the brain to the gut happens via the vagus nerve.

Performing coffee enemas are one great way to stimulate and activate the vagus nerve. You can read more about vagus nerve exercises in my blog post here.

In addition to supporting vagus nerve function, coffee enemas offer several other health benefits.

Cleansing and Detox

Enemas help to wash out the colon, remove toxic substances, and often times remove harmful parasites and yeast colonies. It helps to increase peristalsis and cause the colon to become active and better able to empty its contents completely. This is great for those who suffer from constipation. Repeated enemas help remove impacted feces and food residue as well as clean out diverticuli in the colon.

Antioxidant

Coffee contains powerful antioxidants that help prevent harmful oxidation in the body. These antioxidants are very helpful to the liver which is susceptible to oxidative damage. The antioxidants in coffee may be more helpful than antioxidants like vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid, and vitamin E in balancing the body. The best way to get the antioxidant benefits of coffee is through an enema.

Glutathione Enhancer

Palmitic acids in coffee act as potent enhancers of glutathione S-transferase, which is an important enzyme in the liver, and plays a major role in detoxification and the removal of many toxins from the blood. The glutathione S-transferase system is an important mechanism to get rid of cancer-causing chemicals.

Choleretic Effects

Caffeine is a choleretic when administered rectally. This means that it increases bile flow. While there are other choleretic agents available, the choleretic properties of a coffee enema offer additional benefits. Most choleretics don’t enhance the detoxifying enzyme systems, so most of the bile is reabsorbed before it’s eliminated and can become toxic. The enzyme-enhancing properties of a coffee enema do not allow as much toxic bile to be reabsorbed by the liver across the gut wall. Therefore, it can be a powerful way to detoxify the blood stream through the enzyme systems in the liver and small bowel.

Relaxed Nervous System

Coffee enemas may help relax the sympathetic nervous system, or the fight-or-flight response. This seems odd considering that caffeine is a stimulant. There are several reasons that may contribute to the relaxation of the sympathetic nervous system. First, coffee enemas stimulate 2 parasympathetic organs, the liver and the colon. Second, the nutrients in the coffee may contribute. Finally, removal of toxins from the body rapidly and thoroughly may aid in relaxation.

Better Skin

One of the ways the body eliminates toxins is through the skin. If your liver and colon aren’t working well, then you may experience skin problems like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Coffee enemas help restore elimination through the liver and colon thereby assisting the skin.

How to Perform

Make sure you use 100% certified organic coffee. Do not use anything less. Commercial grade coffee may contain toxins that can damage the liver.

Prepare the Coffee

Add 3 tablespoons of ground, organic coffee to 3-4 cups of boiling filtered water. Let it boil for 3 minutes and then simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain and cool until the coffee is at body temperature. You can use a large glass mason jar to hold the coffee. Place in refrigerator to cool the coffee to the appropriate temperature. If you’re wanting to cool it quickly, you can place in the freezer for about 1 hour.

Set Up Enema Bag

Purchase a good quality enema set. I like this one. Hang your enema bag in your bathroom on a towel rack or shower rod. Make sure the clamp in closed, so the fluid doesn’t leak out when you pour it in the bag. Lubricate the tip with coconut oil to make insertion easy. When you have the bag hanging and the tube clipped, you’re ready to add the coffee.

Lay Out Towels for Comfort

Lay out towels on the floor, so it’s comfortable when you’re laying down. You may want to lay out a yoga mat and then place a towel over it for extra padding. Use a pillow or another towel to rest your head.

Relax

Turn on some relaxing music, turn off your phone, and empty your bladder. Lie on the floor on your left side. Insert the enema tip gently. When you feel comfortable, release the clamp on the water line and let the coffee enter. Keep one hand on the clamp, so you can adjust the flow at any time.

Retain for 12-15 minutes

Breath deeply and retain the fluid as long as you can. 12-15 minutes is ideal, but if you have to release after 5 minutes, that’s okay.

Release

After retaining the coffee for 12-15 minutes, you should start feeling a strong urge to go. Release the coffee in the toilet and you’re done! This is a great way to get the liver to dump bile and toxins quickly.

Repeat as often as needed. Dr. Max Gerson recommended 4-6 times per day for cancer therapy. However, that’s likely too much for most people. Depending on your health condition and reason for doing a coffee enema, you may try once per day, a couple times per week, or once per quarter. You’re the best judge of what is right for you.