Ah, the coffee enema.

If you want a good giggle, just tell someone that you do coffee enemas every day and enjoy the confusion-mixed-with-disgust look on their face that follows!

Actually, I was exactly the same when I first learned about coffee enemas. I thought they were just not for me, and not something I could ever bring myself to do. I got a little nervous pit in my stomach when I thought about doing one.

I knew they were beneficial, but there was no way you were getting me to put that tube up my butt. But as my health continued to decline and I decided that I wanted to do a juice fast, I knew I had to bring my self to give them a try.

And I am so glad I did. It is hands down THE best thing I have ever done for my health.

Coffee enemas have become not just my favourite part of my day and something I look forward to, but also one of the biggest things that has improved my health. They stopped my body’s downward spiral.

I’ve been doing them for 9 months now, and am down to 2 a day at the moment. Along with a combination of my Gerson diet, juicing, supplements and exercise, I am in the best health I have been in years – I feel like I am reversing time.

Well I certainly have changed my tune, and I hope to change yours too!

Okay, so what am I in for with a coffee enema?

A coffee enema is made from a boiled coffee concentrate, which is put in a enema bucket with a tube attached, inserted into the rectum and held for 12 -15 minutes, then released into the toilet.

What’s the benefit of coffee enemas?

Coffee enemas specifically help restore the liver.

When we start eating healthier, juicing or doing a nutritional therapy like Gerson, the body starts releasing toxins from the cells into the bloodstream.

The liver is put under a lot of stress and needs extra help. On its own, the liver can’t deal with this sudden influx of toxins in the blood stream, especially for someone with a chronic illness. The caffeine in coffee detoxifies the liver.

Coffee enemas help the liver’s ability to remove serum toxins, literally cleaning the poisons out of fluids nourishing normal cells.

Why coffee? The Palmitic acid in coffee promotes the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the small bowel by 700 percent (!!). The GST enzyme quenches free radicals, and carries them out of the body. Other substances in the coffee dilate the bile ducts and increase the flow of bile.

Another benefit of coffee enemas is increasing peristalsis which helps to empty the bowel.

One of the biggest benefits of coffee enemas is pain relief – it helps with headaches, cold, flus all the way up to chronic illnesses like cancer. Forget panadol.

[ Pssst. These instructions have been updated since the original post ]

What do I need?

• Organic medium grind (espresso), medium strength coffee – I buy this from my local health food store. You could also buy online from Gerson, or here on GAPS Australia
• Enema bucket – I prefer a plastic one so I can see the level of coffee, but a stainless steel bucket is fine. You can buy online from Amazon, Gerson, I found a supplier on ebay as I had trouble finding them in Australia
• Plastic connector (usually comes with the enema bucket)
• Red catheter
• Distilled or spring water with NO chlorine or fluoride – this is important
• Yoga mat or lawn chaise pad
• Two towels
• Castile soap

Recipe for coffee concentrate (enough for 2 enemas):

1. Bring 1 quart / 1 litre of water to a boil on the stove in a stainless steel saucepan (not aluminium).
2. Once boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat and drop in 6 Tbsp coffee. Lower heat to medium.
3. Return the saucepan to the heat and boil for 3 minutes uncovered.
4. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes covered.
5. Strain the solution through a fine strainer (I use a nut milk bag).
6. Divide the mixture into two – about 8oz each.

For a 3 enema concentrate: Use just under 2/3 cup coffee (9 Tbsp).

This mixture must be boiled on the stove and cannot be made in a coffee maker.

Instructions:

A coffee enema will take about 30 – 40 minutes from getting it ready to clean up after.

1. Set up the enema bucket: cut the long tube that comes with the bucket just above the holes near the end. Take the plastic connector, put one end into the tube you just cut, and the other end into the red rubber catheter. Connect the other end of the tube to the enema bucket.
2. Lay down an old yoga mat on the bathroom floor and cover with a towel. Use an old pillow, grab a book and a timer (I use an app on my phone, a kitchen timer would also work). Grab another towel to cover yourself with to stay warm. You can also do this in a bathtub but I don’t like that.
3. Tighten the clamp on the enema bucket. Pour the divided coffee concentrate (see above) into the enema bucket. Add water to fill it up to a total of 36oz (start with 24oz your first time or for as long as you need to). Make sure the water is body temperature. Since I make a bigger concentrate in advance and keep it in the fridge, I boil a little bit of water every time to bring it back to room temp and then add water to fill it up to 36oz.
4. Over the sink, release the clasp and let the coffee run to the end of the tube and a little into the sink, removing air bubbles.
5. Place the bucket on a chair or bench, about 2 feet high.
6. Put a little coconut oil or water on the end of the catheter. Lay down on your back and insert the tube 5 – 8 inches. There is a little bump called the anal sphincter, make sure the tube goes just over that. Slowly release the clasp and let the fluid slowly run in, I set a timer for 5 minutes. Roll over to your right side with your legs pulled up towards your chest in a relaxed position.
7. Remove the tube and hold the enema for 12 – 15 minutes. If you feel the need to evacuate and can’t hold it before the 15 minutes, do so.
8. Get up and go to the toilet, releasing all the liquid.
9. Clean the bucket: use a few drops of castile soap to clean inside the bucket and the end of the tube. Run warm water through the bucket and tube until all the coffee and soap is gone. Leave to dry. For an extra good clean use a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide.

My fancy set-up

Important things to remember:

• Make enough for 2 – 3 enemas in case you can’t hold the first one
• Drink 3 x 8oz fresh juices (carrot & apple or green) or coconut water for every enema you do to prevent dehydration and electrolyte loss.
• In every enema you do there must be 3 Tbsp of coffee.
• Only use distilled or spring water with NO chlorine or fluoride
• If you haven’t eaten anything in a while or are doing an enema first thing in the morning, eat a small piece of fruit before hand.

And if you’re lucky, you will have a cat helper like I do. Whatchya doin’?

Coffee Enema FAQ’s

Can’t I just drink the coffee?

Drinking coffee doesn’t have the same effect as a coffee enema. Surprisingly, it has the opposite effect, virtually ensuring reabsorption of toxic bile.

Whats the difference between a Colonic and an Enema?

Colonics and enemas serve different purposes. Coffee enemas are used to help the liver’s detoxification capacity. Colonics cleanse the entire length of the colon whereas enemas only go as far as the lower colon. Enemas can be self administered whereas colonics need to be done by a trained professional.

Are Coffee Enemas Safe?

Yes! People often worry about coffee enemas stripping the colon of good bacteria, but with a healthy diet the intestines replenish the friendly flora on a daily basis. Another concern people have is electrolyte loss or dehydration, which is avoided by drinking 3 x 8oz vegetable juices (green or carrot are great) per enema or coconut water.

In the full Gerson therapy you do 2 – 5 coffee enemas every day for a period of two years.

Are Coffee Enemas just some weird new fad?

Enemas are not new, they were transcribed in one of the books in the Dead Sea Scrolls, recorded two thousand years ago. Also they were found in a third-century Aramaic manuscript found in the secret archives of the Vatican.

Coffee only came to be used in enemas in the First World War in a pretty unusual way. Germany was surrounded by the Allies’ military forces, and many imported materials were in short supply, including morphine. Doctors were giving soldiers water enemas, but the nurses were looking for something more to help the patients. One nurse had an idea to use coffee, since it was helping the doctors. The soldiers reported that these were doing them good and relieved their pain.

So what do you think, will you be giving coffee enemas a go?

Sources: The Gerson Therapy by Charlotte Gerson