The Incredible Coffee Enema

Hello, I am Julie Donaldson and I am a clinical nutritionist with functional medicine training. I specialize in restoring balance in complex, chronic and acute health conditions. I welcome you to peruse other articles that may be of interest to you in your health investigation!

“I am so glad I could have found you, Julie! Because finding such a highly qualified, careful and exceptionally experienced functional health practitioner can seem like searching for a needle in a haystack. In my entire life I had not encountered any practitioner with such a level of profound experience like Julie has.”
- Adam, Czech Republic

Just as with each time I recommend a coffee enema to a client for the first time, I recall my own reaction when it was first introduced to me! "What?", and then some nervous laughter....
I get it, not many of us were trained to be caregivers to that part of our bodies, and it can take some getting used to. But most people find it's quite simple and well worth the effort after using it once of twice, and most report higher energy, greater well-being, and oftentimes glowing skin afterward! Improved detoxification, cancer protection, heart disease protection, glutathione production and purification of bile are just a few of the benefits. Let's explore the incredible benefits of the coffee enema and its role in holistic health..

Bile Cleansing and Stimulation

Bile is a substance created in the liver and gallbladder for the purposes of emulsifying fats and carrying toxins. In many people, its production and flow are compromised, leaving a thick, tar-like accumulation at the hepatic duct where toxins build up and fail to be excreted. This can contribute to feelings of general malaise, tiredness, moodiness, etc.

Each time we begin to eat a meal, our bodies are stimulated to release bile carrying toxins to be emptied into the intestinal tract for excretion.
When bile production is limited, or flow is restricted due to congestion at the duct, this natural process becomes impaired and toxins can be held for very long periods of time in the body.

The very last part of the colon, before reaching the rectum, is in an “S” shape and called the sigmoid colon. By the time stool gets to this part of the colon, most nutrients have been absorbed back into the bloodstream. Because the stool contains products of putrefaction at this point, there exists a special circulatory system between the sigmoid colon and the liver. There is a direct communication of veins called the enterohepatic circulation. Have you ever felt sick just before having a bowel movement, when stool material has just moved into the rectum for elimination? As soon as the material is evacuated, you no longer feel sick. This is due of the toxic quality of the material and the enterohepatic circulation coming into play. Because of this, it is important to evacuate when you have the urge. The rectum should usually be empty.

This circulatory system sends toxins directly to the liver for detoxification, rather than circulating them through vital and vulnerable organs including the brain. This system of veins carries toxins directly to the liver for detoxification.

When a coffee enema is used, the caffeine from the coffee is preferentially absorbed into this system and goes directly to the hepatic duct, stimulating the opening of the duct and the emptying of the bile. The enema also causes the liver to produce more bile and moves it out to the small intestine for elimination. This seems to free up the liver to process more incoming toxic materials that have accumulated in the organs, tissues and bloodstream. (Note for caffeine-sensitive people: the coffee does not go into systemic circulation, unless the enema procedure is done improperly.)

Coffee contains some alkaloids that also stimulate the production of glutathione-S-transferase, an enzyme used by the liver to make the detox pathways run. It supports the formation of more glutathione, Glutathione is one of the body's self-producing antioxidants needed for the detoxification of many heavy molecules.

The Procedure

You will need the following materials:

An enema bag or bucket (In some states, enema bags are not sold as such, but a douche bag will work just fine)
A large stainless steel cooking pot
Organic light roasted coffee, ground for drip
A source of uncontaminated water. Chlorinated water should be boiled for 10 minutes
A toxin "binder" of your choice, such as baboo charcoal, zeolite, bentonite or modified citrus pectin, taken 30 minutes prior to your enema (binder choice may depend upon circumstances and what is being cleansed)

Procedure

Put a little over 1 quart of clean water in a pan and bring it to a boil. Add 2-3 flat tablespoons of coffee (or the coffee amount that has been prescribed for you, the Gerson Program recommends 3 rounded Tbsp.). Let it continue to boil for five minutes, then turn the stove off, leaving the pan on the hot burner.
Allow it to cool down to a very comfortable, tepid temperature. Test with your finger. It should be the same temperature as a baby’s bottle. It’s safer to have it cooler than too hot never use it hot or steaming - body temperature is good.
Next, carry your pan or pot and lay an old towel on the floor or bathtub – . Use another towel, if you like, as a pillow. Pour 1/2 of the coffee from the pan through a strainer into the enema bucket to prevent getting the coffee grounds in the cup. You may prefer to use an intermediate container with a pour spout when going from the pan to the enema bucket. Do not use a paper filter to strain the grounds. Put your enema bag in the sink with the catheter clamped closed.
Loosen the clamp to allow the coffee to run out to the end of the catheter tip and re-clamp the bag when all the air has been removed from the enema tubing.
If your enema or douche bag tube isn’t equipped with a hook, use a coat hanger for hanging. An enema bucket can rest on a chair, shelf or be held. Hang the bag or bucket 2-4 feet higher than your body. Too high and the force of flow will be excessive - it should flow very gently into the rectum and distal sigmoid colon only. It is not a high enema or colonic. Allowing it to go well up into the colon may introduce caffeine into the general circulation as though you had taken it by mouth.
Lie down on the floor on your right or left side and gently insert the catheter. If you need lubrication, food grade vegetable oil such as olive oil, a vitamin E capsule, or coconut oil are good. It is generally a good idea to avoid petroleum products.
Gently insert the tube into the rectum a few inches and then release the clamp and let the first 1/2 of the quart (2 cups maximum) of coffee flow in. Clamp the tubing off if there is the slightest amount of discomfort or fullness. Wait a minute and resume.
I recommend using one of the researched breathing techniques while doing an enema. It helps the body and nervous system to relax into the process and eliminate more completely. Soothing music, visualization and/or meditation are also good.

Try to retain the enema for a minimum of 12-15 minutes, splitting the time lying on the left, back and right. Sometimes there will be an immediate urgency to empty the bowel and that is fine. Sometimes it is necessary to clean out the bowel with a saline solution prior to delivering the coffee enema. Never force yourself to retain it if you feel that you can’t. When you have clamped the tubing, remove the catheter tip.

Beginning with lying on the left side is good, as this restricts the solution in the colon, distending the intestines which stimulates the vagus nerve, helping to coordinate communication between the body’s organs and the brain. After 4-5 minutes, roll to your back, where full absorption of the caffeine and palmitic acid occur. Palmitic acid increases glutathione S-transferase. The caffeine causes the bile ducts to dilate so that more toxins can be excreted through bile into the intestines for exit out of the body. At the same time the theophylline and theobromine in the coffee cause dilation of the blood vessels, allowing more blood to pass through the system for filtering by the liver.

Finally, roll to your right side for the remainder of your time, where the solution is closest to the hepatic duct, stimulating it open.

(Note: these are guidelines only - some people feel better starting and finishing in different positions. Any rotation is just fine.)

You may repeat the process with another 1/2 quart (2 cups), completing 2 enemas, or you may save the other 1/2 of the solution for the next day (24 hours only). (The Gerson Program recommends one 4 cup enema. Max Gerson, M.D., founder of the Gerson Institute and Gerson Diet Therapy, recognized that coffee enemas are effective in stimulating a complex enzyme system, the action of which reduce free-radical activity and block carcinogens. While free-radicals are normal by-products of metabolism, uncontrolled free-radical production plays a major role in the development of degenerative disease, including cancer, heart disease and accelerated aging. Liver detoxification via the glutathione-s-transferase enzyme system is increased 600% above normal in the coffee enema process.)

When you have finished your session, rinse out the bag and hang it up to dry. Thoroughly clean the insertion and tube. Periodically run boiling water, peroxide, or other comparable antimicrobial agent through the empty bag to discourage mold growth when not in use.

If you feel wired or hyper, or have palpitations or irregular heartbeats after a coffee enema, you should reduce the amount of coffee, usually by half for a few days or weeks. Be sure the source of your water is good clean chemical-free spring, well, or filtered water and your coffee is organic.

Sometimes you will hear or feel a squirting out and emptying of the gallbladder. This occurs under the right rib cage, or sometimes more closely to the mid line. If after a week of daily enemas you have never felt or heard the gall bladder release, you should consider making the coffee stronger, going up in 1/2 tablespoon increments per quart, not exceeding 2 tablespoons per cup. Alternately, you may need a slightly larger volume, such as 3 cups at a time.

Always discontinue the enemas if there is any adverse reaction whatsoever, and discuss it with your doctor. If you find the enema helpful, do not use it more than once per day for any extended period without medical supervision. Use it as necessary, perhaps several days in a row, but more commonly a couple times weekly.

Here are some other tips that can help with successful completion:

Timing- After morning elimination is best. Eating afterward is ok, but proceed before further bowel development occurs. This will make it easier to retain the coffee. If this is not possible, take a saline enema first to clean out the colon.
Gas - If intestinal gas is a problem, some light exercise before enema may help. Also, it’s ok to pass some gas during the enema - you may lose a little solution, but that’s ok.
Massage - Massaging the colon, first down the (left) descending colon, then across the transverse colon and finally up the (right) ascending colon, may help with emptying.
Caffeine jitters - Reduce the amount of coffee, potentially down to 1 tsp per cup of water and gradually increase with tolerance. You may also replace some of the coffee with blackstrap molasses, up to 2 Tbs.
Blood sugar - Some people experience lowering of blood sugar with enemas. Eating something just before enema delivery can help.
Temperature - If the water is too cold or too hot, the colon will be over-stimulated. Be sure your water temperature is comfortable.
Failure to retain - First, be patient! It takes many people a couple of runs with the practice to be comfortable. Reduce your water and try again.

A special note: For those utilizing enemas for parasite eradication, 2 weeks of preparation with coffee enemas is advised. Deeper and more powerful techniques may be required but are never instructed without individualized assessment and attention. Parasites are stealthy and excellent at avoiding expulsion. Low energy in body systems keep them alive and dormant with no symptoms for many people.

For personalized support in your holistic health care, please contact me at Julie@truenaturehealthconsulting.com. We provide holistic telehealth services.