The truth about Coffee enemas
Coffee enema is a procedure of injecting coffee into the anus to cleanse the rectum and the large intestine. (wikepedia.org) It is used in the Detox program of Shanti-Som well-being retreat. The Detox program in general is based on Gerson therapy.
The following information about coffee enemas is part of the Detox guide, which the guests receive upon starting the program:
Health benefits of coffee enemas:
* Coffee enemas reduce levels of systematic toxicity up to 700 percent.
* Coffee enemas cleanse and heal the colon and digestive tract, improve peristalsis.
* Coffee enemas boost energy levels, improve mental clarity and mood.
* Coffee enemas eliminates parasites, candida.
* Coffee enemas detoxify and repair the liver.
* Coffee enemas relieve chronic pain, ease ‘die-off’ symptoms during cleanses, detox regimens.
* Coffee enemas heal and prevent chronic illness.
The idea behind the Detox program is that the body get toxins from the food and drinks, environment, some drugs and so on and after a while it becomes difficult to cleanse itself. This could lead to fatigue, migraines, low energy, irritability, depression, gaining weight and much more. So then what the body needs is to detox with the help of fresh fruit and vegetable juices and coffee enemas.
I wanted to do some research and try and find more information about coffee enemas. What I found is that there are a lot of controversial opinions in the scientific world. For instance many say that we are not poison by toxins. They state that the coffee enemas are based on the pre-scientific idea called ’’autointoxication’’, where poisonous substances cannot be discharged from our colon and it get toxic. Coffee enemas are determined as used by the naturopathic practice and are recommended as an alternative method. Furthermore it is claimed that there is no credible evidence to suggest that coffee enemas can do all that is claimed they can do. What’s more they even warn that enemas can be dangerous to the natural bacterial flora in the colon, can cause electrolyte abnormalities, rectal perforation and so on. Therefore coffee enemas are considered not beneficial and even harmful. (sciencebasedmedecine.org)
Other scientists postulate the existence of ’’tissue damage syndrome’’ where the cells are under the effect of poison, malnutrition and oxygen deprivation and this leads to potassium-sodium unbalance and swelling of the cells with water. Additionally damaged cells take up more sodium than potassium which leads to inability the cells to repair themselves and to utilize energy. And that makes it easy unwanted chemicals, such as poisonous chemical and toxins to attack and get in the cells. (coffee-enema.ca)
It is the liver and the small bowel that neutralizes the most toxins, polyamines, ammonia, toxic-bound nitrogen and electrophiles. So it is believed that these detoxifying systems are most likely enhanced by the coffee enemas.
Coffee enemas were introduced by Dr. Max Gerson in his cancer therapy in 1930s. This therapy is popular these days by the name - Gerson therapy and it is claimed that coffee enemas could stimulate the liver and the gold bladder to discharge bile. In his cancer therapy coffee enemas can be administrated every 2 hours up to 6 times a day.
Gerson was confident that there are two substances in the coffee (kahweol and cafestol palmitate) which enhance the activity of very important enzyme produced by the liver, namely gluthatione S-transferase. This enzyme is believed to detoxify electrophiles in the bloodstream and to be neutralizing free radicals and harmful chemicals. There are reports that show that coffee enemas have definitely effect on colon. (gerson.org)
I wanted to find more articles in order to argue for the benefits of coffee enemas and I found some interesting articles below: (optimalhealthnetwork.com)
1) ’’Colonic antigen administration includes significantly higher humoral levels of colonic and vaginal IgA, and serum IgG compared to oral administration.’’ By E. L. McConnell, A. W. Basit and S. Murdan (sciencedirect.com)
2) Another one about the therapeutic benefits of coffee:’’ Potential chemoprotective effect of the coffee components kahweol and cafestol palmitates via modification of hepatic N-acetyltransferase and gluthathione S-transferase activities’’ (2004) by Huber WW et al. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
3) Next one which shows that kahweol and cafestol in the coffee increases detoxification enzymes in the liver and kidneys: ’’Enhancement of the chemoprotective enzymes glucoronosyl transferase and gluthathione tranferase in specificorgans of the rat by the coffee components kahweol and cafestol’’ (2002) by Huber WW et.al. (Link)
4) Next article points the protective benefits of coffee enemas against toxins: ’’Coffee intake and risk of colorectal cancer among Chinese in Singapore:the Singapore Chinese health study’’ (2010) by Peterson S. et.al (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
5) Next is research showing the effect of coffee enemas along with some lifestyle changes: ’’Surviving against all odds:analysis of 6 case studies of patients with cancer who followed the Gerson therapy’’ (2007) by Molassiotis A and Peat .P. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
6) Final one is summary from the Gerson therapy: ’’The cure of advanced cancer by diet therapy: a summary of 30 years of clinical experimentation.’’ (1978) by Gerson M.
Despite the articles and studies which I pointed out above, further research regarding the use of coffee enemas on people it is of significant importance. Until then people who decide to use coffee enemas have to be cautious and do it under the supervision of an specialist and what is more to do it in moderation.
