Perhaps the most infamous component of the Gerson Therapy is the coffee enema, which has gained popularity in recent years as a means of cleansing and detoxifying. On the Gerson Therapy, coffee enemas are a vital and necessary component, but those who are generally healthy or are dealing with a non-life-threatening condition are now jumping on the detox bandwagon.

In the age of instant and infinite information, it can be easy for vital details about this procedure to get lost in the mix.

This information is for those without cancer or serious illnesses. Additional contraindications may exist for those with a serious health condition.

Always check with your primary care physician or licensed medical professional before attempting a coffee enema. If you have a chronic disease or cancer and are considering the Gerson Therapy, please work with our Gerson Practitioner Network to receive a personalized protocol and ongoing case management. Visit our Get Started page to apply.

8 Things You Need to Know Before Trying a Coffee Enema

1. The purpose of coffee enemas is to stimulate the liver to increase its detoxification of the blood and decrease the toxic load on the liver. This includes removing a variety of toxins and free radicals from the bloodstream. They assist the liver so as not to overburden an already sluggish and toxic liver with the flood of toxins dislodged from the clean, nutrient-dense food and juice of the Gerson Therapy. They are a required component of the Gerson Therapy’s treatment system.

2. They are not for everyone. Coffee enemas are not recommended unless under strict supervision of an experienced Gerson Practitioner if any of the following exist:

a. Currently undergoing chemotherapy
b. Renal, cardiac or respiratory failure
c. Bleeding and/or ulceration in the colon tract
d. Ulcerative Colitis
e. Crohn’s disease
f. Ileostomy (no colon)
g. Hypertension and/or tachycardia
h. Pregnant (consult with your primary physician or Gerson Practitioner)
i. Acute or ongoing chronic diarrhea until investigated by a physician
j. First 6-8 weeks post-surgery (always check with your primary physician or Gerson Practitioner)

3. The coffee solution is not held in the liver. In fact, it’s held in the colon. The vessels in the lower part of the descending colon and rectum carry the solution to the liver. The potent compounds in coffee are absorbed by the hemorrhoidal and mesenteric veins that route to the liver.

4. The coffee enema itself does not produce bile. The coffee does cause some stimulation of the liver to produce bile, but it’s the potent compounds including caffeine, theobromine and theophylline that dilate blood vessels, bile ducts and relax smooth muscles, increasing the flow of bile.

5. Electrolytes are lost during evacuation, and therefore coffee enemas should always be balanced by juice. The typical ratio is 3:1 (three, 8 oz. juices for each coffee enema). Those not on a Gerson Therapy protocol should drink plenty of water.

6. The body does not become dependent on coffee enemas to have a bowel movement. Upon completion of the Gerson Therapy, patients have no issues generating bowel movements without coffee enemas.

7. A variety of coffee is appropriate for use, ranging from gold, green and white, to light and medium roasts. Dark roasts are not appropriate because the potent compounds have been roasted out. Gold, green or white beans are very potent, with light to medium roasts typically well-tolerated by most. If you are new to coffee enemas, green, gold or white beans may not be best to start with. Instead, start with a medium or light roast. Coffee must be organic and we recommend fair-trade, sustainable coffee.

8. Dr. Gerson did not invent coffee enemas. Coffee enemas have appeared in medical writings dating back to ancient Egypt and have been cited in case reports and articles from the late 1800s¹.

REMINDER: Always check with your primary care physician or licensed medial professional before attempting a coffee enema. If you have a chronic disease or cancer and are considering the Gerson Therapy, please work with our Gerson Practitioner Network to receive a personalized protocol and ongoing case management. Visit our Get Started page to apply.

¹Coffee enemas have long been in use. In a case report in the Pacific Medical and Surgical Journal in December  1866, M.A. Cachot, MD, described successful use of a coffee enema to treat a child dying from an accidental poisoning. (Cachot, 1866) Articles from the late 1800s reported that coffee enemas were helpful in post-operative care. (Allison, 1896; “The Medicinal Employment of Coffee,” 1897) At a medical meeting in 1896, Dr. W.J. Mayo, one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic, mentioned coffee enemas as a routine part of care for patients after abdominal surgery. (“Mississippi Valley Medical Association Society Proceedings,” 1896) In an extensive 1941 article in the Uruguayan Medical, Surgical and Specialization Archives, Dr. Carlos Stajano described immediate improvement in near-terminal patients after coffee enemas, including a patient with cocaine intoxication and a patient with post-operative shock. (Stajano, 1941) His extensive experience with coffee enemas in post-operative management made him plead for their continued use (https://www.drlindai.com/detox.html).

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This article was originally posted November 21, 2018