Coffee enemas are a type of colon cleanse where brewed coffee enters the colon through your rectum. The procedure may have some benefits, but there are also concerns about its safety.
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C
A coffee enema is an alternative treatment that may cleanse your colon. A coffee enema involves injecting caffeinated coffee into your colon via your rectum.
People who claim that coffee enemas are beneficial say they help remove toxins from the body and boost immunity.
However, no research supports this claim, and some even note the dangers of coffee enemas.
Here, we describe what a coffee enema is and outline the research about the supposed benefits and risks.
What is it used for?
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An enema is a procedure where you inject fluid into your rectum.
A coffee enema uses room-temperature coffee to supposedly cleanse the colon. They differ from clinical procedures that take place in hospital settings.
There is controversy surrounding at-home enemas. While many people claim they have cleansing benefits, many doctors and other health professionals caution people against the potential dangers of enemas that you do yourself.
According to the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research, Max Gerson, a German scientist in the 1920s, suggested that coffee enemas could detoxify the body, stimulate the liver, boost immunity, and cure cancer.
This became the Gerson therapy, which uses a special diet and coffee enemas to supposedly heal the body.
However, there is no evidence supporting the effectiveness of the Gerson regime. Some scientists suggest that using coffee enemas can cause complications, such as damage to gut bacteria that can lead to digestive problems.
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There is no good-quality research to say that coffee enemas are beneficial.
While coffee itself is rich in antioxidants as a drink, you would not receive these health benefits when taking it rectally. Coffee enemas can also increase the risk of complications.
While support for coffee enemas is anecdotal, people claim the following benefits:
boosting immunity
increased energy
removal of parasites from the digestive tract
removing heavy metals from the body
treating cancer
However, modern scientists continue to discredit these claims, with recent research noting that people should avoid coffee enemas as an alternative medicine due to the lack of evidence on safety or effectiveness.
Doctors believe that enemas outside medical recommendations or prescriptions are unnecessary, as your digestive system can usually clear waste, toxins, and harmful bacteria by itself.
Are there risks?
There is evidence to support coffee enemas being harmful. The main concerns of using coffee as a colon cleanse are:
rectal burns from hot coffee
bowel perforation that may require surgery or could lead to serious damage or death
Research from 2020 reports a case of proctocolitis, which causes diarrhea and abdominal cramps, in a healthy 40-year-old following a coffee enema. The authors also note three deaths from coffee enemas — one from infection and two from electrolyte imbalance.
Also, as you are not drinking the coffee orally, it is difficult to dose the amount of caffeine you are receiving during an enema. This can lead to caffeine overdosing, which can cause dehydration.
Some other possible side effects of a coffee enema include:
While it is possible to do a coffee enema at home, this is more likely to result in infection, as most people will not be able to perform the procedure cleanly or safely. Some wellness clinics offer coffee enemas, but these can be expensive, and health and safety standards vary.
If you want to try this alternative method, it is important to speak with your doctor. Some medications and health conditions mean avoiding coffee enemas to avoid drug interactions.
It is important to remember that you are still ingesting caffeine, even though you are not drinking the coffee.
Summary
Coffee enemas involve injecting caffeinated coffee into your colon via your rectum. Some people claim it helps improve their health by increasing energy and boosting immunity.
However, your doctor is unlikely to encourage you to have a coffee enema as there is no clinical evidence to support these anecdotal benefits. Research and other anecdotal reports suggest that coffee enemas are potentially dangerous.
Whether you decide to have a coffee enema or not should be a decision you and your doctor make. If you do have a coffee enema and experience side effects such as severe pain and nausea, you must seek medical help.
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