Coffee Enemas

One therapy that is recommended by the alternative practitioners is taking coffee enemas.

I was already familiar with this therapy. My husband had read about them several years ago, and knew that they were used in the treatment of cancer. When our little colt was born, he was having difficulty pooping; he was straining and straining. The vet told us to give him a soapy enema, which we did, but it didn't stop the straining. With a newborn foal, the straining can be dangerous, so we were very concerned. John suggested giving it a coffee enema, but the vet said not to. I had to leave town the next day to take part in a storytelling celebration, and after I left, John gave the foal a coffee enema. Before he gave it to him, John said the foal was looking weak and listless, and he was worried. The coffee enema perked him right up, and he started pooping easily!

John and I had also gone through a 10 day colon cleanse program summer before last, and coffee enemas were part of that program. I knew how good they can make you feel.

So I've started taking coffee enemas about three times a week. According to one web site (on a site about "tumorX"--a tumor-fighting protocol) they suggest for cancer taking up to three enemas a day! Boy, would you be buzzing on that! I am not a coffee drinker, so I really notice caffeine when I have some. The coffee enemas give me a caffeine "high" without the irritated stomach that I can get if I drink a cup of coffee. I used to drink several cups of coffee a day, but stopped when I started taking a constitutional homeopathic remedy. Coffee antidotes homeopathic remedies. I discovered when I tried to stop that I was severely addicted to coffee, both psychologically and physically. I had to find a dark brown coffee-like hot liquid to drink every morning to satisfy my craving for coffee, and I went through about three days of sick headache after I stopped. I swore after that not to allow myself to get addicted again! I hope the enemas don't make me addicted to coffee.

The rationale behind taking coffee enemas is that it stimulates the liver and the gall bladder to release toxins, which can then be flushed from the body. It can also help relieve pain, although I haven't had any pain, so I can't attest to that. I've read one concern that frequent coffee enemas might cause you to lose minerals, or offset your electrolyte balance. I don't think you want to make a long-term habit of it. In the book, How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine written by four naturopathic physicians, they state: "This technique may have some value in controlling pain and in helping the liver and gall bladder release wastes. As a rule, however, we do not recommend this technique. Coffee enemas can lower your electrolyte levels. Electrolytes are chemicals that facilitate electrical signals in nerves, muscles, and other tissues. Low electrolytes can induce cardiac arrhythmia, muscle cramping, and weakness. If you use enemas of any sort, be sure to have regular blood tests to evaluate electrolytes." (p. 198) So, I guess I'd better be careful. (Sure does feel good, though!)