In February 2020, world coffee exports were more than 11 million bags.
And while the majority of that coffee was meant to fill your morning cup, coffee is also used in skincare, for flavoring other food and beverage, and for a host of health benefits. One of the lesser-known ways to use coffee is in a coffee enema.
If you’re looking for a new way to cleanse, you might have come across the coffee colonic. And while there are reported benefits, there are also risks you should know about.
Keep reading to learn what a coffee enema is as well as what the potential benefits and risks are.
What Is A Coffee Enema?
A coffee enema is a colon cleanse. It’s used by practitioners of alternative medicine and has been since at least the early 1900s when German physicians were looking for cancer treatments.
A coffee enema involves mixing caffeinated coffee with water and inserting it into the colon. It’s believed to boost energy cell production, blood circulation, and cell growth, among other benefits. But the one thing it definitely does is act as an alternative to laxatives in cleansing the bowel.
The Benefits of a Coffee Enema
Having constipation is more than just uncomfortable. Having constipation for too long can actually be harmful. It can cause small bowel blockage or cause a hole in the bowels.
Coffee enemas immediately relieve constipation. In fact, it causes multiple bowel movements that cleanse the colon. But proponents of coffee enemas believe there are other benefits besides relief from constipation.
Some of these benefits come from a compound called cafestol palmitate. This compound is believed to stimulate an enzyme that leads to more bile in the liver. Because bile helps break down food, this means that digestion is improved.
Other benefits include boosted immunity, increased energy, and the treatment of depression. Because it clears the bowels, it’s also though to treat autoimmune disease and remove parasites and heavy metals trapped in the digestive tract.
The Risks of a Coffee Enema
Practitioners of western medicine believe that the body rids of wastes, toxins, and bacteria on its own through the digestive tract. This is why they argue that coffee enemas are unnecessary. And, in reality, there’s no evidence to prove that coffee enemas deliver on any of their reported benefits.
There is evidence, however, that they can be risky if not performed correctly. The may cause:
They can also lead to infection if there are tears in the rectum. To mitigate these risks, follow these tips to performing an enema correctly.
Coffee Enemas: Are They Worth the Risk?
The coffee enemas date back to the early 1900s and people have been using them since. They’re reported to have a number of benefits for the liver, for immunity, for energy levels, and for cell production. While none of these has been proven with scientific evidence, they are definitely a more natural alternative to laxatives.
If performed correctly, the potential benefits of a coffee enema may outweigh the risks. But be sure to do these correctly, as dehydration and nausea are the less serious of side effects.
