Coffee Enema Basics
How to do a coffee enema to detox? “Coffee enema” is a buzz word in detox world that consists of cleansing the colon with a mixture of brewed, caffeinated coffee and water that is inserted through a plastic tube into the colon through the rectum (your butt) while you lay on your side.
The coffee “goes to work” on your gallbladder, which then triggers the release of bile and a bowel movement typically within 10 to 15 minutes of the process.
My first experience with a coffee enema was during my mold detox journey, as I was doing “all the things” to detox my body of mycotoxins. Sauna sweat sessions, IV glutathione and Vitamin C treatments and coffee enemas became mainstays alongside my supplement and nutrition protocols to get the mold “outta there!”
All humans have 7 primary “cleansing channels” (including the liver, gallbladder, colon, kidneys, skin, lungs and lymph/circulatory system). Coffee enemas are an excellent method to support the cleansing of your gallbladder and colon pathways.
The Benefits
Coffee enemas are used for a variety of purposes, beyond just mold detox. Coffee enema benefits include:
- Relieving constipation
- Clearing up gallbladder congestion without the stimulating effects of caffeinated coffee
- Supporting complete elimination (most people have 5 to 10 pounds of stool in their intestines at any given time)
- Stimulating the vagus nerve and strengthening the ‘brain gut connection’
- Increasing energy
- Removing other wastes and toxins from the body (not just mycotoxins)
- Used in cancer therapy (“Gerson Therapy” and helping patients kick cancer)
- Boosts immunity
Should You Do a Coffee Enema?
You’re a good candidate for a coffee enema if you meet these any of these criteria:
- Constipated (not pooping daily)
- Recovering from mycotoxin or environmental illness
- Gallbladder ‘congestion’ (ie. gallstones, fatty foods make you nauseas or queasy, fish oil burps, clay colored or pale stools, greasy stools, high cholesterol or blood pressure)
- Cancer diagnosis
- Hormonal imbalances (especially PMS, high estrogen symptoms, PCOS)
- Exposed to toxins
- Simply feel like you need a cleanse
Most people can safely do a coffee enema 1 to 3 times per week. Note: The goal is not to become ‘dependent’ on coffee enemas to go #2. If you are constipated or unable to go without an enema, connect with a functional medicine practitioner to do some deeper digging and customizing in the nutrition, lifestyle and supplement department to support your body’s mechanics to work on their own again.
How to Do a Coffee Enema to Detox: 4 Simple Steps
Gather Your Coffee Enema Supplies and follow these steps on how to do a coffee enema to detox.
Gather your supplies:
- Coffee enema kit (bag or bucket, like this one or this one)
- Organic, mycotoxin free coffee (caffeinated)
- Coffee maker
- Liquid measuring cups: two-quart and two-cup
- Gold mesh or ultra-fine stainless steel strainer or brown paper filters
- Clean, nontoxic, non-petroleum-based lubricant such as ghee, coconut oil or aloe vera gel
- Timer or watch
- Clean towels, rags and/or paper towels
Step 1: Prep Your Coffee
- How to do a coffee enema to detox? Prep one to two cups of organic coffee in filtered or distilled water is best. If you can, grind your own beans right before the enema. Pre-ground coffee can be oxidized and go rancid easily. If you use ground coffee, store it in the fridge to keep the oils fresher.
- Boil the coffee for about 10 minutes and strain out the grounds. Note: The stronger the coffee, the more stimulating it is to the vagus. If you are new to enemas or very sensitive to coffee, start with 1/2 tsp and build up over time. As you become more experienced with the enemas, you may find you can tolerate stronger coffee and longer holdings.
- If doing in the morning, make sure you eat at least a small meal before a morning enema so you don’t feel depleted afterward.
Step 2: Cool Coffee
- Let coffee cool to room temperature until you can put your entire hand in the coffee for 5 seconds comfortably since the tissues inside your GI are very sensitive to temperature.
Step 3: Enema Process
- If you’re new, start the enema in the bathtub in case a “spill” happens, or place a waterproof layer on the bathroom floor using an old shower curtain or tarp and bath towels.
- Ensure the enema bag hose clip is closed (keep it at the end near your body) and fill the bag with the cooled coffee, then release any air from the tube by holding the bag over the sink with the tip slightly lower and let liquid flow till it just comes out.
- Hang the enema bag or bucket on a sturdy towel rod or shower rod, so it’s situated 2 to 4 feet where you will be lying down (a sturdy towel rod or shower curtain will do). The end of the hose must reach your body easily.
- Lubricate the plastic hose tip with a lubricant such as petroleum jelly, coconut oil or olive oil. Lie on your back or on your right side, with your knees folded toward your abdomen. Gently insert the tube a couple inches into the rectum.
- Release the water slowly from the tube into your body, controlling the flow with the hose clamp. You may experience some cramping and urgency to eliminate as the liquid moves up into the intestines. If you cramp or get gas, close the clamp to stop the flow, then turn from side to side and take some deep breaths. Cramping typically passes quickly. After the cramp is gone, gently open the clamp again.
- Take in as much of the liquid as your body will allow. Two cups is an average, and everyone is different. You may have urges to poo, but don’t go—breathe steadily. Exhale deeply to relax the abdomen. For some, leaving the plastic enema tip in the rectum assists in preventing leaks.
- Lay on your back for 2 minutes, then turn onto right side for 2 minutes to help the liquid move up into the turns of your colon.
- Try to hold the contents in your bowel for 5 to 15 minutes. To best activate the vagus nerve, the enema should be very difficult to hold so that you suppress the urge as long as you can.
- Relax the abdomen by laying on your back, or move back to your right side. Gently massaging the abdomen in a circular direction helps to move the liquid further into the intestines. After the time has passed, move to the toilet and allow the liquid to flow from the body freely.
Step 4: Clean Up
- Separate the enema bag and hose, rinse them thoroughly with hot water and soap, as well as the stainless steel enema bucket.
- You can also run some hydrogen peroxide through the bag and hose after washing it. If you do so, make sure to rinse it well with water afterward so no peroxide goes into your intestines the next time.
- Hang the hose and bag/bucket in a warm dry place until they are completely dry. Store in a dry location.