Why Do People Have Coffee Enemas
Proponents of coffee enemas believe that the coffee stimulates the liver and helps remove toxins in the body. Some alternative practitioners recommend coffee enemas for detoxification.
Coffee enemas are also being explored as an alternative cancer treatment for cancer. A main proponent of coffee enemas for cancer is New York physician Nicholas Gonzalez. Coffee enemas are thought to relieve symptoms such as muscle aches and pains and rashes. Although the effectiveness of Gonzalez's regimen is being studied by the by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), there's no research involving human subjects that shows it can help.
Possible Side Effects
People with certain conditions, such as diverticular disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe hemorrhoids, blood vessel disease, congestive heart failure, heart disease, severe anemia, abdominal hernia, gastrointestinal cancer, recent colon surgery, and intestinal tumors should avoid coffee enemas.
Pregnant or nursing women and children should not have coffee enemas.
Like coffee consumed orally, coffee enemas can be stimulating and result in caffeine dependence.