Coffee enema
| Part of a series on |
| Alternative medicine |
|---|
 |
A coffee enema is the injection of
Gerson therapy, a discredited alternative cancer treatment that was promoted by the Gerson Institute in the 1970s.[3]
Efficacy and safety
No medical or scientific evidence supports any claim of detoxification or anti-cancer effect of coffee enemas.[2][4]
Coffee enemas carry a risk of adverse effects, some of them serious, including infection, seizures, heart and lung problems, and death.[5]
History
.jpg)
The rationale for using enemas can be traced back the earliest medical texts, to the
autointoxication and that the "cleansing" of intestines can prevent that.[6]
The practice of
Kelley therapy, ineffective alternative cancer therapies.[8] Their use is promoted with claims they can "detoxify" the body by boosting the function of the gallbladder and liver. Coffee enemas were also mentioned in early 20th-century medical literature as a remedy for constipation, though their use was limited and eventually fell out of favor due to a lack of supporting evidence.[9]
Advocates of coffee enemas often point to their inclusion in editions of the retention enema for treating constipation. The Merck Manual does not list any other uses for coffee enemas, and in editions after 1972 all mention of them was dropped.[8]
Gerson therapy
Gerson therapy is an alternative treatment developed by Dr. Max Gerson in the early 20th century, primarily aimed at treating cancer and other degenerative diseases. The therapy emphasizes a strict organic vegetarian diet, nutritional supplements, and coffee enemas, which are believed to detoxify the body and strengthen the immune system. Proponents claim that this regimen can restore metabolic balance and promote healing; however, there is no scientific evidence supporting its efficacy. Health organizations, including the National Cancer Institute, warn against using Gerson therapy as a substitute for conventional cancer treatments due to its unproven nature and potential risks.[10]
See also
References
- PMID 9252839.
- ^ PMID 7052177.
- ^ "Unproven Methods of Cancer Management: Gerson Therapy". CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 40 (4): 252–255. 1990.
- PMID 20361473.
- ^ "Gerson therapy". Cancer Research UK. 5 April 2019.
- ^ Scott Gavura (11 July 2013). "Ask the (Science-Based) Pharmacist: What are the benefits of coffee enemas?". Science-Based Medicine.
- PMID 9252839.
- ^ a b Unconventional Cancer Treatments. Congress of the U.S., Office of Technology Assessment. 1990. p. 51.
- PMC 7478478. Archived from the originalon 18 January 2025.
- ^ "Gerson Therapy - NCI". www.cancer.gov. 24 October 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2025.