Everything you need to know!
Coffee enemas are one of those practices that often raise eyebrows – until you understand the history, the physiology, and the profound support they can offer when used correctly.
At pH Clinic, coffee enemas are not a trend or a gimmick. They are a long standing, time honoured tool that we use thoughtfully – both in clinical settings and as part of a supported home health ritual.
This article is here to explain what coffee enemas are, why we use them, what they may support, and how to approach them safely and respectfully.
What Is a Coffee Enema?
A coffee enema involves introducing a small amount of brewed, cooled coffee into the rectum using an enema kit. Unlike drinking coffee, this method allows the active compounds in coffee to be absorbed through the haemorrhoidal veins, which connects directly to the liver via the hepatic portal system.
This means coffee enemas work locally and systemically, without stimulating the stomach or nervous system in the same way oral caffeine does.
A Brief History: Coffee Enemas & Medicine
Coffee enemas have been used in medical contexts for over a century.
During World War I, when medical supplies and pain relief options were scarce, nurses reportedly began administering coffee rectally to wounded soldiers. What they observed was remarkable:
patients experienced a significant reduction in pain and discomfort — so much so that many believed they had been given morphine.
This unexpected effect led to further exploration of coffee enemas as a supportive therapy, and they were later listed in the Merck Manual (a standard medical reference) in the early 1900s as part of post-operative care.
The Gerson Therapy Connection
Coffee enemas became most widely known through the work of Dr. Max Gerson, a German physician who developed the Gerson Therapy in the early–mid 20th century, primarily while working with patients diagnosed with cancer and other chronic, degenerative illnesses.
Gerson’s central observation was that many chronic diseases — including cancer — were associated with severe systemic toxicity, impaired liver function, and compromised cellular metabolism. His therapeutic approach focused on restoring the body’s internal environment, with particular emphasis on the liver as the body’s primary organ of detoxification and metabolic regulation.
Within the Gerson protocol, coffee enemas were used as a supportive intervention to assist liver function by encouraging bile flow, supporting enzymatic activity, and reducing toxic burden. Patients often reported reduced pain, improved clarity, and greater tolerance to intensive nutritional therapies when coffee enemas were incorporated.
It’s important to acknowledge that Gerson Therapy has been heavily criticised and discredited by mainstream medicine, largely due to a lack of acceptance within conventional clinical trial frameworks and its departure from pharmaceutical-based oncology models. Despite this, Gerson’s work has had a lasting influence on integrative and functional medicine, and many of his core insights — particularly around detoxification, nutrition, and the role of the liver — have quietly informed modern holistic health practices.
Today, coffee enemas are not positioned as a cancer treatment, but rather as a supportive wellness practice that emerged from Gerson’s broader philosophy:
that supporting the body’s elimination pathways, reducing toxic load, and improving metabolic efficiency are foundational to health.
What Coffee Enemas May Support
At pH Clinic, we view coffee enemas as a supportive practice, not a cure or replacement for medical care.
When used appropriately, coffee enemas may help support:
• Liver and gallbladder function
• Bile flow and elimination pathways
• The body’s natural detoxification processes
• Glutathione production — the body’s master antioxidant
• Relief from sluggish digestion or feelings of heaviness
• Reduced toxic load between colonic treatments
Many people also report feeling clearer, lighter, and more grounded afterward — which may relate to reduced inflammatory load and improved elimination.
The Science (In Simple Terms)
Coffee contains compounds such as caffeine, cafestol, palmitic acid and kahweol.
When absorbed rectally:
• These compounds may stimulate the liver’s detoxification enzymes
• Bile ducts may gently dilate, supporting bile flow
• Glutathione S-transferase activity may increase – an enzyme system involved in neutralising toxins
Importantly, because the coffee bypasses digestion, many people do not experience the jittery or stimulating effects associated with drinking coffee.
Coffee Enemas vs Colonics
This is an important distinction.
• Colonic hydrotherapy provides a deep, thorough cleanse of the large intestine using filtered, temperature-controlled water in a clinical setting.
• Coffee enemas work primarily on liver support and bile flow and cleanse only the lower portion of the colon.
At pH Clinic, we see coffee enemas as a complement, not a substitute, for colonics.
Tips for Safe & Effective Coffee Enema Practice
If you’re incorporating coffee enemas at home, we recommend:
• Use organic, mycotoxin-free, fair-trade coffee only – we created some so you don’t have to scour the internet for it.
• The roast is an important factor, you do not want dark roast, you want a light to medium roast as this dictates the level of palmitic acid present in the coffee which will impact your experience.
• Brew using filtered water and allow to cool completely
• Never use instant or flavoured coffee
• Start slowly – less is more
• Always listen to your body
• Ensure proper hygiene and cleaning of your kit
• Stay hydrated before and after
This is why we created the pH Wellness Enema Kit — to provide a reusable, hospital-grade, easy-to-clean option designed for safety and longevity.
A Note on Nervous System Support
The rectum is richly innervated, meaning enemas – when done gently and consciously — can also influence the nervous system.
Many people find that coffee enemas become not just a physical cleanse, but a quiet, grounding ritual that invites stillness and reconnection with the body.
Final Thoughts
Coffee enemas are not about forcing detoxification or pushing the body beyond its limits. They are about supporting the body’s innate intelligence, gently assisting elimination pathways, and creating conditions where the body can do what it is designed to do.
As with all holistic practices, education, intention, and respect are key.
If you’re unsure whether coffee enemas are right for you, or would like deeper support through Colonic Hydrotherapy, our team at pH Clinic is always here to guide you. We also offer Coffee Colonics administered via our device by one of our practitioners if doing it yourself feels too daunting right now.
Written by Nicola Johnson
Founder, pH Clinic
Holistic Health Practitioner & Educator
Creator of the pH Wellness Enema Kit
