Coffee Enema: Benefits, Risks, And More - Healthline
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Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH — Written by Annette McDermott and Amy McLean — Updated on April 28, 2025- Benefits
- Research
- Who should get one?
- Risks and warnings
- How it’s done
- Takeaway
A coffee enema is a type of colon cleanse in alternative medicine. It involves injecting a mixture of brewed, caffeinated coffee and water into the colon through the rectum. Scientific evidence for its effectiveness is limited.
Coffee enemas may have originated from German physicians searching for a cancer treatment in the early 1900s. But it was the Gerson therapy that helped put the procedure on the map.
Max Gerson was a German-American doctor who believed that you could detox the body and give it the nutrients it needs to heal itself using an organic plant-based diet, raw juices, and coffee enemas. His rigorous program became known as the Gerson therapy.
Some people believe that coffee enemas can stimulate bile flow and the production of glutathione, a detoxifying antioxidant. However, there are no medical guidelines about who might benefit from coffee enemas, and more research is necessary to understand the possible benefits.
Read on to learn more about the possible benefits of coffee enemas, the possible risks, and more.
What are the potential benefits of a coffee enema?
For many people, one of the main reported benefits of a coffee enema is relief from constipation.
Coffee enema supporters claim the procedure can also have other benefits, such as:
- liver detoxification
- intestinal detoxification
- boosting the immune system
- treating cancer
However, there’s no research to support any of these claims.
»Learn more:Fast Constipation Relief: Tips and Home RemediesWhat the research says about coffee enemas
There’s no scientific evidence that proves that coffee enemas are helpful in treating any medical condition.
Many medical professionals consider colon cleansing to be unnecessary because your body’s digestive system is capable of getting rid of waste, toxins, and bacteria on its own.
Who should consider getting a coffee enema?
There aren’t any official medical guidelines about who should get a coffee enema.
If you’re considering a coffee enema to treat constipation or manage a health condition, it’s best to contact a doctor for advice on treatments that may be safer and more effective.
Coffee enema risks and warnings
Coffee enemas can also be harmful. A 2020 review of case reports found that self-administered coffee enemas caused adverse effects such as:
- abdominal pain
- bloody stool
- rectal pain or burning
- proctocolitis, or inflammation of the rectal lining
- colitis, or inflammation of the colon
The review also noted three deaths following coffee enema. The following occurred in the respective cases:
- sodium and chloride depletion
- fluid overload
- septicemia, or blood poisoning, in an individual with existing compromised liver function and portal hypertension
While underlying conditions may have increased the risk of severe side effects or death in some cases, these findings suggest that coffee enemas are generally not safe.
How do you do a coffee enema?
There are no official guidelines on how to perform a coffee enema. You should avoid self-administering a coffee enema at home.
Some clinics offer coffee enemas. However, as there are records of coffee enemas causing severe side effects and death, you should always speak with a doctor if you’re considering an enema.
If you choose to have a coffee enema and experience any serious side effects, seek emergency medical help.
The bottom line
Some people claim that coffee enemas can offer benefits such as treating constipation, detoxifying the liver and intestines, boosting the immune system, and even treating cancer.
However, case studies have reported serious side effects, such as bleeding and pain. There are also three records of patient deaths following self-administered coffee enemas.
If you are considering a coffee enema, it is best to contact a doctor first. They can provide more information about the possible risks of enemas, including whether it can worsen an existing health condition. They can also provide advice on treatments that may be safer and more effective.
How we reviewed this article:
SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.- Gerson therapy. (2022).https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/gerson
- Son H, et al. (2020). The safety and effectiveness of self-administered coffee enema.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7478478/
- The truth about toxins. (n.d.).https://www.rush.edu/news/truth-about-toxins
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Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH — Written by Annette McDermott and Amy McLean — Updated on April 28, 2025related stories
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