Coffee enema

Coffee enema
A murphy drip

Coffee enemas are the enema-related procedure of inserting coffee into the anus to cleanse the rectum and large intestines. This procedure, although well documented, is considered by most medical authorities to be unproven, rash and potentially dangerous.[1][2]

A Murphy drip is an example of an apparatus that may be used to administer this procedure.

Contents

History

While the idea of anal cleansing dates back to the Egyptians, the notion of caffeine as an enema-related substance is relatively new. It was conceived in 1917, and appeared in the Merck Manual until 1972.[3]

In 1920, German scientists investigated caffeine's effect on the bile duct and small intestines. Dr. Max Gerson proposed coffee enemas had a positive effect of the gastro-intestinal tract; Gerson said that coffee enemas had positive effects on patients with tuberculosis, and later even cancer. He claimed that unlike saline enemas, the caffeine traveled through the smooth muscle of the small intestine, and into the liver. This, he said, cleared even more of the gastro-intestinal tract and removed more toxins and bile than a normal enema. He told his patients often that the "coffee enemas are not given for the function of the intestines but for the stimulation of the liver."[3]

Claimed benefits

Coffee enemas have been suggested to have an anti-cancer effect, though this has not been demonstrated. They are also used in attempts to treat obesity and constipation. Supporters claim caffeine is absorbed in the colon and "detoxify" the metabolic products of tumors.[4]

Dangers

Coffee enemas are believed to have caused several deaths and have reportedly caused numerous side effects, including infections, severe electrolyte imbalance, colitis, polymicrobial enteric septicemia and heart failure.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Electrolyte imbalance from coffee enemas, if severe enough, can cause death.[7]

If the coffee is inserted too quickly or is too hot, it could cause internal burning[10] or rectal perforation.[11]

References

  1. ^ Ernst E (June 1997). "Colonic irrigation and the theory of autointoxication: a triumph of ignorance over science". J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 24 (4): 196–8. doi:10.1097/00004836-199706000-00002. PMID 9252839. http://meta.wkhealth.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/lwwgateway/media/landingpage.htm?issn=0192-0790&volume=24&issue=4&spage=196. 
  2. ^ Shils ME, Hermann MG (April 1982). "Unproved dietary claims in the treatment of patients with cancer". Bull N Y Acad Med 58 (3): 323–40. PMC 1805327. PMID 7052177. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1805327. 
  3. ^ a b Moss, Ph.D., Ralph W. "The Cancer Chronicles" 2nd ed. Austin, Texas: 1994. (6-7)
  4. ^ a b Lee, C.; Song, S.; Jeon, J.; Sung, M.; Cheung, D.; Kim, J.; Kim, J.; Lee, Y. (2008). "Coffee enema induced acute colitis". The Korean journal of gastroenterology = Taehan Sohwagi Hakhoe chi 52 (4): 251–254. PMID 19077527.  edit
  5. ^ "Colon Therapy". American Cancer Society. 2008-01-11. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/ManualHealingandPhysicalTouch/colon-therapy. Retrieved 2011-05-13. 
  6. ^ Margolin, K.; Green, M. (1984). "Polymicrobial enteric septicemia from coffee enemas". The Western journal of medicine 140 (3): 460. PMC 1021723. PMID 6710988. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1021723.  edit
  7. ^ a b Eisele, J.; Reay, D. (1980). "Deaths related to coffee enemas". JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association 244 (14): 1608–1609. doi:10.1001/jama.244.14.1608. PMID 7420666.  edit
  8. ^ Keum, B.; Jeen, Y. T.; Park, S. C.; Seo, Y. S.; Kim, Y. S.; Chun, H. J.; Um, S. H.; Kim, C. D. et al. (2010). "Proctocolitis Caused by Coffee Enemas". The American Journal of Gastroenterology 105 (1): 229–230. doi:10.1038/ajg.2009.505. PMID 20054322.  edit
  9. ^ "Livingston-Wheeler Therapy". Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center. 2011-05-09. http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69283.cfm. Retrieved 2011-05-13. 
  10. ^ Sashiyama, H.; Hamahata, Y.; Matsuo, K.; Akagi, K.; Tsutsumi, O.; Nakajima, Y.; Takaishi, Y.; Takase, Y. et al. (2008). "Rectal burn caused by hot-water coffee enema". Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 68 (5): 1008–1009. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2008.04.017. PMID 18657805.  edit
  11. ^ Paran, H.; Butnaru, G.; Neufeld, D.; Magen, A.; Freund, U. (1999). "Enema-induced perforation of the rectum in chronically constipated patients". Diseases of the colon and rectum 42 (12): 1609–1612. doi:10.1007/BF02236216. PMID 10613482.  edit

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