The Importance of Coffee Enemas for Detoxing

Doing a coffee enema is one method of purification that cleanses the liver and provides a multitude of health benefits to the body. Understandably to is not easy for people to be interested in doing them but the health benefits are amazing.  I especially have people do it if they are fighting cancer or really want to support the liver.  Acceptance of the coffee enema’s value may result from an understanding of its history and therapeutic benefits. Water enemas have been used for detoxification throughout the ages. The use of therapeutic coffee enemas began during WWI. Nurses were using water enemas to help alleviate the post-surgery pain of soldiers. When there was a shortage of water one resourceful nurse used leftover brewed coffee.

Coffee enemas are a vital part of the detoxification process. The purpose of the enemas is to remove toxins accumulated in the liver and to remove free radicals from the bloodstream.

Without entering the digestive tract the caffeine is absorbed through the bowel wall, through the blood vessels, and makes its way directly to the liver. Coffee enemas are more beneficial than water enemas because the caffeine and the palmitates (palmitic acid) work synergistically to stimulate and cleanse the liver and blood. The caffeine travels to the liver opening up the bile ducts and allows the liver to release bile which contains toxins. The enema fluid triggers intestinal muscle contractions and therefore the removal of wastes.

The coffee enema is capable of removing circulating toxins not only because it dilates bile ducts but also stimulates an enzyme system in the liver, most importantly the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, that stimulates glutathione which is capable of neutralizing a vast variety of free radicals and poisons in the bloodstream and facilitates detox in the liver. Glutathione is the primary protein based antioxidant in every cell in the human body. It is primarily synthesized in the liver.

The palmitic acid in caffeine increases the activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) by 600% in the liver and 700% increase in the small intestine. No materials, other than coffee, are known to stimulate as much.

The purpose of the coffee enema is not to clear out the intestines but for the quart of water in the enema to stimulate peristalsis in the gut. A portion of the water also dilutes the bile and increases bile flow, thereby flushing toxic bile (loaded with toxins by the GST enzyme system) out of the intestines. At least a part of the water passes through the wall of the gut and dilutes the hemorrhoidal and then the portal blood which goes into the liver and then actually dilutes the bile and causes more readily increased bile flow.

Ideally the coffee enema should be retained for twelve to fifteen minutes during which time the body’s blood supply circulates and passes through the liver approximately fives times (every three minutes). Since the blood serum is detoxified as it flows through the caffeinated liver the enema is essentially a form of blood filtering.

1. Purchase good quality coffee from www.cafemam.com/node/674. Buy the blend called “therapy”.

2. Purchase an enema bag or bucket from local pharmacy.

3. Add 3 tablespoons of ground coffee beans to a 1⁄2 quart of boiling water (either distilled or bottled water). Let the mixture boil for 3 minutes and allow it to simmer for another 15 minutes.

 4. Filter the mixture with a sieve.

5. Add cool water to the liquid portion to fill up to a total volume of 1 quart.

6. Hang the enema bag or bucket about 18 inches above the body. Prepare yourself to instill the coffee solution into the rectum.

7. Place some soft padding, covering it with a plastic sheet, on the bathroom floor or do in the bathtub.

8. Lie on your back and lift pelvis up to allow gravity to work for you. You may then turn on either side if that helps you to hold the liquid in better.

9. Open the clamp for about 5 seconds and then re-clamp. Take time to let gravity force the liquid into the rectum and bowel. Repeat until as much liquid is in the bowel that can be tolerated. Your goal is to do the full quart.

10. Hold the liquid inside the body for about 15 minutes and then release the liquid into the toilet. Some days the body will not tolerate more than 3 minutes so do not be discouraged as to the difference of times day to day.

11. Coffee enemas can be done as much as several times a day to a maintenance of one per month. They should be done in the morning because the caffeine will be too stimulating at night.  

Health Benefits of Doing Castor Oil Packs

Castor Oil Packs for Liver and Digestion Support

Castor oil comes from the castor seed, native to India. It is extremely high in ricinoleic acid, which is thought to be responsible for its health-promoting abilities. I love to suggest the castor oil pack to patients for liver detox or digestion support.  It is really good for patients with the MTHFR mutation to do a castor oil pack once a week to keep the liver detoxing well despite the gene mutation.  

The idea is to keep castor oil on a piece of cloth on the skin for at least an hour with a heat source to stimulate lymph and liver function. I have had many accounts of patients who noticed better digestion, immediate better sleep, more energy, and clearing of skin symptoms.
NOTE: Check with me or your health care provider before doing a castor oil pack.  It should not be used if pregnant.

The beauty of a castor oil pack is by placing it on the right side of the abdomen or the whole abdomen  is thought to help support the liver and digestive system. It can also be placed directly on strained joints or muscles to reduce inflammation.  (Note: This is not as a substitute for medical care but to speed healing of minor injuries.  Also put on the lower abdomen to help with menstrual pain and difficulties.

What It Does

Castor oil packs harness the anti-inflammatory and lymph stimulating benefits of castor oil but allow safer external use. From a 1999 study:

With a minimal 2-hour therapy period, this study found that castor oil packs produced a “significant” temporary increase in the number of T-11 cells that increased over a 7 hour period following treatment and then returned to normal levels within 24 hours later.
The T-11 cell increase represents a general boost in the body’s specific defense status. Lymphocytes actively defend the health of the body by forming antibodies against pathogens and their toxins. T-cell lymphocytes originate from bone marrow and the thymus gland as small lymphocytes that identify and kill viruses, fungi, bacteria, and cancer cells. T-11 cell lymphocytes supply a fundamental antibody capability to keep the specific defense system strong.

In short, castor oil packs have been said to help detoxify the liver naturally, improve lymphatic circulation, and reduce inflammation.
There is some evidence that it can have a suppressive effect on tumors and a positive effect on arthritis.

How to Do a Castor Oil Pack

Castor oil packs are simple to do at home and I like them because they require me to be still and relax and read a book for at least an hour (not always easy to accomplish). They can be messy, but with proper preparation are not.

You’ll Need

• high-quality castor oil (hexane free)
• unbleached and dye free wool or cotton flannel – can be reused up to 30 times
• a wrap-around pack (or large piece of cotton flannel) or plastic wrap 
• hot water bottle or heating pad
• glass container with lid – I use a quart-size mason jar for storing the oil soaked flannel between uses
• old clothes, towels and sheets – castor oil does stain!

NOTE: I highly recommend carefully prepping the area where you’ll be doing the castor oil pack to prevent mess.  Try using an old shower curtain, covered with a sheet under you to make sure nothing stains. I don’t often have to wash the sheet, and I just fold and store in the bathroom cabinet for the next use.

How to Use a Castor Oil Pack

1. Cut a large piece of cotton flannel and fold into thirds to make three layers. My original piece was 20 inches by 10 inches and when folded it was roughly 7 inches by 10 inches. Yours could be larger or smaller, depending on where you are planning to place it.
2. Thoroughly soak (but not completely saturate) the flannel in castor oil. The easiest way I found to do this was to carefully fold the flannel and place in a quart-size mason jar. I then added castor oil about a tablespoon at a time (every 20 minutes or so) to give it time to saturate. I also gently shook the jar between adding more oil so that the oil could reach all parts of the cloth. Ideally, this should be done the day before to give it time to evenly soak. I save the jar since this is where I keep the flannel between uses (it can be used about 30 times).
3. Carefully remove and unfold the castor oil soaked cloth.
4. While lying on an old towel or sheet, place the cloth on the desired body part.
5. Cover with the wrap-around pack or cotton flannel, and place the heating pack on top of this. Less optimally, a plastic grocery bag can be used prevent any oil from getting on the heating pad. A hot water bottle, electric heating pad, or rice heating pad can be used, but hot water bottles and rice packs may need to be reheated several times.
6. Lie on back with feet elevated (I typically lie on the floor and rest my feet on the couch) and relax for 30-60 minutes.
7. Use this time to practice deep breathing, read a book, meditate, or pray (or whatever you find relaxing).
8. After the desired time, remove the pack and return the flannel to the glass container. Store in fridge.
9. Use a natural soap or a mix of baking soda and water to remove any castor oil left on the skin.
10. Relax and rest. Make sure to drink enough water and stay hydrated after doing this to support detox.

Other Ways to Use Castor Oil

Castor oil is handy to have around the house for other uses as well. Use castor oil externally to:

• Apply to dry skin, rashes, boils, age spots, warts, and any undesirable skin defects
• Treat toenail fungus
• Soothe a sprain, injury, or sore joints
• Apply to areas of back pain
• To cleanse and soothe abdomen when having digestive or reproductive trouble

As a rule of thumb, when trouble begins, apply a series of castor oil packs for 60-90 minutes about 3 times a week for a 3 week period. Consult with a doctor to be exact on how many times a week is good for you.  
Have you ever used a castor oil pack?  Share your experience below!

                

The Truth About Weight Loss

When people come to my office to lose weight I must first explain to them that I am not a ‘quick fix’ doctor and that my patients are in it not to just lose weight but to create a healthier body. True health is about lifestyle changes. While my weight loss patients make adjustments in their lifestyle to follow the guidance I give them they go through 3 phases. The first phase is the transition to restore the metabolism. Once that is established then the body can start losing weight (step 2) and then the final step is to maintain optimal health.
The transition is a journey of healing. You can only be in your transition if you are improving your nutrition and lifestyle habits.
During the transition one’s hormones will change in response to the nutrition and lifestyle changes that are being made and this allows the body to heal. However, balanced hormones will not happen immediately—there are sequential steps of healing that everyone must take.
When a patient starts their transition process by improving their habits, their body will begin to rebalance its hormones. Their body will also rebuild at the cellular level with nutrients that were not available during previous poor habits. The more damaged the current metabolism, the longer it will take for this process to be completed.
When one has healed their metabolism, they are primed to lose fat weight, if needed. Once they have lost all their excess fat, they are through steps 1 and 2.

The Three Transition Stages
For most people, the transition (step 1) to a healthy metabolism consists of three main stages. Here is what you may expect as you journey through your transition to health. You begin at your initial starting point and then enter 1) a healing phase. Then you enter a 2) fat burning phase, if you need to burn fat before you finally reach a 3) healed state. Depending on your current metabolism, your body may skip the healing and/or fat-burning phases.
Let's look at each stage in more detail:
Healing phase
Fat-burning phase
Healed state
The Initial Starting Point
The initial starting point is your current metabolism type and age when you start improving your habits and begin entering your transition. Listed to the right are the four metabolism types an individual can have.
Insulin-sensitive with healthy adrenal glands
Insulin-sensitive with burned-out adrenal glands
Insulin-resistant with healthy adrenal glands
Insulin-resistant with burned-out adrenal glands



These metabolism types are not genetic but acquired. Everyone begins life insulin-sensitive with healthy adrenal glands. It is only after years of poor nutrition and lifestyle habits that you may become insulin-resistant or have burned-out adrenal glands—or have both conditions.
Your age and how long you have had your current metabolism affect the duration of your transition. The older you are and the longer your metabolism has been damaged, the longer it will take for you to complete your transition.

Insulin-sensitive
It is normal to be insulin-sensitive. You are insulin-sensitive if your body responds to all the actions of insulin, including the ability to make and store fats.
The following is what happens when you eat carbohydrates if you are insulin sensitive:
Sugar is taken up by your liver.
Excess sugar in your liver is turned into triglycerides and cholesterol.
Triglycerides and cholesterol are taken up by various cells of your body.
Sugar is also taken up by your cells.
When all the sugar and fats are in your cells, blood-sugar levels start to drop and insulin levels go back down.
You eat again and the whole process starts all over
Insulin-resistant
Eventually, from sustained high levels of insulin, you become completely insulin-resistant. All your cells are completely overfilled with fats and sugar, and they barely respond to the action of insulin. At this point you usually have high triglyceride blood levels. (High triglyceride levels are not indicators of insulin resistance only. Smoking, stress, birth control pills and drinking alcohol can raise triglyceride levels in your bloodstream also, but that does not necessarily mean that you are insulin-resistant. Do not diagnose yourself as insulin-resistant from your triglyceride blood test alone.)
When you are insulin-resistant, you have high fasting insulin levels, you usually carry your excess fat weight around your midsection and you have one or more of the following symptoms or diseases.
Abnormal cholesterol profiles: High triglyceride levels with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and high apolipoprotein B levels.
Hypertension: Sustained high blood pressure.
Type II diabetes: Sustained high levels of sugar in the bloodstream.
Coronary atheroscelrosis: Plaques in the heart arteries which may cause a heart attack when they rupture.
Cerebral atheroscelrosis: Plaques in the brain which may cause a stroke when they rupture.
Cancers: Abnormal cell growth. Breast, prostate and colon cancers are the most common cancers associated with high insulin levels.
Stein Leventhal Syndrome (SLS): SLS is a female clinical condition of infertility (anovulatory menstrual cycles), acne and/or facial hair.
There are three paths that lead to insulin resistance:
Years of high insulin levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
Years of high adrenaline and/or cortisol levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
Years of high insulin, adrenaline and cortisol levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
If you recognize that you are on any of these paths, now is the time to change your habits!

Your Goal
Your goal is to stay or become insulin-sensitive and to have healthy adrenal glands or to heal them. Therefore, the goal metabolism to have is insulin sensitive with healthy adrenal glands and then and only then will the weight loss start happening! Know that there is hope and weight loss just has to be approached holistically with the ultimate goal is changing how your body responds to insulin. This way you lose weight AND keep it off!

Own Your Power With a Balanced Solar Plexus

The 3rd chakra or solar-plexus is located just above the naval and below the rib cage. It is our energy center and it is where our Will Power comes from; our ability to achieve, self-esteem, raw emotions, and self-discipline are all governed by the solar-plexus. It is where we can have a mental understanding of our emotional self.

The solar-plexus not only governs the emotional and mental aspect of your psyche but also your psychic experiences. Often a feeling of intuition or “gut feeling” in a certain situation will benefit you greatly if you listen to it. All aspects of the digestive tract, including the assimilation of nutrients are controlled by the 3rd Chakra.

When this Chakra is in balance you will be in complete control over your emotions and thoughts. Your ego will have no unwanted influence over your actions. You will know without a doubt, and accept your place in the Universe, have self-love and, in turn, have a great appreciation for all the people in your life.

If you are interested in purchasing the solar plexus chakra yellow glasses just Click Here.


Over-active Solar-plexus Chakra

If your chakra is over-active you may be judgmental or critical – and you will easily find fault in others. You may be demanding and have extreme emotional problems, being very rigid or stubborn (it’s either your way or no way). Often anger, or aggressiveness result from an over-active chakra. You may always be planning to do things, but never doing, and your work or interests become a priority over things you have to do (a workaholic). You may also be a perfectionist and can’t settle on something that is already good enough, it always has to be better.


Under-active Solar-plexus Chakra

If this chakra is under active it can cause severe emotional problems. You may have a lot of doubt and mistrust towards the people in your life, and worry too much about what other people might think about you. In this way you are giving away your power to what you think others may be thinking of you.  You need to know that it is none of your business what other people think of you nor do you really have any control over it.  You may also run on “auto pilot” avoiding your feelings of depression or anxiety; you may feel afraid or alone when you start to look at what you have been avoiding. You also may feel that you are not good enough and be seeking a constant approval of others, this can lead to a need, or dependency on the people in your life.

Physical Symptoms of a Solar-plexus imbalance: Poor digestion, weight problems, ulcers, diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, arthritis, pacreas, liver or kidney problems, anorexia, bulimia, hepatitis, intestinal tumors, food allergies and colon disease.

Healing the Solar-plexus

There are many ways one can begin to balance their Chakras.

Affirmation for the Solar-plexus: I am confident in all that I do. I am successful and release my creative energy into this world, effortlessly.

Color of the solar-plexus is associated with the color yellow. You can picture a beautiful yellow sunflower where the chakra is located. Yellow candles, clothes or surrounding yourself with pictures of yellow things can begin to bring this chakra into balance.

Organs/Glands governed by the solar-plexus: Large Intestine, Stomach, Digestive System, Adrenal Glands, Pancreas, Liver, Lungs.

Stones that help the solar-plexus: citrine, topaz, yellow calcite

Aromatherapy/Essential Oils for the Solar-plexus: My favorite is Lemon but also rose, sandalwood, chamomile, rosemary, myrrh, frankincense.

Healing the Solar-plexus with Nature: The Solar-plexus’ Element is Fire. Taking a walk out in the sun is extremely beneficial. Sitting in front of a camp fire, or fire place can have an instant healing effect.

Solar plexus Chakra-cise – Movement is great for chakras.  Laughter moves all chakra energy. Specific movements to open up the Solar Plexus - do the twist, belly dance or hola hoop for at least 70 seconds.  Any Abdominal exercises.  Deep breathing with the diaphragm

When Losing Weight, Where Does the Fat Go?

When losing weight I have patients write down everything they eat and drink, holding them accountable for their food choices and to see specifically how many carbohydrates they are consuming. For more on carbohydrate consumption and weight gain read "The Schwarzbein Principle". I also think it's a good idea for patients to be able to understand what is happening in their bodies as they lose weight on the cellular level. A word of caution, I use scientific words in the following!

When you consume calories beyond what your body needs, you will end up storing that extra energy in the form of triglycerides within fat droplets of individual fat cells. Carbohydrates are easiest to make into fat. Assuming that blood sugar levels are adequate, the carbohydrates will then be stored as glycogen. Muscles and the liver use glycogen for energy. But muscle does not have the necessary enzymes to synthesize all carbohydrates into glycogen; therefore the liver converts the majority of carbohydrates into liver glycogen. Since the liver is responsible for supplying energy to the entire body, once its stores are full, it is responsible for signaling the body to convert the extra carbohydrates to fatty acids to make triglycerides and store it in the fat cells. This is how carbohydrates are easily converted to fat.



When attempting to lose weight, you increase energy output and lower energy input such that the body dips into its energy storage within fat cells to keep itself going. When breaking down fat, the triglyceride is taken out of storage from the fat cell and broken down and used as energy by the body. As a fat cell liberates more and more triglycerides during times of negative caloric balance, it becomes smaller and smaller, but never disappears.

The whole process can be summarized in the following chemical equation:
Triglyceride (C55H104O6) + 78O2→ 55CO2 + 52H2O + energy

So yes, when broken down, fat is used to create energy. I also wanted to show you that 1 triglyceride molecule (with the help of oxygen) is converted to a bunch of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). So if we do the math as they did in this scientific experiment, when somebody loses 10 kg of fat (triglyceride), 8.4 kg is exhaled as CO2 while the remaining 1.6 kg is lost as water in urine, feces, sweat, tears and other bodily fluids.

So, when fat is lost, it is mostly exhaled as carbon dioxide (84%), with the remainder (16%) being excreted as water.

Interestingly, this also means that the lungs are the primary excretory organ for fat. Breathing from the diaphragm is important and breathing exercises have helped patients in my office decrease their emotional and physical stress and also boost their immune system. We can see now it is also important when one is trying to lose weight. There are many articles on breathing exercises to lose weight and only now do I see the validity. Try one and if you see results please let me know so I can pass it on to others!

Is Your LIver Toxic?

When working with people in getting rid of toxins I help the body pull the toxins out of the cells and into the bloodstream to then be detoxed by the liver and kidneys and then out through the bowels or urine. Sometimes the liver is already burdened and cannot do this job well so to help jump start the liver and allow the person to detox without problems I suggest a liver flush. I also suggest one when the patient has a history of or I suspect, gallstones.

There are quite a few varieties of liver flushes out there. The one I like the most is from Standard Process with my own slight variations. Here are the steps:

1. From Monday morning to noon on Saturday, in addition to your normal diet, add 4 malic acid a day, 2 at breakfast and 2 at dinner. Dosage may vary person to person so it is best to get the malic acid muscle tested for correct, personal dosage.

2. At noon on Saturday, eat a normal lunch, including salad.

3. Three hours after lunch, take 8 capsules of Disodium Phosphate by Standard Process.

4. Two hours later, take 8 more capsules of Disodium Phosphate. This should be done at least one hour before dinner.

5. Saturday dinner should be only organic citrus or organic citrus juice.

6. At bedtime, drink 4 ounces (1/2 a cup) of unrefined, extra virgin, first-pressed olive oil with the juice of half a lemon. Follow this with a small glass of grapefruit juice.

7. Go to bed. Lie on your right side with your right knee up for 30 minutes.

8. Go to sleep.

9. Upon rising and at least one hour before breakfast, take 8 capsules of Disodium Phosphate again.

10. Sunday will be your cleansing. Continue your regular diet, and you will usually have a loose bowel movement within an hour of step 9. In some individuals this may happen the night before.

11. After this bowel movement do not flush toilet. Instead check for any stones of gelatinous balls. Evaluate their approximate size and number. Report this to your practitioner. Here is an example of what they may look like. Variations of green and greenish brown colors are common.



12. This procedure will leave some people weak. Be prepared to rest after this procedure.

13. If stones or balls are present, this procedure can be repeated in 2 weeks. Talk with your practitioner to make a plan.

14. The number and size of balls will generally diminish when subsequent procedures are done as suggested by practitioner.

15. Some people experience nausea after taking the olive oil. This usually diminishes by the time you go to bed. If olive oil induces vomiting, do not repeat the procedure at this time and discuss with your practitioner.

When a patient vomits or I feel that the liver flush may be too extreme for some patients who I suspect have gallstones or that a sluggish liver is holding back their progress in my office, I then suggest taking malic acid or Chanca Piedra on a regular basis (whichever one the patient muscle tests better for) to help break down gallstones and move sluggish toxins through liver. Slowly but surely this can also get the job done over time!