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.  

Are Parasites the Cause of Your Health Concerns?

Are you having trouble sleeping, fatigue, or mood swings? Trouble with your bowel movements or bloating? When you go to your MD these types of complaints are considered manageable and if treated, they are treated usually with over-the-counter medication to only get symptom relief without addressing the real issue.  In my office very frequently these symptoms are indicators of something that most doctors are not trained to look for, adding to the number of undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and wrongly-medicated cases. PARASITES!

The truth is emerging and unbiased science is backing it up. Parasites may be responsible for many common conditions like joint pain, chronic fatigue, immune and digestive disorders; however, most doctors who practice Western medicine are not properly educated to recognize signs of parasitic infections.

What is a parasite?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define a parasite as an organism that lives on or in a host organism and derives its food from or at the expense of the host. Right away you may be thinking intestinal worms, which is correct, but the parasitic population is much bigger.

According to a report from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), the helminth (worm) class of parasites alone is estimated to be between 75,000 and 300,000 species strong. PNAS also indicated that they have no credible way of estimating the number of parasitic protozoa due in part to the continual discovery of new species and extinction of others [Dobson et al.. (2008). Homage to Linnaeus: How many parasites? How many hosts?. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , August(105), 11482-11489. Retrieved 26 May, 2015, from  http://www.pnas.org/content/105/Supplement_1/11482.full].

Not Just a Problem in Developing Parts of the World

The majority of parasitic infections are reported in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Topping the charts as the most fatal parasitic infection is malaria, which, according to the World Health Organization, was responsible for an estimated 584,000 deaths in 2013 from the nearly 198 million cases reported [World health organization.(2015). 10 facts about malaria.Retrieved 22 May, 2015, from http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/malaria/en/].

But parasites don’t care where you live or whether or not you have access to adequate healthcare. We’re all equal opportunity hosts. Parasites are prevalent, even today in developed countries with advanced public health and safety practices designed to keep harmful organisms out of food and water supplies. Because total eradication of parasites is impossible, they just might be one of the greatest hidden health threats contributing to under diagnosed diseases and conditions in the West, and indeed all over the world.

I get asked a lot from my patients who are doing a parasite cleanse how they got the parasite in the first place.  There is no way to know for sure but unwashed fruits and vegetables can have parasites on them.  Raw meat or fish, contaminated water (think Mexico), insect bites (insects carry parasites) and pets are the most common places.  In 2014 there were 304 confirmed cases of illness caused by Cyclospora. Of those cases, 133 were linked back to eating contaminated fresh cilantro imported from Mexico [Centers for disease control and prevention.(c2015). Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigations — United States, 2014. Retrieved 22 May, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/2014/]. 

In 2007 there were 31 confirmed cases of waterborne Giardia in a New Hampshire community. After a thorough investigation, the illness was linked to the community’s treated water supply [Daly et al..(2010).Epidemiology and Infection. Outbreak of giardiasis associated with a community drinking-water source ,138(4),491-500. Retrieved22 May, 2015, from http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1017/S0950268809990744]. And these cases are just a tiny fraction of the parasitic infestations that have occurred in the United States within the last decade.

Your best defense to not getting a parasite is a strong immune system. That way if you eat an apple with a parasite in it or some raw fish sushi, you would ingest it and the acid in your stomach would start killing it, sending signals to the immune system that there is an invader and the immune system would do the rest.  In a healthy body, parasite in, parasite out.  Parasites thrive in individuals with compromised immune systems. Young children and the elderly are also at greater risk due to fragile immune systems that have not built up sufficient immunity or have lost immune strength respectively. But even those considered healthy with relatively good immune function are becoming susceptible to parasitic infections due in large part from daily exposure to pollutants and toxins that overstimulate and exhaust the immune system, resulting in diminished ability to fend off pathogens naturally. Pollutants include solvents used in the manufacturing of products, including food. Solvents weaken the natural immunity barrier that should protect us so detoxing heavy metals and chemicals is also part of a good parasite cleanse.  If you have any heavy metal or chemicals in your body it creates an environment in your body where parasites can thrive.  

Diagnosing Parasites

Despite the prevalence of parasites and their ability to cause a multitude of health problems, the diagnosis of a parasitic infestation as the primary cause for many ailments is often overlooked. Why? Largely because the medical community doesn’t know what to look for. Physicians schooled in what is considered modern, Western medicine are typically not trained in parasitology, and therefore are not readily equipped to recognize the correlation between symptoms of illness and parasites.

Common ailments, including skin rashes, gastrointestinal discomfort, and insomnia are easily affiliated with other diseases. Certainly the changes the body undergoes as it passes through different stages of the lifecycle can also mask signs of a parasitic infestation, as can the body’s reaction to something ingested, exposure to a chemical, or even seasonal climate changes. This leaves the door open for inconclusive testing, misdiagnosis, and treatment for symptoms instead of the undefined cause.

Testing for Parasites

Considering that many people harboring a parasite don’t know they are infected, and because there are few clear signals that point to a parasitic infestation directly, how can you get tested if your own doctor doesn’t think a parasite is the likely cause of your ailment? Be your own advocate. Insist on being screened for a parasitic infestation. Tests can be performed to look for evidence of parasites, even in medical facilities that follow the Western medicine approach.

More than one type of test may be needed to confirm the presence of a parasite.

1. Stool Sample

This test is looking for eggs from parasites that cause intestinal issues such as diarrhea, loose or watery stools, cramping, and gas. A single stool sample may be inconclusive and perhaps only show evidence if the sample were taken around the time the adult parasite laid its eggs. A more reliable test would utilize three or more stool samples since the elimination of eggs in the stool tends to be cyclical. Parasites in the upper GI tract may not leave evidence in a standard stool sample.

A purged stool test using a powerful laxative may yield more conclusive results. This type of test is more useful when looking for Giardia, amoeba, roundworms, threadworms, tapeworms, flukes, Cryptosporidium, and hookworms.

2. Rectal Mucus Sample

Sampling rectal mucus may be a more reliable way than a stool sample when looking for a parasitic infestation because parasite eggs are prone to adhere to the mucus.

3. Direct Tissue Sample

Parasites that do not inhabit the lower GI tract, but rather in muscles and other tissues, will not show up in stool samples. Direct tissue samples will need to be obtained and tested.

4. Blood Test

Some blood tests can be used as a general indicator of a parasitic infection, but may not be relied on alone for confirmation. Blood tests can also be used to look for specific antibodies to some parasites, but in an individual whose immune system is already compromised to the point that they’ve stopped making antibodies, a blood test may be of little use. 

5. Endoscopy & Colonoscopy

Endoscopy and colonoscopy can be used to look for parasites and other abnormalities in the GI tract. The procedure is done by inserting a tube equipped with a mini camera down the mouth (endoscopy) or through the rectum (colonoscopy).

6. X-ray, MRI, CAT

These imaging tests can be utilized to look for some parasitic diseases that cause lesions in the organs.

7. Biofeedback

Some holistic doctors, including myself, use one of the increasingly popular biofeedback tests (muscle testing) to gauge physiological function and to determine the presence of a foreign stressor, such as parasite.  

Treating Parasites

Treatment for parasitic infestations is not a one size fits all deal. And unfortunately it’s certainly not something that can be cleared fast.

Prescription drugs are often oral pesticides with toxic chemicals that would otherwise not be suitable for consumption, and there’s no guarantee that they will work.  Sometimes they kill 90% of the parasites but the other 10% is remaining to continue causing havoc in your body. Some of the prescribed drugs are recognized as teratogens, agents that can cause malformation of a developing fetus.

Prescription parasiticides are designed to be effective against a single organism. They generally don’t have a broad reach and as with most prescriptions, they have side effects. If you have more than one parasite (which is common), you need to take more than one drug and suffer the side effects of multiple medications. But before medication can be prescribed lab testing is needed to clearly identify the organism. Unfortunately, testing for parasites is not an exact science, so there’s a chance that you may never know just how many parasites are in your body.

Much like strains of drug-resistant bacteria that have evolved over the years, parasites learn to adapt and can become resistant to certain medications and deterrent chemicals that were once thought to be effective forms of treatment. Chlorine, for example, was once believed to be a powerful disinfectant and preventative measure that could keep waterborne illnesses in check. However, outbreaks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia have been reported from water sources that met the chlorine treatment standards of quality at the time.

The CDC was forced to make a bold admission, stating that Cryptosporidium eggs are resistant to chlorine. Their findings were based on several outbreaks of legionnaire’s disease, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia linked to the use of chlorinated hot tubs, public spas, and swimming pools [Shields, J.M, Gleim, E.R & Beach, M.J. (2008). Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia intestinalis in Swimming Pools, Atlanta, Georgia. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 14(6), 948–950. Retrieved 26 May, 2015, from  doi: 10.3201/eid1406.071495].

Admittedly, sometimes looking to the past for answers is wise. Some individuals choose to approach parasitic infestations like our ancestors did. Herbal remedies that were used in tribal and folk medicine for centuries have made a comeback thanks in part to trained healers keeping these practices alive and to patients looking for an alternative to prescription medications.

Herbs do not have the toxic, synthetic chemicals found in prescription medications, and they are less likely to have the unwanted side effects of prescriptions. Further, herbs support the theory of strengthening the immune system and keeping intestinal flora in balance so that parasites are less likely to thrive. Compared to the prescription drug approach it’s easy to see that parasite cleanses with herbs and potent essential oils can be far more beneficial.

For parasitic infections, among the most common herbs that people test for in my office are black walnut hull, garlic, wormwood, and cloves. While each herb has its own antimicrobial properties, they are often used together for greater effectiveness. Essential oils can also be used effectively against parasites.  Using muscle testing (biofeedback) we develop a specific designed clinical nutrition program for you.  

Patience must be practiced when using herbal remedies. You will most likely need to take them for a few months, even if you start feeling better sooner. You must continue to take the herbs over the entire lifecycle of the parasite. The adults are likely to be killed first, but not the eggs. Being persistent about continuing the treatment better ensures that the maturing parasites will eventually die off as well.

Ultimately, the best treatment for parasites remains prevention. But with the prevalence of parasites in and among our everyday lives, we’re all potential hosts on the cusp of being infected.

You may also need to consider cleansing the body of other accumulated toxins that suppress immune function and allow parasites to thrive. Toxic heavy metals and overgrowth of Candida yeast can strain the immune system over long periods of time without clear signs of doing so. There’s often a correlation between heavy metal toxicity, Candida overgrowth, and parasitic infections with unhealthy biofilms in the gut. So cleansing heavy metals and Candida to improve the health of intestinal biofilms and to empower immune function is often what I help patients with when cleansing parasites.  

Life After Treating Parasites

Once your parasitic infection has been cleared, certain lifestyle changes are encouraged to prevent re-infestation. Now the focus shifts to strengthening the immune system through a combination of protocols:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Store and prepare food properly.
• Get your water tested for both microorganisms and toxins (remember, parasites like weakened immune systems, including those weakened by toxins).

It’s a complex and detrimental human health problem when many of our physicians would never think to look for a parasite infestation as a primary cause of illness. This leaves patients undiagnosed or misdiagnosed while parasites continue to cause damage to organs and tissues and steal essential nutrients from the body. This scenario also leaves physicians prescribing strong drugs that cause further stress on the immune system and the liver by introducing potentially toxic chemicals into the body.

In a nutshell, it comes down to this:

• Take preventative measures.
• Be your own health detective and get tested for parasites.
• If you have a parasite, weigh the pros and cons of each treatment type and decide which course of action to take.
• Be diligent, yet patient with your treatment – you won’t be cured overnight.
• Strengthen your immune system and keep up with the preventative measures to limit re-exposure.

Are Parasites Causing you Harm?

Dr. Oz says that 90% of Americans will have a parasite problem at some point in their lifetime. We, at Healing Arts NYC, tend to agree.

One of the most undiagnosed condition in America is parasites. The various statistics I have seen show that anywhere from 30% to 90% of Americans have parasites. Parasites can cause seemingly random symptoms in various organs of the body, with various degrees of severity. Some symptoms of parasites are the source of great agony, and some are barely noticeable. The most common symptoms are clenching or grinding of the teeth or jaw, bowel discomfort and anal itching. Read through this article to get more of an idea if you might be affected by parasites.

Parasites can be big, like tapeworms: fifteen feet long. They can also be single-celled; only visible with a microscope. They can live anywhere in the body; in the sinuses, around the ears, in the heart and, of course, the intestines. But don't worry, for in my experience, all parasites are treatable and once gone give patients a lot of symptomatic relief.

One of my colleagues grew up in a family of butchers. He could see which cows were sick just by cutting the jaw muscles. Upon slicing the jaw muscles of the sick cows, parasite eggs could be seen. This is a common reason why people grind their teeth at night--because parasites inhabit the jaw muscles. Jaw grinding happens primarily at night when parasites are more active.
Not all parasites lay eggs but some do. The eggs hatch around the time of the full moon, give or take four days. When they hatch, it makes people act crazy. This is why police, teachers and emergency room doctors dread full moons--they will be busier.

In our office, we have seen parasites cause psoriasis, heart problems, constipation, diarrhea, muscle weakness, floaters in the eyes, junk food cravings, excessive appetite, allergies and depression. Many people who complete a parasite program report not only symptomatic relief but also that they are happier and enjoy the company of others more.

To get rid of parasites, Mother Nature has provided us with certain plants. In Japan, people use wasabi (with sushi) and in Mexico, it's hot peppers. In India, people use curry and turmeric to stay free of parasites. Many cultures throughout the world do a parasite cleanse every six months or once a year. The World Health organization recognizes Wormwood as an effective herb to kill parasites. When worms die, they can cause intestinal cramping, pain, diarrhea or constipation. In the toilet, the worms often look like angel hair pasta with a frayed end. They could be a few millimeters long to six inches long. One of my clinician friends had a patient who excreted a two foot roundworm.

To kill egg-laying parasites, it is necessary to take the herbs for ten days, then stop them for five days. This is because for ten days you are killing the "mother" parasite. It releases a chemical that prevents the eggs from hatching. When the mother is dead, the eggs start to hatch. Let them hatch for five days, then start back on the herbs. If you don't, the baby parasites will fight each other to become the next dominant worm. Cycle the program like this for 2 to 3 months. I have had many clients do a parasite program that they picked up at the health food store. I have never seen one of these work, primarily because there is no cycling of the herbs. The herbs may also be ineffective even when cycled properly because they may not be the correct herbs to target the specific parasite a person has. Certain herbs are more effective for certain parasites, and we can discern which herbs are appropriate via muscle testing. Parasites that do not lay eggs do not require cycling of the herbs.

Parasites are largely ignored by the medical profession. I have heard a lot of M.D.'s dismiss the topic by saying, "We don't have parasites in this country." Truthfully, the University of Michigan Parasitology Department identifies 100 parasites a day! I am amazed at the number of people who have health problems from parasites.

The sneaky thing about parasites is that out of more than 1,000 different kinds of parasites that can infect us, we can only detect about 50 of them through regular medical testing. The other 950+ can be found only through alternative methods of testing like Nutrition Response Testing. To be sure that you are free of parasites, call the office and asked to be checked. Bring your family as well, because we often share parasites with each other and our pets.