Resources & History
Enemas have a long history, documented in ancient cultures and medical records across the world. Specifically, coffee enemas have become well-known through their use in Gerson Therapy.
Before the 1950s and the rise of pharmaceutical laxatives, enemas were a standard hospital treatment for constipation and were commonly used to cleanse the colon before surgeries or childbirth (Shea, Way). Research from the University of Minnesota also showed that rectally-administered coffee can stimulate the liver enzyme glutathione S-transferase, increasing its activity by 600 - 700%. This enzyme neutralises free radicals -substances that can damage cells and allows them to be excreted through the intestinal tract.
Further studies in the 1920s by German professors demonstrated that caffeine travels via the hemorrhoidal vein and portal system to the liver, opening bile ducts and enabling toxin release through bile flow. The compounds in coffee, including theobromine, theophylline, and caffeine, dilate blood vessels and bile ducts, relax smooth muscles, and enhance bile flow.
At Happy Bum Co, we do not claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease through enemas, nor do we claim to have created this practice. However, with over 17 years of clinical experience in gut health and detoxification, we’ve witnessed countless positive case studies. We are dedicated to collecting evidence and expanding resources to increase literature that accurately reflects the benefits of this practice.
Resources
Learn more about enemas with these helpful resources
Case Reports
An Enzyme-based Nutritional Protocol in Metastatic Cancer: Case Reports of a Patient with Colon Cancer and a Patient with Lung Cancer. 25(4):16-19, 2019. PMID 31202206.
Linitis Plastica Gastric Cancer: A Case Report. Dr. Isaacs, MD. Aug/Sep 2016:68-69.
Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL. The Gonzalez Therapy and Cancer: a Collection of Case Reports. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 13(1):46-55, 2007. PMID 17283741. There are 31 cases, beginning on page 4.
Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL. “Evaluation of Pancreatic Proteolytic Enzyme Treatment of Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas, With Nutrition and Detoxification Support.” 33(2): 117-124, 1999. PMID: 10368805.
Evaluating Anecdotes and Case Reports. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 13(2):36-8, 2007. PMID 17405677.
Theory
Pancreatic Proteolytic Enzymes and Cancer: New Support for an Old Theory.
Integrative Cancer Therapies, 21:15347354221096077, 2022. PMID: 35514109.
Pancreatic Enzymes: Not Just for Digestion. Price-Pottenger Journal, 45(4):4-13, 2021. In addition to the article by Dr. Isaacs, there are interviews of three of her patients.
Pancreatic Proenzymes and Primitive Cells, Townsend Letter, August/September 2022.
A Brief History of Glandular Therapy: More than Just Thyroid. 22(2):26-31, 2023. PMID 37363152.
Glandular Supplements Explained. 47(3):12-19,2023.
Coffee Enemas: A Narrative Review. 27(3):46-49, 2021. PMID 33711817.
Foreword to Nutrition and the Autonomic Nervous System by Nicholas J. Gonzalez, M.D.
Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL. ISBN: 978-0-9821965-0-2.
Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL. Statistics: Why Meaningful Statistics Cannot Be Generated from a Private Practice. 21(2): 11-15, 2015. PMID: 25830274.
Isaacs LL. Dr. Franklin Shively's Multiple Proteolytic Enzyme Therapy of Cancer. Dr. Shively treated patients with intravenous enzymes in the 1950s and 1960s. The Townsend Letter published Dr. Isaacs' review of his book in their November 2021 issue.
Research Battles: Survival Tips From a Veteran. 14(5):30-2, 2015. PMID 26770164. A discussion of the mismanaged clinical trial comparing enzyme treatment with chemotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer, focusing on the errors in the design of the study.
Further Links
Share your best answershttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12029384/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15680679/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25136541/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17351030/
University of Manchester, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, Coupland III, Coupland Street, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. alex.molassiotis@manchester.ac.uk
A General Practitioner. The Illustrated Family Doctor. Dunstable: Waterlow and Sons; 1934.
Allison CC. Operative Technique in Appendicitis, with Cases. West Med Review. 1896;1:152-154. Full text available at http://google.com/books?id=tOVXAAAAMAAJ.
Cachot MA. Case of Poisoning by Aconite; Enema of Coffee in the Treatment. Pac Med Surg J. 1866;9:239-240. Full text available at http://google.com/books?id=BkAgAQAAIAAJ
Dekkers R. Apple juice and the chemical-contact softening of gallstones. Lancet. 1999;354:2171. PMID 10609857
Douglas BR, Jansen JB, Tham RT, Lamers CB. Coffee stimulation of cholecystokinin release and gallbladder contraction in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;52:553-556. Abstract available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2393014
Eisele JW, Reay DT. Deaths related to coffee enemas. J Am Med Assoc. 1980;244:1608-1609. PMID 7420666
Garbat AL, Jacobi HG. Secretion of bile in response to rectal installations. Arch Intern Med. 1929;44:455-462. Abstract available at jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/536575
Garrison RL. Home Remedy May Help Prevent Surgery in Some Patients with Gallstones. In: Rose VL. Conference Highlights. Am Fam Physician. 1998;57:785-786. Full text available at http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0215/p785.html.
Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Birkholz D. (2013). Biomonitoring and Elimination of Perfluorinated Compounds and Polychlorinated Biphenyls through Perspiration: Blood, Urine, and Sweat Study. ISRN Toxicol. 2013:2013:483832. Full text available at www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2013/483832
Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Birkholz D, Lobo RA. Human excretion of bisphenol A: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:185731. Full text available at www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/185731
Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Lobo RA, Birkholz D. Human elimination of phthalate compounds: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. Scient World J. 2012;2012:615068. Full text available at www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2012/615068.
Genuis SJ, Lane K, Birkholz D. Human Elimination of Organochlorine Pesticides: Blood, Urine, and Sweat Study. Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:1624643. Full text available at www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2016/1624643
Genuis SK, Birkholz D, Genuis SJ. Human Excretion of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Flame Retardants: Blood, Urine, and Sweat Study. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:3676089. Full text available at www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2017/3676089
Herron RE, Fagan JB. Lipophil-mediated reduction of toxicants in humans: an evaluation of an ayurvedic detoxification procedure. Altern Ther Health Med. 2002;8:40-51. Abstract available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12233802
Hoffman JB, Petriello MC, Hennig B. Impact of nutrition on pollutant toxicity: an update with new insights into epigenetic regulation. Rev Environ Health. 2017;32(1-2),65-72. Full text available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5489226
Kim ES, Chun HJ, Keum B, et al. Coffee enema for preparation for small bowel video capsule endoscopy: a pilot study. Clin Nutr Res. 2014;3(2):134-141. Full text available at synapse.koreamed.org/DOIx.php?id=10.7762/cnr.2014.3.2.134
Kunutsor SK, Khan H, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen T, Willeit P, Laukkanen JA. Sauna bathing reduces the risk of stroke in Finnish men and women: A prospective cohort study. Neurology. 2018;90(22):e1937-e1944. Abstract available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29720543
Kunutsor SK, Laukkanen T, Laukkanen JA. Sauna bathing reduces the risk of respiratory diseases: a long-term prospective cohort study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2017;32(12):1107-1111. Abstract available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28905164
Margolin KA, Green MR. Polymicrobial enteric septicemia from coffee enemas. West J Med. 1984;140:460. Full text available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1021723
McClain ME. The patient's needs: Enemas. Scientific Principles in Nursing. St. Louis, MO: The C.V. Mosby Company; 1950:168.
The Medicinal Employment of Coffee. Sanitary Record. 1897;20:105S-106S. Full text available at books.google.com/books?id=tS0TAAAAYAAJ
Mississippi Valley Medical Association Society Proceedings. West Med Review. 1896;1:189-194. Available at http://google.com/books?id=tOVXAAAAMAAJ.
Richards DG, McMillin DL, Mein EA, Nelson CD. Colonic irrigations: a review of the historical controversy and the potential for adverse effects. J Altern Complement Med. 2006;12(4):389-393. Full text available at https://www.meridianinstitute.com/reports/colonic.pdf
Sies CW, Brooker J. Could these be gallstones? Lancet. 2005;365:1388. PMID 15836886
Stajano C. The concentrated coffee enema in the therapeutics of shock. Uruguayan Med Surg Special Arch. 1941;29:1-27.
https://www.drlindai.com/Alt-ther-5-2021.pdf
https://www.meridianinstitute.com/reports/colonic.pdf
https://www.thefinleycenter.com/uploads/3/7/7/4/37741423/how_coffee_enemas_work.pdf
https://www.risingsunyoga.com/articles/history-of-coffee-enema-and-why-it-works