How to do a coffee enema to exercise the vagus nerve (2023)

If you suffer from poor brain function or chronic intestinal problems, you may benefit from regular coffee enemas to improve communication between your brain and your gut.

The vagus nerve is essential for communication between the brain and the gut, known as the gut-brain axis. This is a long, winding nerve that runs from the brain stem to the major organs.

In functional medicine, we use various exercises to improve the function of the vagus nerve and therefore the communication between the brain and the intestines. However, one of the best is the coffee enema.

The idea of ​​taking an enema makes some people reluctant at first. Once you learn how to improve the gut-brain axis, it may motivate you to give it a try.

Many people report feeling more relaxed and clear afterward. This is probably due to stimulation of the parasympathetic arm, or "rest and digest" of the autonomic nervous system.

How the gut-brain axis drives gut health

The vagus nerve winds its way from the base of the brain to the major organs and serves as a communication route to and from the brain.

This path is known asgut-brain axisor thebrain-gut axisand it is bi-directional, which means that the communication goes both ways. The brain talks to the gut and the gut talks to the brain.

Through the vagus nerve, the brain plays important roles in gut health, including:

• Movement of food through the intestine (motility)
• Release of digestive enzymes to break down food.
• Regulate the flow of blood that carries oxygen, nutrients and immune cells to support intestinal health and repair

How poor brain health leads to poor gut health

Poor brain function leads to poor gut health. As the brain ages, degenerates, is injured, or is otherwise compromised, the overall performance of the vagus nerve declines. As a result, the organs do not receive enough neurological information to function properly. Think of bad water flowing through a hose.

This can cause intestinal health problems such as:

• Difficulty digesting food.
• Constipation or irregular bowel movements
• swelling and puffiness
• Bloating and discomfort after meals.
• food intolerances
• Difficulty swallowing supplements or large bites
• A gag reflex that is overly sensitive or underactive

One of the first signs of poor brain function is poor gut health.

The gut is often one of the first places poor brain function shows up.

Memory loss, inability to find words, difficulty learning new things, and mental confusion are often accompanied by increasedDifficulty digesting food., constant gas and bloating, or alternating constipation and diarrhea.

In fact, Parkinson's disease has been found to attack the gut before the brain. Chronic constipation occurs.agebefore a Parkinson's patient develops tremors. Medicine now recognizes chronic constipation as a possible early warning sign of Parkinson's disease.

If your gut symptoms are getting worse, you need to take your brain health seriously.

It may not be Parkinson's disease, but it certainly points to possible early brain degeneration and decreased function of the gut-brain axis.

How poor gut health can worsen brain health

Just as poor brain health can affect the gut, poor gut health can also worsen brain function.

The intestine uses chemical messengers to send messages to the brain along the vagus nerve. These chemicals affect the brain's immune system and its neurotransmitter activity.

When the intestine is healthy, these messenger proteins can improve memory and learning. However, when the gut is inflamed and unhealthy, these messengers are linked to:

• depression and anxiety
• schizophrenia
• Parkinson's disease
• memory loss

Have you ever felt bloated after eating a certain food and then suddenly felt irritable, depressed, or dizzy? This is an example of how your gut can affect your brain chemistry.

I write more about the vagus nerve and the gut-brain axis in mybrain book.

Exercise your vagus nerve with coffee enemas

In functional medicine, we use various exercises to strengthen the vagus nerve. Like muscles, neurons need constant stimulation to stay healthy and strong.

If you break your arm and wear a cast, those muscles will shrink within a few weeks due to reduced activity. The neurons are the same. Without regular "exercise", they lose their function.

Vagal exercises are easy to do at home. I typically prescribe these exercises for my patients who have poor vagal tone and a faulty gut-brain axis:

• Aggressively gargling several times a day
• Stimulate the gag reflex several times a day with a tongue depressor on the back of the tongue
• Sing out loud several times a day.
• Coffee enemas several times a week.

The first three of these exercises activate tissues in the throat that are connected to the vagus nerve.

How do coffee enemas stimulate the vagus nerve?

As the enema stretches the intestine, it activates the vagus nerve pathway.

I also tell my patients to hold the enema to the point where they have to exert themselves a lot, like holding a plank, as this greatly stimulates the vagus nerve.

Start with a diluted blend and gradually increase the strength of the coffee. Stronger Active Coffeecholinergic receptors, nerves that activate the brain chemical acetylcholine. It also stimulatesnicotinic receptors.Activation of these receptors stimulates the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system.

Most people are in a friendly domain these days. This is the "fight or flight" arm of the nervous system. The activation of the vagus nerve and, therefore, of the parasympathetic nervous system not only improves intestinal health, but also the ability to relax and concentrate.

Many people find that coffee enemas improve bowel function over time.

Many people find that their bowel function improves over time and coffee enemas can be eliminated.

This is because the enemas improved the pathways of the vagus system.

Unfortunately, in some people, brain degeneration overwhelms the ability to make lasting changes. In this case, coffee enemas can be used to relieve constipation, which increases the risk of bacterial buildup, leaky gut, and toxicity.

And the caffeine?

If you're sensitive to caffeine, coffee enemas probably won't be a problem for you. Although people sensitive to caffeine rarely experience an effect, studies show that the bioavailability of caffeine is lower with enemas.3.5 times lessto drink coffee

If you are sensitive to caffeine, start with 1/2 teaspoon of coffee grounds in the solution at the beginning of the day and see how your body reacts.

How to do a coffee enema to improve vagus nerve function

Schedule and setup for the coffee enema.

Try to do the enema without discomfort for at least an hour.

To make it more convenient and effective, be sure to schedule it right after your daily bowel movement.

Preparation of coffee enema

Brew a cup or two of organic coffee (non-organic coffee may contain toxic pesticides).

Some people can handle up to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per enema, but if you are new to enemas or very sensitive to caffeine, start with 1/2teaspoonand slowly increase your concentration to the best of your ability.

The stronger the coffee, the more stimulating it is to the slacker. Filtered or distilled water is best.

Boil the coffee for about 10 minutes and strain the powder.

Let the coffee cool down to room temperature.

Make sure the coffee is cool enough to comfortably place your entire hand in the coffee for the full five seconds.

The tissues of the intestine are very sensitive to temperature; Never use hot coffee!

what coffee to use

• Use organic coffee to avoid exposure to pesticides.
• Avoid decaf, flavored, very oily, and light-colored or browned roasts.
• Avoid instant coffee as most tests showed the presence of gluten. However, my busiest patients use Starbucks instant coffee. It's the only instant brand we know of that's gluten-free, despite not being organic.
• You can find coffee online made specifically for coffee enemas.

If you can, grind your own beans before the enema. The oils in pre-ground coffee can oxidize and become rancid. If you use pre-ground beans, store them in the refrigerator to keep the oils fresher.

Instructions for performing a coffee enema.

1. Lie down in the bathtub or on the waterproof floor

Since a "spill" can happen to a beginner, do your enema in the bathroom or with a towel under you to protect the floor.

2. Make sure the hose clamp is closed

Make sure the enema bag hose clamp is closed (hold it close to your body at the end) and fill the bag with the cooled coffee.

3. Deflate the hose

Deflate the tube by holding the end of the bag slightly lower over the sink and allowing the liquid to drain until the air bubbles are gone.

4. Hang the enema bag or bucket 2-4 feet above you

Hang the enema bag or bucket so that it is 2 to 4 feet above where you will lie down. The end of the hose should easily reach your body. However, if you hang it too high, gravity can create more pressure than is comfortable.

5. Lubricate the tip of the enema and insert it into the rectum.

Lubricate the end of the plastic tube with a lubricant such as KY jelly or olive oil. Traditionally, people are told to lie on their right side so that the coffee solution can better reach the portal vein of the liver; however, experiment with whichever side works best for you. Bend your knees toward your stomach and gently insert the tube a few inches into your rectum.

6. Use the clamp to slowly release the enema solution

Slowly inject the solution from the tube into your body, controlling the flow with the tube clamp. You may feel cramping and the urge to have a bowel movement as fluid rises in your intestines.

If you feel spasms, close the clamp to stop the flow and take several deep breaths. The cramps usually pass quickly. After the spasm has passed, gently open the clamp again.

The presence of gas is the main reason some people find it difficult to perform a coffee enema. If you have gas that makes it difficult to hold the enema in, you can leave the tip of the enema in; the gas will come out of the tube and this will make it easier to retain the enema.

4. Hold for 5 to 15 minutes; work to keep the vagus nerve active

You may feel like having a bowel movement, but relax and hold the enema for 5 to 15 minutes. Working to retain fluids is what benefits the vagus nerve the most. Don't be discouraged if you can't hold the liquid down for long at first and it spills. It's pretty common and you'll get better.

For some, leaving the plastic tip of the enema in the rectum helps prevent leakage.

If it's easy to hold, it means you can increase the coffee concentration next time.

Drink as much fluid as your body allows. Two cups is an average, everyone is different and your ability to hold more will improve with practice.

After time, go to the bathroom and drain the liquid.

5. Cleaning and care after the enema

Remove the enema bag and tube, rinse them well, and wash the end of the plastic tube with hot, soapy water.

If you use a stainless steel enema bucket, wash it with soap and water to prevent the acidity of the coffee from corroding the metal.

Some people like to apply a little hydrogen peroxide to the bag and hose after washing. If you do, be sure to rinse it well with water afterward so the peroxide doesn't get into your intestines next time.

Hang the hose and bag/bucket in a warm, dry place until completely dry. Store dry.

Tips and common problems with coffee enemas

To optimally activate the vagus nerve, the enema must be very difficult to hold so that it suppresses the impulse as much as possible.

If you are sensitive to coffee, use a milder coffee so that you can keep it longer.

As you get more experienced with enemas, use a stronger coffee to keep it challenging.

First clean the intestines with a water enema.

Some people prefer to start with a water enema to cleanse the colon so they can keep the coffee longer.

A mild saline solution of 1 teaspoon of salt in 2 cups of water is ideal. But you can also use filtered or distilled water. It is better to avoid tap water.

Learn more about vagus nerve health in my book on the brain and food sensitivity course

I write in more detail about the function of the vagus nerve in mybrain book,Why is my brain not working?🇧🇷 Also, I invite you to see my online brain health course,Save Your Brain: The Six Week Rescue Plan🇧🇷 The course takes you step by step through the same brain health strategies I use with my patients.

If you are on an elimination diet due to chronic illness, have a leaky gut, or suffer from unexplained food intolerances, I invite you to take my online course at your own pace.The 3D Immune Tolerance Program: Steps to Restore Oral Tolerance🇧🇷 In the course you will learn what oral tolerance is, what leads to its loss and the role it plays in the recovery or treatment of chronic diseases. You'll learn how to improve your oral tolerance so you can eat more food choices, and what factors can thwart attempts to regain oral tolerance.