F.A.Qs

Of course not! Please remember that the purpose of using coffee enemas is not to cleanse the large intestine. In fact, they reach only part of the colon and do not disrupt the natural elimination process. This explains why some Gerson patients are able to have normal bowel movements between enemas. If a patient suffered from constipation before starting the therapy, it usually resolves once the liver and intestines are restored and normal bowel function returns. There is no risk that enemas will become a necessary part of daily life after recovery. In most cases, as the therapy comes to an end, the natural bowel movement process promptly resumes normal function.

Quoting one of Dr. Gerson’s fundamental principles:

“Never let the sun set before you have emptied your bowels!”

Coffee enemas made from filtered coffee have a very beneficial effect on the liver. When the caffeine contained in coffee is administered rectally, it effectively supports the cleansing of this organ. As a result, enemas have become one of the foundations of Gerson Therapy. The liver is an organ of key importance for the regeneration of the body’s metabolism. It enables the transformation of consumed food into waste products of metabolism — writes Dr. Gerson.

When coffee is administered rectally, it should be retained in the intestines for 12 to 15 minutes. Every three minutes, all the blood in the human body passes through the liver. Contact with caffeine causes the blood vessels of the rectum to dilate, and consequently also the portal veins of the liver. Thanks to caffeine, the liver cleanses the blood serum and its many components. Retaining one liter of fluid in the intestines stimulates the autonomic nervous system, thins the bile, and increases the flow of this toxic secretion.

Definitions. From a technical point of view, a coffee enema is:

1. Hydrotherapy — the therapeutic use of water to heal the body. In this case, water is used to flush the large intestine and deliver a coffee solution into the body through the rectum. The effect of this procedure is very different from drinking coffee.

2. A coffee implant — meaning the introduction, or application, of coffee into the large intestine.

3. An enema — performing an enema requires retaining the coffee solution for fifteen minutes. Holding the solution is necessary for proper absorption and to achieve the desired effects.

4. Dialysis — in this context, dialysis refers to enhanced detoxification.

There is only one possible answer: immediately!

However, let’s be realistic — if someone works far from home and is unable to carry a thirty-kilogram juicer with them, taking thermoses filled to the brim with apple–carrot juice from home is not a bad idea. If this is the only way you can consume a sufficient amount of organic juices, then make use of this solution.

Green juices prepared from leafy vegetables, however, should be consumed immediately after preparation, as they oxidize quickly and lose their nutritional value.

The primary reason is that soy is very high in protein. Protein intake is reduced to a minimum in Gerson Therapy. Beans and legumes are generally not allowed as a protein source for at least the first nine months, and then only in limited amounts in certain cases, according to the recommendations of a Gerson physician.

In addition, the dietary use of soy is highly controversial. It contains enzyme inhibitors that can interfere with proper digestion and impair the absorption of minerals. Soy also contains phytoestrogens, which may not be suitable for many individuals.

Dr. Gerson recognized the need for the proper type of essential unsaturated fatty acids. He experimented with many types of oils and discovered that, in all cases, fats other than flaxseed oil stimulated tumor growth and even the regrowth of tumors that had previously regressed.

Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, containing linolenic and linoleic acids, which inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators, thereby reducing inflammatory responses in the body. It attracts oxygen to the cell membrane, helping transport oxygen into the cell. It also aids in transporting vitamin A through the bloodstream. Lignans come from the fibrous part of the seed and are rich in protein. Although they may provide health benefits under certain conditions, a high intake of flaxseed is not permitted in Gerson Therapy because it introduces too much protein.

Seeds, including flaxseeds, contain an important substance known as an enzyme inhibitor, which keeps them dormant until they are in the proper environment to germinate. This enzyme inhibitor can also inhibit human digestive enzymes and interfere with proper digestion.

Dr. Gerson recommended that all ill patients drink 250 ml of juice every hour. Ideally, a little over three liters of fresh juice made from organic fruits and vegetables should be consumed daily.

This raises another question: what can a person do if they are unable to strictly follow all the rules of the program?

Drink as much juice as possible, always trying to drink even more. In situations like this, the more juice that is prepared and consumed, the better.

Coffee enemas are used to increase the liver’s detoxification capacity. Certain substances in coffee stimulate an important detoxifying enzyme in the liver, as well as dilate the bile ducts and increase bile flow.

A secondary benefit of coffee enemas is increased peristalsis, which helps empty the intestines.

However, once Gerson Therapy is started, only coffee enemas are used. Thanks to the healthy Gerson diet, which is rich in fiber, the intestines produce and replenish beneficial flora on a daily basis, so there is usually no risk that enemas will cause dysbiosis, an imbalance of the digestive system’s microbiota.

• Butter
• Eggs
• Fish
• Meat
• Yogurt
• All processed foods
• Alcohol
• Avocado
• Berries (except currants)
• Commercially bottled and canned beverages (soft drinks)
• Candies, cookies, chocolate, and all types of sweets
• Cheese
• Cocoa
• Coffee for drinking (except when used with castor oil)
• Cream
• Cucumbers (poorly digested)
• Dried fruits (if sulfur-treated or oil-coated)
• Fats and oils (the only exception: flaxseed oil)
• Flour (white and whole grain, including flour products such as pasta)
• Ice cream and sorbets (artificial flavorings, sweeteners, and cream)
• Legumes (allowed only occasionally at a later stage of the therapy)
• Milk (including skim and low-fat milk)
• Mushrooms (difficult to digest)
• Nuts (high in fats; unfavorable protein configuration)
• Fermented foods / Pickled foods
• Pineapples (rich in aromatic compounds)
• Salt and all salt substitutes
• Soy and all soy-containing products, e.g., tofu, soy milk, and soy flour
• Most spices (rich in aromatic compounds)
• Sprouts
• Sugar (white, refined)
• Tea (black, green)

Although salt should be avoided and eliminated as much as possible, sodium naturally occurs in many foods. You should limit foods that naturally contain high amounts of sodium, but it is not possible to completely avoid all sources of sodium.

Celery may be consumed, but it should never be used in juices. Always follow the correct Gerson green juice recipe and do not add any extras or substitutions. Cucumbers are not allowed. This is partly due to their high sodium content, but also because cucumbers are difficult to digest, especially when combined with green juices. Cucumbers can cause gas and indigestion and often remain stagnant in the stomach.

Generally speaking, Dr. Gerson did not encourage his patients to drink water, because the full capacity of the stomach is needed for food and juices. A patient following the most intensive Gerson protocol may be required to drink up to 13 juices per day, which provides adequate hydration. In addition to juices, three full meals are consumed daily. Between juices and meals, there is very little room left in the stomach for water.

Additionally, drinking water dilutes the juices in the stomach, which interferes with optimal nutrient absorption—especially when it is consumed shortly before, during, or after meals..

However, herbal teas such as peppermint and chamomile are allowed, and patients may drink them freely, especially in cases of digestive discomfort, as they are very beneficial for the stomach..

Patients on a limited protocol will drink significantly fewer juices. If a patient drinks fewer than 13 juices per day, they will need to increase fluid intake through additional tea and/or water to maintain proper hydration. It is best to drink tea and water between juices (but not immediately before or right after) or in the evening, so as not to interfere with digestion..

Water used in Gerson Therapy should be distilled and free of fluoride..