Goop, the lifestyle brand of actress Gwyneth Paltrow, has a history of promoting controversial products.
Last Thursday, however, a Goop newsletter included something notable even by that standard in its "full detox package": the Implant O-Rama System At-Home Coffee Enema for $135.
Goop promoted a DIY kit for a user to insert coffee into his or her own rectum.
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An enema is something doctors may recommend to people about to undergo a colonoscopy or who have obstructed bowels. It involves pushing water through a tube into the patient’s rectum to stimulate the intestines and empty everything in there.
According to Forbes, "Most doctors don't typically recommend using enemas unless you have a problem moving your stools or need to get your colon ready for a procedure."
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Most enemas use saline solution, milk and molasses or sodium phosphate. Scott Gavura, a pharmacist writing at Science-based Medicine, said, "Coffee enemas are considered unsafe and should be avoided."
The Huffington Post found evidence of multiple deaths related to coffee enemas, and at least one case where the individual doing the coffee enema used water that was too hot and suffered rectal burns (she recovered after a few weeks).
It also linked to a letter in The American Journal of Gastroenterology that said there have been at least three cases of a gastrointestinal syndrome, proctocolitis, related to coffee enemas.
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There is no evidence coffee enemas "detox" users, because scientists say there is no such thing as "detoxing."
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