5 Benefits of An Apple Cider Vinegar Enema

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An apple cider vinegar enema can help relieve constipation, boost immunity, and increase energy. An enema is a liquid treatment that helps push waste out of the colon, with your body reaping many benefits in the process. The average person has almost 5 kgs, if not more, of waste inside their large intestine, so periodically including enemas into your routine can be advantageous to your health.

Because of the fermentation process, apple cider vinegar enema acts as a probiotic in the body, therefore its benefits are similar to those of probiotics—reducing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) like bloating, gas, and diarrhea, as well as reducing inflammation in the digestive tract. It is especially helpful to those individuals who do not have at least one regular bowel movement per day

People have used apple cider vinegar enemas for centuries to treat constipation, bowel issues, and to cleanse their colon. But the benefits of enemas stretch even further in the body. Enemas help eliminate toxins that have been stored in the body.

The benefits range from improving circulation, boosting energy, losing weight, clearing the skin, detoxing the liver, improving regularity, bowel cleansing, and more

An apple cider vinegar enema diluted with filtered water can quickly clear the bowel and may have other antiviral healing effects on your digestive system. The acidic component of apple cider vinegar may help restore the natural pH level. 

Apple cider vinegar helps with viral conditions and to clear mucous from the body. Great if you suffer from nasal congestion or asthma. Diagnostic enemas help doctors screen and diagnose conditions of the colon and rectum. Therapeutic enemas treat certain diseases, disorders, and conditions affecting the large intestine and rectum.

Benefits Of An Apple Cider Vinegar Enema

Relieving Occasional or Chronic constipation

The normal amount of time between bowel movements differs from person to person. Many individuals have constipation, which causes increasingly uncomfortable symptoms the longer it remains untreated. Constipation becomes more prevalent as individuals grow older, and negatively impacts the quality of life.

An enema cleans up the colon and induces bowel movements, leaving you feeling cleaner, lighter, and healthier almost immediately. The main job of the colon is to absorb water and nutrients from food and remove waste and toxins. Over the years, the colon walls can become encrusted with non-eliminated waste, making it sluggish and inefficient.

Increasing Levels of Healthy Bacteria

The average person has a variety of bacteria and fecal matter buildup in the colon. Although this may only result in no or slight complications such as bloating, some people believe this can lead to more serious problems such as chronic diseases. An apple cider vinegar enema helps to cleans the colon here.

Helping to Eliminate Toxins from the Body

Apple cider vinegar enemas are also sometimes used for detoxing or cleansing the colon. People who use enemas for cleansing may eat a liquid-only diet, or fast, or simply eat a healthy diet for a period of time, detoxing from sugar, wheat, and gluten, processed foods, dairy, or meat, and then perform an enema colon cleanse. An enema done after a detox diet can then flush out toxins

Weight Loss

Therapeutically prepared enema solutions target the gut microbiome. According to a recent publication by The National Institutes of Health (NIH), “The human body is host to a vast number of microbes, including bacterial, fungal, and protozoal microorganisms, which together constitute our microbiota. Evidence is emerging that the intestinal microbiome is intrinsically linked with overall health, including obesity risk.

An apple cider vinegar enema may have the immediate effect of dislodging and clearing out up to several pounds of constipated stool, resulting in direct weight loss at the time of your enema.

IMPORTANT: This type of weight loss should be considered a secondary outcome of an enema program to relieve constipation and/or to broadly support health, rather than your primary intention when administering an enema.

Balance pH in the Body

Apple cider vinegar is well-known for helping balance of body pH (not the pH of blood). That is one of the benefits of using apple cider vinegar as an enema solution. It helps to balance the pH levels of the colon and may reduce pain associated with colitis. 

Candida (yeast) in the bowel thrives when the bowel is too alkaline; apple cider vinegar enema encourages candida to exit, so is useful if you have problems with yeast overgrowth

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Apple Cider Vinegar Enema: Side Effects

There are a variety of different side effects associated with different types of enemas. Because some of them can be dangerous, it’s important to use enemas only as directed by a reputable practitioner and immediately report any unwanted effects caused by their use.

The most common side effects include:

  • Electrolyte imbalance and dehydration
  • Bowel damage
  • Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms)
  • Sepsis
  • Kidney damage
  • Increased chance of HIV for MSM

Electrolyte imbalance and dehydration is the most common side effect associated with phosphate enemas. One trial in adults found severe electrolyte shifts in the blood following phosphate enemas.

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar Enema

While enemas can be very helpful for detox or to relieve constipation, if not done slowly and properly and with clean equipment, they can cause serious problems.

This is how you do it. It’s important to sterilize all equipment and start with an empty stomach and bladder before proceeding.

  • 2 quarts filtered water,
  • ½ – 4 Tbsp apple cider vinegar.
  1. Warm water to 120° F
  2. Pour 2 quarts of warm water into the enema bag
  3. Allow cooling to 105° then add vinegar.
  4. The tube, attached to the bag, is then slowly and carefully inserted into the rectum–it is especially helpful to keep a lubricant handy in order to facilitate the insertion.
  5. With the bag slightly elevated, gravity begins the flushing process pumping water into the colon.

Ideally, you should have a few old towels underneath your body in case the liquid leaks.

Although they may be uncomfortable, enemas are generally safe. You should always follow the instructions included with your kit or as told to you by your healthcare provider.

Apple Cider Vinegar enemas are generally one-time tools to help ease constipation or clear out your colon for a test or procedure. They shouldn’t be performed regularly.

If you’re frequently constipated, don’t rely on enemas to ease the situation. Instead, talk with your healthcare provider to diagnose and treat the underlying cause.