Bowel flush, coffee enemas and bee therapy: are this year's biohacking trends worth trying or should you avoid them?
The trend of the last two decades
Biohacking is a relative novelty. It started spreading in 2005 from Silicon Valley, so it probably comes as no surprise that it relies heavily on scientific discoveries and technological innovations. But it doesn't dismiss centuries of tried and tested methods such as meditation, ice baths, regular exercise or listening to biorhythms. So you may be biohacking without knowing it. In fact, besides sometimes bizarre procedures, biohacking also includes an interest in how to eat properly, what supplements to give the body and why, how to move or how to sleep better, in short, everything that will contribute to optimizing the functioning of the body.
The main biohacking trend in 2025? Colon therapy!
Colon therapy is, simply put, colon lavage. Filtered warm water is introduced into the intestine through the rectum until you feel uncomfortable pressure in your abdomen. Then the therapy continues with the lavage, which lasts until there is no residue of bowel contents in the fluid coming out. The filling and flushing is usually repeated three times and the whole procedure takes about three quarters of an hour. It does not hurt and is not accompanied by any odour.
The positive effects of the bowel cleansing are said to be almost miraculous. It promises to rid the body of waste products that may have accumulated in the intestine for a long time, as well as parasites or bacteria that can interfere with digestion and thus overall health. Therefore, according to its supporters, colon therapy is one of the tools of detoxification of the body, which helps to improve digestion, absorption of important nutrients, thus strengthening vitality and the immune system. Thanks to the fact that it is a natural and, moreover, non-invasive method that suits a holistic approach to health, colonotherapy is gaining many followers, helped, of course, by celebrities. For example, Gwyneth Paltrow or Kate Hudson regularly indulges in bowel flushes.
But it's not some 21st century biohacking novelty. It has been used in ancient Egypt, China and India, and although it is a hot new thing in wellness treatments today, it was already known in European spas in the 19th century. Experts today warn against overusing colon therapy, lest the gut get used to having its work done for it. Moreover, frequent rinsing could disturb the intestinal microflora and even the intestinal mucosa. However, if you undergo colon therapy, for example in a spa under the supervision of a trained therapist, there is no reason to worry. Unlike another biohacking trend, which is the coffee enema.
Coffee enemas: strengthening the body and providing energy, or an unnecessary risk that can end in death in the extreme case?
You'll feel great and full of energy, stimulate bowel peristalsis, liver and gallbladder function - these are the guaranteed effects of a coffee enema. It is easy to prepare: you brew freshly ground coffee for fifteen minutes, then let it sit for an hour, filter it and use the liquid for an enema. Someone recommends keeping it in the intestine for exactly 11 minutes, others put their hand in the fire for 15 minutes. The effects are said to be felt immediately because the caffeine in coffee is absorbed by the sensitive intestinal lining.
The coffee enema is not the latest invention either. In the 1930s it was used by German military doctor Max Gerson, who used it as a cure for diabetes and especially cancer. It promotes the production of Glutathione S-transferase in the liver. This is an antioxidant enzyme that neutralizes free radicals by up to 700 percent. Gerson also prescribed coffee enemas to soldiers with gunshot wounds, who said they relieved their pain. But coffee enemas have not caught on as a medical treatment, and there are no scientific studies today to confirm their healing effects. On the contrary, doctors have warned against it.
Zdroj: Giphy
The US National Cancer Institute has recorded at least three deaths related to coffee enemas. One case is controversial because the death may have been caused by a bacterial infection from which the patient suffered. However, in two people, coffee enemas have been shown to lead to death. In addition, the risks associated with coffee enemas include bleeding, damage to the intestinal lining, nausea, vomiting, and burns to the intestine. So, if you want to start biohacking, it's better to brew a good quality coffee bean in your favourite mug and turn drinking it into a relaxing ritual. You might feel just as great as you would after a coffee enema, just without the risks.
Not just science and technology, biohacking also relies on nature
The biohacking trend for this year is also a return to nature. Apitherapy, which uses the beneficial effects of bee products on the human body, is therefore a hit. Honey, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax candles - the positive effects of these have been proven for centuries. Apitherapy was known to the ancient Chinese and Koreans, and our grandmothers relied on lime honey for colds and respiratory diseases. Many-flowered honey protects the heart and the circulatory system, and rape honey, for example, supports the liver, respiratory and biliary system. In short, there is no such thing as honey, and every bee product has its place not only in apitherapy but also in biohacking. But that is not all.
As part of apitherapy you can also undergo api-inhalation, where you close yourself in a house with bees in the closed part. The smell of honey and propolis, the vibrations and the noise the bees make have positive effects on the human body. Insomnia, asthma and even arthritis and urinary tract diseases are treated with this method. Even more radical is to be stung on acupuncture points.
Biological dentistry also relies on the power of nature. This emphasizes the relationship between overall health and the condition of the teeth and gums, and is guided by the principle that health begins in the mouth. It then promotes the use of natural, non-toxic materials in care to promote overall health.
While finding a dentist who will use mostly natural materials in their office will be a tough nut to crack in our area, the next trend of biohacking is one that everyone can (and should) indulge in. It is the digital detox that is so trendy today. Try turning off your cell phone on Friday afternoon and turning it on Monday morning. Take a trip to the countryside and rely on a paper map. And if you feel like you can't do it, you can pay for a staycation focused specifically on digital detox. You won't find wi-fi in the hotel, the mobile signal will be poor, there will be no TV screen lurking in the room, and some places boast that they don't even have electricity...
