Therapist who voluntarily had an enema to test 'mental health benefits' reveals if it actually helped him

A lot of people take it upon themselves to share mental health advice online, but which 'hacks' actually work?

There's so much advice out there when it comes to simple things you can do to improve your mental health; from getting out in nature to eating healthier, to meditating and taking ice baths.

However, unless you have all the time in the world to try out all these health hacks, it's hard to know if they actually work.

But fear not folks, psychotherapist Booker Woodford is doing the hard work for us and has tested some people's theories that have been shared online about things that supposedly improve mental health.

Booker trawled through the internet to see what people have been saying helps with their mental health and one suggestion was having an enema.

What's an enema?

Cleveland Clinic describes an enema as 'an injection of fluid directly into your rectum that helps you poop'.

Some people might go to a clinic to get an enema or you can buy kits to do it at home.

There are some health benefits to them though, such as relieving constipation or as a way of preparing for a colonoscopy.

Elsewhere 'wellness influencers' of late have promoted the 'detoxification' benefits of enemas — coffee enemas in particular — but the jury is still out about that and the mental health benefits that come with it.

Booker's review

Booker took one for the team and went to a clinic in Australia to have an enema done to see how he felt afterwards.

Talking about what he'd seen online about it, he told UNILAD: "[I saw people say] enemas cleansed the body of toxins, relaxed the nervous system and led to a healthier body, healthier mental state. Clean arse, clean mind."

Warning: video contains some strong language.

While he didn't really believe what he'd seen, Booker said he was 'open to being wrong' and proceeded to try it for himself.

Sharing how he felt during and after the enema, Booker said: "I felt angry while having it done. From the context of mental health recovery, and from being a mental health practitioner, it felt extremely dangerous and vulnerable to tell someone that getting water fired into their ass would aide them in their mental health journey.

"If someone is at their most desperate for mental health relief and they turn to this as a last option and it doesn’t work, then where does that leave them? Mental illness is life threatening."

He continued: "Following the procedure, I actually felt fed up, exhausted and sad. If I was getting an enema to have cleaner, funner sex then I'd get it but I didn’t feel any relief from mental anguish. I felt like I'd been used for someone’s online clout."

Booker's concerns about online advice

"I think it’s incredibly risky," Booker said of people using places like TikTok as a source of mental health advice, adding: "Especially if the person espousing ‘expert’ advice is making claims on behalf of everyone."

"No science-backed therapeutic mental health recovery technique works for all people, let alone an enema," he went on. "People who are really suffering from mental illness are often particularly fragile and can be desperate to find at least one thing that relieves their pain. That makes them potentially susceptible and that fills me with fear."

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.