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Writer's pictureZahrah Sita

THE HEALING CRISIS - CHALLENGES ON THE JOURNEY TO WELLNESS

Updated: Jul 28, 2021




The Healing Crisis, or as it is also known, The Herxheimer Reaction, is characterized by a temporary increase in discomfort during the body’s process of detoxification. It occurs when internal toxins and wastes are being released faster than the body can eliminate them.

Whether you’ve chosen to start a cleanse or a new healing program, it is possible that you will experience one or more of the discomforts that are commonly referred to as a healing crisis, cleansing reaction, die-off, or herxing.


The body is designed to naturally cleanse and detox itself on a daily basis. Our human design is programmed to eliminate the internal wastes and the toxins that have accumulated. Yet, due to the incredibly high level of toxins that we are exposed to through environmental pollution, toxic additives in foods, cleaning products, and medicines, as well as exposure to radiation and heavy metals, our body's are unable to properly eliminate this high burden of toxins on their own. An overwhelm of toxic accumulation can occur and is often a contributing factor to the development of disease and chronic illness. This is why holistic detoxification therapies are so important for our ability to survive, heal, and thrive in these modern times.


Often, when starting a cleansing program or are working to heal a health issue, you may experience a "cleansing reaction," aka "healing crisis," as the body purges itself. The severity and duration of the reactions depend upon how much waste you have to remove, how congested or impaired your elimination pathways are, and what you do to assist the process.

CLEANSING REACTIONS - WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

The Herxheimer Reaction is an indication that the process of cleansing and detoxification is working and that your body is cleaning itself of impurities and toxins. The duration of the cleansing reaction is not easy to determine, yet it is important to note that the reactions are temporary, yet depending on the levels of toxicity they may be mild or severe, and they can last a few hours to a few weeks. It is important to note that not every person who embarks on a cleanse or healing protocol experiences cleansing reactions.


Some common experiences for those who do have cleansing reactions can include flu-like symptoms during the first few days of the cleanse because your body is dumping toxins into the bloodstream for elimination. The symptoms typically pass within 1-3 days. On rare occasions, they may last several weeks. Another crisis may manifest after you begin feeling your very best. There may be several healing crises that occur before the final crisis is experienced.

The healing crisis may bring about experiences of past conditions. This may sound daunting, yet it is actually all good. The body must remove and repair all that interferes with achieving optimal health for true healing and renewal to take hold. Once the detoxification process is underway, the severity and duration of the healing crisis is a direct indication of the volume of toxins and wastes that are being released from inside your body.


COMMON SYMPTOMS OF A HEALING CRISIS

The manifestation and presentation of cleansing reactions can vary greatly from person to person. They may range from none to severe with some or many symptoms. The following is a list of the most common symptoms or complaints.

  • Stomach upset (nausea, cramping, indigestion, etc.)

  • Inflammation

  • Increased joint or muscle pain

  • Bloating

  • Diarrhea or loose stools

  • Constipation

  • Strange or increased body odor

  • Metallic taste in the mouth

  • Fatigue

  • Headache

  • Brain fog

  • Insomnia

  • Vomiting

  • Sinus congestion

  • Fever (usually low grade)

  • Chills

  • Frequent urination

  • Change in blood pressure

  • Changes in menstrual cycles

  • Skin eruptions, including boils, hives, and rashes

  • Acne

  • Cold or flu-like symptoms

  • Strong emotions: anger, despair, sadness, fear

  • Suppressed memories

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Mood swings


HOW TO MANAGE AND DECREASE CLEANSING REACTIONS


  • Stay hydrated! Be sure to drink plenty of pure water to flush the body of toxins. Drink 3 to 4 liters per day.

  • Eat a clean, all-natural, whole foods diet that is high in fiber and plant-based foods.

  • Avoid dairy, gluten, white rice, refined sugar, refined oils, processed and refined grains, and starches, fried foods, soy, artificial ingredients, red meat, pork, factory-farmed meat and eggs, farmed fish, processed meats, genetically modified ingredients, and alcohol.

  • Take time to rest. If you are feeling low energy or fatigue it means that your body is telling you to rest.

  • Keep the bowels moving. Congested or constipated bowels can create discomfort and make cleansing reactions worse. If you tend towards constipation or sluggish elimination, consider taking psyllium, mimosa pudica, or slippery elm daily. Mag07 is another excellent bowel mover and colon cleansing supplement. Warm water enemas and colonics can also be used to help clean the colon and move the bowels.

  • Coffee enemas can be used to help gently detoxify the liver, reduce pain in the body, reduce headaches, and relieve extreme fatigue.

  • Detox Baths are great for helping support detoxification, as well as reducing pain and inflammation in the body.

  • Modified Citrus Pectin, Chlorella, and Serrapeptase are all wonderful products that help eliminate toxins such as microbes and heavy metals from the body. These products can help to reduce discomfort associated with cleansing reactions when taken on an empty stomach 2 hours away from your last meal.

  • Fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and spending time in nature are all wonderful natural healers that support the body in healing.

  • Bodywork therapies such as massage, shiatsu, acupuncture, chiropractic, reflexology, craniosacral, and fire cupping can all be very helpful for reducing cleansing reactions and supporting the healing process.


HEALING IS A JOURNEY

Reversing disease and achieving optimal health typically do not happen overnight. Healing is a journey. It can take time to undo the damage and guide the body into a state of vitality and balance.


I am a firm believer in and supporter of cleansing and holistic detoxification. As a holistic health practitioner, I have seen time and time again how healing can take place and disease can be eliminated when the toxic load is reduced from the body. By removing the waste and impurities that can accumulate, the body is more capable of repair and regeneration. Without a toxic burden, the mitochondria, metabolic system, and immune system can function closer to optimal and this means there is little chance for physical degradation or disease. I have been a holistic detox specialist for many years, and I am grateful for this knowledge as detoxification was one of my greatest tools for helping heal my body of a number of serious health issues, including cancer. There were plenty of rough patches and cleansing reactions along the way, yet all of it was worth experiencing because it resulted in the manifestation of better health and vitality.


Experiencing discomfort and cleansing reactions can be disappointing and definitely is not enjoyable, yet it can also be an indicator that you are making progress. All the toxic yuck and gunk that the body accumulated must come back out and be eliminated for you to achieve true lasting health. It takes courage and commitment, yet you are always worth it!


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Your good work has been so beneficial to me in the most difficult year of my life, and I am so grateful for all that Dr. Kokobi does. At age 38, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer. With no family history of cancer and 2 young children to care for, I had a whole lot more questions than answers and it felt like I was drowning. I reached out to Dr. Kokobi and immediately felt like a loving and generous Doctor. He gave me the information I needed and started his treatment on me as soon as possible which was really very helpful to me though it wasn’t easy but believe me it was worth it. I threw…

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I am interested in your body detox program and the diet you have described on this site. I wanted to ask how we can compare since I don't speak English? I live in Italy...thanks in advance for the reply

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my5leakes
May 28

I had one x 2 the Cov-id/ flu. It depleted my whole immune system elevated my liver to 42 trcyclerides was 91 borderline for a stroke, Struct autoimmune disease of muscle tissue bone,Lyme and Mono in 6 months of it, symptoms of insomnia, brain fog weight gain hair loss, in November 28,2022 I had markers for Rheumatoid Arthritis, I know I documented everything, September 19,2021 the j@b and flu , had a partial hysterectomy in December 28,2020 and a my gallbladder taken out March 28, 2021 the best I ever felt 140 running 4 miles with my son 140 smaller after 5 kids , later MomOf5 first at 32 last at 43 now 49 I have detoxed every day sin…

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Do you think detoxing can bring on gout? or Pseudo Gout? Heavy metal movement? Haven't had gout in 3 years and now have had it for the last 4 weeks.

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Hello Ms Sita, I have been experiencing strong flu-like symptoms for going on three weeks now. At first I thought I had the flu, but never had a fever and all mucus is clear. I am 72 yrs old and can’t recall ever feeling as weak as I feel now, so now I’m thinking that I am Herxing. The symptoms went away for a few days and now they are back again even stronger than before. I have been taking serrapeptase, tudca and the fenben for 65 days straight now. My question is, if I have strong Herxing symptoms, should I just keep taking the protocol or would it be better to stop for a few days and then start…

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