A healing crisis, also known as a cleanse or healing episode, is when your body gets worse before it gets better. This is when your body is detoxing and releasing toxins and waste products which can cause physical and emotional symptoms.
A healing crisis is an integral part of the detoxification process. While the symptoms can be uncomfortable, they indicate that your body is actively working to expel harmful substances and regenerate tissues.
Importance in the Healing Process
The healing crisis is a big part of the whole body cleanse. This is when your immune system is stimulated to fight off accumulated toxins and waste. This temporary worsening of symptoms is often necessary for deeper healing and tissue regeneration.
By going through this process you’ll be motivated to live an active life and make healthier choices moving forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healing Crisis
What is a Healing Crisis?
A healing crisis (also known as a Herxheimer reaction or detox reaction) occurs when the body is releasing toxins and undergoing deep healing. A healing crisis is a temporary worsening of symptoms when the body is going through a detox. It’s often seen as a sign that the body is healing, as waste products and toxins are leaving the body.
How Long Does a Healing Crisis Last?
The duration of a healing crisis can vary but usually lasts a few hours to a few days. The individual’s health, lifestyle and the detox effort being done can influence how long it takes.
What are the Symptoms of a Healing Crisis?
Symptoms may include physical issues like skin eruptions, lung congestion and shooting pains, and emotional components like deep fear and mental fogginess. These symptoms are part of the whole body healing process.
Common Physical Symptoms of a Healing Crisis:
- Fatigue or low energy – The body redirects energy toward healing.
- Headaches – Often due to toxin release and dehydration.
- Body aches or soreness – Similar to flu-like symptoms as the body processes toxins.
- Digestive issues – Bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or nausea.
- Skin reactions – Rashes, acne, or itching as toxins exit through the skin.
- Cold or flu-like symptoms – Runny nose, mild fever, or congestion.
- Sweating and body odor – The body eliminates waste through the skin.
- Increased urination – The kidneys are working to flush out toxins.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness – Can be due to detoxification or shifts in energy.
Common Emotional & Mental Symptoms of a Healing Crisis:
- Irritability or mood swings – Emotional releases can be part of healing.
- Anxiety or sadness – Stored emotions may surface during detox.
- Brain fog – Temporary mental confusion or lack of focus.
- Strange or vivid dreams – A sign of deep subconscious processing.
What to Eat During a Healing Crisis?
During a healing crisis eat easy to digest food and avoid hard to digest food. Drink plenty of water and herbal teas to stimulate blood and lymph flow and support the detox process.
What Does It Feel Like When You’re Detoxing?
When detoxing you may feel worse before you feel better. Common experiences are feeling sick, experiencing old symptoms and emotional releases. These are signs that the body’s healing process is happening.
What to Do During a Healing Crisis?
To support your body during a healing crisis, brush yourself with a natural bristle brush to stimulate lymph flow and take warm Epsom salt baths to soothe symptoms.
How to Support the Process:
- Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins.
- Rest – Allow your body the time and space it needs to heal.
- Gentle movement – Light stretching, walking, or yoga can aid circulation.
- Eat clean & nourishing foods – Avoid processed foods, sugar, and alcohol.
- Epsom salt baths – Help relax muscles and support detox.
- Breathing exercises & meditation – Help with emotional and energetic shifts.
Keep communication open with your healthcare provider if symptoms get hard to manage.
Can There Be Healing Crisis After Massage?
Yes, a healing crisis after a massage is possible! It happens because massage stimulates circulation, releases toxins, and helps the body relax deeply. As a result, some people experience temporary symptoms like fatigue, soreness, headaches, or mild flu-like feelings. This is just your body flushing out toxins and adjusting to the healing process.
The good news? It usually lasts only a day or two, and drinking plenty of water, resting, and gentle movement can help. It’s actually a good sign – your body is working to rebalance and heal!
Can Energy Healing Cause a Healing Crisis?
Yes, energy healing can indeed trigger a healing crisis. This occurs as the energy work stimulates the body’s healing process, leading to the release of many toxins and waste materials. During this healing and cleansing event, you might experience a temporary worsening of symptoms, both physically and emotionally. These symptoms are a sign that the body is undergoing a significant transformation, working to eliminate old blockages and restore balance. It’s important to stay patient and trust the process, as this healing episode is a step towards achieving deeper healing and wellness.
Examples of Healing Crisis
Understanding healing crises can be difficult without concrete examples. Here are some real life scenarios and testimonials that illustrate what a healing crisis can look like:
Real Life Scenarios
- Detox Diet Transition: A woman in her 30s decided to go on a detox diet to get rid of accumulated toxins and food additives. In the first few days she experienced skin eruptions and lung congestion and felt terrible and powerless. But she was vaguely aware this was part of her body’s natural detox process. Within a week her symptoms subsided and she felt revitalized and more energetic.
- Emotional Healing Event: A middle aged man undergoing therapy for emotional issues had an emotional healing crisis. As he dug deeper into his past traumas he experienced emotional releases which manifest as deep fear and mental fogginess. Although it was physically hard at times he knew this was a part of his healing process. Over time he went through this phase and came out with more inner confidence.
- Herbal Cleanse: After starting an herbal cleanse an individual felt sick with shooting pains and increased bowel movements. These symptoms although uncomfortable were accurately interpreted as the body eliminating waste and toxins. After the initial healing episode the individual noticed significant improvements in their overall wellness.
Testimonials
- “During my healing crisis I felt like my body was betraying me with all the symptoms surfacing right away. But once I understood it was a whole body healing event I embraced the process and felt empowered by the changes.”
- “The emotional part of my healing crisis was the hardest. I felt deep fear I couldn’t shake off but my therapist helped me see it as a good thing for my emotional growth. Now I feel more at peace with myself.”
- “I was skeptical about the process at first but going through a healing crisis changed my perspective. It was a cleansing event that left me feeling refreshed and more connected to my body.”
Embodying the Healing and Cleansing
As you go through a healing crisis, it’s important to embody the healing and cleansing. Understanding the temporary discomfort and symptoms are part of the body’s natural detox process will help you stay patient and positive. By acknowledging this is a step towards whole body healing you can tap into the power of this experience to bring about deep personal growth and self awareness.
Moving Forward with Inner Confidence
After going through a healing crisis you come out with more inner confidence. This is not just physical but emotional and mental as you’ve re-experienced and overcome old symptoms and emotional releases. Moving forward this inner confidence will empower you to be active, make healthier choices and approach life’s challenges with resilience. Keep communication open with your body and mind and you can continue to support your healing and be well.
Know that you can indeed achieve healing, not just physical healing, but also emotional and mental healing. It’s important to never give up and believe that good times are coming. It’s never too late to start living a more active lifestyle and a healthier lifestyle. You have to change something first, don’t wait for the outside to change, but be the change you wish to see.