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9 Ways To Avoid a “Healing Crisis” During Detox

Detoxing Too Fast

Just as toxins can cause problems when entering your body, they can cause similar issues on their way out. If you detox too fast, or without the right support, you may reabsorb some old bacteria, toxins, and other decomposing chemicals. Why? It’s a tortoise vs the hare situation. The tortoise, in this scenario, is the slow-moving collection of waste that’s being transported to your “excretion center”. And the hare is your fast-pace, high-performing body. But if the tortoise gets enough momentum, it can outrun the hare and your ability to eliminate waste. This is how pieces of “junk” get released back into your bloodstream to trigger inflammation and make you feel sick. In essence, you’re getting poisoned by garbage that’s trying to escape.

Symptoms of the "Healing Crisis"

Symptoms may come and go (especially during the first 7-10 days of detoxing) and often mimic the flu. Common symptoms include: fatigue, nausea, headaches, chills, bloating, digestive issues, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, and a low fever.

Taken together, this detox reaction is known as the “healing crisis”. If you feel bad, then you know it’s working — and that toxins are “on the move”. However, constant pain and lingering symptoms aren’t necessarily good. It’s a sign that your detox pathways are overwhelmed, and we should slow things down.

Supporting an Unhappy Liver

The “healing crisis” isn’t fun for anyone. And if you happen to be detoxing too fast, try some of these tips below. They’ve helped many of my patients, along with thousands of others, who have experienced similar side effects.

1. Keep Chemicals Off Your Face

Make sure that your cosmetic and skincare products aren’t adding new toxins to your system. A study by EWG showed that women apply nearly 168 different chemicals on their skin everyday. This exposure accumulates over time and has the same effect on your body as eating foods that contain additives, trans-fats, and refined sugars / oils.

If you’re interested in switching to a natural, medical-grade skincare line that’s supported by clinical research, I’d recommend using Ageology.

2. Get Your Daily Dose of Minerals

Minerals are essential for optimizing your detox pathways. Some mineral-boosting strategies? Take a multivitamin to help restore depleted levels (especially if you drink alcohol); soak in epsom salts (for the magnesium); and drink mineral water.

3. Load Up On Fibrous Foods

Toxins leave your body in one of three ways: through stool, urine, or sweat. To keep your digestion smooth, try eating more foods that are high in fiber. These include: beans, avocados, berries, peas, squash, and flax and chia seeds.

4. Keep New Toxins Off Your Plate

Remember to eat whole, organic, and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables along with clean, grass-fed animal proteins. Otherwise, you’re absorbing toxins while simultaneously eliminating them — two steps forward and one step back.

5. Utilize Supplements For Support

Your supplement prescription already includes foundational nutrients that are key for detoxification; however there are other botanicals and herbal blends that support liver and kidney function. Glutathione, for example, is a powerful antioxidant that’s critical for removing toxic waste and decreasing inflammation. A good probiotic can also ease gastrointestinal symptoms by lowering levels of toxins in your gut, and restoring good bacteria in your microbiome.

6. Drink Plenty of Water

Hydration is crucial during detoxification as it supports the body’s natural elimination processes, helping to flush out toxins through urine and sweat, and maintaining overall organ function.

7. Sauna and Lymphatic Drainage Massage

These practices enhance detoxification by promoting sweating and lymphatic circulation. Saunas induce sweating, eliminating toxins through the skin, while lymphatic drainage massage stimulates the lymphatic system, aiding in the removal of waste and toxins from tissues.

8. Gentle Exercise

Exercise boosts circulation, accelerates the lymphatic system, and supports the body’s natural detoxification processes. It also promotes sweating, helping to expel toxins through the skin and enhancing overall metabolic function.

9. Get Enough Sleep

Quality sleep is essential for the body’s regeneration and detoxification. During sleep, the body repairs and detoxifies tissues, and lack of sleep may impede these processes, potentially leading to the accumulation of toxins and hindering overall health.

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