Headaches, brain fog, constipation…you detox to feel better, so why do you feel worse?
Detox reactions, sometimes called healing reactions or a healing crisis, are incredibly common—but that doesn’t mean they’re necessary.
While you may not be able to mitigate the side effects of detox completely, there are plenty of steps you can take to reduce your symptoms and, in many cases, avoid a reaction altogether.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- What causes detox reactions
- Common signs and symptoms of detox reactions
- Tips to keep toxins moving out of your body swiftly and efficiently
- Why fiber is your best friend for detox
- The most effective thing you can do to reduce or eliminate symptoms of detox
What Are Detox Reactions And Why Do They Occur?
Detox reactions are incredibly common but can vary in severity and type depending on several factors. For some people, detox reactions are primarily physical, while others may experience emotional reactions. Oftentimes, however, it’s a combination of both.
For the most part, toxic insults like heavy metals, pesticides, PFAS, plastics, and so on are sequestered away in your cells and tissues, with your fat cells being a primary receptacle[1][2]. As you move through a detoxification process, these toxins are released into your bloodstream and then—as swiftly as possible—they’re sent to your detox organs to be released and eliminated once and for all.
Detox reactions occur when your body is overwhelmed with an onslaught of toxins released into your bloodstream at once. While your detox systems do their best to keep things moving, sometimes there are simply too many compounds to process, and you start to feel the toxic side effects of unwanted chemicals in your blood.
In addition to the impact of the toxic compounds themselves, the detoxification process can also lead to secondary inflammation and oxidative stress[3]. Detox reactions can become almost unavoidable when all three of these factors dovetail into one event.
Many people experience detox reactions as a worsening of symptoms. While this may be alarming at first, once you understand that it’s your body’s way of releasing these compounds once and for all, it can bring a sigh of relief (even if there is some discomfort in the process).
The good news is that you can take steps to reduce or even avoid detox reactions. And for the most part, the increase in symptoms is relatively short-lived.
Symptoms Of Detox Reactions
Detox reactions can show up physically and mentally/emotionally. Below are some of the most common symptoms:
Physical Reactions
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Gas and bloating
- Aches or pains
- Muscle cramps
- Discharges
- Odors
- Rashes/ itchy skin
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Impaired immunity (more easily getting a cold or flu)
- Sleep disturbance
- Flaring up of old wound sites
Mental or Emotional Reactions
- Brain fog
- Anxiety
- Feeling low or depressed
- Irritability
- Anger
- Old memories surfacing
- Unusual dreams
As your body ramps up its detoxification processes and toxins move out, these symptoms will begin to subside and make way for more mental and emotional clarity, balance, and joy. Physically, you’ll feel less inflamed, more energized, and have a greater sense of overall well being.
Healing Reaction Or Worsening Condition?
How can you tell if you’re experiencing a detox reaction or if a health condition is getting worse?
While most of the time, the symptoms you experience during detox are simply a byproduct of the detoxification process, there are cases where health conditions can actually flare up and worsen.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to determine if you’re experiencing a healing reaction or a worsening condition:
- A healing reaction will likely last one week at most, typically even shorter. If you’re experiencing symptoms that last longer than a week, you may be pushing your body too hard with detox.
- Symptoms of a healing reaction often mimic past symptoms you may have experienced at one point or another.
- Symptoms of a healing reaction can come on in strange ways. For example, you may feel like you’re getting sick but also have plenty of energy.
- Healing reaction symptoms may come on as a cluster. One day you’re feeling fine, and then BAM—headache, constipation, brain fog, all at once. This is due to the sudden influx of toxins.
If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing a healing reaction or a worsening condition, slowly cut back on your detox protocol and consult with your healthcare practitioner. Below are some tips and tricks to avoid healing reactions. Following these guidelines can help you to reduce your reactions. If you’re following a comprehensive plan to support the detox process and you’re still experiencing strong reactions, it may be a worsening condition.
Handling Healing Reactions
Although they may feel overwhelming at first, several strategies are available to help you gracefully move through your healing reactions. Keep in mind that detox symptoms are very normal, and it is expected that things may feel a little worse before they get better. Supporting your body during this time will allow you to move through the healing process faster and can also reduce the intensity with which the reactions occur.
Get Plenty of Rest
While you’re detoxing, your body needs as much energy as possible to assist in the process of elimination. If you’re feeling low energy, listen to your body and give yourself the rest you need. This may look like switching up your workout routine to include more gentle stretches and walks instead of intense exercise.
Keep Your Nervous System Calm
As mentioned, there’s an emotional and mental aspect of detox that will happen along with the physical symptoms. To allow for optimal detoxification while giving you the emotional space to process what may come up, do what you can to keep your nervous system calm. This includes avoiding stimulants like caffeine and depressants like alcohol but also finding ways to soothe your nervous system.
Parasympathetic breathwork is also a wonderful technique for addressing nervous system imbalance. Slow, deep breathing sends a message to your nervous system that you are safe, and all is well[4]. You can also practice journaling and meditation to help your emotions flow and process.
From an energy-conservation perspective, when your nervous system is activated, it draws a lot of energy to your limbs and away from your internal organs (those responsible for detox). Bringing your nervous system back into balance returns the energy where you need it most[5].
Eat Lightly For Optimal Digestive Strength
Your digestive system is one of your hardest-working detox pathways. As you begin to move toxins out of your body, it may put some extra stress on your digestive organs, so you’ll want to give them lots of love. Light foods that are easy to digest will take the pressure off your digestion and may also help to reduce any digestive symptoms you’re experiencing, like gas, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea.
Easy to digest foods include well-cooked vegetables, grains, fruit, and other fresh foods. Harder-to-digest foods include processed foods, heavy meats, dairy, and raw vegetables.
5 Tips To Reduce Or Prevent Detox Reactions
Detox reactions often occur due to a sharp influx of toxins in the bloodstream that overwhelm your detox system. To avoid, or at least reduce the occurrence of detox reactions, be sure to take the following steps:
#1. Stay Hydrated
Both your cells and your digestive system require water to move toxic compounds out of your body. On a cellular level, dehydration may inhibit the proper flow of chemicals out of your cells and into your blood[6]. On an organ level, dehydration can keep liberated toxins stuck in the detox process (so you can’t eliminate them through urine or bowel movements).
The detoxification process can be dehydrating itself as your body works hard to move things along, so staying hydrated during a detox is vital. Depending on your activity level, height, and weight, you may want to consume anywhere from eight to ten glasses per day of water (or more).
Some signs of dehydration include headaches, brain fog, muscle cramps, constipation, gas, and bloating.
#2. Consume Plenty of Fiber
In addition to keeping your diet light during a detox reaction, you also want to ensure you consume enough dietary fiber. Many toxins are eliminated through your body via your bowel movements, and consuming fiber is one of the most effective ways to keep your bowels moving smoothly.
Both soluble and insoluble fiber are helpful, with soluble fiber helping to soften the stool and insoluble fiber adding bulk to assist things passing through[7][8].
Fiber also acts as a binder, which is one of the most powerful natural detox agents you can find. Binders, like fiber, help reduce the body’s toxic load by literally binding toxins and pulling them out via fecal matter[9]. In this way, dietary fiber not only helps to move your stool along, but it will also grab a bunch of toxins with it on its way out. That’s a win-win.
Fruit and vegetables are both fantastic sources of natural fiber. You can also try adding some psyllium husk to water if you feel you could use a little extra fiber in your diet.
#3. Try Coffee Enemas If Things Aren’t Moving
If you’ve stayed on top of your hydration and you’re getting plenty of fiber but still are not having healthy bowel movements, you may want to try a coffee enema. Coffee enemas will help get things moving in your colon and help break through constipation.
#4. Short Sauna Sessions
Sweating can help your body move toxins along, but during a healing reaction, you may lose too much water during a sauna session, or it could increase the rate at which you’re detoxing (which may not be ideal if you’re already overloaded). You can continue to use the sauna as a tool for detox, but shorten your sessions and monitor how you feel.
#5. Monitor Your Reactions And Slow Down If Necessary
Detox reactions are most common in situations where there is either an overload of toxins in the body or someone is detoxing too fast. That’s why slow and steady wins the race when it comes to healthy detox.
Although it may feel like ridding your body of toxins as fast as possible is the way to go, gentle detox is really the most effective and beneficial long-term.
For example, some people may do well with a more robust detox like fasting and taking supportive supplements. But many people will find themselves hitting a serious healing crisis if they haven’t prepared their bodies properly.
If your detox reactions are coming on strong, it may be time to reduce your detox supplements and give your body a chance to catch up.
With that said, if you already have the appropriate full-spectrum detox support on board, you’ll likely move through your detox reactions swiftly and with little trouble (if any).
Take a Binder
If detox reactions occur due to an influx of free toxins in the system, then what’s the solution?
Bring on full-spectrum detox support that includes a binder—leaving no toxin behind.
The reason many people experience detox reactions is that one or two aspects of their detox system isn’t fully online, which means instead of a swift liberation and elimination of toxic compounds, rogue toxins start to flood the body. The only way to safeguard against these free toxins is to get a strong, effective binding agent on board to sweep up the mess.
Simply put, binders are compounds that trap toxins and pull them out of your body. They are a crucial part of the detox process, and absolutely essential for warding off detox reactions.
While there are hundreds, if not thousands, of detox protocols, programs, and supplements out there, most of them look at detox as a one-dimensional process. In truth, detoxification is a complex and nuanced process that can be unpredictable and requires a well thought out approach.
This is precisely what I had in mind when I formulated CitriCleanse.
CitriCleanse includes three potent and powerful ingredients hand-picked for their individual and targeted impact on detoxification support. With this formula, you not only help your body push toxins out of your cells, but you provide it with the substances it needs to help surround them and then escort them out of your body once and for all.* This three-pronged approach is the missing link in most other detox protocols, and it’s why CitriCleanse is one of my most popular supplements.
The three ingredients in CitriCleanse include cilantro extract, fulvic and humic acid, and grapefruit pectin. Let’s look at each in more detail:
Fulvic/Humic Acid – Fulvic and humic acid are naturally occurring compounds found in soil and are particularly rich in minerals. The nutrients in fulvic and humic acid work on a cellular level to help push toxins out, eliminating them from your deepest tissues. These substances are also known for their ability to support digestive function, a crucial component of a thorough detox protocol. Furthermore, they also combat oxidative stress and inflammation—two processes that can lead to detox reactions when left unchecked[10].
Cilantro Extract – Cilantro extract is a critical nutrient for supporting liver function during your detoxification process. While fulvic and humic acid help to push out toxins, cilantro assists your liver in the vital job of neutralizing and eliminating toxins from your systemic circulation. Cilantro also helps target harder-to-reach toxins, like heavy metals, and offers support against oxidative stress[11][12].
Grapefruit Pectin – While fulvic/humic acid and cilantro escort toxins out of circulation, grapefruit pectin gives them the final push for complete elimination. As a chelating agent (binder) grapefruit pectin assists your body in removing toxins once and for all. This fiber is also known for its ability to positively affect your gut microbiome and improve your digestive process—critical aspects of the elimination process[13][14][15][16]
With these three allies in your back pocket, you not only get gentle, yet efficient detoxification on a cellular level—but you’ve also got safeguards up against detox reactions. Like I said, leave no toxin behind.
Takeaway
Although certainly unpleasant, most detox reactions resolve within a day or two (or a week at most). That said, with a well thought-out protocol, you can greatly mitigate these symptoms, if not avoid them altogether.
The longer toxins stick around in circulation, the higher the risk of unwanted symptoms. Detoxification is a complex physiological process, but with the right toolkit, you can assist your body in targeting toxins, neutralizing them, and eliminating them once and for all.
In addition to the self-care and detox support tips outlined in this article, CitriCleanse offers all-in-one full-spectrum detox support to help your body move toxins out swiftly and safely.
*These statements have not been reviewed by the FDA. The information herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nor is it meant to replace or act as a substitute for speaking to a medical doctor and/or licensed health practitioner. Any products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. They are not intended to replace any medication, medical test(s), or healing modality prescribed by your medical doctor. Please consult with your doctor before beginning a new supplement regimen.
