Detoxification Reactions and Support
While cleansing and conditioning the tummy you may experience digestive upsets, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, cold/flu symptoms, slight nausea, mild spotting between cycles, fatigue, tenderness, emotional releases, etc. Do no be alarmed or suppress these symptoms as these are normal during any detoxification process and provide valuable information on what’s going on in the body. These symptoms can occur after any tummy work including hydrotherapy, massage, or nutritional changes.
1. Nausea or dizziness: increased liver and/or gall bladder drainage
2. Bloating: increased bacterial activity of putrifying, old material in intestines and often happens when material is mobilized but not yet moved out of the body
3. Chill: kidney drainage and energetic release and/or nervous system discharge
4. Skin eruptions: increased detoxification of or through the skin cells
5. Energy decrease: all organs are working hard to clear toxins
6. Headaches and other body aches: mobilization of toxins out of the tissues and into the bloodstream
7. Various emotions point to releases of energy in specific organs: fear= a release from the kidney, anger= a release from the liver, worry= a release from the spleen/stomach, grief= a release from the lungs
The following are some suggestions that may help alleviate some of the uncomfortable symptoms.
Make sure you consume plenty of purified water with lemon/lime and a pinch of Celtic sea salt. We recommend a minimum of ½ your body weight in ounces, although more may be required. Adding “E-Lyte” to water throughout the day gives you an electrolyte boost and improves cellular metabolism.
Take a lukewarm bath with 1/2 cup of Tummy Temple Detox Bath Salts or 1 cup of Omega Nutrition’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. In a warm bath, add the salts or the vinegar and soak for 20-30 minutes. Focus on breathing into the belly and relaxing all of your joints and muscles.
Teas or tinctures (ex: Yogi Tea’s Detox Formula) containing Milk Thistle or Dandelion Root will help support the liver in releasing toxins and rebuilding its tissues. Peppermint tea is also helpful.
Make sure to get plenty of rest and do not engage in strenuous exercise if you are feeling weak. The body needs time and rest to heal. Use this time to rejuvenate. Consider a massage session to balance the nervous system and encourage gentle drainage.
Dry Skin Brushing with a natural bristle brush will help to detoxify the skin and stimulate the lymphatic system. The brush should be kept dry. The body should be dry, and the brush should be passed over the skin in a clean sweeping motion – no back and forth scrubbing motions. Always brush towards the heart and focus particular attention on the concentrated lymph areas: the neck, armpits, abdomen, groin, and behind the knees. Use circular motions in these areas and always brush lightly as the superficial lymph vessels are directly beneath the skin. Skin brushing should be done once or twice per day. In times of intense toxicity, the brushing can be increased to four times per day.
When abdominal cramping ensues after a treatment it is helpful to massage the abdomen clockwise and apply direct heat with a Fomentek Bag (hot water bag). Adding Castor Oil Packs to this can relax the colon muscles, loosen material, stimulate lymph movement, and encourage its evacuation. This involves soaking a wash cloth-sized piece of natural cotton flannel in warmed Castor oil, applying it to the abdomen, covering with plastic wrap, and topping it off with direct heat (we suggest the Fomentek Water Bags over electrical heat). Keep the compress in place for 20-60 minutes. Tummy Temple Inner Glow massage oil is also very effective in relieving cramps.
Enemas. Nothing takes care of a detoxify reaction like a simple enema. This gives your body a quick and easy boost by gently flushing out what’s currently in the blood stream. Different types of bags are available but the cheapest and best are the traditional “red bags” at your local pharmacy just over ten dollars. Lie down in your bath tub on a towel and hang it about a meter high. Make sure to use lubricant and the regulator on the “in-flow” tube to determine the flow that feels most comfortable.
For internal soreness and burning post treatments use Hilltop Aloe to soothe the intestinal lining. For rectal burning from toxic bile releases, use Tummy Temple’s Happy Bum Bum Balm.
Remember, detox reactions are a sign that your body is working to remove toxins. Although unpleasant at times try to look at these symptoms as proof that your body is actually healing. You are going through the process of clearing these symptoms from the body. Stay in the process and appreciate all the hard work that your amazing body is doing!
For releases of an emotional nature consider the following things:
Emotions are a normal part of the human experience. The more you accept them the more likely they are to pass quickly and not rule your life. Also, knowing that they are a passing experience allows you be more compassionate with yourself and not feel guilty about their presence. Do not invest a lot of energy in trying to figure out exactly what they are all about.
Releasing pent up emotions is good for the organs, relieving them of the work of holding onto these emotions. Our culture emphasizes holding it together, but there are many good reasons to feel out of sorts. Don’t stuff it.
Emotions are related to the feeling senses and not the logical senses. Don’t try to make sense of them or you will go crazy. Feel them and let them go.
Let your friends and loved ones know that you might be experiencing some emotions due to the cleansing process and to not take anything personally with regard to your mood swings and emotional expressions. Also, be sure to ask for support during these times of emotional release.
When you begin to experience emotional releases remember to breathe into your pelvis as most of the time the breath will immediately go to the chest. Breathing into the pelvis will allow the emotion to pass through more easily.
Releasing emotions can be scary initially but the more accepting you are of yourself and this process the easier it gets and the more compassion you have for yourself and others.
Emotions are neither good or bad… they just are a normal expression of the human experience. Some experiences result in more intense emotional releases.
Emotional Detox can take the form of crying, sadness, grumpiness, anger outbursts and innerbursts, fear, feelings of mistrust, abandonment, and unworthiness and can transform into laughter, feelings of happiness and security, resolve, feeling connected, and a state of inner peace.
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