Have you ever experienced feeling worse after a healing session when you think you should feel better?
I have been reading The Healing Code by Dr. Alex Loyd lately and toward the end of the book he addresses the question “What if I feel worse after completing the code?”. It is a very good question and one that just about every healer has to deal with at some point.
It is called the Herxheimer reaction. I had no idea that it had a proper name. I’ve also heard it called a healing crisis.
I’m a massage therapist and I was trained to let my clients know that it could happen, especially after a deep tissue or neuromuscular session. We tell people to make sure they drink plenty of water to help flush their system out and to consider taking an Epsom salt bath before going to bed.
What happens is that after a healing session, regardless of what kind of healing is involved, the body starts to work better. More blood and energy is moving through the body bringing healing to the cells. The cells start to detoxify, pumping out the toxins and other garbage that has been piling up. With increased levels of garbage moving about you can start to feel a little sick until it all gets flushed out.
I have a great example of this. I had a client call me once for a massage. She is normally a very active lady, but this day she could barely move without pain and couldn’t handle much pressure at all when we got started. Her muscles had stored up a lot of garbage (yes, a technical term). I worked on her for about 90 minutes and after I finished I told her to take it easy, drink plenty of water, and so on.
About a week later I heard back from her. She said she felt like she had a mild case of the flu for a couple days then she was fine.
As healers, it is important to let our clients know that sometimes it might get a little worse for a short time before it gets better. They generally accept it under those conditions.
Where I struggle with this is with customers of my network marketing business. How do you tell someone who hasn’t slept well in years that their new magnetic mattress pad could actually make them feel worse for a week or so before it makes them feel better, and that it’s a good thing?
If you have any ideas on that then please leave me a comment. If you would be so kind, I’d also appreciate it if you would share this with your friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook.
Wayne Woodworth
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this website.
I just came home from a half hour back and neck massage. I went from being uncomfortable to being in actual pain. I’m glad to know that things will get worse before they get better.
When do you suggest going for another session? Should I wait until the pain subsides or book another for next week?
Thanks!
Let your massage therapist know how you now feel after the massage and see what they say. If you are in pain after a massage then it should go away by the next morning.
Thanks fort his information. I heard about such incidents on people who do cleansing diets. They feel worse before they feel lighter and better. I guess its all part of the detoxification process.
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That’s exactly right. The garbage that is being removed comes out of cellular storage and has to pass through the rest of the body system to be eliminated. And it is usually in a relatively large quantity, so it has an effect. It is a choice of having flu-like symptoms for a day or two then feeling great versus feeling just mildly bad for a long time.
Thanks for the comment Beth. I appreciate you taking the time.
Hey Wayne,
Thanks for sharing this information. I am interested in healing but have never had the chance to delve much further than that. But it is useful to know that we can often feel worse after a session.
It makes a whole lot of sense really, especially if the body has been mistreated and not hasn't been used to performing properly.
I guess re the mattress situation, its good to be honest and some testimonials of how the mattress feels better after a week from previous customers might do the trick.
Beth
Thanks for the comment Beth. I appreciate you taking the time.
Hey Wayne,
Thanks for sharing this information. I am interested in healing but have never had the chance to delve much further than that. But it is useful to know that we can often feel worse after a session.
It makes a whole lot of sense really, especially if the body has been mistreated and not hasn't been used to performing properly.
I guess re the mattress situation, its good to be honest and some testimonials of how the mattress feels better after a week from previous customers might do the trick.
Beth