Have you ever heard about the healing crisis / discharge reaction - lets unpack it!
The Discharge Reaction
The discharge reaction or sometimes referred to as a “healing crisis” is a term commonly used in naturopathic practice to describe the re-awakening of the body’s vital systems during the treatment of disease. It often results in a temporary worsening of symptoms and is essentially a stirring of systems that may have been dormant or suppressed for years.
When undergoing treatment, we often expect healing to be linear, a smooth process where the body adapts to the medicine and gets better step by step. But this isn’t usually how it works. Our bodies are intelligent and have their own internal order in which they want to heal. If certain systems have been neglected or shut down for a long time, it can take time and patience for them to fully come back online.
During a discharge reaction, symptoms may temporarily worsen before they improve. It’s important to note that this is very different from an adverse reaction, this is your body doing the work to repair and detoxify.
What is a Discharge Reaction?
A discharge reaction is a temporary worsening of symptoms that occurs when the body is stimulated to heal, whether through herbal or nutritional medicine. It often shows up as a flare-up of the original issue or a general feeling of regression.
While this can be concerning, it’s a natural and expected part of the body’s healing process. It’s simply the body working to return to homeostasis, its natural state of balance. During this time, it's important to continue with treatment and trust in the body’s process.
Why Does a Discharge Reaction Happen?
A discharge reaction occurs because the body is eliminating built-up waste and toxins. As detoxification pathways become more active, symptoms may show up or worsen temporarily as the body clears out what it no longer needs.
A Simple Metaphor: Cleaning Out a Messy Closet
Think of a messy, overstuffed closet. When you decide to clean it out, you have to pull everything out first such as clothes, shoes, boxes and boxes, and for a little while, the room looks even messier than before. But that’s part of the process. Once you sort through it all, and put things back in place, the space feels fresh and clear again.
That’s what a discharge reaction can feel like. Things can seem a bit worse before they get better, but it’s just your body clearing out the old to make space for healing.
What to expect during a discharge reaction, symptoms may include:
- Changes in bowel motions (loose stools, diarrhea)
- A temporary flare-up of the presenting complaint
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Heightened emotions such as anxiety or irritability
- Cold or flu-like symptoms
What to Do if You're Experiencing a Discharge Reaction
It’s important to stay the course with your treatment so the body has time to properly heal
and repair. Try to remain consistent with your protocol unless otherwise advised. If
symptoms become too uncomfortable, your naturopath may be able to adjust dosing or
treatment to ease the process.
How Long Does a Discharge Reaction Last?
A discharge reaction can last up to two weeks, but should not go on longer than that. If it
does, or if symptoms are very difficult to tolerate, please reach out to your practitioner for
support.
Tips for Supporting Your Body During a Discharge Reaction:
- Avoid strenuous activity
- Increase your water intake to help flush out toxins
- Increase fibre intake to support elimination
- Prioritise rest and deep, quality sleep
- Reduce overall stress
- Try Epsom salt baths to support detox pathways
- Keep a positive mindset. Remind yourself that this is a sign your body is healing.