Self-Care During a Period of Growth
Two days ago, I was in agony.
Let me backtrack…
I’m always testing out new recipes, new protocols, and new tools to help improve your skin, gut, digestion, elimination, mood, and overall life. And a few months ago, when my dog got really sick, it started to really affect my gut health. The emotional toll of my dog’s condition along with the physical stress of sleeplessness really did a number on it. On top of all of that, I found myself overeating in an attempt to: 1. fight the fatigue from caretaking for her, 2. numb the emotional pain.
The result: my belly has been rounder than I would like.
Rather than freaking out about it, like I historically would have, I’ve used it as an opportunity to test various herbs, supplements, foods, and protocols on myself to find an effective protocol to make gut inflammation & bloating disappear after a little relapse.
I have been making some major headway & I’m so excited to share my findings.
But then 2 days ago, the day of the eclipse, I had MAJOR issues. All of a sudden, I got dizzy, nauseous, and had severe tummy pain. I was writhing around screaming, my tummy was BALLOONED out, and I had chills. Honestly, it reminded me of Bella Swan’s pregnancy in Breaking Dawn. It was like a demon was crushing my body from the inside.
Luckily, I quickly realized what was happening…it was Herx die off symptoms.
Herxheimer Reaction
Herxheimer reaction, also known as "herx" or "die-off," refers to a temporary worsening of symptoms that can occur when the body is detoxifying and eliminating pathogens, such as parasites, bacteria, or yeast. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person and depend on factors such as the type and severity of the infection being treated, the individual's overall health status, and the detoxification capacity of their body. Although not everyone will experience all of these symptoms, common herxheimer reaction symptoms may include:
Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or lethargic, even after adequate rest.
Headaches: Experiencing headaches or migraines, often described as dull or throbbing pain.
Muscle and Joint Pain: Feeling achy or sore in the muscles and joints, similar to the flu.
Nausea: Feeling queasy or experiencing mild to moderate nausea and stomach discomfort.
Flu-like Symptoms: Having symptoms resembling those of the flu, such as fever, chills, and body aches.
Digestive Disturbances: Experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or gas.
Skin Reactions: Developing rashes, hives, or other skin eruptions as the body eliminates toxins.
Brain Fog: Feeling mentally foggy, confused, or having difficulty concentrating or remembering.
Emotional Changes: Experiencing mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or depression.
Increased Symptoms: Temporary worsening or exacerbation of existing symptoms related to the underlying condition being treated.
Sleep Disturbances: Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or experiencing restless sleep.
Increased Thirst: Feeling more thirsty than usual as the body works to flush out toxins.
Increased Sweating: Experiencing increased perspiration, especially during sleep.
Changes in Urination: Noticing changes in urine color, frequency, or odor as the body eliminates toxins.
Respiratory Symptoms: Developing congestion, coughing, or other respiratory symptoms as the body clears out toxins.
The Self-Improvement Flu
This phenomenon of feeling worse before you feel better isn’t limited to parasite cleanses and gut healing journeys. It happens everywhere—think of the last time you got a massage when you were really knotted up. Didn’t the pain get worse before it got better? Or sometimes when you start a new skincare regimen, your skin peels before it starts glowing. Or when you start working out, you experience soreness before you get stronger.
But one of the places that I see it the most is with inner work.
When you start an inner healing or unleveling journey, you often feel worse before you feel better.
5 years ago, I went on a massive inner child healing journey. I started using hypnosis, somatic therapy, and EMDR to work through some of the painful & shameful memories from my past.
Instead of feeling lighter and brighter, I went through a phase of of being a literal monster. I was so angry & irritable because I had to face all of the things I had been repressing for years. I could snap & cry at the drop of a dime because my hard exterior had been cracked open and I was so raw.
It took a while before I found my sanity again.
I like to think of it as the self-improvement flu. For a while, you feel worse, and then it starts to lift. Like with Herx symptoms, the self-improvement flu can vary in different people, but common symptoms include:
Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or lethargic, even after adequate rest.
Body Aches: Experiencing muscle aches, soreness, or stiffness, similar to those experienced with the flu.
Headaches: Having headaches or migraines, often described as dull or throbbing pain.
Nausea: Feeling queasy or experiencing mild to moderate nausea and stomach discomfort.
Digestive Disturbances: Experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or gas.
Feverish Sensations: Feeling hot or feverish, accompanied by sweating or chills.
Fluctuations in Body Temperature: Experiencing fluctuations in body temperature, with periods of feeling excessively hot or cold.
Emotional and Psychological Changes: Experiencing mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or depression as the energy shifts and old emotional patterns are released.
Sensory Sensitivities: Heightened sensitivity to light, sound, and other sensory stimuli.
Sleep Disturbances: Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or experiencing vivid dreams and altered states of consciousness during sleep.
The Remedy
Whether you are dealing with temporary symptoms from a physical health journey like a detox, cleanse, or just starting to eat healthier; or if you are dealing with a self-improvement flu, my protocol is the same. It involves lots of rest, lots of self-care, and just a bit of perseverance till you make it to the other side. Specifically:
Hydration: Staying well-hydrated is essential for supporting the body's detoxification processes and flushing out toxins. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help support kidney function and promote the elimination of waste products from the body. Rather than plain water, I recommend having more nourishing beverages like nettle infusions & my detox water, which provide minerals & really help your elimination. More info here.
Nutrient-Rich Foods: Consuming a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods can provide the body with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients needed for optimal detoxification and immune function. Focus on incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your meals to support overall health and well-being. Specific foods that I would recommend: sweet potatoes, avocado, berries, cacao, papaya, pineapple, kiwi, and flaxseeds.
Anti-inflammatory Foods: Including anti-inflammatory foods in your diet may help reduce inflammation and alleviate some of the discomfort associated with herxheimer reactions. Examples of anti-inflammatory foods include fatty fish (e.g., salmon, mackerel), leafy greens (e.g., spinach, kale), berries, nuts, seeds, and turmeric. If you’re in the Blush Academy, I would look at all the recipes tagged with anti-inflammatory & good for constipation.
Supportive Supplements: Certain supplements may help support the body's detoxification pathways and reduce the severity of herxheimer symptoms. These may include:
Probiotics: Probiotic supplements containing beneficial bacteria may help support gut health and balance the microbiome during a parasite cleanse.
Digestive Enzymes: Digestive enzyme supplements can aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, supporting overall gastrointestinal function.
Liver Support: Supplements such as milk thistle, dandelion root, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may help support liver detoxification pathways and promote the elimination of toxins from the body.
Gentle Exercise: Engaging in gentle exercise, such as walking, yoga, or tai chi, can help promote circulation, lymphatic drainage, and the elimination of toxins from the body. However, it's essential to listen to your body and avoid overexertion, especially if you're experiencing fatigue or muscle aches.
Stress Management: Practicing stress-reduction techniques, such as mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, or progressive muscle relaxation, can help mitigate the physical and emotional stress. If you’re in the Blush Academy, I would look at all of the “reactive tools” in the nervous system course; the “overthinking” breathwork, the “anxiety” breathwork, the Somatic Release, and the body connection meditations.
Sleep: Truly the most important thing is that you are getting 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Even if that means taking a little melatonin or CBD temporarily to make it happen. Other things that help with sleep: stop eating 11+ hours before you intend to wake up, keep your phone in warm mode all day, no screens or artificial light after dark, and certain herbs like Valerian Root, Lemonbalm, and Passionflower. In the Blush Academy Nervous System course, there is an entire section on optimizing your sleep.
If you are going through it right now, I hope that these tips help mitigate your symptoms until you get to the light at the end of the tunnel. Personally, I’m doubling down on all of these things while being SO excited to get to the other side so I can share what I did with you guys.
