Retracing & Healing Reactions
“The healing crisis is an effort on organs to become new and strong again.
Though it may feel like a disease crisis, it will not last as long, or develop into another disease.
Instead, it will bring about renewed health.”
~ Bernard Jensen, D.C., Ph.D.
Though it may feel like a disease crisis, it will not last as long, or develop into another disease.
Instead, it will bring about renewed health.”
~ Bernard Jensen, D.C., Ph.D.
This Article is Divided into Sections:
Section I. Introduction
Warning
Definition Of Retracing
Three Phases Of Retracing
Warning
Definition Of Retracing
Three Phases Of Retracing
Section II. Details About Healing Reactions
Definition Of Healing Reactions
Types Of Reactions
The Ship Analogy
The Car Analogy
Section III. Symptoms Of Healing Reactions
Physical Symptoms
Mental/Emotional Symptoms
Section IV. Handling Healing Reactions
Section V. Children and Retracing
Section VI. Other Topics Related To Healing Reactions
Definition Of Healing Reactions
Types Of Reactions
The Ship Analogy
The Car Analogy
Section III. Symptoms Of Healing Reactions
Physical Symptoms
Mental/Emotional Symptoms
Section IV. Handling Healing Reactions
Section V. Children and Retracing
Section VI. Other Topics Related To Healing Reactions
I. INTRODUCTION
Definition of Retracing. Retracing is the name of the process in which a body that is strengthened and balanced properly re-experiences and heals old illnesses or traumas that were incompletely healed in the past.
Poorly understood. Retracing is a natural ability of all bodies. However, it is not well known or well understood because it rarely occurs with conventional medical methods.
It also does not occur often when one uses holistic, herbal, Homeopathy, or naturopathic healing methods. The reason for this is that the latter methods do not renourish, balance and strengthen the body sufficiently for retracing to occur.
The word retracing is used in chiropractic science, and retracing can occur with quality chiropractic care.
Requirements. The retracing process usually requires:
This phase has two aspects:
a. Removal of infections, tumors, toxic metals or toxic chemicals or even a toxic or improper attitude.
b. Rebuilding of tissues and organs. This is when healing reactions occur. They are evidence of an active removal and rebuilding process.
HAIR ANALYSIS INDICATORS OF THE PHASES OF RETRACING
The following is an introduction to the hair analysis indicators of the retracing process. We are writing a more detailed article on this subject.
First phase indicators. Often, the oxidation rate and the sodium/potassium ratio improve on retests during the first phase of retracing. One may also feel better, such as having a little more energy.
Second phase indicators. In this phase, the sodium/potassium ratio often decreases, sometimes sharply. One may also move into a four lows pattern or perhaps develop a calcium shell. We call it entering the chaos.
Third phase indicators. These are often joy patterns such as a hill pattern, or even a double hill pattern.
The first phase of retracing is the subject of much of this website. This includes the articles about lifestyle, nutrition and the healing procedures.
The rest of this article is about the second phase of retracing – healing or purification reactions. These give us the most difficulty and the topic is not easy to understand.
II. DETAILS ABOUT HEALING REACTIONS
DEFINITION OF HEALING REACTIONS
These are temporary symptoms that occur as the body heals at deep levels. The symptoms may be physical, emotional, mental or even spiritual or religious in nature. We define a spiritual healing reaction as one in which a person is forced to re-examine his or her beliefs about life or other deep issues. The result is a more integrated and healthier personality.
Chronic to acute. Healing reactions occur when illnesses and other traumas move from a chronic state to an acute state before they are eliminated completely. Chronic means that a health condition does not kill the person, but the person also cannot overcome the condition. It is a stalemate.
As the energy level or vitality of the body improves, chronic conditions turn acute because the body now actively fights to overcome them. This is the cause of many of the symptoms of healing reactions.
Welcome indicators. Healing reactions are welcome signs of healing. In fact, if they fail to occur, one knows that a healing method offers symptomatic relief, but the healing is not at the deepest levels.
Duration. Most healing reactions are brief. They may last a few hours to a day or two. One may not even notice them. At times, however, they last longer – for days, weeks and occasionally for months.
Severity. Most healing reactions are mild. One may not even notice them, or they cause slight fatigue of malaise. Occasionally, they are vigorous. Very rarely, one is dangerous. These are discussed later in this article.
Reactions only occur with certain deep healing methods. Retracing and healing reactions usually do not occur with standard medical or most holistic healing methods. They occur very commonly during development programs.
Most symptoms are healing reactions, providing a person follows the NB program correctly. This is a rather extreme statement, but it is our experience.
A return to the past. Part of retracing is often a return to a time in the past when the original trauma or illness began or occurred. This can feel unusual, because one may feel partly like an adult, yet at the same time one may experience feelings like that of a child, for example, if the original illness or trauma took place in childhood.
Everyone has unhealed or only partially healed conditions. There are no exceptions, even if you have no symptoms.
Very precise. Often, the symptoms of retracing are exactly the same as symptoms that occurred with the original condition or trauma.
Occurs in its own order. Retracing does not occur in a particular sequence, such as moving backwards chronologically. Instead, the body decides the order in which illnesses or conditions will retrace. This may have to do with one’s nutrition and other factors.
Occurs in its own timing. Retracing does not occur on a set schedule. It can occur at any time. Often, retracing occurs when one is feeling well because this usually means that one’s energy level is higher, and more adaptive energy is needed for retracing.
Can be scary. As a rule, retracing is a very benign process. The body will not begin it unless it can complete it safely. However, it often arises suddenly, and it can be vigorous, at times. Also, one’s friends, family members and doctors do not understand it, so they tend to scare you more.
To repeat, most all reactions during development programs are healing reactions or retracing, in our experience, provided one follows the program correctly.
Healing reactions in conventional medicine. These occasionally occur with conventional medical care, where they are called Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions or just Herxheimer reactions. We discuss them near the end of this article.
Other words for healing reactions. Other words for healing reactions used in the medical literature are: flare-ups, healing crises, Herxheimer reactions, purification reactions, retracing reactions, catharsis, and exacerbations. These all mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this article.
Aggravations. Homeopaths use the word aggravations to describe something that occurs, at times, when they give a remedy. We formerly believed this was the same as a healing reaction.
However, we now think they are not the same because the aggravations with homeopathy are usually brief and mild. In contrast, healing reactions with a Nutritional Balancing program are much deeper.
We have learned, for example, that homeopathy may neutralize toxic metals, but will not remove them. A development program actually removes the metals. Development depends upon this. This is just one reason we do not use or ever recommend homeopathy, which we also find to be toxic.
THE LOADED SHIP ANALOGY
Healing reactions are somewhat like unloading a heavily loaded ship. The ship (the body) is loaded with toxic metals, and other debris and poisons. The ship sits low in the water due to the weight of its load.
As one removes some of the load, the ship may lean to one side due to an unbalanced load. It can feel as though the ship will take on water when this occurs. This is similar to the feelings some people report during a healing reaction.
THE CAR ANALOGY
Healing reactions are somewhat like fixing the engine of a car. When one cleans up or replaces parts in a car engine, at times the engine may slow down, speed up, run rough or even stall.
This occurs because the parts inside the engine were in a certain equilibrium prior to its repair. As parts are fixed or replaced, the entire system changes. More air may flow to the engine, or perhaps more gasoline reaches the cylinders.
This can result in changes in the engine’s performance. A similar event occurs inside our bodies. The effect is to cause temporary symptoms.
Some of the changes balance out by themselves. Others require retuning or recalibrating the engine. This is similar to changing a person’s development program to rebalance the body.
CAUSES AND TYPES OF HEALING REACTIONS
A. REMOVAL REACTIONS:
1. Removal of an infection. Most adults have at least two dozen chronic infections.
Common locations are:
✔the sinuses,
✔ears,
✔eyes,
✔teeth,
✔gums,
✔throat,
✔skin,
✔bronchials,
✔lungs,
✔stomach,
✔intestines,
✔liver, and
✔colon.
Even young children and babies have a number of infections. They may be present at birth, or may occur shortly after birth.
Retracing and thoroughly healing them involves several steps:
1. The situation changes from being chronic to acute. Chronic infections are those the body cannot fight off. Instead, the infection remains controlled, and may cause few or no symptoms.
When an old infection becomes acute, it means the body is now able to actively fight the infection. This often causes a flare-up of symptoms such as pain, inflammation, or swelling.
2. The body then completely eliminates the infection from the body. This may occur quickly, within hours, or it may take days, weeks or months.
Some infections will flare up, then symptoms will go away for a while. However, the process may repeat itself with another flare up for a while. This may occur a number of times until the entire infection is healed. The author experienced this with ear infections, for example.
Types of organisms involved. Retracing of infections can involve bacteria, viri, fungi, and/or parasites. At times, they involve a combination of micro-organims. Here are some notes about each.
Bacteria. Antibiotic therapy kills most bacteria, but it does not heal the body tissues. As a result, some infections remain and fester in a chronic way. Some antibiotic residues also remain in the body for years, altering the normal intestinal flora and causing many other problems.
For these reasons, please take antibiotics only as a last resort. Natural products are usually effective.
Viruses. Many chronic infections are viral. As the body’s vitality improves, they retrace and disappear. They can include herpes and other sexually-transmitted diseases.
Parasites. There are over 300 species of parasites, and infection is very common everywhere in the world. Liver flukes, for example, are especially widespread. However, they are often not easy to detect, even with stool exams and other methods.
Many of our clients report seeing dead parasites in the toilet during a development program.
No drugs, herbs or other anti-parasitic remedies are needed to remove parasites with a development program. The program alone will slowly kill all types of parasites. All of the parasite remedies are mildly or quite toxic, so it is best to avoid them all. For details, read Parasites.
Fungal infections. These are usually “cold” infections, and are also extremely common. Most women have too much yeast in the body, and sinus infections are often fungal. Many are due to a copper imbalance.
2. Removal of a toxic metal. Today, everyone has lots of toxic metals in their body. Children are born with them, and they are in the air, water, food and items we touch every day.
Three dozen toxic metals will come out of the body using a development program. They will come out in the body’s own order and its own timing.
Toxic metals are usually in compounds or molecules. Some of these are more difficult for the body to eliminate than others. One metal may come out for a few months. Then, another one may come out. Then the previous metal may come out again for another few months, perhaps in a different compound. So the process of removing them is lengthy and complex.
Repeated hair testing sometimes reveals the process, but there are metals that are not tested, and the metals are removed by many routes – the colon, the skin, the liver, and the lungs.
3. Removal of a toxic chemical. Many people have been exposed to solvents, pesticides, paints, and other toxic chemicals. Some are aware of the exposure, but most people have little memory of the incident.
Symptoms that occur as the chemicals are eliminated may include strange odors, odd tastes, rashes, liver or kidney pain, diarrhea, constipation, or other symptoms.
These chemicals are acquired in utero, or afterwards from food, water, air or from contact with many household and industrial products.
4. Removal of bad quality tissue. A common one is intestinal lining. Clients occasionally think that a piece of twisted intestinal lining in the toilet is a parasite.
Removal of toxic tissue occasionally causes weight loss that worries our clients. I assure them that it is best to get rid of the toxic weight, and they will gain weight back when the elimination is over.
5. Removal of mental or emotional “toxins” and traumas. Most people have experienced traumas of a mental or emotional type. These may be brought to consciousness for processing and removal. It is an amazing aspect of a development program.
The ability to remove mental and emotional blocks is due to better mental clarity, and improvements in memory and vitality. Also, the removal of toxic metals can sometimes free one of long-held emotions such as anger or fear.
Some of our clients are quite upset when they suddenly begin thinking or dreaming about their long-forgotten divorce, death of a child years ago, or some other issue. However, deep healing of the body and mind requires that such traumas be exposed, processed and removed.
6. Removal of spiritual blocks. This is important enough that it is discussed in a separate section of this article.
B. METABOLIC SHIFTS
1. A change in the oxidation rate or oxidation type. This is very common. Slowing of the oxidation rate may cause one to feel more tired or depressed. If the oxidation rate increases, one may feel more energetic or perhaps just more irritable.
2. A shift in the sodium/potassium ratio. This is important because it, too, necessitates a change in the Nutritional Balancing supplement program. Zinc is needed if the ratio is above 2.5, while Limcomin is needed if the ratio drops below 2.5. Keeping this ratio near its ideal level of 2.5 is very important to feel well and to keep any healing reaction going through to completion.
3. A shift into or out of other mineral patterns. This occurs continuously during the retracing process. They are necessary, at times, to remove toxic metals, to heal infections, and to process mental and emotional traumas.
4. Other biochemical shifts. Many are possible, such as changes in gland and hormone secretion, changes in the intestinal flora, more bile secretion, or a change in body temperature, bowel habits, blood sugar or blood pressure. These are all normal and to be expected.
5. A structural shift. This is caused by a change in muscle tension, changes in the ligaments and tendons, adjustment of the spine or other bones, more nerve energy flowing to certain areas, or some other mechanism.
Spinal release. A number of people who follow a NB program experience a spinal release healing reaction. This is a more extensive change in the bone structure.
It often begins in the lumbar and sacral areas, and slowly moves up the spine to the thoracic and cervical areas. It can cause annoying temporary symptoms of back pain or sciatic pain.
The spine relaxes and lets go in an uneven way, giving rise to the pain until the back finally balances out. Chiropractic care is often necessary for a while. Other helpful modalities are the spinal twist exercise, foot reflexology, and the red heat lamp shined on the back. The spinal release reaction can take a year or more to complete.
III. SYMPTOMS OF RETRACING
Anxiety. This is common. In some cases, anxiety will diminish if you take more fish oil (EPA-DHA). In these instances, 3-4 cans of sardines or the usual dose of fish oil is not enough for certain brain healing processes.
The need for extra EPA-DHA is temporary, so when the anxiety passes, go back to the usual amount of about 900-1000 mg of EPA-DHA daily or 3-4 cans of sardines.
Some readers will be tempted to take CBD oil, which is mainly hemp oil, which contains EPA-DHA. That is why it works, not the CBD! The problems with CBD products are that they are toxic and possibly addictive. For these reasons, we prefer fish oil.
In other cases, anxiety will be less if you take extra Magnesium (Paramin). You can take up to twice the usual amount safely.
In still other instances, extra zinc is needed for a few days. If the need for extra zinc persists, most likely one needs a new program and should check in for this.
Some people experience few symptoms of retracing, while other experience more. The worst difficulties occur when:
COMMON PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
Any symptoms are possible. Common ones include diarrhea, constipation, aches or pains, muscle cramps, discharges, odors, rashes, fevers, breathing difficulty, headaches, or fatigue. Others include getting a cold, a flu, or retracing an old case of bronchitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, or some other infection. Old wound sites, scars, or injury sites often flare up, become painful or reddened, and then disappear.
Other symptoms are:
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL PURIFICATION SYMPTOMS
These may include irritability, anxiety, fears, anger, depression, feelings of panic, brain fogginess, or others.
Long-forgotten memories occasionally surface, or one may have unusual dreams as the brain processes traumas or incidents from the past. Unusual dreams are not uncommon. In fact, symptoms may include almost anything.
Impaired judgment. Most of the time, one’s judgment is impaired during healing reactions. This is because part of oneself is in the present, but another part is in the past, handling an old illness or trauma. This is very confusing.
UNUSUAL HEALING REACTIONS DURING A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Pain in the liver and gall bladder area. This occurs in some people on the program. It has to do with the liver acupuncture meridian, which becomes stressed as the liver eliminates many toxins.
The liver meridian runs down the front of the body from the right shoulder through the right nipple and gall bladder to the right leg crease. From there it turns around and goes up the back through the inner part of the shoulder blade and back up to the right shoulder. In some women, the right bra shoulder strap makes the pain much worse, and not wearing a bra helps.
This pain is not a cause for alarm. It is not a disease. It will slowly subside if one stays with the NB program. However, it can take several years or longer to go away.
Coffee enemas are always helpful to speed healing of this meridian. Also helpful is opening the central channel or Conception Vessel in acupuncture terminology.
Actually, this type of pain and tenderness can be helpful. It tends to make a person stay with their health program.
Pain and tenderness in the solar plexus. This is also somewhat common during a NB program. Clients often think it is stomach pain, gastritis, or an ulcer. However, it is none of these. It is a very positive sign, in fact!
It is not a problem, and it will slowly go away if one stays on the program. Interestingly, having a lot of children helps with congestion in this area. Those who have not been parents usually feel this reaction the most.
OTHER VERY COMMON SYMPTOMS DURING A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
These include:
Heart Palpitations or Arrythmias. This is due to the release of toxins such as caffeine and many others that temporarily affect the heart rate.
Burning Pain Upon Urination. Once in a while, a client reports burning pain in the urethra and bladder area upon urination. This can occur in children, at times, as well.
The cause is either retracing of an old bladder infection or the release of an irritating toxin through the kidneys and into the urine.
Retracing an old urinary tract infection is often helped by taking vitamin A – up to 30,000 to 50,000 IU daily for adults and less for children. Genital baths- 5 or 6 daily – are easy to do and also excellent for this symptom. Rubbing the bladder reflex area of both feet (outside, below the ankle bone, near the bottom of the foot but on the side, not the bottom) is also excellent, at times.
For the release of a toxin through the kidneys and bladder, drink more water, and perhaps take an Epsom salt bath – but no more than 3 baths per week. Both are benign, and tend to pass quickly.
If it continues and is annoying, reduce the supplement program and it will likely slow down the elimination and thus the pain or burning sensation will diminish. Eventually, it will pass when the toxin is completely eliminated.
HEALING REACTIONS IN THE TEETH AND EARS
These are among the most common healing reactions that occur during a Nutritional Balancing program. The reason is that most people have some chronic infection of the teeth and the ears. These infections will become acute for a short time as they heal, and this causes the symptoms.
Teeth. Common reactions associated with the teeth include pain, sensitivity, and a tooth may become loose for a while. Occasionally, an abscess – a bubble full of pus - will appear suddenly in a tooth or gum area, with no warning. The infection may be of the gum, a tooth, or a cavitation (an area where a tooth was removed or other dental work done). An X-ray will show what looks like decay, inflammation or an abscess.
In most cases, the dentist will recommend removal of the tooth, root canal treatment, antibiotics, or something else fairly drastic. However, in almost all cases, if one just persists on a development program, the entire episode will pass, leaving no residual damage or other effects.
In addition to the regular development program, helpful procedures are:
He went to the dentist, who did an X-ray and told him it was a severe and deep abscess and that two teeth needed to come out at once. He asked me about it, and I said it was most likely a healing reaction.
I suggested he just stay with his program for a few days and see what happens. I also suggested continuing with the near infrared lamp sauna sessions, and to focus a reddish heat lamp on the area of his jaw where the reaction was for 2 minutes several times a day, as that might speed up the completion of the reaction. I also suggested he take 50,000 IU of natural vitamin A daily for a few days.
Two days later, as he was brushing his teeth, the swelling on his gum opened up, filling his mouth with pus and blood. The pain then went away, and he has had no more problems with those teeth for over 15 years.
Ear healing reactions. These can include pain, swelling, hearing loss, dizziness or some ringing in the ears. Taking antibiotics as a child for ear infections seems to predispose one to chronic ear problems.
These reactions will eventually pass on the program. In addition to the regular program, helpful procedures are:
Some people visit medical or other doctors seeking help when they have a healing reaction. These doctors run blood tests and are often surprised and upset with the results.
Common imbalances seen on blood tests during healing reactions are:
We explain to people that the abnormal readings are part of the rebalancing process of the program, and it will pass. If one waits a few weeks to a few months and redoes the blood test, often it will be normal. Rarely, the rebalancing takes up to 6 months, but it is still not a problem.
One needs to understand that doctors deal with a population group we call “the sick and the dying”, and they interpret blood tests accordingly. A person on a NB program is not in this group! Their blood tests must be interpreted differently, in a way with which doctors, even naturopaths, are not familiar.
Definition of Retracing. Retracing is the name of the process in which a body that is strengthened and balanced properly re-experiences and heals old illnesses or traumas that were incompletely healed in the past.
Poorly understood. Retracing is a natural ability of all bodies. However, it is not well known or well understood because it rarely occurs with conventional medical methods.
It also does not occur often when one uses holistic, herbal, Homeopathy, or naturopathic healing methods. The reason for this is that the latter methods do not renourish, balance and strengthen the body sufficiently for retracing to occur.
The word retracing is used in chiropractic science, and retracing can occur with quality chiropractic care.
Requirements. The retracing process usually requires:
- excellent nutrition
- an increase in the vitality of the body
- perhaps other favorable conditions such as adequate rest and sleep, being chaste, and other conditions.
- Improved vitality. The Nutritional Balancing program must cause a drastic increase in the vitality or adaptive energy level of the body. One may not feel this as more energy, since adaptive energy is different than just adrenal stimulation, for example. One might feel better in an overall way, such as having more energy or having fewer symptoms.
- Chronic Becomes Acute. An old emotional or mental trauma, an infection, or some other imbalance moves from a chronic to an acute state. In other terms, it comes up into waking consciousness for review and healing. In some cases, an active fight erupts between an old infection, for example, and the body’s defense mechanisms. This will cause a fever, aches and pains, or other symptoms.
- Healing And Resolution. One must then re-experience the illness or event properly. This may involve reframing, redoing, re-analyzing or just handling a symptom without panicking. As you do this, the symptom or trauma resolves, and is gone forever.
This phase has two aspects:
a. Removal of infections, tumors, toxic metals or toxic chemicals or even a toxic or improper attitude.
b. Rebuilding of tissues and organs. This is when healing reactions occur. They are evidence of an active removal and rebuilding process.
HAIR ANALYSIS INDICATORS OF THE PHASES OF RETRACING
The following is an introduction to the hair analysis indicators of the retracing process. We are writing a more detailed article on this subject.
First phase indicators. Often, the oxidation rate and the sodium/potassium ratio improve on retests during the first phase of retracing. One may also feel better, such as having a little more energy.
Second phase indicators. In this phase, the sodium/potassium ratio often decreases, sometimes sharply. One may also move into a four lows pattern or perhaps develop a calcium shell. We call it entering the chaos.
Third phase indicators. These are often joy patterns such as a hill pattern, or even a double hill pattern.
The first phase of retracing is the subject of much of this website. This includes the articles about lifestyle, nutrition and the healing procedures.
The rest of this article is about the second phase of retracing – healing or purification reactions. These give us the most difficulty and the topic is not easy to understand.
II. DETAILS ABOUT HEALING REACTIONS
DEFINITION OF HEALING REACTIONS
These are temporary symptoms that occur as the body heals at deep levels. The symptoms may be physical, emotional, mental or even spiritual or religious in nature. We define a spiritual healing reaction as one in which a person is forced to re-examine his or her beliefs about life or other deep issues. The result is a more integrated and healthier personality.
Chronic to acute. Healing reactions occur when illnesses and other traumas move from a chronic state to an acute state before they are eliminated completely. Chronic means that a health condition does not kill the person, but the person also cannot overcome the condition. It is a stalemate.
As the energy level or vitality of the body improves, chronic conditions turn acute because the body now actively fights to overcome them. This is the cause of many of the symptoms of healing reactions.
Welcome indicators. Healing reactions are welcome signs of healing. In fact, if they fail to occur, one knows that a healing method offers symptomatic relief, but the healing is not at the deepest levels.
Duration. Most healing reactions are brief. They may last a few hours to a day or two. One may not even notice them. At times, however, they last longer – for days, weeks and occasionally for months.
Severity. Most healing reactions are mild. One may not even notice them, or they cause slight fatigue of malaise. Occasionally, they are vigorous. Very rarely, one is dangerous. These are discussed later in this article.
Reactions only occur with certain deep healing methods. Retracing and healing reactions usually do not occur with standard medical or most holistic healing methods. They occur very commonly during development programs.
Most symptoms are healing reactions, providing a person follows the NB program correctly. This is a rather extreme statement, but it is our experience.
A return to the past. Part of retracing is often a return to a time in the past when the original trauma or illness began or occurred. This can feel unusual, because one may feel partly like an adult, yet at the same time one may experience feelings like that of a child, for example, if the original illness or trauma took place in childhood.
Everyone has unhealed or only partially healed conditions. There are no exceptions, even if you have no symptoms.
Very precise. Often, the symptoms of retracing are exactly the same as symptoms that occurred with the original condition or trauma.
Occurs in its own order. Retracing does not occur in a particular sequence, such as moving backwards chronologically. Instead, the body decides the order in which illnesses or conditions will retrace. This may have to do with one’s nutrition and other factors.
Occurs in its own timing. Retracing does not occur on a set schedule. It can occur at any time. Often, retracing occurs when one is feeling well because this usually means that one’s energy level is higher, and more adaptive energy is needed for retracing.
Can be scary. As a rule, retracing is a very benign process. The body will not begin it unless it can complete it safely. However, it often arises suddenly, and it can be vigorous, at times. Also, one’s friends, family members and doctors do not understand it, so they tend to scare you more.
To repeat, most all reactions during development programs are healing reactions or retracing, in our experience, provided one follows the program correctly.
Healing reactions in conventional medicine. These occasionally occur with conventional medical care, where they are called Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions or just Herxheimer reactions. We discuss them near the end of this article.
Other words for healing reactions. Other words for healing reactions used in the medical literature are: flare-ups, healing crises, Herxheimer reactions, purification reactions, retracing reactions, catharsis, and exacerbations. These all mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this article.
Aggravations. Homeopaths use the word aggravations to describe something that occurs, at times, when they give a remedy. We formerly believed this was the same as a healing reaction.
However, we now think they are not the same because the aggravations with homeopathy are usually brief and mild. In contrast, healing reactions with a Nutritional Balancing program are much deeper.
We have learned, for example, that homeopathy may neutralize toxic metals, but will not remove them. A development program actually removes the metals. Development depends upon this. This is just one reason we do not use or ever recommend homeopathy, which we also find to be toxic.
THE LOADED SHIP ANALOGY
Healing reactions are somewhat like unloading a heavily loaded ship. The ship (the body) is loaded with toxic metals, and other debris and poisons. The ship sits low in the water due to the weight of its load.
As one removes some of the load, the ship may lean to one side due to an unbalanced load. It can feel as though the ship will take on water when this occurs. This is similar to the feelings some people report during a healing reaction.
THE CAR ANALOGY
Healing reactions are somewhat like fixing the engine of a car. When one cleans up or replaces parts in a car engine, at times the engine may slow down, speed up, run rough or even stall.
This occurs because the parts inside the engine were in a certain equilibrium prior to its repair. As parts are fixed or replaced, the entire system changes. More air may flow to the engine, or perhaps more gasoline reaches the cylinders.
This can result in changes in the engine’s performance. A similar event occurs inside our bodies. The effect is to cause temporary symptoms.
Some of the changes balance out by themselves. Others require retuning or recalibrating the engine. This is similar to changing a person’s development program to rebalance the body.
CAUSES AND TYPES OF HEALING REACTIONS
A. REMOVAL REACTIONS:
1. Removal of an infection. Most adults have at least two dozen chronic infections.
Common locations are:
✔the sinuses,
✔ears,
✔eyes,
✔teeth,
✔gums,
✔throat,
✔skin,
✔bronchials,
✔lungs,
✔stomach,
✔intestines,
✔liver, and
✔colon.
Even young children and babies have a number of infections. They may be present at birth, or may occur shortly after birth.
Retracing and thoroughly healing them involves several steps:
1. The situation changes from being chronic to acute. Chronic infections are those the body cannot fight off. Instead, the infection remains controlled, and may cause few or no symptoms.
When an old infection becomes acute, it means the body is now able to actively fight the infection. This often causes a flare-up of symptoms such as pain, inflammation, or swelling.
2. The body then completely eliminates the infection from the body. This may occur quickly, within hours, or it may take days, weeks or months.
Some infections will flare up, then symptoms will go away for a while. However, the process may repeat itself with another flare up for a while. This may occur a number of times until the entire infection is healed. The author experienced this with ear infections, for example.
Types of organisms involved. Retracing of infections can involve bacteria, viri, fungi, and/or parasites. At times, they involve a combination of micro-organims. Here are some notes about each.
Bacteria. Antibiotic therapy kills most bacteria, but it does not heal the body tissues. As a result, some infections remain and fester in a chronic way. Some antibiotic residues also remain in the body for years, altering the normal intestinal flora and causing many other problems.
For these reasons, please take antibiotics only as a last resort. Natural products are usually effective.
Viruses. Many chronic infections are viral. As the body’s vitality improves, they retrace and disappear. They can include herpes and other sexually-transmitted diseases.
Parasites. There are over 300 species of parasites, and infection is very common everywhere in the world. Liver flukes, for example, are especially widespread. However, they are often not easy to detect, even with stool exams and other methods.
Many of our clients report seeing dead parasites in the toilet during a development program.
No drugs, herbs or other anti-parasitic remedies are needed to remove parasites with a development program. The program alone will slowly kill all types of parasites. All of the parasite remedies are mildly or quite toxic, so it is best to avoid them all. For details, read Parasites.
Fungal infections. These are usually “cold” infections, and are also extremely common. Most women have too much yeast in the body, and sinus infections are often fungal. Many are due to a copper imbalance.
2. Removal of a toxic metal. Today, everyone has lots of toxic metals in their body. Children are born with them, and they are in the air, water, food and items we touch every day.
Three dozen toxic metals will come out of the body using a development program. They will come out in the body’s own order and its own timing.
Toxic metals are usually in compounds or molecules. Some of these are more difficult for the body to eliminate than others. One metal may come out for a few months. Then, another one may come out. Then the previous metal may come out again for another few months, perhaps in a different compound. So the process of removing them is lengthy and complex.
Repeated hair testing sometimes reveals the process, but there are metals that are not tested, and the metals are removed by many routes – the colon, the skin, the liver, and the lungs.
3. Removal of a toxic chemical. Many people have been exposed to solvents, pesticides, paints, and other toxic chemicals. Some are aware of the exposure, but most people have little memory of the incident.
Symptoms that occur as the chemicals are eliminated may include strange odors, odd tastes, rashes, liver or kidney pain, diarrhea, constipation, or other symptoms.
These chemicals are acquired in utero, or afterwards from food, water, air or from contact with many household and industrial products.
4. Removal of bad quality tissue. A common one is intestinal lining. Clients occasionally think that a piece of twisted intestinal lining in the toilet is a parasite.
Removal of toxic tissue occasionally causes weight loss that worries our clients. I assure them that it is best to get rid of the toxic weight, and they will gain weight back when the elimination is over.
5. Removal of mental or emotional “toxins” and traumas. Most people have experienced traumas of a mental or emotional type. These may be brought to consciousness for processing and removal. It is an amazing aspect of a development program.
The ability to remove mental and emotional blocks is due to better mental clarity, and improvements in memory and vitality. Also, the removal of toxic metals can sometimes free one of long-held emotions such as anger or fear.
Some of our clients are quite upset when they suddenly begin thinking or dreaming about their long-forgotten divorce, death of a child years ago, or some other issue. However, deep healing of the body and mind requires that such traumas be exposed, processed and removed.
6. Removal of spiritual blocks. This is important enough that it is discussed in a separate section of this article.
B. METABOLIC SHIFTS
1. A change in the oxidation rate or oxidation type. This is very common. Slowing of the oxidation rate may cause one to feel more tired or depressed. If the oxidation rate increases, one may feel more energetic or perhaps just more irritable.
2. A shift in the sodium/potassium ratio. This is important because it, too, necessitates a change in the Nutritional Balancing supplement program. Zinc is needed if the ratio is above 2.5, while Limcomin is needed if the ratio drops below 2.5. Keeping this ratio near its ideal level of 2.5 is very important to feel well and to keep any healing reaction going through to completion.
3. A shift into or out of other mineral patterns. This occurs continuously during the retracing process. They are necessary, at times, to remove toxic metals, to heal infections, and to process mental and emotional traumas.
4. Other biochemical shifts. Many are possible, such as changes in gland and hormone secretion, changes in the intestinal flora, more bile secretion, or a change in body temperature, bowel habits, blood sugar or blood pressure. These are all normal and to be expected.
5. A structural shift. This is caused by a change in muscle tension, changes in the ligaments and tendons, adjustment of the spine or other bones, more nerve energy flowing to certain areas, or some other mechanism.
Spinal release. A number of people who follow a NB program experience a spinal release healing reaction. This is a more extensive change in the bone structure.
It often begins in the lumbar and sacral areas, and slowly moves up the spine to the thoracic and cervical areas. It can cause annoying temporary symptoms of back pain or sciatic pain.
The spine relaxes and lets go in an uneven way, giving rise to the pain until the back finally balances out. Chiropractic care is often necessary for a while. Other helpful modalities are the spinal twist exercise, foot reflexology, and the red heat lamp shined on the back. The spinal release reaction can take a year or more to complete.
III. SYMPTOMS OF RETRACING
Anxiety. This is common. In some cases, anxiety will diminish if you take more fish oil (EPA-DHA). In these instances, 3-4 cans of sardines or the usual dose of fish oil is not enough for certain brain healing processes.
The need for extra EPA-DHA is temporary, so when the anxiety passes, go back to the usual amount of about 900-1000 mg of EPA-DHA daily or 3-4 cans of sardines.
Some readers will be tempted to take CBD oil, which is mainly hemp oil, which contains EPA-DHA. That is why it works, not the CBD! The problems with CBD products are that they are toxic and possibly addictive. For these reasons, we prefer fish oil.
In other cases, anxiety will be less if you take extra Magnesium (Paramin). You can take up to twice the usual amount safely.
In still other instances, extra zinc is needed for a few days. If the need for extra zinc persists, most likely one needs a new program and should check in for this.
Some people experience few symptoms of retracing, while other experience more. The worst difficulties occur when:
- Reactions occur early on the program. This can give a person a “bad first impression”, which can cause them to quit the program. Reactions that occur later on the program are less problematic because by then, most people feel significantly better and therefore handle the reaction better.
- Reactions involve unpleasant memories and negative or scary feelings.
- Reactions involve a big change in the oxidation rate of sodium/potassium ratio. For example, if the oxidation rate changes from fast to slow, staying on a fast oxidizer supplement program will make the symptoms worse.
- Reactions require a lot of rest and one does not want to rest.
- Reactions are vigorous. They can cause purification reactions that are very intense in an effort to move healing along rapidly.
COMMON PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
Any symptoms are possible. Common ones include diarrhea, constipation, aches or pains, muscle cramps, discharges, odors, rashes, fevers, breathing difficulty, headaches, or fatigue. Others include getting a cold, a flu, or retracing an old case of bronchitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, or some other infection. Old wound sites, scars, or injury sites often flare up, become painful or reddened, and then disappear.
Other symptoms are:
- Sleep disturbances
- Bowel disturbances such as constipation or diarrhea, at times
- Testicular pain in men with copper or cadmium remova
- Changes in the menstrual period in young women
- Ear symptoms (extremely common)
- Throat symptoms
- Fatigue attacks
- Chest wall pain
- Liver/gall bladder pain
- Solar plexus pain (also called third center pain)
- Other aches and pains
- Spinal release (discussed below)
- Fevers or night sweats
- Appendicitis retracing
- Nodules and lumps
- Rarely bleeding
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL PURIFICATION SYMPTOMS
These may include irritability, anxiety, fears, anger, depression, feelings of panic, brain fogginess, or others.
Long-forgotten memories occasionally surface, or one may have unusual dreams as the brain processes traumas or incidents from the past. Unusual dreams are not uncommon. In fact, symptoms may include almost anything.
Impaired judgment. Most of the time, one’s judgment is impaired during healing reactions. This is because part of oneself is in the present, but another part is in the past, handling an old illness or trauma. This is very confusing.
UNUSUAL HEALING REACTIONS DURING A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Pain in the liver and gall bladder area. This occurs in some people on the program. It has to do with the liver acupuncture meridian, which becomes stressed as the liver eliminates many toxins.
The liver meridian runs down the front of the body from the right shoulder through the right nipple and gall bladder to the right leg crease. From there it turns around and goes up the back through the inner part of the shoulder blade and back up to the right shoulder. In some women, the right bra shoulder strap makes the pain much worse, and not wearing a bra helps.
This pain is not a cause for alarm. It is not a disease. It will slowly subside if one stays with the NB program. However, it can take several years or longer to go away.
Coffee enemas are always helpful to speed healing of this meridian. Also helpful is opening the central channel or Conception Vessel in acupuncture terminology.
Actually, this type of pain and tenderness can be helpful. It tends to make a person stay with their health program.
Pain and tenderness in the solar plexus. This is also somewhat common during a NB program. Clients often think it is stomach pain, gastritis, or an ulcer. However, it is none of these. It is a very positive sign, in fact!
It is not a problem, and it will slowly go away if one stays on the program. Interestingly, having a lot of children helps with congestion in this area. Those who have not been parents usually feel this reaction the most.
OTHER VERY COMMON SYMPTOMS DURING A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
These include:
Heart Palpitations or Arrythmias. This is due to the release of toxins such as caffeine and many others that temporarily affect the heart rate.
Burning Pain Upon Urination. Once in a while, a client reports burning pain in the urethra and bladder area upon urination. This can occur in children, at times, as well.
The cause is either retracing of an old bladder infection or the release of an irritating toxin through the kidneys and into the urine.
Retracing an old urinary tract infection is often helped by taking vitamin A – up to 30,000 to 50,000 IU daily for adults and less for children. Genital baths- 5 or 6 daily – are easy to do and also excellent for this symptom. Rubbing the bladder reflex area of both feet (outside, below the ankle bone, near the bottom of the foot but on the side, not the bottom) is also excellent, at times.
For the release of a toxin through the kidneys and bladder, drink more water, and perhaps take an Epsom salt bath – but no more than 3 baths per week. Both are benign, and tend to pass quickly.
If it continues and is annoying, reduce the supplement program and it will likely slow down the elimination and thus the pain or burning sensation will diminish. Eventually, it will pass when the toxin is completely eliminated.
HEALING REACTIONS IN THE TEETH AND EARS
These are among the most common healing reactions that occur during a Nutritional Balancing program. The reason is that most people have some chronic infection of the teeth and the ears. These infections will become acute for a short time as they heal, and this causes the symptoms.
Teeth. Common reactions associated with the teeth include pain, sensitivity, and a tooth may become loose for a while. Occasionally, an abscess – a bubble full of pus - will appear suddenly in a tooth or gum area, with no warning. The infection may be of the gum, a tooth, or a cavitation (an area where a tooth was removed or other dental work done). An X-ray will show what looks like decay, inflammation or an abscess.
In most cases, the dentist will recommend removal of the tooth, root canal treatment, antibiotics, or something else fairly drastic. However, in almost all cases, if one just persists on a development program, the entire episode will pass, leaving no residual damage or other effects.
In addition to the regular development program, helpful procedures are:
- Use a reddish heat lamp on the jaw near the painful area for one to two minutes six or seven times daily. Move the lamp around, and get it as close to your skin as is comfortable.
- Do foot reflexology, and look for the reflex point associated with the infected area.
- Take extra vitamin A, 25,000 to 50,000 IU daily of preferably natural, pre-formed vitamin A. Beta carotene is less effective.
He went to the dentist, who did an X-ray and told him it was a severe and deep abscess and that two teeth needed to come out at once. He asked me about it, and I said it was most likely a healing reaction.
I suggested he just stay with his program for a few days and see what happens. I also suggested continuing with the near infrared lamp sauna sessions, and to focus a reddish heat lamp on the area of his jaw where the reaction was for 2 minutes several times a day, as that might speed up the completion of the reaction. I also suggested he take 50,000 IU of natural vitamin A daily for a few days.
Two days later, as he was brushing his teeth, the swelling on his gum opened up, filling his mouth with pus and blood. The pain then went away, and he has had no more problems with those teeth for over 15 years.
Ear healing reactions. These can include pain, swelling, hearing loss, dizziness or some ringing in the ears. Taking antibiotics as a child for ear infections seems to predispose one to chronic ear problems.
These reactions will eventually pass on the program. In addition to the regular program, helpful procedures are:
- Do reflexology and focus on the ear reflexes, which are the tips of the toes. This is very powerful.
- Check with us because at times a natural remedy may also help.
Some people visit medical or other doctors seeking help when they have a healing reaction. These doctors run blood tests and are often surprised and upset with the results.
Common imbalances seen on blood tests during healing reactions are:
- Low thyroid hormone levels, or elevated TSH.
- Slightly elevated liver enzymes due to liver irritation.
- Low sodium and/or chloride levels, due perhaps to kidney irritation.
- Slight macrocytic anemia in a few cases. This can be due to an elimination of toxic iron, which damages some red blood cells. It is actually a slight hemolytic anemia, not pernicious anemia although they may appear similar on blood tests.
- Elevated ferritin if the body is eliminating iron or manganese, perhaps.
- Other abnormalities occasionally occur.
We explain to people that the abnormal readings are part of the rebalancing process of the program, and it will pass. If one waits a few weeks to a few months and redoes the blood test, often it will be normal. Rarely, the rebalancing takes up to 6 months, but it is still not a problem.
One needs to understand that doctors deal with a population group we call “the sick and the dying”, and they interpret blood tests accordingly. A person on a NB program is not in this group! Their blood tests must be interpreted differently, in a way with which doctors, even naturopaths, are not familiar.
SECTION IV. HANDLING HEALING REACTIONS
SEVEN REASONS WHY RETRACING BECOMES EASIER AS ONE PROGRESSES ON A NB PROGRAM
PRINCIPLES TO HELP HANDLE HEALING REACTIONS
Everyone worries that a flare-up of symptoms during a nutritional balancing program is not healing, but rather a disease. This is possible if one is not following the program correctly, or one needs a change in one’s program, or rarely due to some kind of stress on the body.
While not perfect, answering the five questions below can help one to know if a symptom is due to healing or something else.
1. Was the person following a nutritional balancing program, including diet, rest, supplements and the proper application of the sauna? Healing reactions occur most often when the body is given all that it needs. If the complete program is followed fairly strictly, the reaction is likely due to healing.
However, if a person is not following the program, or on a different regimen, then it is more likely that it is not a healing reaction. Also, if one is terminally ill, it may not be a healing reaction.
2. Was one feeling better before the reaction occurred? Healing reactions require energy. One’s energy level often increases until sufficient to initiate a reaction. Thus, a reaction can occur and often does just when one is feeling stronger. If one had been feeling worse, the reaction is less likely due to healing, however.
3. Have the symptom occurred in the past? Often, old symptoms or conditions recur during healing reactions. If one experienced the symptom in even the distant past, it is more likely, though not always, due to healing.
4. Are the symptoms unusual? Healing reactions often produce odd symptom pictures. One might develop a sore throat or flu without fatigue. This occurs when one is really not ill, though one may develop some features of an illness.
5. How long have symptoms lasted? Healing reactions usually do not last long. They may be vigorous but end in a few hours or at most about a week. If a reaction or flare-up lasts more than several weeks, it may be a worsening of one’s condition. This one is tricky, however, because a deep-seated physical or emotional problem may take weeks or months to retrace completely in a few cases. Look to the other questions for more clarity, or do a hair analysis retest to gain more insight as to what is going on.
SUPPORT FOR INFECTIONS
Retracing infections is often a bit scary, as one can develop fever, rashes, dizziness and other disturbing symptoms.
Always make sure that one’s temperature does not rise above about 103-104 F. If it becomes higher, ways to lower it naturally include sponging the body with cool water, and a coffee enema or two will almost always lower a fever and use of rubbing alcohol. This will have to be repeated every few hours, but that is okay.
Also, be sure you are well-hydrated when fever is present, as the body can easily become dehydrated. Drink water, and not tea or juice, please.
Coffee Enemas. These are excellent to help one move through any infection or fever. Up to four per day is fine.
Heat. Heat activates the immune system and may disable or even kill some microorganisms. For this reason, sauna use is excellent to help heal some chronic infections. Do not continue with sauna therapy if it just irritates the body, which occasionally occurs. It can be confusing, however, because at times the seeming irritation can be a healing process.
The light of the reddish heat lamp and the heat of the sauna definitely upsets most parasites, which is a type of ‘cold’ or ‘yin’ infection.
One can expose an area of chronic infection to more infrared as this can speed healing in some cases. This works very well on the sinuses, for example, and can work well with parasites in the intestinal tract or elsewhere in the body.
Another excellent idea is to shine one or more red heat lamps on the thymus gland area, which is the middle of the chest or breast bone. Do this for 30 minutes at a time, twice or three times daily. This may also speed up healing.
Diet. Eat lightly. Drink plenty of spring water. Chicken soup helps with some infections. Do not eat fruit or fruit juices, as they are too yin. Stay with the recommended diet but just eat less, especially if you are not too hungry. Never eat a lot when sick.
Infection Remedies When Retracing. Check with your consultant about taking any of these remedies, as they will be indicated sometimes, but not others. They include:
Limcomin. This is a product from Endomet Laboratories that contains some zinc, copper, vitamins A and C, and a little magnesium and vitamin B6. It is designed to support the immune response, and often works extremely well. Adults can take up to 6 tablets three times daily. Children need less depending on their size and weight.
Vitamin A (and not beta carotene). This is one of the most used natural remedies in nutritional balancing science. It strengthens mucus membranes and has other positive effects upon the immune response, so it is helpful for many infections of all kinds. Adults usually need about 25,000 to 50,000 IU per day for 5 days or so. The natural vitamin A from fish oil is somewhat better than the synthetic form, called retinyl palmitate.
Colloidal silver. I prefer the following brands, although other may work well, too. Arabesque, Endomet, Sovereign Silver and Live Silver. However, other brands are sometimes very good, too. The usual dose for a low-potency product for an adult is about 1 tablespoon three times daily, taken by itself, at least 15 minutes away from all food and all beverages before and after taking it. It may also be applied locally by sniffing it, inhaling it or putting it on the skin or a drop in an ear, for example.
Zinc. This important mineral by itself is usually not indicated during healing reactions because it lowers the tissue sodium level, which is usually low to begin with. However, in combination with copper, manganese, vitamin A and vitamin C, in the product called Limcomin, it is extremely helpful, at times.
Vitamin C. A little vitamin C, which is found in the limcomin from endomet, boosts adrenal activity and helps raise the Na/K ratio. It also has some immune-boosting ability.
Warning: As a general rule, do not use high-dose vitamin C, by itself, when following a nutritional balancing program. It upsets body chemistry, lowers copper, is too yin and is not needed. Warning: Especially avoid extra vitamin C if a person is a fast oxidizer or is in a four lows pattern because these people need copper badly, and vitamin C lowers copper in the body. Vitamin A is generally much better than vitamin C for retracing reactions.
Herbs such as Echinacea, golden seal, astragalus. These are used, at times, but I find they are not as helpful today, for some reason, as in the past.
Bee Propolis. This is occasionally helpful for those following a nutritional balancing program.
Lifestyle. Rest lying down as much as possible.
Any infection that persists for more than several days may not be a healing reaction. In this case, consult a knowledgeable practitioner as infections can become serious threats to one’s health.
SUPPORT FOR OTHER COMMON RETRACING SYMPTOMS
For Pain in the Liver Area (which is common during a nutritional balancing program):
Warning about wo oil:
For Diarrhea: Elimination of antibiotics, metals or toxic chemicals may cause diarrhea. Here is what you need to do when you have diarrhea:
Observe feelings from as neutral a viewpoint as possible. It is very helpful to talk with someone supportive to gain added perspective. Feelings will generally pass, washing over oneself like ocean waves.
Vigorous exercise can slow emotional reactions. Extra rest and sleep will help them pass more quickly.
Many people learned well to suppress their feelings and have great difficulty expressing them. One may become afraid of one’s own buried feelings. These people benefit from allowing themselves to cry, scream or otherwise express that which they feel. If this seems embarrassing, one can close the bedroom door or go sit in a car. For several years I would cry for no apparent reason, often in crowded places. At times I believed I was ill, but eventually the symptom passed and I found myself much happier.
For Nervousness And Anxiety: Elimination of stored caffeine, theophylline, diet pills or other stimulant substances can cause temporary feelings of anxiety as they are released. These will pass without requiring supportive therapy. Extreme fatigue or copper elimination can also cause feelings of anxiety.
If a feeling is very intense or persistent, nutritional supplements of calcium, magnesium, zinc, TMG (trimethylglycine) and/or ICMN (a product containing choline, inositol, methionine and niacinamide) may have a calming effect.
One may take up to 2500 mg of calcium, 1500 mg of magnesium, 100 mg of zinc, 4000 mg of TMG, and/or 1000 mg of choline, inositol, methionine and niacinamide in a 24-hour period. Sometimes one of these works better than another.
Resting, deep, slow breathing, calming herbs, massage, foot reflexology and other natural therapies may be helpful as well.
For Weight Loss or Gain: During nutritional balancing programs, weight may fluctuate. Weight gain may occur if the body retains water to buffer toxins that are being eliminated. Weight loss may occur even in a thin person as damaged tissue is broken down. One often will go through periods of greater tissue breakdown followed by periods of rebuilding. Shifts in glandular activity may temporarily cause weight gain or loss.
Most shifts in weight are not a cause for concern. In some cases, eating more or fewer calories may assist in balancing weight during a detoxification program. Usually, however, the nutritional balancing program needs to take its course and weight will normalize after several months to several years, depending on the toxicity of the body.
To Slow Healing Reactions: According to Dr. Paul Eck’s research, taking lecithin granules can help slow the elimination of toxic metals and chemicals. Taking aspirin, Tylenol, tranquilizers or other over the-counter remedies is never recommended.
SEVEN REASONS WHY RETRACING BECOMES EASIER AS ONE PROGRESSES ON A NB PROGRAM
- The body has more energy with which to handle the purification reactions.
- A person has more understanding of retracing, how it works and how it feels.
- One has more experience with reactions and what to expect.
- One usually has more tools to help handle healing reactions.
- As one progresses, a person becomes happier. This can help a lot with handling healing reactions.
- As one progresses and develops, one will receive more guidance and help, which assists with healing reactions.
- One’s elimination channels work much better. Impaired elimination at the beginning of a program I call ‘the clogged toilet syndrome’.
PRINCIPLES TO HELP HANDLE HEALING REACTIONS
- The body will not undertake a healing reaction unless it can see it through to completion. I have found this to be true in at least 95% of healing crises, no matter how vigorous or unusual the symptoms.
- Due to principle #1 above, reassurance and general supportive measures are usually all that is required, even with an intense purification or healing reaction. These measures are discussed below and include plenty of rest, a simple diet, and keeping a positive attitude. Fearing these reactions, and reacting with horror or severe anxiety, definitely impairs the body’s ability to move through the reaction.
- Medical interventions can worsen a healing reaction. For this reason, I urge clients not to immediately visit doctors or hospitals if they feel badly, and to first speak with their consultant or doctor about their symptoms. In most cases, with supportive measures, and perhaps changing their program and a few simple remedies, the entire reaction subsides.
Everyone worries that a flare-up of symptoms during a nutritional balancing program is not healing, but rather a disease. This is possible if one is not following the program correctly, or one needs a change in one’s program, or rarely due to some kind of stress on the body.
While not perfect, answering the five questions below can help one to know if a symptom is due to healing or something else.
1. Was the person following a nutritional balancing program, including diet, rest, supplements and the proper application of the sauna? Healing reactions occur most often when the body is given all that it needs. If the complete program is followed fairly strictly, the reaction is likely due to healing.
However, if a person is not following the program, or on a different regimen, then it is more likely that it is not a healing reaction. Also, if one is terminally ill, it may not be a healing reaction.
2. Was one feeling better before the reaction occurred? Healing reactions require energy. One’s energy level often increases until sufficient to initiate a reaction. Thus, a reaction can occur and often does just when one is feeling stronger. If one had been feeling worse, the reaction is less likely due to healing, however.
3. Have the symptom occurred in the past? Often, old symptoms or conditions recur during healing reactions. If one experienced the symptom in even the distant past, it is more likely, though not always, due to healing.
4. Are the symptoms unusual? Healing reactions often produce odd symptom pictures. One might develop a sore throat or flu without fatigue. This occurs when one is really not ill, though one may develop some features of an illness.
5. How long have symptoms lasted? Healing reactions usually do not last long. They may be vigorous but end in a few hours or at most about a week. If a reaction or flare-up lasts more than several weeks, it may be a worsening of one’s condition. This one is tricky, however, because a deep-seated physical or emotional problem may take weeks or months to retrace completely in a few cases. Look to the other questions for more clarity, or do a hair analysis retest to gain more insight as to what is going on.
SUPPORT FOR INFECTIONS
Retracing infections is often a bit scary, as one can develop fever, rashes, dizziness and other disturbing symptoms.
Always make sure that one’s temperature does not rise above about 103-104 F. If it becomes higher, ways to lower it naturally include sponging the body with cool water, and a coffee enema or two will almost always lower a fever and use of rubbing alcohol. This will have to be repeated every few hours, but that is okay.
Also, be sure you are well-hydrated when fever is present, as the body can easily become dehydrated. Drink water, and not tea or juice, please.
Coffee Enemas. These are excellent to help one move through any infection or fever. Up to four per day is fine.
Heat. Heat activates the immune system and may disable or even kill some microorganisms. For this reason, sauna use is excellent to help heal some chronic infections. Do not continue with sauna therapy if it just irritates the body, which occasionally occurs. It can be confusing, however, because at times the seeming irritation can be a healing process.
The light of the reddish heat lamp and the heat of the sauna definitely upsets most parasites, which is a type of ‘cold’ or ‘yin’ infection.
One can expose an area of chronic infection to more infrared as this can speed healing in some cases. This works very well on the sinuses, for example, and can work well with parasites in the intestinal tract or elsewhere in the body.
Another excellent idea is to shine one or more red heat lamps on the thymus gland area, which is the middle of the chest or breast bone. Do this for 30 minutes at a time, twice or three times daily. This may also speed up healing.
Diet. Eat lightly. Drink plenty of spring water. Chicken soup helps with some infections. Do not eat fruit or fruit juices, as they are too yin. Stay with the recommended diet but just eat less, especially if you are not too hungry. Never eat a lot when sick.
Infection Remedies When Retracing. Check with your consultant about taking any of these remedies, as they will be indicated sometimes, but not others. They include:
Limcomin. This is a product from Endomet Laboratories that contains some zinc, copper, vitamins A and C, and a little magnesium and vitamin B6. It is designed to support the immune response, and often works extremely well. Adults can take up to 6 tablets three times daily. Children need less depending on their size and weight.
Vitamin A (and not beta carotene). This is one of the most used natural remedies in nutritional balancing science. It strengthens mucus membranes and has other positive effects upon the immune response, so it is helpful for many infections of all kinds. Adults usually need about 25,000 to 50,000 IU per day for 5 days or so. The natural vitamin A from fish oil is somewhat better than the synthetic form, called retinyl palmitate.
Colloidal silver. I prefer the following brands, although other may work well, too. Arabesque, Endomet, Sovereign Silver and Live Silver. However, other brands are sometimes very good, too. The usual dose for a low-potency product for an adult is about 1 tablespoon three times daily, taken by itself, at least 15 minutes away from all food and all beverages before and after taking it. It may also be applied locally by sniffing it, inhaling it or putting it on the skin or a drop in an ear, for example.
Zinc. This important mineral by itself is usually not indicated during healing reactions because it lowers the tissue sodium level, which is usually low to begin with. However, in combination with copper, manganese, vitamin A and vitamin C, in the product called Limcomin, it is extremely helpful, at times.
Vitamin C. A little vitamin C, which is found in the limcomin from endomet, boosts adrenal activity and helps raise the Na/K ratio. It also has some immune-boosting ability.
Warning: As a general rule, do not use high-dose vitamin C, by itself, when following a nutritional balancing program. It upsets body chemistry, lowers copper, is too yin and is not needed. Warning: Especially avoid extra vitamin C if a person is a fast oxidizer or is in a four lows pattern because these people need copper badly, and vitamin C lowers copper in the body. Vitamin A is generally much better than vitamin C for retracing reactions.
Herbs such as Echinacea, golden seal, astragalus. These are used, at times, but I find they are not as helpful today, for some reason, as in the past.
Bee Propolis. This is occasionally helpful for those following a nutritional balancing program.
Lifestyle. Rest lying down as much as possible.
Any infection that persists for more than several days may not be a healing reaction. In this case, consult a knowledgeable practitioner as infections can become serious threats to one’s health.
SUPPORT FOR OTHER COMMON RETRACING SYMPTOMS
For Pain in the Liver Area (which is common during a nutritional balancing program):
- Rub the feet in the liver reflex area and on the top of both feet in the webbing between the first and second toes.
- Extra coffee enemas are often excellent.
- You can also try taking extra ox bile and pancreatin (such as GB-3 by Endomet Labs).
- You can add silymarin or milk thistle tincture and/or dandelion tincture. The tincture is often better than dry tablets. For adults, one can take up to 20 drops three times a day or up to 3 capsules three times per day of a standardized product.
- Drink extra water, up to one quart extra per day.
- Distilled water for a few days is sometimes remarkably helpful.
- Stinging nettles may be helpful, up to 20 drops three times/day of a standardized extract.
Warning about wo oil:
- This remedy burns badly when applied, but the burning subsides in about 10 minutes, and with it often the itching and burning of the rash also subsides.
- Do not use in or near the eyes. They are too delicate for this remedy.
- Do not use more than one or two drops. That is all that is needed.
- Do not use on a baby, ever. The person must be at least 3 years old to use this remedy.
For Diarrhea: Elimination of antibiotics, metals or toxic chemicals may cause diarrhea. Here is what you need to do when you have diarrhea:
- Rest plenty and eat lightly. Be sure to drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
- Avoid all fruit and all sweets!
- Six charcoal tablets, three times per day will help absorb toxins.
- Well-cooked garlic or 15 garlic capsules daily may be needed if one is releasing parasites.
- Eat lightly of non-fibrous, non-irritating foods such as rice, other grains, chicken and cooked vegetables until diarrhea passes.
- Severe diarrhea that persists requires intervention. Otherwise one may lose vital electrolytes and become dehydrated.
Observe feelings from as neutral a viewpoint as possible. It is very helpful to talk with someone supportive to gain added perspective. Feelings will generally pass, washing over oneself like ocean waves.
Vigorous exercise can slow emotional reactions. Extra rest and sleep will help them pass more quickly.
Many people learned well to suppress their feelings and have great difficulty expressing them. One may become afraid of one’s own buried feelings. These people benefit from allowing themselves to cry, scream or otherwise express that which they feel. If this seems embarrassing, one can close the bedroom door or go sit in a car. For several years I would cry for no apparent reason, often in crowded places. At times I believed I was ill, but eventually the symptom passed and I found myself much happier.
For Nervousness And Anxiety: Elimination of stored caffeine, theophylline, diet pills or other stimulant substances can cause temporary feelings of anxiety as they are released. These will pass without requiring supportive therapy. Extreme fatigue or copper elimination can also cause feelings of anxiety.
If a feeling is very intense or persistent, nutritional supplements of calcium, magnesium, zinc, TMG (trimethylglycine) and/or ICMN (a product containing choline, inositol, methionine and niacinamide) may have a calming effect.
One may take up to 2500 mg of calcium, 1500 mg of magnesium, 100 mg of zinc, 4000 mg of TMG, and/or 1000 mg of choline, inositol, methionine and niacinamide in a 24-hour period. Sometimes one of these works better than another.
Resting, deep, slow breathing, calming herbs, massage, foot reflexology and other natural therapies may be helpful as well.
For Weight Loss or Gain: During nutritional balancing programs, weight may fluctuate. Weight gain may occur if the body retains water to buffer toxins that are being eliminated. Weight loss may occur even in a thin person as damaged tissue is broken down. One often will go through periods of greater tissue breakdown followed by periods of rebuilding. Shifts in glandular activity may temporarily cause weight gain or loss.
Most shifts in weight are not a cause for concern. In some cases, eating more or fewer calories may assist in balancing weight during a detoxification program. Usually, however, the nutritional balancing program needs to take its course and weight will normalize after several months to several years, depending on the toxicity of the body.
To Slow Healing Reactions: According to Dr. Paul Eck’s research, taking lecithin granules can help slow the elimination of toxic metals and chemicals. Taking aspirin, Tylenol, tranquilizers or other over the-counter remedies is never recommended.
- The body has more energy with which to handle the purification reactions.
- A person has more understanding of retracing, how it works and how it feels.
- One has more experience with reactions and what to expect.
- One usually has more tools to help handle healing reactions.
- As one progresses, a person becomes happier. This can help a lot with handling healing reactions.
- As one progresses and develops, one will receive more guidance and help, which assists with healing reactions.
- One’s elimination channels work much better. Impaired elimination at the beginning of a program I call ‘the clogged toilet syndrome’.
V. RETRACING IN CHILDREN
Children generally have a much easier time with retracing than adults. The reasons are:
Children generally have a much easier time with retracing than adults. The reasons are:
- Children usually have more vitality than adults.
- Children often have less stress than adults.
- Children are often more comfortable with the out-of-control feeling that may accompany a healing reaction.
- Children have often experienced fewer traumas than adults that can get in the way of retracing.
- Children have less inertia and other personality blocks that slow retracing.
- The above often make children, as a group, much happier than adults, and this facilitates the retracing process.
- It is usually much easier for children to just rest and relax when they do not feel well. Most adults have other obligations such as work or family that may prevent adequate rest.
VII. OTHER TOPICS
DIFFERENT FROM MEDICAL “CURES”
Retracing is very different from healing or “cures” that occur with medical drugs, vitamins, herbs, homeopathy and most other healing methods.
Retracing actually restores the body to its previous healthy state.
Cures have the following characteristics:
It is clear from our experience that retracing involves a very beneficial inflammatory reaction of the body. Serum tests may reflect this with slightly elevated liver enzymes, for example. There may also be mild serum electrolyte imbalances such as a low sodium and low chlorine. There may even be an elevation of blood sugar. None of these seemto do harm, and all are temporary.
These may be due to kidney stress from a toxic metal elimination, or may be due to other factors that have yet to be elucidated.
It is also clear from our limited research that a retracing or healing reaction is very different from the chronic inflammation that so many people suffer from. During a healing reaction, the inflammation is of a very different type. It is a sign that the body has some “fight” in it, and is mounting a powerful and successful reaction to the presence of a chronic infection, a toxin, a lesion, or something else. That is all it is.
Stopping this type of inflammation with drugs, for example, or even with anti-oxidant or anti-inflammatory nutrients or herbs is not a good idea, and will stall or delay the healing process. One should stop it only if the inflammation is very painful or otherwise disruptive or dangerous. Otherwise, leave it alone and it will pass quickly, in most cases.
SECTION VI. RETRACING IN OTHER HEALING ARTS
HEALING REACTIONS IN CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Allopathic or drug medicine recognizes the existence of healing reactions, although most doctors are not familiar with them. In allopathic medicine, they are called Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions - named after two doctors who first noticed them. Here is an excerpt from a medical website:
“A Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is a fairly common reaction to antibiotic treatment of syphilis that involves fever and headache. It may occur up to 8 hours after the first treatment of early syphilis. The reason the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurs is not clear. But it may be caused by the toxins released from the syphilis bacteria as they are destroyed by antibiotics. A Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is not the same as an allergic reaction to penicillin.”
Here is a another description from a medical website:
“(The healing reaction) resembles bacterial sepsis and can occur after initiation of antibacterials, such as penicillin or tetracycline, for the treatment of louse-borne relapsing fever (80-90% of patients) and in tick-borne relapsing fever (30-40%). An association has been found between the release of heat-stable proteins from spirochetes and the reaction.
Typically, the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins or lipoproteins occurs faster than the body can remove the substances (my italics). It usually manifests within a few hours of the first dose of antibiotic as fever, chills, rigor, hypotension, headache, tachycardia, hyperventilation, vasodilation with flushing, myalgia (muscle pain), exacerbation of skin lesions and anxiety.
The intensity of the reaction indicates the severity of inflammation. The reaction commonly occurs within two hours of drug administration, and is usually self-limiting.”
Here is a little information about the two medical doctors who first wrote about healing reactions:
Adolf Jarisch was an Austrian dermatologist who was born in 1850 and died in 1902. Dr. Jarisch published his description of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in 1895. As this was many years before the discovery of penicillin, the original description related to the treatment of syphilis with mercury.
Karl Herxheimer was a German dermatologist who was born in 1861 and died in 1944. Dr. Herxheimer published his description of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in 1902.”
MODERN MEDICAL STUDIES OF HEALING REACTIONS
Healing reactions are currently being studied to understand them better. Here are two recent references:
1. Clin Infect Dis. (2010) 51(8):976-979. Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction after Penicillin Therapy among Patients with Syphilis in the Era of the HIV Infection Epidemic: Incidence and Risk Factors, Chia-Jui Yang et al.
2. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2005 Jun;30(3):291-5. Proposed mechanisms and preventative options of Jarisch-Herxheimerreactions, Pound MW and May DB.
HEALING REACTIONS IN OTHER HEALING ARTS
DIFFERENT FROM MEDICAL “CURES”
Retracing is very different from healing or “cures” that occur with medical drugs, vitamins, herbs, homeopathy and most other healing methods.
Retracing actually restores the body to its previous healthy state.
Cures have the following characteristics:
- Symptoms may go away, but the whole body system is not restored to its previous wholeness.
- One may become dependent upon a remedy.
- There is often residual toxicity in the body due to the remedy
- The remedy sometimes masks the symptom.
It is clear from our experience that retracing involves a very beneficial inflammatory reaction of the body. Serum tests may reflect this with slightly elevated liver enzymes, for example. There may also be mild serum electrolyte imbalances such as a low sodium and low chlorine. There may even be an elevation of blood sugar. None of these seemto do harm, and all are temporary.
These may be due to kidney stress from a toxic metal elimination, or may be due to other factors that have yet to be elucidated.
It is also clear from our limited research that a retracing or healing reaction is very different from the chronic inflammation that so many people suffer from. During a healing reaction, the inflammation is of a very different type. It is a sign that the body has some “fight” in it, and is mounting a powerful and successful reaction to the presence of a chronic infection, a toxin, a lesion, or something else. That is all it is.
Stopping this type of inflammation with drugs, for example, or even with anti-oxidant or anti-inflammatory nutrients or herbs is not a good idea, and will stall or delay the healing process. One should stop it only if the inflammation is very painful or otherwise disruptive or dangerous. Otherwise, leave it alone and it will pass quickly, in most cases.
SECTION VI. RETRACING IN OTHER HEALING ARTS
HEALING REACTIONS IN CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Allopathic or drug medicine recognizes the existence of healing reactions, although most doctors are not familiar with them. In allopathic medicine, they are called Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions - named after two doctors who first noticed them. Here is an excerpt from a medical website:
“A Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is a fairly common reaction to antibiotic treatment of syphilis that involves fever and headache. It may occur up to 8 hours after the first treatment of early syphilis. The reason the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurs is not clear. But it may be caused by the toxins released from the syphilis bacteria as they are destroyed by antibiotics. A Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is not the same as an allergic reaction to penicillin.”
Here is a another description from a medical website:
“(The healing reaction) resembles bacterial sepsis and can occur after initiation of antibacterials, such as penicillin or tetracycline, for the treatment of louse-borne relapsing fever (80-90% of patients) and in tick-borne relapsing fever (30-40%). An association has been found between the release of heat-stable proteins from spirochetes and the reaction.
Typically, the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins or lipoproteins occurs faster than the body can remove the substances (my italics). It usually manifests within a few hours of the first dose of antibiotic as fever, chills, rigor, hypotension, headache, tachycardia, hyperventilation, vasodilation with flushing, myalgia (muscle pain), exacerbation of skin lesions and anxiety.
The intensity of the reaction indicates the severity of inflammation. The reaction commonly occurs within two hours of drug administration, and is usually self-limiting.”
Here is a little information about the two medical doctors who first wrote about healing reactions:
Adolf Jarisch was an Austrian dermatologist who was born in 1850 and died in 1902. Dr. Jarisch published his description of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in 1895. As this was many years before the discovery of penicillin, the original description related to the treatment of syphilis with mercury.
Karl Herxheimer was a German dermatologist who was born in 1861 and died in 1944. Dr. Herxheimer published his description of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in 1902.”
MODERN MEDICAL STUDIES OF HEALING REACTIONS
Healing reactions are currently being studied to understand them better. Here are two recent references:
1. Clin Infect Dis. (2010) 51(8):976-979. Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction after Penicillin Therapy among Patients with Syphilis in the Era of the HIV Infection Epidemic: Incidence and Risk Factors, Chia-Jui Yang et al.
2. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2005 Jun;30(3):291-5. Proposed mechanisms and preventative options of Jarisch-Herxheimerreactions, Pound MW and May DB.
HEALING REACTIONS IN OTHER HEALING ARTS
Many famous doctors who worked in the natural healing field recognized the existence of retracing and healing reactions:
1. Chiropractic. Here they are referred to as flare-ups. Here is a quote from a chiropractic website:
“We tell patients that they may have flare-ups throughout treatment. This is a very important communication, because if the patient’s expectation is that there will be a steady and unwavering improvement in symptoms, the flare-up after treatment can feel like a defeat and as invalidation.
In adjusting the spine and stretching tissue that has been shortened for many years, it is usually not possible to avoid discomfort and flare-ups. The flare-up can be seen as a good thing because it tends to corroborate our diagnosis and it tells us that we are in the right place. As the chiropractic care continues, pain and discomfort associated with it tends to diminish.” – from http://www.goldmanchiro.com/articles/
2. Natural Medicine. Max Gerson, MD, who pioneered natural cancer therapies and the use of the coffee enema, called these reactions flare-ups. Here is a quote from the chapter entitled Reactions – Flare-Ups in his excellent book, A Cancer Therapy - Results Of 50 Cases, describing what he called a reaction period:
“A number of patients have remarked, within the first two weeks of the treatment, that they cannot stand the diet and wish to discontinue it. They base their opinion on the following occurrences: nausea, headaches, in some cases vomiting, spasms in the intestines, more gas than usual, no appetite … and trouble with coffee enemas.”
3. Bernard Jensen, ND, DC wrote an entire booklet entitled The Doctor-Patient Handbook, Dealing with the Reversal Process and the Healing Crisis.
4. William Frederich Koch, MD, PhD also wrote extensively about healing reactions in his excellent technical book, The Survival Factor in Neoplastic And Viral Diseases, published by William Koch, 1955, 1958, and 1961.
5. Psychology. In psychology and psychoanalysis, these reactions are called the catharsis. Here is a quote from Wikipedia about the subject:
“In psychology, the term (catharsis) was first employed by Sigmund Freud's colleague Josef Breuer (1842–1925), who developed a "cathartic" treatment using hypnosis for persons suffering from hysterical symptoms. While under hypnosis, Breuer's patients were able to recall traumatic experiences, and through the process of expressing the original emotions that had been repressed and forgotten, they were relieved of their symptoms.
Catharsis was also central to Freud's concept of psychoanalysis, but he replaced hypnosis with free association.[15]
The term catharsis has also been adopted by modern psychotherapy, particularly Freudian psychoanalysis, to describe the act of expressing, or more accurately, experiencing the deep emotions often associated with events in the individual's past which had originally been repressed or ignored, and had never been adequately addressed or experienced.
6. Yeast Infection Literature. Here these reactions are called die-off reactions or purification reactions. Discussions are found in books such as The Yeast Connection; A Medical Breakthrough by William Crook, MD, 1986, 2007.
7. Homeopathy. Here they are referred to as aggravations. Below is a short quote from a homeopathic website. (Note: I do not recommend homeopathy at this time):
“The intensity and duration of the similar aggravation gives us a clue about the correctness of the chosen remedy, the patient’s vital force, prognosis, and for case management.”
References
1. Gerson, M., MD, A Cancer Therapy - Results of 50 Cases. An entire chapter is devoted to “Flare-Ups”.
2. Koch, W.F., MD, The Survival Factor in Neoplastic and Viral Diseases. Healing reactions are mentioned often in this superb book.
3. Jensen, B., DC, ND, The Doctor-Patient Handbook, and The Science And Practice of Iridology. Dr. Jensen mentions “The Healing Crisis” often in these books.
4. One can also read more about healing reactions in other books about chiropractic, psychotherapy, homeopathy, and other healing arts.
1. Chiropractic. Here they are referred to as flare-ups. Here is a quote from a chiropractic website:
“We tell patients that they may have flare-ups throughout treatment. This is a very important communication, because if the patient’s expectation is that there will be a steady and unwavering improvement in symptoms, the flare-up after treatment can feel like a defeat and as invalidation.
In adjusting the spine and stretching tissue that has been shortened for many years, it is usually not possible to avoid discomfort and flare-ups. The flare-up can be seen as a good thing because it tends to corroborate our diagnosis and it tells us that we are in the right place. As the chiropractic care continues, pain and discomfort associated with it tends to diminish.” – from http://www.goldmanchiro.com/articles/
2. Natural Medicine. Max Gerson, MD, who pioneered natural cancer therapies and the use of the coffee enema, called these reactions flare-ups. Here is a quote from the chapter entitled Reactions – Flare-Ups in his excellent book, A Cancer Therapy - Results Of 50 Cases, describing what he called a reaction period:
“A number of patients have remarked, within the first two weeks of the treatment, that they cannot stand the diet and wish to discontinue it. They base their opinion on the following occurrences: nausea, headaches, in some cases vomiting, spasms in the intestines, more gas than usual, no appetite … and trouble with coffee enemas.”
3. Bernard Jensen, ND, DC wrote an entire booklet entitled The Doctor-Patient Handbook, Dealing with the Reversal Process and the Healing Crisis.
4. William Frederich Koch, MD, PhD also wrote extensively about healing reactions in his excellent technical book, The Survival Factor in Neoplastic And Viral Diseases, published by William Koch, 1955, 1958, and 1961.
5. Psychology. In psychology and psychoanalysis, these reactions are called the catharsis. Here is a quote from Wikipedia about the subject:
“In psychology, the term (catharsis) was first employed by Sigmund Freud's colleague Josef Breuer (1842–1925), who developed a "cathartic" treatment using hypnosis for persons suffering from hysterical symptoms. While under hypnosis, Breuer's patients were able to recall traumatic experiences, and through the process of expressing the original emotions that had been repressed and forgotten, they were relieved of their symptoms.
Catharsis was also central to Freud's concept of psychoanalysis, but he replaced hypnosis with free association.[15]
The term catharsis has also been adopted by modern psychotherapy, particularly Freudian psychoanalysis, to describe the act of expressing, or more accurately, experiencing the deep emotions often associated with events in the individual's past which had originally been repressed or ignored, and had never been adequately addressed or experienced.
6. Yeast Infection Literature. Here these reactions are called die-off reactions or purification reactions. Discussions are found in books such as The Yeast Connection; A Medical Breakthrough by William Crook, MD, 1986, 2007.
7. Homeopathy. Here they are referred to as aggravations. Below is a short quote from a homeopathic website. (Note: I do not recommend homeopathy at this time):
“The intensity and duration of the similar aggravation gives us a clue about the correctness of the chosen remedy, the patient’s vital force, prognosis, and for case management.”
- from Hahnmann, around 1850.
References
1. Gerson, M., MD, A Cancer Therapy - Results of 50 Cases. An entire chapter is devoted to “Flare-Ups”.
2. Koch, W.F., MD, The Survival Factor in Neoplastic and Viral Diseases. Healing reactions are mentioned often in this superb book.
3. Jensen, B., DC, ND, The Doctor-Patient Handbook, and The Science And Practice of Iridology. Dr. Jensen mentions “The Healing Crisis” often in these books.
4. One can also read more about healing reactions in other books about chiropractic, psychotherapy, homeopathy, and other healing arts.
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