Detox or Flare? How to Know When to Push or Pause

Sometimes your body speaks in whispers.
Sometimes it screams.
But how do you know if it’s just detox—or something deeper that needs your care?

Let’s explore the difference between a healing reaction and a flare—so you can cleanse with confidence, not confusion.

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What Is a Detox Reaction?

A detox reaction (or Herxheimer response) happens when toxins, pathogens, or old energy are being released faster than your body can clear them.

This is part of the healing process—but it should be temporary and manageable.

Common detox signs:

• Mild fatigue or fog
• Brief mood swings or crying spells
• Loose stools or digestive shifts
• Skin purging or mild rashes
• Temporary body odor or strong urine
• Wavelike emotional or physical releases

These are often short-lived (hours to a few days), and improve with binders, drainage, and rest.

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What Is a Flare?

A flare means your body is overwhelmed, inflamed, or not coping well with what’s being released.
It’s a signal to pause, not push.

Signs of a flare:

• Intense anxiety, panic, or sleeplessness
• Shaking, heart palpitations, or nerve pain
• Digestive shutdown or constant bloating
• Sharp body pain or inflammation
• Emotional shutdown, numbness, or rage
• Feeling out of control, unsafe, or afraid to continue

A flare is not progress. It’s a message.

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How to Know the Difference

Ask yourself:

• Is this sensation passing or escalating?
• Do I feel more stable after rest and support?
• Is my nervous system calming—or staying activated?
• Do I feel grounded in my body, or disconnected from it?
• Am I able to function in my day—or am I in a survival state?

If your body isn’t bouncing back, pause your protocol. Go back to drainage, nervous system care, and nourishment.

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What to Do During a Flare

• Stop all parasite-killing herbs
• Increase drainage and binders
• Rest deeply and reduce stimulation
• Hydrate and remineralize
• Use warmth, gentle movement, or sound to ground
• Journal what the body is trying to say

There is no shame in stopping.
Slower healing is often deeper healing.

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You are not weak for needing rest.
You are not doing it wrong if your body says “enough.”

You are healing. And part of healing is learning how to listen—especially when the symptoms don’t make sense.

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