06 Dec Healing crisis and the inflammatory response
A Personal Perspective
Following a massage recently I “came down” with a sore throat.
My eyes were clear, my body didn’t feel achy, I had no other symptoms that said “you are getting sick”
Examining the “healing crisis” is a great way to also understand the body’s natural inflammation response.
Massage therapy produces a healthy inflammation response.
It slightly depresses the immune system for a moment so the body and brain turns on chemicals to nourish the body and recover in areas that need it.
We loved this “everyman’s” description of what is a healing crisis. This is one of my favorite excerpts:
As the body detoxifies, it is not uncommon to experience flu-like symptoms including dizziness and light-headedness, an odd or metallic taste in the mouth, headache, joint and muscle pain, body aches, sore throat, general malaise, nausea, increased sweating, urination or defecation, chills, skin eruptions, itches or rashes. Sometimes a healing crisis can take the form of an emotional release when you suddenly begin to experience severe feelings or emotions. Although the experience may not make you feel particularly good, keep in mind that it is actually a sign that healing is taking place.
Oh right! I was in the middle of a healing crisis! I too forget that I can have a healing crisis.
You may not experience a healing crisis every time after a massage, but you and your body are DIFFERENT every time you get a massage. This is why SELF CARE is so important BOTH before and after massage/bodywork/therapies. The “Ashi do’s and don’ts” are a great start to self-care following deep work – or even before! You didn’t have to have had received ashiatsu to follow these simple self-care guidelines following your massage:
- Do stay hydrated
- Do take a hot shower, steam, sauna
- Do where a neck or back support if you need to lift something heavy
- Do use an ice or a cold pack if you feel areas worked have become too inflamed. Alternate with heat every 15mins
- Don’t sit in a hard chair for long periods of time
- Don’t engage in rough contact sports (You just got a massage! Stay loose and take it easy!)
- Don’t lift heavy weight >>You just got a massage! Stay loose and take it easy!<<
- Don’t consume large amount of alcohol (Alcohol robs the body of essential vitamins and nutrients making it more difficult for your boy to get the nourishment it needs following a massage)
Some other great tips would be taking an immune boosting tonic or spray tincture that can be easy assimilated through your mouth<<a mucous membrane which allows for quick and easy absorption of the nutrients.
If you have ever heard that phrase “It might get worse, before it gets better”….THIS is the healing crisis taking place in your body and it’s actually a good thing! Your body is trying to change for the better! So slow down and take it easy and don’t “push” through.
Your body is talking to you…so listen to it!
Information presented here is not intended to cure, treat, diagnose or prevent disease. Seek the advice of a medical doctor for any condition you may be experiencing.