Have you ever had a healing crisis?

In recent weeks, two of my clients at Mintaka Reiki in Sandbach have experienced something called a ‘healing crisis’.

Sounds so dramatic, doesn’t it?!

And if you’re the one going through it, then I have to admit that the experience could certainly be on the challenging side. But I can honestly say, hand on heart, that a healing crisis isn’t as ‘dramatic’ as it sounds.

In fact, I think it’s crazy that it’s called a healing crisis at all. Because the way I see it, this isn’t something to be scared of, but rather, I think, it’s an experience to be celebrated.

Let me explain.

A healing crisis is simply your body’s detox reaction, which means you experience a temporary worsening of symptoms as your healing process begins. Typically, it only lasts a few hours, at most a handful of days, with symptoms including things like flu-like feelings, headache or nausea, etc.

But it is a temporary phenomenon, and the symptoms will always subside.

A healing crisis is simply the body's natural response to the elimination of toxins and waste products – things that you really don’t want inside, and that need to be released.

Reiki works to help restore balance and health.

It can feel a little uncomfortable at the time, but it's generally considered a positive sign, because it means that your body is working to restore balance and health. Your healing process has begun!

Of course, a healing crisis isn’t just restricted to Reiki, you can experience it after various therapies, such as acupuncture, colonic irrigation, massage, to name just a few. Even giving up stimulants such as caffeine can induce a healing crisis (remember the headaches when you decide to give up coffee?)

So, while some people may experience a temporary increase in their original symptoms, please remember that’s only because your body is working its way back to good health.

Think of your good health like a straight line. But for lots of reasons (life!), illness, disease or maybe anxiety kicks in. So, your condition becomes acute, and that straight line takes a steep upwards curve.

Perhaps you try to live in this acute state, maybe you take medication to try and relieve symptoms, and perhaps you see some improvements. But you still can’t seem to get back to the straight line of good health, and so your condition becomes chronic, rather than acute.

And that’s when, if you try a holistic approach such as Reiki, the ‘healing crisis’ can occur, because by kick-starting your healing, your body turns round and starts to go back down the slope – leaving the chronic state behind, and heading into the acute stage once again – before, hopefully, if you continue your healing journey, leading you safely back to that straight line of good health.

So, what should you do if your experience a healing crisis? Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water, as it will help to flush out the toxins your body has started to release. It’s also important to be kind to yourself, rest, allow your body the time and space it needs to heal.

And avoid strenuous activity, although gentle movement will also help you on your road back to the straight line of good health.

Most people don’t typically experience a healing crisis after Reiki – usually they feel so much lighter after this natural healing practice. But if it does happen, I see a healing crisis as something to be welcomed, rather than feared. It’s your body’s way of confirming that the healing has begun, and a return to the straight line of good health isn’t as far away as you might think.

Until next week.

Much love,

Denise