Ever felt a little strange after leaving the chiropractor’s office? What you experienced may have been a toxin release.
Don’t worry – toxin release is a normal process that occurs after a chiropractic visit. In fact, it’s actually beneficial to healing your condition and restoring whole-body health. While this offers the same whole-body benefits to anyone, what toxin release feels like varies from person to person.
Understanding toxin release can help you make the most of your chiropractic adjustments and ensure a successful recovery. Let’s dive into how chiropractic adjustments stimulate toxin release and learn how chiropractic care can help your body achieve optimal health.
What is Toxin Release?
In order to function properly, the body needs to cleanse itself of toxins regularly. Toxins are harmful substances that are found in our environment, food, cosmetics, and more. Over time, they accumulate in our body tissues and can cause significant or even life-long health issues if we don’t address them.
Fortunately, the liver and kidneys act as our built-in detoxification system. They filter and cleanse the blood of toxins and waste products so the body can function at its best. Despite their best efforts, even non-toxic, everyday chemicals accumulate in the body. This is where chiropractic care supports the body’s natural detoxification process!
One area where toxins tend to settle is in the capsules: fluid-filled sacs that lubricate our joints. When a chiropractor realigns a subluxation, the realignment causes the capsules to secrete some of their fluids. If your toxic load is high and toxins have settled into the capsules, these toxins will leak out into the surrounding tissues and bloodstream.
From here, the liver and kidneys will be able to process these toxins with the rest of the body’s fluids so they can finally be excreted as waste. Fresh, clean fluids fill the capsules and your spine starts the healing process.
Common Post-Chiropractic Detox Symptoms from Toxic Release
You know how when you deep clean your kitchen, you have to pull everything out and make a big mess to really do it right? Detoxification is similar.
As we pull out and release stored toxins to eliminate them, you can experience some temporary symptoms. Sometimes feeling better makes you feel a little worse.
Detoxification symptoms follow whenever toxins are released into our bloodstream. Often, these detox symptoms bear a lot of resemblance to cold and flu symptoms: fatigue, dizziness, headaches, nausea, night sweats, and tight muscles.
Don’t let these symptoms discourage you – they’re a normal sign that your body is already healing after your chiropractic session and they don’t last long. Toxin release symptoms are most common after your first chiropractic visit since the fluid and toxins in your capsules have not likely been released in this way before. With each additional chiropractic adjustments, fewer toxins are left to release and your body’s functioning improves and you’re less likely to feel the effects of detoxification.
Emotional Detox Symptoms
While symptoms like headache, fatigue, and tight muscles are common physical symptoms, it’s also normal to experience an emotional “detox.”
Most of us store unprocessed emotions like fear, anger, resentment, and grief in our physical bodies. They take up residence in our hips or shoulders and linger there as tension until we release them.
Releasing trapped emotions or trauma isn’t always simple, but managing our emotional health and physically releasing them through mind-body practices (like chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, yoga, and breathwork) is the most holistic way to manage these “emotional toxins.”
Don’t be surprised if you experience an emotional release alongside your toxin release during a chiropractic adjustment. You may feel a wave of emotion, need to cry, or feel a huge, unexplainable weight lifted. This is a good thing – and all part of the healing process.
What Toxins Are Released During Chiropractic Adjustments?
The toxins that are released during your session will be related to the toxins you have stored in the body. Different people are exposed to different chemicals based on their environment, lifestyle, and health habits.
In addition to releasing harmful toxins for removal, chiropractic adjustments also release beneficial chemicals and endorphins into your bloodstream. The main one is dopamine, a feel-good hormone that reduces anxiety and promotes wellbeing. This is why it’s common to feel a slight “buzz” or sense of joy after your visit.
How to Manage Detox Symptoms After an Adjustment
Although detox symptoms are a normal sign of a healing body, let’s not pretend that they’re fun to experience! We don’t want you to struggle with the side effects of beneficial toxin release any longer than necessary. So, how can we manage these sensations best so you can feel your best as soon as possible?
1. Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated supports your body’s major functions and helps your body flush toxins quicker. Drink at least the recommended amount of water for your body weight, plus an extra glass or two. This will help flush out those harmful toxins and help you feel renewed.
2. Move Your Body
Support your body’s detoxification system by staying active. Exercise is one of the best ways to promote healthy circulation and clear out released toxins after a chiropractic visit. Aim for moderate cardio activities like walking, jogging, swimming, or yoga to get your blood flowing gently without overexerting yourself. If you’re feeling particularly sore or tired, start with gentle stretching.
3. Get Extra Rest
Prioritize a good night’s sleep in the few days following your adjustment. Sleep helps your detox release symptoms run their course so you can feel great as soon as possible. Getting enough rest also gives your muscles and joints the time they need to heal so you can make the most of your chiropractic visit.
4. Eat Whole Foods
After a detoxifying chiropractic adjustment, you won’t want to reintroduce more toxins than necessary. Avoid preservatives and processed foods (which are high in chemicals and toxins). Avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, or indulging in foods with high levels of sugar and salt.
Instead, emphasize whole foods and enjoy plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Following an anti-inflammatory diet can be particularly helpful when trying to reduce your toxic load, as anti-inflammatory foods also help clear away toxins and repair the damage they leave behind.
5. Prevent Toxin Accumulation
Unfortunately, toxins are all around us. But, we can reduce our toxic load by avoiding toxic environments, foods, and household items as much as possible. You can’t every toxin, of course, which is most of us need a little extra help from time to time. To keep toxins at bay in between chiropractic visits, use Aceva’s Ultimate Body Cleanse. This 5-in-1 detox program expedites your body’s ability to flush toxins while giving your body the nutrients it needs for optimal healing and wellbeing. Along with removing toxins and parasites, The Ultimate Body Cleanse also helps support and repair the immune and liver systems.
Detox & Beyond: Whole-Body Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care offers incredible health benefits, especially if you suffer from pain and tension. What you may not know is that chiropractic care treats the whole body. Along with toxin release, chiropractic care also reduces inflammation, alleviates stress, boosts immunity, and improves circulation. In short, it helps your body work like a well-oiled machine.
After a few visits, you will likely notice these and other whole-body benefits:
- Better balance, flexibility, and range of motion
- Fewer aches and pains
- Better, more restful sleep
- Improved natural energy
- Fewer colds and allergies
- Regulated blood pressure levels
- Improved digestion
- Enhanced resilience to stress
- An overall sense of wellbeing
Ready to detox and feel the difference?
If you’re tired of feeling sluggish, stressed, and in pain, it’s time to reach out to your local AlignLife Chiropractor.
Schedule a chiropractic appointment and ask your practitioner how you can incorporate the Ultimate Body Cleanse to flush out even more toxins, help your body function optimally, and achieve your wellness goals faster.
