Understanding the healing reactions

  • Essential part of the Gerson Therapy
  • Should be welcomed as evidence that the therapy is working
  • Promotes detoxification
  • The immune system begins to work

Toxic Reactions

  • Toxins are being pushed out of the cells into the bloodstream faster than being eliminated

Symptoms:

  • Headaches
  • Nervous irritability
  • Depression
  • Unclear thinking
  • Memories from past
  • Foul odors
  • Food cravings
  • Joint and Muscle pain

Remedies- Toxic Reactions

  • The primary remedy is to do an extra coffee enema
  • If this is not possible- then the number of juices may need to be temporarily reduced

Detox Reactions

Symptoms relate to discharge of toxins through the digestive tract or to the outside of body

  • Foul smelling dark urine
  • Foul sweat or menses
  • Diarrhea/ dark stools/ hemorrhoids
  • Nausea/ vomiting
  • Cold sores/ skin rashes/ orange tinge to skin 

Nausea/Vomiting

  • Often caused by bile backing up into stomach
  • Copious amounts of peppermint tea
  • Gruel by itself or add to juices

Diarrhea

  • Add ¼ tsp of clay and 1/8 tsp of potassium gluconate to peppermint tea every four hours
  • If the diarrhea is severe, stop enemas temporarily
  • When diarrhea has abated, restart enemas with chamomile tea- hold only a few minutes

Hemorrhoids

  • Can last days to weeks or even months (if bleeding, may need to suspend enemas)
  • Herbal or homeopathic suppositories
  • Anusol suppositories
  • Calendula cream
  • Aloe vera juice/gel
  • Witch Hazel Compresses (organic witch hazel)
  • Apply a tsp of flax seed oil with a few drops of Lugol’s
  • Sitz baths 

Cold Sores/ Fever Blisters/ Canker Sores

  • Herbal Herpilyn on lips (from health food stores)
  • Aloe vera gel (rinse mouth or apply to lip)
  • Rinse mouth with liquid acidophilus

Skin Rash

  • Oatmeal baths (if water is purified) or poultice
  • Aloe vera gel
  • Do not suppress rash

Healing inflammation

  • An immune system reaction that develops when the body is detoxified enough and vitality is raised to mount a response
  • This process involves inflammation, redness and pain at site of an old injury, fracture, infection, scar tissue or tumor masses
  • May have high energy before healing crisis begins
  • Can last from 3-10 days
  • Accompanied by fever and general low energy

Dealing with Fever

  • Average reaction fever runs about 101 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Healing fevers generally come on in the evening and break in early morning and typically last only 1-2 days
  • Fevers from infections are more noticeable in the afternoon (severe infection with fever requires antibiotics)
  • Healing fever: Do not allow to go above 104 F (40C)
  • Allow fever to remain 3-5 hours as tolerated
  • Give comfort measures of tepid sponging, increased fluids (diluted tea or citrus juice)
  • Ensure good air to flow in room
  • Pain triad as needed (50 mg niacin, 500 mg vit. C and one 325 mg aspirin every 4 hours max)

Pain can arise from:

  • Inflammation
  • Damaged or healing tissue
  • Tumoral pressure

Pain

  • Coffee enema
  • Castor oil packs: helps release toxins in muscles/organs
  • Clay packs for hot inflammatory pain, arthritis, joint pain and tumor inflammations
  • Lymphasizing: gentle stroking of the body and bouncing
  • TENS unit

Stress Reduction Techniques

  • Breath work/ Breathing Techniques
  • Guided Imagery Tapes
  • Music Therapy/ Toning
  • Healing touch/ Reiki
  • Hypnosis
  • Prayer/ Meditation
  • Qigong

Recommended Reading

Mind/Body/Spirit Reference and Resource Guide by the Gerson Institute (www.gerson.org/store)