Seeds for Change Wellness
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Webster describes the word “crisis” as the “turning point for better or worse in an acute
disease or fever”. A healing crisis is known in naturopathy as “ an acute reaction, resulting from the activity of
nature’s healing forces in overcoming chronic disease conditions.” A crisis is brought about when the body
becomes overcrowded with waste and irritating poisons. Cells and tissues begin to throw off the waste and it is
carried by the circulating bloodstream to the eliminatory organs, the bowels, kidneys, lungs, skin,
nasal passages, ears, throat, bronchi and genitor-urinary organs. The organs then become somewhat crowded,
irritated and congested. The organs of elimination, heavily laden with waste at this time, produce disease systems
such as colds,boils, kidney and bladder infections, open sores, perspirations, diarrhea, fever, etc. All crises are a
form of healing and elimination. First the toxins are eliminated, second, the tissues are renewed.
These symptoms and the process of elimination are part of the cure. There is nothing to fear, just work with it. Do
not suppress the symptoms with drugs unless absolutely necessary. In some situations, such as during chronic
diseases like cancer, the pain can become severe and drugs sometimes need to be used. Many of the drugs
themselves accumulate I the body because our organs were not made to handle them and they are stored in fatty
tissue and other parts of the body. The tissues which are imbedded with these foreign elements are actually
destroyed or bein a process of degeneration. It has been said by many natural healers that many diseases are
actually drug diseases,causes by these inimical elements which only suppress nature’s healing forces.
The naturopathic school of thought distinguishes between a “healing crisis” and a “disease Crisis”. A healing
crisis and a disease crisis may look alike by their outward manifestations, but they are taking place under different
conditions.
A disease crisis is when the body is loaded to its toleration point with toxins and waste products. The body
arouses itself in self-defense and brings forth acute elimination of toxins in the form of a cold, fever,
inflammations, etc. The body is on the defense and produces a disease crisis. If poisons are not eliminated, the
body, until it becomes sick, adapts itself to them functioning at a lower energy level. These foreign wastes
accumulate and inhibit the organs from performing their normal functions until finally a chronic disease manifests.
On the other hand, a “healing crisis” develops because the healing forces are in the ascending. Through natural
living and a frugal diet, the body gets stronger and digs into the tissues and eliminates old chronic waste causing
symptoms, which are the healing crisis. During a healing crisis, therapy can be used to a much greater extent
because the patient already has endurance and can tolerate cleansing herbs, fasting, and advanced water
treatments. When people are weaker, building foods, short fasts and tonic herbs are used. Then once the energy
returns, more vigorous cleansing methods can be used.
A healing crisis shows that there is enough energy in the body to eliminate unwanted materials. It can take the
form of fevers, excessive menstrual discharge, diarrhea, itching, boils, ulcers, hemorrhages, etc. Reactions will
vary according to how seriously ill the person has been, how much he got abused by the environment he lives
and works in.
To be able to differentiate between a healing crisis and a change for the worse during a disease is very important.
Whether a person is trying to improve his life by changing his diet and using detoxification methods or not, a
crisis, if not watched and understood properly can weaken the individual and last for several days, if not treated
properly. You can usually see a positive change in a crisis after three days. The most severe symptoms begin to
decrease, fevers break, and the person becomes more relaxed and psychologically feels better. If after three
days the severe symptoms do not change for the better, then a new course of treatment is indicated.
Many times crises can be avoided if the individual has a strong constitution and proper functioning eliminatory
organs. Also, sometimes there are preceding symptoms that show that a crisis is coming and the body is trying to
eliminate toxins. Dark urine, sluggishness, fevers, coated tongue, signs of irritability and weakness, headaches
and ringing in the ears are a few preceding signs to look for. If therapy is undertaken during these times and the
body is assisted by the proper use of herbs, enemas, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage and hydrotherapy,
energy blockages that are caused by accumulated waste can be released. The normal energy flow is restored to
the eliminatory organs and the poisons are eliminated naturally without a noticeable crisis. Although no person
can guarantee that a crisis can be avoided, these natural therapies will always assist nature in re-establishing
health and balance.
The body will become stronger after each crisis if a better lifestyle is continued. Each crisis becomes farther apart
unit the day comes when only health is present and sickness is history. You may experience slight crises once in
a while but they will last for only a short time (one to three days) and will pass and leave you healthier.
Many people ask in what form with the crisis appear and how long will it last. It depends upon the following:
1. The kind of waste (drugs, mucus, uric acid, etc)
2. The condition of the eliminatory organs.
3, The energy level or vitality of the patient
Crises will vary according to how seriously ill the person has been. The area of congestion in the body will
determine the type of crisis you will have. Constipation can precede diarrhea; lung congestion can precede a
crisis in that area, etc. If the mucus is thick he body will force it out through the mucus membranes producing
nasal drip, colds, flus, etc. If the waste cannot be eliminated through natural pathways, the body will burn it off
(fevers) or store it as boils and acne. Nature always picks the best adapted organs for elimination. At times we
feel pain in our kidneys, bladder or bowels and we believe the organ in question is diseased. On the contrary, it is
usually the strongest eliminative organ in the organism and nature is using it for an outlet for the unwanted waste.
Climate plays a great influence on the type of crisis also. If the weather is cold, the pores of the skin are usually
covered and contracted so the kidney, bowels and lungs throw off the excess. In hot climates, the skin can
eliminate more acid waste. People wear lighter clothing and the pores are open and elimination takes place. Often
times people move to warmer climates and a skin disease develops. In a hot climate the sun drains out the
poisons through the open pores where they accumulate and may cause skin diseases such as cancer. It is then
said “the sun causes skin cancer” or the “hot weather is bad”. Of course, too much sun can cause skins
conditions, but this usually is not the problem. The poisons are being drawn to the surface for elimination. If the
blood was cleans, a great percent of these conditions wouldn’t exist.
I have seen people with the worst skin conditions you can imagine. After a thorough cleanse, proper food, rest,
exercise and mental attitude, the conditions vanish. They then proceed to enjoy sun bathing after years of not
getting the beauty and health-preserving benefits of the sun’s rays.
The energy and vitality of an individual also is a determining factor during a crisis. In a robust individual the toxins
are eliminated quickly and in a more powerful way. A person who is weak, with low vitality, takes a much longer
time to eliminate the toxins. In this case, natural therapy can be of great assistance. When the crisis is over in
both weak and strong persons, toning and strengthening the body is a necessity. Exercise proper diets, toning
herbs and hydrotherapy can be used.
A healing crisis usually last from three to seven days. As I mentioned, the most severe symptoms usually
decrease around the third day. If the crisis lasts longer than seven days, it is usually because the individual is
weak and it is just going to take a little longer, or the treatment was not proper or followed through properly by the
sick individual. If there is a question about the length of a sickness or the severity of the problem, consult a
qualified physician.
An important thing to remember is never go to extremes in dietary changes. Use a slow transition, educate
yourself about diet and normal therapeutics and work with a practitioner who has experience along these lines.
Trying to get too pure too fast can be destructive and can postpone your goal.
Humbart Santillo, ND
Natural Healing with Herbs
What is a Healing Crisis?