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Detox Bath: Allergic Reaction or Herx?

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Posted 5/30/2011 5:08 AM (GMT -6)
I took my first detox bath Saturday. I am starting really slowly with it, so I used just 1 cup Epsom salt and about 16 oz. hydrogen peroxide. I only stayed in 10 minutes. The rest of that day I felt amazing! Yesterday I took a day off because I am planning on doing them every other day first in case of getting a herx.

Well, this morning I awoke to my face extremely swollen. Other parts of my body feel swollen as well, such as my knees. I was quite shocked at this reaction and wondered if it could be herx or maybe even an allergic reaction. I am thinking of taking a Benedryl to help take the swelling down.

Has anyone else had this reaction after just one detox bath? Should I take one today, or wait another day or so until my body is back to normal?

Also, I do have a congenital heart condition and just read yesterday that Epsom salt baths were not recommended for people with cardiac conditions. Does anyone know the reasons behind this? I plan on calling my cardiologist today to find out if I am okay to continue taking them. I hope I can, because if this reaction is a herx, I have a feeling my body is just full of toxins needing to be released!

ETA: Also, I should add that as dumb as it sounds, I was unaware that I needed to rinse off after the bath. So, needless to say this morning after discovering the swelling I jumped right into the shower and feel somewhat better. Swelling is still present, though but may be in the process of going down some.

Post Edited (SickInsanity) : 5/30/2011 5:40:15 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/30/2011 7:44 PM (GMT -6)
Sounds like a herx-like response from mobilizing toxins during the soak...

I wouldn't do the soaks too often since you got such a huge reaction from them. Start with once a week at most. You might want to ask your dr if it is ok to use baking soda instead of epsom salts if the epsom salts are a no-no for you.

Dry skin brushing may cause a less severe herx - make sure you do the dry skin brushing before taking a shower. And for this, I wouldn't do it more often than once every 2-3 days just to see how you do with it. Can use a dry wash cloth instead of purchasing a natural bristle brush also.

Glad you're starting to feel a little better. Take care,
Posted 5/30/2011 8:37 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks for the reply. I will ask my doc about baking soda if he says no to the epsom salt. I have felt worse today than I have in a while even after the swelling in my face went down, so I'm going to wait a full week before trying another bath. It's pretty scary to think how much toxins I need to rid my body of based on just this reaction alone. I am making an appointment with my primary doc tomorrow to try and get the ball rolling and see if he will test me for Lyme. It will hopefully be the beginning of my road to recovery, not that I expect anything to be a magical cure! If only there were such a thing...
Posted 5/31/2011 5:33 AM (GMT -6)
Hi SickInsanity,

Makes much sense what Razzle said about the toxins mobilizing to certain area's of your body..  I believe a person can find out how toxic they really are by when they first start taking these baths and what happens afterward..

Were the epsom salts brand new or clumpy?  I don't know if salts can lose their potency or not...  That's something I never thought about before.. 

Another possibility enters my mind..  What product do you use to clean your tub?  Perhaps the tub wasn't rinsed clean of the cleaning solution prior to the bath?   Some of those cleaning products are toxic all by themselves.. 

Even when I think my tub is clean I give it extra "rinses" to make sure since I can't see it...

Just some thoughts..

Hope you feel better,

Denise

Posted 5/31/2011 5:44 AM (GMT -6)
Good point, Deejavu, about what is used to clean the tub. We use a natural non-toxic cleaner for mold/bacteria control and baking soda as scouring powder. It's better for our septic tank, better for us (no bleach, ammonia or other harsh chemicals), and it cleans just fine.
Posted 5/31/2011 6:26 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks Razzle!  I also use baking soda and or white vinegar to clean..  I do use Pinesol for my kitchen floor, but only a tiny bit, don't know if that's good or bad..

Denise

Posted 5/31/2011 9:54 AM (GMT -6)
The epsom salt I used was purchased just hours before my bath! :) So, it was brand new and freshly opened. I will make sure to rinse the tub very well with vinegar and baking soda before I try the bath again. But, I'm pretty sure it's just that my body is overflowing with toxins.

This morning I woke with a sore throat and coughing up a lot of phlem. I drank tons of water yesterday and was running to the bathroom to pee every 15 minutes it seemed! I really think the bath did it's job, I just have to fight through the suffering after effects to get to feeling better.
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