Detox symptoms post-adjustment: Is toxic release real?  

Complementary and integrative health fields talk a lot about the release of “toxins,” but what are toxins, exactly? 

Toxins are simply another term for waste products; a result of metabolic processes catalyzed by food, water, chemicals, air, and other external factors.

The kidneys and liver are primarily responsible for getting rid of these substances. Waste products also exit the body via the digestive and respiratory systems, as well as through the skin when we sweat. Our bodies are constantly taking in, chemically reacting, then pushing out what’s not needed. 

Some patients and doctors of chiropractic believe toxic release is part of the chiropractic method. Some say that with adjustments, they’re able to remove blockages, return blood flow to normal and allow a patient’s body to release toxins that may have been blocked by subluxation.  

This article shares some helpful tips you can pass along to your patients for dealing with symptoms from their post-adjustment “detox.”  

What is post-adjustment toxic release?

Ultimately, the toxic release associated with an adjustment is less of a systemic toxic purge and more likely a series of natural biological responses.  

The focus of most adjustments is to relieve joint dysfunction and help the nervous system better communicate with the brain and body. Eliminating these blockages allows for better blood flow, pain relief and (in many cases) reduced inflammation.  

Many believe that along with a return of normal blood flow, a rush of toxins that might have been blocked in the body by misalignments also releases and rushes back through the body to be properly flushed out.  

Do patients really experience post-adjustment toxin release?

Presently, there are few studies supporting the notion that toxic release is part of the chiropractic adjustment process; however, many patients state they feel or experience symptoms associated with the idea of detox or toxic release.  

Adjustments, no matter how gentle, put the body through change. That means a bit of inflammation, fluid rebalancing, perhaps headaches and beyond are normal parts of the process of a body dealing with an adjustment.  

A few of the most common post-adjustment symptoms and responses that are sometimes classified as signs of “toxic release” include: 

• General soreness  
• Slight fever  
• Perspiration  
• Headaches  
• Nausea  
• Dizziness  
• Tiredness or fatigue 

How to prepare your patients for post-adjustment symptoms 

Whether it’s factually accurate to define what your patients experience as “toxin release” or not doesn’t change the possibility they might experience some symptoms after their adjustment.  

What’s often thought of as “detox” can really be described as simply side effects of their treatment. To help them combat the potential side effects of adjustment, encourage your patients to: 

Hydrate properly: Plenty of water, in addition to adequate electrolytes, can help your patients fight off any nausea, dizziness or headaches. (All of which can start to happen when you get dehydrated, whether you’ve had an adjustment or not.) Water plays an instrumental role in general spine, bone and joint health.  

Rest after adjustment: Encourage your patients to treat an adjustment like a demanding workout. Plenty of rest is necessary to let their bodies recover.  

Stretch: Before and a bit after a chiropractic adjustment, encourage your patients to gently stretch with beginner’s yoga poses like cat-cow to release tension and promote blood flow.  

Final thoughts

Being a present and helpful resource for your patients to aid them in mitigating any side effects of chiropractic adjustment is a must. Subscribe to Chiropractic Economics for more insight and advice on how you can support your patients before, during and after their chiropractic care appointments.