The Herxheimer Reaction
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Technically known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction, the phenomenon was first described by Adolf Jarisch (1860-1902) in Vienna, Austria. A few years later by Karl Herxheimer (1861-1942) in Frankfort, Germany.
This syndrome goes by many names including: the Herxheimer Response, JHR, the Herxheimer Effect, a Herx Reaction, Herx or Herks. Most commonly it is called the Herxheimer Reaction.
Or, in modern terminology, you may have heard it called: a healing crisis, a detox reaction, or even: die-off syndrome.
Originally the Herxheimer Reaction was documented in cases of syphilis. But, the name now applies to any disease condition that follows the same symptomatic phenomenon.
The severity of the Herxheimer Reaction is generally an indicator of just how much toxicity there was in the body to begin with. It is also an indicator of the effectiveness of the massage.
A Herxheimer Reaction is actually a sign that the body is restoring itself to good health.
If you were gentle during your prostate massage, the pain and other symptoms that follow in the next 2 or 3 days are not a bad sign. They are a very good sign! They are a sign that you are getting positive results!
What that new pain is: is the trapped toxins coming out of your prostate and irritating all the surrounding tissues as well as the prostate gland itself. As I said, it's a VERY good sign. You're on your way to better health. Your body is throwing off the toxins that are making you sick!
The reason for the new pain is: these toxins are being released into blood and tissues faster than the body can comfortably handle them. This provokes a sudden and exaggerated inflammatory response. The inflammation causes pain. The body is basically trying to burn these toxins up so they don't cause harm to the body.
Herxheimer Reactions can vary widely depending on many factors, including:
- the general health of the individual
- the degree of toxicity that exists in the body
- the support the body is provided in eliminating the toxins as rapidly as possible.
If your prostate is in really bad shape, you may also experience flu-like symptoms including:
- headache
- body aches
- joint and muscle pain
- nausea
- sore throat
- sweating
- chills
- general malaise, or other symptoms of illness
These are all symptoms of the body battling internal toxicity.
After a few days, when your body has flushed out the toxins, you will notice the symptoms are gone!
Once a man understands what the Herxheimer Effect can be, he normally finds it a gratifying experience. He knows his first massage has been effective! He understands he is on his way to recovery.
A nice hot Sitz Bath can be very helpful in relieving these detoxifying symptoms on the days when a Herxheimer Reaction occurs.
The Herxheimer Reaction can continue to happen (usually with diminished intensity) after all your first massages. And, the reaction may even be more intense on a subsequent massage (not usually, however). Don't despair. It all depends on how much poison is being released at a given time.
This is why it is always a good idea to progress with your massage program gently, slowly, and regularly. After a time, you will notice less and less pain. Not only after the massage, but in general!
Eventually, when the toxins and/or infection(s) are all gone, the Herxheimer Reaction will no longer happen.
The biggest problem with the Herxheimer Reaction is that most people will not continue doing their massages because they don't know what has actually happened. They think they are injuring themselves.
If the massage was done gently, without causing any real pain during the massaging, then there is little if any chance that injury occurred.
The resulting Herxheimer Effect should not only be welcome, it should be celebrated! It means you are in the process of effectively rejuvenating a very sick and toxic prostate gland.
It means renewed health is in sight. It means feeling better again is not far away!
You should not do another massage until the symptoms subside. Your body needs time to clean itself up first.
But, neither do you have to wait until every symptom has disappeared entirely before you massage again. Using common sense in you prostate massage program, and it's frequency, will help you achieve the best and fastest results.
Massaging gently but thoroughly enough is important in any type of massage if you are going to get good results.
The safest and best way to do a correct prostate massage is with an Aneros prostate massage device. The Aneros will not only give a safe prostate massage, it will help tone and invigorate the entire male sexual system! As a man, an Aneros is one of the best health investments you will ever make!
There are many Aneros models to choose from. I prefer the Aneros Helix. It seems to be just the right size for a thorough prostate massage. And it gives a perfect massage every time!
There are larger and smaller models available. If In doubt, get a regular one first (mgx model). It will be more gentle. Then, you may want to graduate to larger ones as you get healthier and healthier.
Getting a Herxheimer Reaction from your first prostate massage is just like the reaction you get when you first join a gym.
It's just like starting a work out program. After the first day in the gym, you can feel terrible! And if you quit working out after the first day, you'll feel crappy and you'll say exercise is stupid!
But we all know better. At least with exercise. We just don't all know about the Herxheimer Reaction.
You know if you go back to the gym regularly and continue with a moderate exercise program, you notice you start to feel better and better! All those initial reactions from the first few workouts disappear. And you also start to look better and better!
Prostate massages make the blood flow more efficiently and deeply into the prostate gland. This cleans the prostate and causes toxins to be released. This is what causes the Herxheimer Reaction.
Understanding the Herxheimer Reaction is important. It let's you know that you are doing the internal cleaning up correctly!
Be Well.....
~ William
