Let’s rename The Master Cleanser Side Effects. I want to call them Front Effects because they are simple, natural, tolerable and, most importantly, a sign of your healing in progress. The term “side effect” has an emotional trigger for most of us. We associate the term with the life-threatening effects of modern prescriptions. We think of side effects as something unwanted. The Master Cleanser Side Effects are very much wanted. These “Side Effects” are why we are Master Cleansers to begin with.
The Master Cleanser Side Effects are well worth it and so natural.
Are Master Cleanser Side Effects really “Side Effects” at all? I have a hard time referring to the Master Cleanse “Side Effects” as such; at least in the traditional sense.
When I think of side effects, I think of those absurd TV commercials for artificial prescriptions that [easyazon_link asin=”156025856X” locale=”us”]big pharmaceutical companies[/easyazon_link] are trying to convince us we need. They even “brand” a disease with a term and then give it an acronym (such as ED for erectile dysfunction) so that they can market a “Cure” for you. Then they have the nerve to list dozens of horrifying side effects while calming music plays and we watch very healthy, happy people illustrating just how healthy and happy we can be if only we take their product. For life — or at least for as long as their product doesn’t kill us, make us bleed from the eyes or have 4-hour erections, etc.
It is mind boggling that people will denounce The Master Cleanse as a treatment, cure, prevention, cleanse, etc. because you might have a headache on the second day or break out for a few days, whereas these drugs being offered as cures include catastrophic side effects such as paralysis and “an increased risk of death.” HA!
They slip these “Side Effects” in the side door when you’re not looking, hoping you will be so convinced you’re already dying that their prescribed increased risk of death won’t look so bad.
Positive Master Cleanser Side Effects
Since The Master Cleanse is a Detox Diet, or Cleansing Diet rather than primarily a Weight Loss Diet, the fact that you will likely lose weight is, in fact, a side effect as well.
- Most people would view a side effect of weight loss as a positive one, but not all. Those of us who are already living a balanced, healthy lifestyle will not have much weight to lose, thus rendering weight loss unwelcome, as it would likely mean lean muscle loss.
- Those who have weight to lose will lose weight as a side effect of the Master Cleanse. Those who have some weight to lose will lose that weight and plateau at their natural weight. It has even been reported that those who are under-weight will actually lose no weight and even gain weight.
So even though many people use The Master Cleanse for Weight Loss, that doesn’t make it the primary intention of the Detox. In fact it is more about weight management than weight loss, since the loss of weight is not your body’s primary objective either. The primary objective is DETOX and the positive results of the detox: the cleansing of our bodies of toxins and waste results in the side effects we Master Cleansers refer to as Healing Events.
Healing Events (Healing Crisis)
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Tom Woloshyn refers to Healing Events as Healing Crisis, but I prefer the term Healing Events since it casts a more positive light on the events. The Healing Events truly are positive as they represent the elimination of something that caused a Disease Event when they were first ingested.
There is a saying in the Master Cleanser Community about the side effects we call Healing Events: “Sick in, Sick out”.
When you pick up something like a flu virus, bacteria, or something your body wants to reject, you experience a Disease Event. Your body is not “At Ease”, but rather in a state of “Dis-Ease” because of it. Your body’s immune system then deploys any and all available defense mechanisms to expel the intruder. These mechanisms include:
- Stuffed Nose, Runny Nose or Congestion
- Coughing and Sneezing
- Sore throat and swollen glands
- Fatigue, Muscle aches and other Cold and Flu Symptoms
- Skin Irritation such as Rashes and Breakouts
- Headaches
- Fever
- Cold sores or other mouth sores
All of these “side effects” of a cold, flu or any other disease agent are the result of your body’s primary objective: to rid the body of the disease agent.
All of these “side effects” are actually just the reaction to the disease agent as it now exits your body.
And best of all: these “side effects” are temporary. They last for only a brief period. The Healing Events resulting from the Disease Agent are far less severe than the Disease Events which were the cause of the ingested Disease Agent.
Problem Days with Greater Side Effects
There are generally 3 days during which most cleansers experience the greatest number of master cleanser side effects, especially those of the Healing Crisis variety noted above. Day 1, Day 3 and Day 4 always seem to be the hardest. In my Day-to-Day account of the characteristics of each day during The Lemonade Diet, I have named these days: Day 1 – Bandwagon, Day 3 – Healing Events, and Day 4 — Hump Day.
- Day 1 – Bandwagon Side Effects: The side effects of day 1 are usually Detox Side Effects or Withdrawal Side Effects (both discussed below).
- Day 3 – Healing Events: Day 3 is when most of the Healing Events tend to surface. This is likely due to the detox part of the Master Cleanse really starting to reach a critical point.
- Day 4 – Hump Day: Healing Events are often short lived, lasting only a day or two. I once had severe cold symptoms for one night only. They disappeared as quickly as they came. Day 4 is Hump Day like Wednesday is in our work week. Just get past these Healing Events, and you are likely to succeed the rest of the way.
Master Cleanser Detox Side Effects
There are a few side effects of The Master Cleanser that are not directly related to Healing Events. I call these the [easyazon_link asin=”B00HYQ5L98″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”mc-easyazon-us-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]The 10-Day Skin Brushing Detox: The easy, natural plan to look great, feel amazing, & eliminate cellulite[/easyazon_link], as they are not the common cold or flu symptoms we experience when our body is fighting off a new invader.
The following side effects are results of the Laxative, SWF, improperly taking the Lemonade and/or the general detox process itself:
- White Tongue: A general side effect of the detox. It is generally reported that the tongue turns pink again once detoxing is complete.
- Bad Breath: Related to the aforementioned White Tongue. This is due to the extra release of toxins through the tongue.
- Greater Tooth Plaque: Related to above.
- Mucous Increase: A primary tool of our immune system, the loosening of mucous including sinus congestion and draining is brought on by the Fresh Lemon Juice and Cayenne Pepper.
- Increased Ear Wax: Similar to above.
- Nausea: Usually the result of the Salt Water Flush.
- Dizziness: Usually the result of not drinking enough Fresh Lemonade or not drinking it early enough in the morning upon rising (especially after the SWF).
- Feeling Chilled: Not “chills” like when you have a cold, but feeling cold as the result of lowered metabolism.
- Passing Gallstones: This is not uncommon and is good news.
- Diarrhea: Either from the SWF or from an excess of Vitamin C from the Lemon Juice.
Withdrawal Side Effects
Discussing these side effects from the perspective of the Healing Events and Detox is necessary, as they are indeed related to the cleanse. However, many of the side effects felt by cleansers are not necessarily the result of the detox, or healing, nor are they some awful sign that cleansing is not for you. They are often just symptoms of withdrawal from some chemical dependency you have.
There are many common chemical dependencies which (if you did the cleanse properly) you would have had to stop feeding during the cleanse.
- Nicotine
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Caffeine
These substances are obvious. Most of us know we go through nicotine and alcohol withdrawal, but we don’t always realize that caffeine withdrawal can be even worse. Caffeine is a food (found in coffee, tea and other foods like chocolate). Food is addictive as well. Most of us know that, but we don’t dig much deeper than that basic understanding. Caffeine is a drug which is found in food. All food is a drug, as are all substances. Everything we consume is a chemical that our bodies break down, then decide to use, expel, destroy or quarantine.
So we can be addicted to anything. We can be addicted to coffee, sugar, pasta, or sushi.
And when our body doesn’t get a substance it is expecting, it will send us signals — often painful ones — that it wants that substance NOW. Once the body is re-accustomed to NOT expecting these substances, a new norm is set and symptoms disappear.
Now most of those foods aren’t as chemically addictive as caffeine is, but they can certainly be emotionally or psychologically addictive.
Emotional and Psychological Master Cleanser Side Effects
The loss of Comfort Foods can be devastating both emotionally and psychologically. We are so used to managing our chemistry by ingesting foods we like. If we feel down, we turn to food because eating it will make us feel good, either because we like the taste so much or because we have another association built into that food. Perhaps this type of cookie reminds me of my childhood when times were more simple. Maybe that ice-cream puts me into a state of subconscious self-loathing that I have come to depend on.
This is a major topic and is beyond the scope of this article, but it is worth mentioning because it leads to the following two Emotional Side Effects and Psychological Side Effects of The Master Cleanse:
- Impatience and Irritability: Our patience can really be tested when we are not getting what we want, when we are not comforted by our crutches.
- Flashbacks (Feelings, Tastes): in his book “The Complete Master Cleanse” Tom Woloshyn describes the body as a “Time Machine,” saying that his clients report tasting cigarettes or feeling “stoned” as they relive past experiences.
Any other Master Cleanser Side Effects?
I have avoided going into detail on a number of very common side effects in an attempt to keep this post from getting too long. I want to leave the forum open to you to so you can add your own feelings. What were some Master Cleanser Side Effects that you experienced? How did you overcome them?
Ease-Out Day 3: For the past 4 mornings I’ve been waking up to strong salty taste in my mouth. Also, Yesterday when I went to drink tap water, it tasted extremely metallic. Then this morning my urine smelled like chemicals/plastic and it was very dark- more orange than yellow. I’ve been drinking a lot of water so I’m assuming all of this is the result of the toxins leaving my body.
I just want to make sure all of this is normal. Has anyone else been experiencing these things?
Thanks!
is the lemon mixture a healthy constant in a diet..? Would it be beneificial to make it as a morning drink?
(Lemonade Diet Day 2)
Hmmm. Now I see why there aren’t too many references online to a 3 day cleanse, which I’ve decided to do for a few reasons, namely that I have had an anorexia-like eating disorder in my past and I want to be sure I don’t trigger. The other significant reason for my choice to do a 3 day cleanse is that I have remarkably quick blood sugar loss (diabetes and type II runs in my family) leading to anxiety attacks, which would make it near impossible for me to work while on this cleanse. I knew I’d need to rest while on this cleanse, and I’m glad I made that realization in advance!
Anyway, the main reason I’m commenting is to express gratitude for the Day 3 healing warning. I remember the healing discomfort associated with a candida diet cleanse years ago, but if I do end up with cold/flu-like symptoms tomorrow, I have a feeling I’d probably now know what it is, and feel like I’ve made a mistake!
In any case, I’ve adapted the diet as follows:
Ease in Day 1 with raw juices (mostly carrot, apple and mango fresh pressed at home)(note: I can’t drink orange juice – it leads to painful bloating)
Lemonade Diet Day 1: drank lemonade, no SWF
Lemonade Diet Day 2 (today): started with SWF – it was less strange than I expected! I used warm water for the salt solution and found it easy enough to drink (reminded me of miso soup). I felt results sooner than 1/2 hour and was so relieved the experience was painless — for some reason I was afraid cramping and/or bloating would occur first, but that was no problem. I continued the day with lemonade.
Tomorrow will be Lemonade Diet Day 3: I’ll start with SWF and continue with lemonade.
On tuesday I’ll return to fresh juicing, but I haven’t decided yet if I’ll do a third SWF… waiting to see how tomorrow goes, especially if uncomfortable symptoms on the way to healing are expected.
Thanks again for this website!
If you’re diabetic Dr.Burroughs had specific instructions, including using blackstrap molasses instead of the maple syrup, etc. try this link:
This is my first time! I am on day 2 feel ok just a little tired at times. The one thing
I experienced today is but irritation while doing the salt water flush is that normal?
I’m on day 4 and have had a gout attack
Plus my whole body feels stiff and joints are sore
Any suggestions
I also had a gout attack while doing the M.C.
I believe it was just the gout exiting my body.. Most of the time my gout attacks last 3-6 days.. The one I had during the cleanse only lasted 1 day.
Did you take anything for your attack? How long did it last?
Im all set to start the Lemonade Diet, but caught a stomach flu yesterday. Since I cant tolerate solid foods right now I have drank this a few times today. Is it ok to continue, since I’m sick now? Or should I just pick another time to start?
Thanks
Maddi
Master cleanse day 8 Hi all I have been feeling like I have a very bad cold. I have had excess mucous since day one and a sore throat since about day 2 I was feeling better on 3,4,5 but now I just feel worse then ever. My tongue is still slightly white and I was having extra tooth plaque which has cut down a little now so I’m feeling like I should be at the end of the road soon, but is all this normal? Today has been the worst so far, I really feel like I should crawl into bed And stay there. I don’t want to go off the cleanse to soo because I have palindromic rheumatoid arthritis and I’m trying to see if it will help with it, I’ve had quite a few attacks while cleansing but I’m hoping that’s my bodies way of pushing it out of my system. Any suggestions or sharing of similar experiences would be great, thanks.
Lemonade Diet – Day 4
I am getting about 400-500 calories a day. This worries me since I am used to eating around 2,000. This is my second time cleansing. I don’t remember having this problem the first time. How do I motivate myself to drink more? If I can’t, is it better that I quit? I will get my blood pressure taken tomorrow. What if I double the syrup?
Hi Robyn. Why can’t you drink more? Drink 10 glasses per day. 16 hour awake. Drink 1 every 90 minutes or so. Just do it. You can!
I am really interested in doing this cleanse because I feel my body is full of toxins and its affecting my skin, my sinus, my muscles, my menstrual system, my sleep and overall general health. However I am concerned about the weight loss because I don’t need to lose any and although I know I can gain it back afterwards, I am still worried about the effects that will have on my skin, like stretchmarks or sagging/ ageing? Also is it ok to continue doing the gym while doing the cleanse?
This my first time cleansing. I have CFS and typically have serious allergies, acne, rashes, etc. associated with it. I tried cleansing once before, got to through the two day mark, and then stopped cause I was breaking out so bad.
So I’m trying it again and Day 1 already breaking out. How long should I wait before these die off symptoms–die off?
I’m looking forward to starting to feel and look better!
Well, if you kept up with the cleanse you should have seen the breakouts diminish probably around day 4 or 5.
i would recommend you get some bentonite clay with organic apple cider. you mix one tbs of each together and apply it to your face. this will help draw out the toxins quicker. do a google seach on the products i mentions and you will see how great and beneficial this will be. it is also used in many othe r greatful ways.