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?
This is my 1st try with the MC. I’m feeling motivated and ready. So far day 1 is going ok. But, I’m worries about day 2. Going to stay strong though and do it!!! I just did the SWF (evening, need to work in the day so I can’t afford to do in the morning). Belly is rumbling and making all kinds of noises!! (Nervous). But my main goal is to flush the bad out of me, make me feel healthier and energetic. And most of all, rid myself of bad eating habits. Feeling motivated and strong.
Lemonade Diet Day 5 Hi Mike! I have been on the Cleanse faithfully using fresh sugar cane juice and limes with cayenne. Except for one day when I threw up after SWF, things are pretty normal with negligible side-effects. My elimination is watery and barely a couple of times. There is no gunk or tar like substance. I also seem to hardly have any weight-loss. I have followed the instructions completely. Why am i not eliminating as much?? i eat no junk food and am herbivore. Pl advice! Thank you!
I did my first master cleanse last year but ended it after day 5 because I had immense pain in my lower back by my kidneys. Also – my entire body ached. Just wanted to know if any of you ever experienced this? Is it normal? I was deathly afraid that I was dying of hunger.. if so, how did you deal with it? I am starting my detox again tomorrow. Any advice on the matter?
So this is my 2nd time doing this cleanse. I suffer from severe chronic plaque psoriasis, and I did this back in 2007 and my skin cleared up completely. I was able to taper off of the medication I was taking to control it. At that time I was on Amevive, which is an injection. I was clear for the last 4 years, no medicine needed. I just started to flare up again and my dermatologist put me on Enbrel but I don’t want to have to take injections weekly so I am going to do the cleanse again and kiss the shots goodbye. This works! I am on Day 4 and feel a little light headed but I know that the result is going to be worth it. I have lost about 5 pounds so far and I am not really working out that hard, I am taking walks in the evening. I have the most intense energy while on this cleanse, it feels great. Anyone that says that this does not work is crazy. I am proof that this can heal all sorts of ailments especially the ones that the doctors say there is no cure for.
Just finishing day 2 – felt light-headed this morning and a little nauseated this morning but it didn’t last long. This is my first time and I’m feeling very motivated! However, after tea for 2 nights and swf for 2 mornings and nothing has moved.
Do you have any recommendations on how to get that part moving?
Lemonade Diet Day 6: Hi everyone. This has been quite an up and down journey. I have been working out and felt great!! And other days (3,4,6 mostly), I’ve been exhausted. Today my throat started bothering me. It doesn’t feel like a normal sore throat so I was wondering if it could be the lemon juice or the cayenne pepper. Is there anything I can do about it?
Day 3 through 5,
Sinus cold, heavy. Can not stop sneezing, stuffy/runny nose, and very itchy skin.
I hope this all pass.
Hello again. Headache I mentioned in previous post abated by third day, although I get little low blood sugar headaches periodically that are easily fixed. I am now on Day 5 of the Lemon Aid Diet. Doing ok. Energy level much better. Not cold anymore. Not really hungry, but have dreamt of eating the last two nights. Even within the dreams I remembered I wasn’t supposed to have done that! I have two issues with which I could use help.
First, I am not eliminating well. I have tried the SWF three times without results. My results from the laxative tablets is scant. I can tell there is stuff in there to come out. Not sure what to do. I suspect I need a colon lift, but have no local service. I have tried some mild inversion and manual manipulation to no avail. I don’t like knowing I am mobilizing toxins but not eliminating them. Any suggestions?
Second, I am having odd symptoms in the vicinity of my girlie parts. This is associated with the urethra, primarily, but other areas, too. Similar to UTI symptoms, it is a burning sensation with some sense of urinary frequency but difficulty emptying my bladder, especially at night. Anyone else have this? Any ideas about what might help?
Thanks.
Sounds like a urinary tract infection.
Hello. This is Day Two of the Lemon-aid Diet. I did not ease-in, but I will next time since not doing so has probably made this harder than it could’ve been. I am suffering from a pretty severe headache, being ridiculously cold and just generally not feeling fantastic. As i have stopped smoking and drinking caffeine and alcohol – things I was doing with regularity Glad to know my withdrawal symptoms are normal, but I would like to know what, if anything, I can do about the headache. Seriously, it is like a cheap wine hangover headache. Just dreadful. Any suggestions?
Hey Deidre,
Same here. Day two started at 4:30 with a pounding headache, chills, etc. I waited until 7:00 and had my lemonade and feel better except my head is still throbbing. Not all the time but always there with occasional spurts of agony.
I always get non-hungry rumbling if I go long enough between meals. I take it as a sign that my body is cleansing itself, though I’m not sure of the anatomical or medical terms for what’s going on…usually the feeling is behind my left lower ribs.