Get Rid of Detox Rashes
By Sally Shultis, naturopathic practitioner
This article was first published in the May 2009 issue of Fusion.
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Dear Sally,
You told me that when you started to detoxify at a cellular level you “broke out” in your armpits. Well, I think that this is happening to me. I wouldn’t say that I am working on detoxification, but I am using oils every day and I am breaking out in my armpits…UGH, the agony!!! Under both armpits are thick rashes. I have been using Young Living deodorant and Thieves spray and sometimes Thieves or Purification oil. I am itching something awful. Can you help me before I go crazy or go to the doctor (which to me are the same thing)? - Cori
From Sally:
Cori is experiencing a cellular detox. Unlike herbs, essential oils have the ability to penetrate the cell wall and are able to detoxify the cells. When toxins are released from the cells, the body either flushes the toxins out or reabsorbs them. When flushed out, the toxins exit the body through the blood and lymph and eventually the bowels, kidneys, and the sweat glands. The majority of the toxins should ultimately be eliminated through the bowels and the kidneys. If, however, these organs are not working properly, they can be overwhelmed by the challenge of eliminating toxins. Toxins then leave via the sweat glands, which can sometimes cause a rash.
This rash is often mistaken for an allergic reaction to the essential oils. Allergens are proteins or polypeptides, both of which are composed of amino acids. Essential oils contain none of these components, which means they contain no potential allergens. A person can be allergic to a particular plant, but will have no allergy to the essential oil distilled from that plant. The plant contains the allergen (protein or amino acid), but the essential oil does not. An exception would be essential oil that is pressed from seeds, such as vegetable or other carrier oils, or those cold expressed from rinds such as orange or other citrus oils. These oils can be allergens because expressed oils can contain traces of proteins and polypeptides. If you have allergies be careful with the blends that contain fatty oils, such as almond oil, and blends that contain citrus oils.
Now back to Cori and her rashes. Her bowel and kidneys have become overwhelmed with toxins. To clear up these rashes and avoid more, she needs to slow down the detoxification process and speed up the elimination process. Drink plenty of water. A person should drink at least half of their body weight in ounces of water. When detoxifying, one should drink their body weight in ounces of water. Depending on food intake, one should have several bowel movements a day. There are several Young Living products that encourage bowel movements, such asComforTone or ICP. I also highly recommend colonics. Due to space restrictions, colonics will be discussed in detail next month.
Beyond these supplements and practices, I did the following to get rid of my rashes:
¨ I eased up on oils for a few days.
¨ I took Epsom salt baths, adding Lavender, Gentle Baby, or Thieves oil (put 20-30 drops oil in the Epsom salts, allow to dissolve, then add salts to bath water).
¨ I used Lavaderm mist to cool irritation.
¨ I usedThieves oil to relieve itching.
¨ I watched my food intake, staying away from junk food, sugar and high acidity foods. Think salad!
¨ I did the Young Living 5-Day Nutritive Cleanse.
Remember detoxification is a good thing. By following these suggestions, the process can be much more tolerable.
Ref: Essential Oils Desk Reference, Essential Science Publishing, and Saving Face by Dr. Sabrina DeVita
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Also in the May 2009 issue of Fusion:
Making the Move to Natural Skin Care
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