A skunk is an amazing animal. Although there are many different kinds of skunks they mostly live in the United States and Canada. They vary in size (most are about the size of a house cat) and are friendly creatures often making good pets. Skunks are omnivores and pose no threat to humans.
However, a skunk can produce a powerful, pungent, hard-to-remove, horrible-smelling spray. A skunk's spray is produced by glands under its large tail and can shoot out ten feet or more. Skunk spray causes no physical damage to its victims, but it sure makes them terribly uncomfortable. The odor can linger for many days and defy all attempts to remove it.
There are many bacteria living in our bodies that act a lot like skunks. They piddle around inside our bodies not causing very much harm; for the most part we don’t even know they are around. Bacteria reside in everybody and we couldn’t live without them. Like skunks, these bacteria don’t cause a problem until something stirs them up. Then, just like a skunk that gets hit by a car and releases a spray making people gasp for miles around, dying bacteria can release toxins that can really knock you for a loop causing nausea, flu-like symptoms, and even muscle spasms!
This reaction was first noticed by two independent researchers working around 1900. Both Adolf Jarisch, an Austrian dermatologist, and Karl Herxheimer, a German dermatologist, are credited with the discovery of the Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction, often called “Herxing.” Sometimes it is also called the “Healing Crisis.”
Herxing occurs when bacteria are activated as a result of antibiotics, herbal medicine and even exercise - anything that triggers the immune system. The dying bacteria release large amounts of toxins faster than the body can remove them. Sort of like when your dog barks at a skunk under your house. You get the analogy – your dog is like the antibiotic, and the skunk is like the bacteria. Eventually, your dog will drive off the skunk, but in the meantime, things are going to smell bad.
The Herxheimer reaction causes a lot of problems because people feel worse. So goes the old saying, “If the disease doesn’t kill you, the cure might.” When people feel worse, they often stop doing the thing that causes them discomfort. Very often, right when they actually have the chance to start feeling better, they call the dogs off and the skunk scampers away to go have some babies and multiply.
The babies (new bacteria) that are produced are stronger than their parents. Plus the body's immune system has been weakened from the first attack. In order to fight the more resistant bacteria, you need ever stronger treatments. Eventually there are no stronger drugs and the bacteria can’t be stopped. This can be bad news!
Here at the Life-Wave Living Center people often experience the Herxheimer Reaction. The Rikian Exerciser™ stimulates blood flow and stirs up some of those bacterial “skunks” lurking around in your body. If your body is already tense and on-the-alert, chances are that your lymphatic system is way out of whack. Your body may not be able to remove the toxins quickly enough. You may begin to feel worse.
If this is the case, don’t call the dogs off! This reaction proves that the Rikian Exerciser™ is doing its job of helping to flush out those nasty toxins you desperately need to get rid of. Although you may not want to feel tired and run down, or have muscle pains, these symptoms are indications that your body is healing itself. The best answer is to push through the temporary discomfort and allow the Rikian Exerciser™ to awaken the spirit of rejuvenation in your body. Get back on the table!
So come on down to the Life-Wave Living Center for the healthiest exercise in the world. And don’t worry; we operate in a skunk-free environment!