How to Know If You’re Detoxing: Symptoms, Signs, and What to Support First

It’s one of the most common themes in alternative health: “I just need to detox.” But what does that actually mean?

Whether you’ve been eyeing DMSO, experimenting with castor oil packs, or loading up on binders and biohacks, here’s the truth: detox isn’t just something you do. It’s something your body does for you—if it can keep up.

Let’s walk through how to know if your body is truly detoxing, what signs to watch for, and what you absolutely need to have in place before trying to “push out toxins.”

Detox vs. Drainage: What Most People Get Wrong

Detox is your body getting rid of waste and toxins through the liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, and colon.

Drainage is the foundational work that makes detox possible — opening the exit doors (bowel movements, bile flow, lymph movement, urination, sweating).

Think of detox like taking out the trash. Drainage is making sure the door isn’t locked and the hallway isn’t blocked.

When people jump into intense protocols (like DMSO or even daily castor oil packs) without proper drainage, toxins can get mobilized but not excreted—leading to symptoms like headaches, skin flares, insomnia, bloating, or feeling flu-ish.

True detox doesn’t always look dramatic. If you’re still not sure how to know if you're detoxing, take a step back and assess whether your drainage pathways are open and your symptoms are shifting over time.

Signs Your Body Isn’t Ready to Detox Yet

• You’re not pooping daily

• You feel worse every time you start a new supplement

• You’re exhausted or wired-tired

• Your skin is breaking out more

• Your tongue is coated or your breath smells funky

• You bloat every time you eat

• You’ve had mold, metal, or chemical exposure and haven’t supported drainage first

What Healthy Detox Does Look Like

• You sweat easily (and regularly)

• Your bowels move daily (or 2-3x/day for some people)

• You have clear energy and mental focus

• Your skin stays relatively clear

• You recover well from new supplements or protocols

• Your body is less reactive to foods and stressors

What to Support Before You Detox

Before you use anything that mobilizes toxins (including DMSO, castor oil packs, binders, infrared, etc), make sure these are dialed in:

1. Bowel movements

   Magnesium, fiber, and bile movers may help

2. Hydration

   Aim for at least half your ideal body weight in ounces of water daily

3. Liver and bile flow

   Bitters, dandelion tea, beets, or targeted liver support

4. Lymph flow

   Castor oil packs, dry brushing, light movement, rebounder

5. Mineral status

   Sodium, potassium, magnesium, trace minerals support your cell's ability to detox

Final Thoughts

Detox isn’t a quick fix, and it’s not about how many products you can layer on at once. It’s about creating an internal environment where your body can clean house naturally and consistently.

So before you go all-in with DMSO (read my views here) or jump into a castor oil routine (which we talked about in this post), check in with your drainage first.

If you’re not sure where to start, or your detox efforts always seem to backfire, I can help. Book a consult and let’s map out a plan that supports real healing—at a pace your body can actually handle.