Sign in Subscribe

How to Know If Your Drainage Pathways Are Open (Before You Detox Anything) June 22, 2025

Jamie Shahan

— 3 min read
How to Know If Your Drainage Pathways Are Open (Before You Detox Anything) June 22, 2025
Are your drainage pathways open? Drainage pathways must be open in order to detox properly.


If your detox plan doesn’t include poop, sweat, snot, or pee you’re not detoxing. You’re just recirculating garbage and calling it wellness.

Wait… What’s the Difference Between Detox and Drainage?

Before you even think about doing a parasite cleanse, heavy metal detox, or gut reset, you need to know this:
Detox is what your cells want to do.
Drainage is what your body needs to do first.

Your cells can’t detox into a traffic jam. If your body doesn’t have clear exit routes, you’ll end up with:

  • Headaches
  • Skin breakouts
  • Constipation
  • Hormone imbalances
  • Weird “die-off” reactions that make you think you’re getting worse

That’s not detox, it’s a backfire. And it’s totally preventable.

The 5 Drainage Pathways You Have to Support

These are the body’s natural highways for getting rid of junk. If any of them are blocked, your “detox” efforts will back up like a clogged toilet.

1. Poop (Colon)

If you're not having at least one solid, complete bowel movement a day then your #1 detox organ is not working.

Clues it’s not open:

  • Constipation or going every 2–3 days
  • Pebble-like poop or excessive wiping
  • That “not quite empty” feeling

2. Pee (Kidneys/Urinary)

Your kidneys flush water-soluble toxins. And if you’re not hydrating properly (with minerals!), that filter gets sluggish.

Clues it’s not open:

  • Dark yellow pee
  • Peeing only 1–2 times a day
  • Swelling, puffiness, or water retention

3. Sweat (Skin)

Yes, your skin is a detox organ. If you haven’t sweated in weeks (or avoid it like the plague), you’re missing a major outlet.

Clues it’s not open:

  • You don’t sweat even during exercise
  • You get rashes when detoxing
  • You feel worse in a sauna instead of better

4. Breath (Lungs)

Detox happens with every exhale especially carbon-based toxins. Breathwork and proper CO2 exchange are crucial.

Clues it’s not open:

  • Shallow chest breathing
  • Mouth breathing at night
  • Shortness of breath or low stamina

5. Lymph (The Drainage System Itself)

Your lymph moves waste from your cells to the gut/kidneys to get it out. But it doesn’t move on its own, it needs your help.

Clues it’s not open:

  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Puffy face, fingers, or ankles
  • Brain fog, fatigue, or sinus congestion

Simple Ways to Support Drainage Starting Today

You don’t need fancy detox kits to start supporting these pathways. You just need consistency.

Try:

If You Only Remember One Thing…

💩 If it’s not leaving your body, it’s staying in your body.

So if you’re feeling “detox” symptoms or worse, if you’ve already started a parasite cleanse and feel like roadkill it might not be die-off.
It might be drainage failure.

Want Help Opening Drainage Before Your Next Protocol?

📥 Download my free 3-Day Drainage & Energy Reset for simple, powerful steps to open every major pathway before you dive into a deeper protocol.

And don’t miss tomorrow’s post:
Castor Oil Packs: Weird, Messy, and Totally Worth It
👉 It’s one of the easiest ways to move lymph and calm your nervous system.

Remember, your health is your greatest wealth.

Take small steps every day to create a toxin-free environment that supports your gut and overall well-being.

When the system doesn’t give us answers, we find them ourselves and we share them with people who are ready.


We’re not waiting for permission,
Jamie Shahan MSN, CRNA, RN
Empowering Holistic Health

🌐 Connect with me on Social Media:

⚠️ Disclaimer

The information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The content reflects the personal research, experiences, and opinions of Jamie Shahan and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking medications.

Some links on this site may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I use myself or would confidently recommend to someone I love

Read more