Purification Rundown
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The Purification Rundown, also known as the Purif
It has no known clinical use in treating
The 1979 predecessor of the Purification Rundown was known as the "Sweat Program" and was similarly designed to remove traces of LSD which, according to Hubbard, remained for long periods in the body.[3][11] The participant had a restricted diet, including large doses of vitamins and a teaspoon of salt, and spent at least an hour a day jogging in a rubberised suit. For some, this regimen lasted for months.[11]
The program was developed for use in Narconon,[12] and was published in Hubbard's Technical Bulletins of Dianetics and Scientology as well as the book Clear Body, Clear Mind.[3][7] Two other books describe the procedure, Purification: An Illustrated Answer to Drugs[3] and Narconon New Life Detoxification Program: the effective purification program by L. Ron Hubbard. The term "Purification Rundown" is a trademark of the Religious Technology Center (the governing body of the Church of Scientology), though an RTC spokesman has denied any licensing arrangement with Narconon.[13]
Process
The Purification Rundown usually takes several weeks. As well as spending time in saunas, people are required to do light exercise including calisthenics, treadmills, and other similar activities.[citation needed]
The program consists of a course of doses of vitamins (
The program requires its participants to ingest the following at regular intervals:
- A multi-vitamin cocktail, the main ingredient of which is niacin. Clear Body, Clear Mind recommends initial doses of 100 mg, increasing to 5,000 mg over the course of the program.[7] This contrasts with the medically recommended level of about 15 mg: larger doses can have severe, even potentially fatal side effects.[7] The participant is told to expect toxic symptoms due to the release of poisons or radiation from their body fat.[16] Thus the effects of niacin overdose, which include skin irritation, flushing, dizziness and headache, are interpreted as a positive effect of the program.[7][16][17]
- Mineral supplements, including calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine and potassium.[15]: 83–91
- Up to half a cupful of pure oils per day.[14]
- "CalMag", a drink which Clear Body, Clear Mind describes as a solution of calcium gluconate, magnesium carbonate and vinegar in water, in such proportions that the mix has twice as much elemental calcium as magnesium.[15]: 63–65 This is taken up to three times per day.[14]
- Enough liquids to replace the fluids lost in the sauna.[15]: 19
Hubbard specified that each participant must complete a daily report form, listing the amounts of vitamins, minerals, Cal-Mag and other fluids taken, which is reviewed to make sure they are complying with every aspect of the program.[15]: 113–115
The cost of the program was reported as about
Clear Body, Clear Mind contains a disclaimer which states that the program is not a medical treatment.[7] A similar disclaimer appears in the Hubbard Communication Office Bulletins, noting that the treatment is not a medical process but a purely spiritual activity.[7] Hubbard recommends that the participant should sign a waiver noting that the program is not medical treatment.[7]
Promotion
The Purification Rundown is promoted as having physical and mental benefits such as lowering
In a January 1980 announcement, Hubbard told his followers that a nuclear war was an imminent threat and that the program would enable them to deal with heavy nuclear fallout.[20] He warned that those who completed the program would stand better chances of survival.[20]
The Church of Scientology unsuccessfully tried to have the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Hubbard for his invention of the program.[20][21]
In California, two organizations were set up by Scientologists to try to give scientific legitimacy to the detoxification program—
The program, as delivered by HealthMed, is heavily promoted in the book Diet for a Poisoned Planet by journalist
Reception
Theoretical basis
The theory behind the Purification Rundown is that toxins, drugs, and radioactive particles are stored in body fat, which are released through the exchange of fats (thus the oil consumption) and exercise, and then finally released via perspiration and other normal mechanisms such as body waste.[14] Independent scientific evaluations report that the concentration of toxins or drugs in the sweat is negligible, as they are primarily removed from the body through the liver, the kidneys and the lungs.[7][13] The notion that toxins from fatty tissue can be sweated out is categorically denied by toxicology experts.[7][19] Evidence offered has not demonstrated that detoxification is actually taking place.[25][26]
A 1995 review at a medical conference described the massive doses of niacin as inappropriate, especially since they cause the release of
In January 2005, a group of five doctors and nine health education experts acting on behalf of the California Department of Education issued a report examining Narconon and its materials. The report described the key assumptions of the program as unscientific and inaccurate.[28] Three experts consulted by The Buffalo News criticised the weak evidence and dubious assumptions behind the program.[29]
David Emerson Root, a medical doctor affiliated with Narconon, has administered the program for twenty years and stands by the theory behind it.[30] A non-Scientologist, he denies that the program collects money or new members for Scientology.[30]
Effectiveness and safety
An investigation by the New York Press asked a number of independent doctors about the evidence for the Purification Rundown. None of them endorsed the program's effectiveness and some explicitly described it as dangerous. Several said that no peer-reviewed research on the program had been published in any medical journal.[7] Some apparently supportive studies have been published, but these lack control groups and have other scientific failings.[31]
Newkirk Herald Journal editor Robert W. Lobsinger solicited a number of medical experts' opinions on the program in 1989.
After reviewing materials published by Narconon,
Those who market the program insist that it has been proven safe and effective.[19][39] The marketing materials present testimonials for its effectiveness. Some doctors who have observed the treatment have been impressed by the testimonials but asked for evidence that improvements are caused by the program itself rather than suggestion, delusion or the placebo effect.[34] In 2007, psychopharmacology expert John Brick said of his visit to a Manhattan clinic, "Whether it's from some mysterious combination of vitamins or just good diet and exercise, I can't say. But the bottom line is that it helped the patients I talked to." He emphasized the importance of independently verifying the validity of the program, conceding that no causal relationship between the results and the program had been demonstrated.[34]
In a 1999 French court case, five staff members of the Church of Scientology were convicted of fraud for selling the program and other Scientology procedures.[40][41] In Russia, the program has been banned by officials as a threat to public health.[42]
Adverse outcomes
Paride Ella and Giuseppe Tomba, clients of Narconon in Taceno, Italy, died in 1995 during the vitamin phase of the program, suffering kidney problems and a heart attack respectively.[43]
In 1996, journalist Mark Ebner described the case of a woman who had suffered heatstroke and anemia while on the program.
One day, she was found blue-lipped on the waiting room floor, hemorrhaging. Instead of taking her blood pressure or calling an ambulance or even a doctor, they explained away her bleeding as "restimulation" from radiation she had absorbed from ultrasound testing she'd had years before.[17]
In 1997, two
A 25-year-old man in Portland, Oregon died from liver failure after having participated in the Purification Rundown. His parents sued the Church of Scientology and the case was settled out of court.[19] Scientology officials blamed the death on prior medical problems.[45]
Adoption by public bodies
The City Council of Shreveport, Louisiana approved 20 firefighters to take the program via HealthMed in the late 1980s.[46] The city's insurers commissioned an evaluation from toxicologist Ronald E. Gots, who dismissed the program as "quackery", saying it "served no rational medical function."[35][46] As a consequence, Shreveport ended its support.[35]
In 1994, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets covered costs for an alcoholic to go to Narconon for detoxification, but the council withdrew funding when the Church of Scientology connection was revealed.[47] The woman stayed on, funded by Narconon's trustees.[47]
Second Chance
"Second Chance" is a program administering the Purification Rundown to substance abuse offenders. Its first center was set up in Ensenada, Mexico in 1995 with a mix of state and private funding.[48] In October 2001, two officials from Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo, New York visited the Mexican center at a Scientology patron's expense.[5] They were impressed enough to appeal for $700,000 to introduce Second Chance to their own prison, although lack of funds put the project on hold.[5]
In September 2006 a Second Chance project was set up in
New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project
The New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project is an initiative in New York City, co-founded by celebrity Scientologist
Utah Meth Cops Project
Inspired by the New York project, a center in Orem, Utah administers the Purification Rundown to Salt Lake City police who complain of health effects from exposure to meth lab toxins.[57][58] The process is administered under the name of Bio-Cleansing Centers of America and has received public money in addition to private donations.[59] Many police who have taken part claim to have benefited, though a medical doctor associated with the Utah clinic acknowledged in 2007 that there were no studies of the program's effect on people who had been exposed to meth labs.[18]
The major supporter of the clinic has been State Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.[60] In 2007 and 2008, his office spent $140,000 to pay for 20 police to take the program, and requested a total of $440,000 from the Utah State Legislature.[60] The legislature advanced $240,000 of this further funding.[18] In 2009, Republicans in the State Legislature approved an additional $100,000 for the project in the closing days of a session, bypassing a committee which would have reviewed the payment.[18]
Other endorsements
Scientologist actress Kelly Preston endorsed the program and credited it for helping the health of her son Jett.[61][62]
In a 1998 interview,
See also
References
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- ^ a b c d e Sappell, Joel; Robert W. Welkos (June 27, 1990). "Church Seeks Influence in Schools, Business, Science". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-533149-3.
- ^ Asimov, Nanette (October 2, 2004). "Church's drug program flunks S.F. test". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Sommer, Mark (February 1, 2005). "Helping Spread the Word". The Buffalo News.
- ^ a b Proctor, Jeff (January 25, 2009). "Scientology Base Denied By Officials". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n DeSio, John (June 6, 2007). "The Rundown on Scientology's Purification Rundown". New York Press. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- ^ PMID 8998113.
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- ^ ISBN 0-8184-0499-X.
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- ^ a b c d e Mallia, Joseph (March 3, 1998). "Scientology reaches into schools through Narconon". Boston Herald.
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- ^ PMID 8921563.
- ^ Spy magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Carlisle, Nate; Robert Gehrke (April 5, 2009). "More state funds quietly budgeted to help cops sweat to health". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
- ^ St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the originalon October 26, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 0-8184-0499-X.
- ^ Lyneis, Dick (December 25, 1982). "Ex-aide tells of Hubbard try to gain Nobel Prize". Press Enterprise. Riverside, California. pp. B–1, B-3.
- ^ West, Louis Jolyon (October 1991). "Scientology III". The Southern California Psychiatrist. Southern California Psychiatric Society: 13–15.
- ^ Puzo, Daniel P. (November 29, 1990). "The New Naturalism Controversy Eats at 'Diet for a Poisoned Planet'". Los Angeles Times. p. 27.
- ^ a b Behar, Richard (May 6, 1991). "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power". Time magazine. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
- ^ PMID 17692360.
- Newspapers.com.)
'There is no data that that kind of experience reduces the level of toxins,' said Dr. Raymond Harbison, professor of environmental and occupational health in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida.
(courtesy link - ^ Kurt, T. (1995) "Sauna-Depuration: Toxicokinetics" presentation at 2nd Aspen Environmental Medicine Conference. Aspen, Colorado, September 7–9. cited in
Staudenmayer, Herman (1998). Environmental Illness: myth and reality. CRC Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-56670-305-5.
- ^ Asimov, Nanette (February 23, 2005). "Schools urged to drop antidrug program". San Francisco Chronicle. p. A1. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- Buffalo News.
- ^ Sacramento News & Review. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
- ^ Schaffer, Amanda (October 21, 2004). "Poisons, Begone! The dubious science behind the Scientologists' detoxification program for 9/11 rescue workers". Slate. The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Medical and Scientific Opinions Regarding The Purification Rundown As Practiced By The Narconon Drug Treatment Program". Newkirk Herald Journal. n.d. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
- ^ "Drug Center Proposal Criticized". The Oklahoman. September 1, 1989.
- ^ a b c Carey, Art (October 7, 2007). "Clinic's results make 9/11 responders believe". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007.
- ^ a b c d O'Donnell, Michelle (October 4, 2003). "Scientologist's Treatments Lure Firefighters". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2006.
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- ^ Roberton, Craig (December 28, 1981). "Narconon". St. Petersburg Times. pp. 1–B. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
- ^ "Church's purification course unsafe - expert". The Irish Times. February 6, 2003.
- ^ Doward, Jamie (March 27, 2005). "Scientologists will 'purify' drug addicts - for £15,000". The Observer. Guardian News & Media. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
- ^ Bremner, Charles (November 16, 1999). "Former cult chief jailed for fraud". The Times.
- ^ Henley, Jon (September 21, 1999). "French fraud case puts Scientology in the dock". The Guardian.
- St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the originalon May 22, 2011.
- ^ Biglia, Andrea (February 20, 1995). "Tragedia nella lotta alla droga". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). p. 13.
- ^ Washington, Sam; Phil Kemp (January 2004). "The Bridge to Freedom?". New Humanist. 119 (1). The Rationalist Association. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the originalon November 9, 2007.
- ^ a b Gittrich, Greg (December 13, 2003). "Bravest taking the Cruise cure". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2003. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
- ^ a b Oxford, Esther (May 31, 1994). "Storm over cult's alcoholic patient". The Independent. Independent News and Media. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
- ^ a b c Etter, Lauren (January 19, 2007). "Program for prisoners draws fire over Scientology". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 23, 2007.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Shama (October 7, 2008). "Commissioners decline to pursue rehabilitation program". Clovis News Journal. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ Proctor, Jeff (January 25, 2009). "Second Chance removes last inmates from old jail building". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
- ^ Herzenberg, Michael (November 18, 2008). "Study Questions Drug Treatment Results". KRQE.com. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
- ^ Maher, Jeff; Joshua Panas (February 4, 2009). "ABQ officials tour former rehab facility". KOB.com. KOB-TV. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ Dunleavy, Steve (June 12, 2007). "Cruises's Clinic OK". New York Post. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
- New York Observer. April 20, 2007. Archived from the originalon February 5, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ O'Donnell, Michelle (October 4, 2003). "Scientologist's Treatments Lure Firefighters". The New York Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ Friedman, Roger (December 22, 2006). "Tom Cruise Can't Put Out These Fires". Fox 411. Fox. Archived from the original on January 9, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ Carlisle, Nate; Rosetta, Lisa (November 8, 2007). "Meth cops swear they can sweat off toxins". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
- ^ Bonisteel, Sara (November 21, 2007). "Utah Foots the Bill for Ailing Cops' Controversial Scientology-Based Detox Treatment". Fox News. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
- ^ Winslow, Ben (November 8, 2007). "Police detox at clinic for exposure to meth". Deseret Morning News. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ a b Carlisle, Nate (February 22, 2008). "Funding sought for meth cops' health regimen". The Salt Lake Tribune. Media News Group.
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External links
Promotional sites
- Purification Program - Scientology Purification Rundown Procedure
- Frequently Asked Questions - Answer to FAQs
- Narconon International - Official Narconon site
Critical sites
- Narconon Exposed
- Stop Narconon
- Junkfood Science: A cautionary tale of poor science, politics and money gone astray
- Narconon Drug Abuse Prevention Program Evaluation Report published by California Department of Education