IV. Studies Regarding the Detoxification Program Developed by L. Ron Hubbard

A. Safety of the Program

An initial study of 103 individuals demonstrated the safety of this program. Medical complications associated with the program occurred in less than 3% of the individuals and were minor in nature. There was one case of pneumonia, one of ear infection, and one case of diarrhea during the approximately 3 weeks of program delivery. Reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol were benefits of the program. The program also resulted in improvements in psychological test scores. (52)

This program is designed to mobilize and eliminate fat-stored chemicals. During any such program in which xenobiotics are deliberately mobilized from fat stores, it is important that elimination keep pace with this mobilization process. Otherwise it is possible that mobilization will result in heightened blood concentrations of the mobilized compounds.

Blood levels of chemicals were monitored in a study of electrical workers conducted by Schnare & Robinson (53). They showed that blood levels of both PCBs and pesticides were fairly consistent over the course of treatment. Thus, elimination of compounds appeared to keep pace with their mobilization during this study.

B. Results of Detoxification

The detoxification method developed by Hubbard has been shown to reduce levels of several fat-stored chemicals. Studies of this method have focused on individuals who have accumulated fat-soluble compounds through either occupational or environmental exposure.

In 1983, Roehm reported reductions in DDE and PCBs and clearing of symptoms in a Vietnam vet with a range of symptoms (54).

A 1984 study demonstrated statistically significant reductions of from 10.1 to 65.9 percent for sixteen fat-stored compounds. The compounds tested included polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and chlorinated pesticides. The study population had been specifically exposed to PBBs approximately 10 years prior to treatment. Reductions in

PBBs were 58.7 percent (p<0.O5) when treated with Hubbard's method. (55) According to independent evaluation, the chemical levels for PBBs had not reduced during the five years prior to treatment (56).

In a controlled study, electrical workers exposed to hexachlorobenzene (HCB), PCBs and other compounds, were treated with the Hubbard method. Statistically significant reductions of 30% for HCB and 16% for PCBs were observed. These reductions were stable at follow-up observations 3 months subsequent to treatment (53).

Further documentation of PCB reduction was reported in the case of a female factory worker from Yugoslavia. Her excessive PCB levels (102 mg/Kg in adipose and 512 ug/L in serum approximately 50 times higher than the general population) were reduced by 63% in adipose and 49% in serum following treatment. In addition, a spontaneous breast discharge containing PCBs ceased during treatment. This woman's symptoms also improved over the course of treatment. (38)

Improvements in this woman led to a controlled study of a group of male co-workers. Again, reductions in PCB levels were observed and improvements in symptoms noted for the group treated with the method developed by Hubbard . (57,58)

As the number of toxic chemicals in the workplace increases, it is sometimes difficult to identify the exact nature of a toxicant. Such was the case for a woman exposed to both the residues trapped in filters from the exhaust stacks of an oil-fired electrical generator and the contaminated water used to clean these filters. She became ill following 6 months of such exposure and was unable to work. During treatment with Hubbard's method a black substance began oozing from her pores. This abated late in treatment. Both her objective and subjective complaints were reduced following treatment and she was able to return to work. (59)

Firefighters are often exposed to toxic compounds in the course of their work. Such was the case for a group of firefighters responding to a fire involving transformers filled with PCBs. Several of these men became ill following the fire.

Neurophysiological and neuro-psychological tests were conducted on 14 of these firefighters 6 months after the fire. This battery of 22 tests demonstrated that the firefighters who had been involved with the fire were significantly impaired in both memory and cognitive functions when compared to coworkers from the same department who had not participated in fighting this fire. (Scores for 13 of the 22 tests were significantly worse in the exposed firefighters.)

Following treatment with the detoxification method developed by Hubbard, significant improvements in 6 of the 13 tests originally showing impairment were noted. (60)

These firefighters were also tested for peripheral nerve damage. Five of the seventeen firefighters tested showed significant peripheral neuropathy. All showed improvement following treatment with Hubbard's method, with two of the five returning to normal range. (61)

Many people have experienced adverse health effects after exposure to compounds whose identity is unknown. The detoxification program has been shown effective in alleviating symptoms in such patients. In one study, the selected patient population reported symptom profiles prior to treatment that were in alignment with chemically exposed individuals reported by other authors (not statistically different). Following treatment, their symptom profiles had improved significantly and were now not significantly different from a healthy population. (62)