Is Narconon Safe?
Dangerous detoxification

Last updated
5 November 2002
Contents > Is Narconon Safe? > Dangerous detoxification


By far the most contentious element of the Narconon programme is the New Life Detoxification Program, Narconon's equivalent of the Scientology Purification Rundown. This uses a combination of exercise (preferably running), lengthy periods in a sauna and massive doses of vitamins and nutritional supplements, notably niacin and oils. This is supposed to drive "stored" drugs out of body fat but there is little convincing evidence that it actually does this, or that it is even possible to do what it is supposed to do. More worryingly, there is strong evidence that all three elements are potentially or actually risky.

Vitamins
 
NIACIN
Dosages Hubbard
100mg-5,000mg
RDA *
14 mg
Upper limit *
35 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

Overdoses of Niacin can be extremely dangerous:

At doses of over 50mg, niacin (nicotinic acid) may cause transient itching, flushing, tingling, or headache. Niacinamide in the form that occurs naturally in the body (nicotinamide) is free of these effects. Large doses of niacin may cause nausea and may aggravate a peptic ulcer. Side effects may be reduced by taking the drug on a full stomach. At doses of over 2g daily (which have been used to treat hyperlipidaemia) there is a risk of gout, liver damage, and high blood sugar levels, leading to extreme thirst.
[John A. Henry, British Medical Association New Guide to Medicines and Drugs, 2000 edition]

Hubbard completely misunderstood what niacin does to the body - an issue explored more fully in "Hubbard's Junk Science" - and deprecated nicotinamide as "worthless" because it did not produce the symptoms which he misinterpreted as being desirable indicators.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
VITAMIN A
Dosages Hubbard
5,000 IU - 50,000 IU
RDA *
700-900 µg
Upper limit *
3,000 µg
Adverse effects of overdose

Excessive intake of vitamin A is toxic, at dosages of around 20-25,000 IU daily. The symptoms include brain swelling, weakened bones, conjunctivitis, cirrhosis of the liver, hair loss, diarrhoea, insomnia and fever.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
VITAMIN C
Dosages Hubbard
250-1,000mg - 5,000-6,000mg
RDA *
75-90 mg
Upper limit *
2000 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

Gastrointestinal disturbances, kidney stones, excess iron absorption.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
VITAMIN D
Dosages Hubbard
400-2000 IU
RDA *
5-15 µg
Upper limit *
50 µg
Adverse effects of overdose

Disturbance of calcium metabolism, producing hypercalcaemia - i.e. dangerously raised blood calcium concentrations leading to raised blood pressure, the possibility of brain damage, and kidney damage.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
VITAMIN E
Dosages Hubbard
800 IU - 2,400 IU
RDA *
15 mg
Upper limit *
1,000 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

May include hemorrhagic toxicity.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 

[Data from Hubbard, Clear Body Clear Mind, and United States Food and Nutrition Board, "Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamins", <http://www.iom.edu/iom/iomhome.nsf/WFiles/webtablevitamins/$file/webtablevitamins.pdf>]


Minerals
 
CALCIUM
Dosages Hubbard
500-3000 mg
RDA *
1,000-1,300 mg
Upper limit *
2,500 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

Kidney stones, hypercalcemia, milk alkali syndrome, renal insufficiency, constipation, palpitations, reduced iron and zinc absorption.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
COPPER
Dosages Hubbard
2-12 mg
RDA *
0.9 mg
Upper limit *
10 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

Gastrointestinal distress, liver and kidney damage, destruction of red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia).

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
IRON
Dosages Hubbard
18-108 mg
RDA *
9-18 mg
Upper limit *
45 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

Gastrointestinal distress, significantly raised risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
MAGNESIUM
Dosages Hubbard
250-1500 mg
RDA *
310-420 mg
Upper limit *
350 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

Adverse effects rare, but can occur in people with impaired kidney functions. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle weakness. Very large increases can cause fatal respiratory or heart failure.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
MANGANESE
Dosages Hubbard
4-24 mg
RDA *
1.8-2.3 mg
Upper limit *
11 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

Elevated blood concentration and neurotoxicity, producing Parkinson's-like symptoms. Individuals with cirrhosis (liver damage), such as alcoholics, may not be able to properly excrete manganese. Manganese supplements can also cause severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in diabetics.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 
ZINC
Dosages Hubbard
15-90 mg
RDA *
8-11 mg
Upper limit *
40 mg
Adverse effects of overdose

Affects metabolism of iron and copper, leading to nausea, vomiting, fever.

* daily dosage, adult males & females
 

[Data from Hubbard, Clear Body Clear Mind, and United States Food and Nutrition Board, "Dietary Reference Intakes: Minerals", <http://www.iom.edu/iom/iomhome.nsf/WFiles/webtablevitamins/$file/webtableminerals.pdf>]

 

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