Detox & Protection from Radiation & Nuclear Fallout
Learn how to detox naturally from radiation exposure using natural remedies such as iodine supplements, detox baths, and eating iodine rich foods.
Potassium Iodide Tablets
Potassium iodide supplements protect the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. The thyroid becomes saturated with the iodine from the tablets, thus blocking absorption of radioactive iodine. Growing children are at the most risk for radioactive iodine exposure, so ensure that they take potassium iodide tablets if they are in danger of exposure. Radioactive iodine exposure has been linked to thyroid cancers.
Potassium iodide tablets only protect the thyroid gland and not other parts of the body. They should only be taken in a radiation emergency that involves the release of radioactive iodine, such as an accident at a nuclear power plant or an explosion of a nuclear bomb.
Dosage: Take 1 dose (130 mg adults, 65 mg children) every 24 hours after there has been an official announcement of risk of radioactive iodine exposure. Do not take potassium iodide tablets for longer than 10 days.
Radiation Detox Baths
Salt Baths
Salt Baths detox the body from general radiation exposure, such as from Cobalt-60 irradiated food, X-rays, or air flights where you are subject to high levels of ionizing radiation.
Dissolve 1 pound of sea salt or rock salt and 1 pound of baking soda in a hot bath — as hot as can be tolerated — and soak into the water until the bath becomes cool. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes. Afterwards, do not shower or rinse the salt off your body for 4-8 hours.
Baking Soda Baths
If you have been exposed to low-grade radioactive materials from the atmosphere, you can dissolve 2 pounds of baking soda in a tub of hot water, and follow the previous instructions by staying in the water until it cools.
With radioactive fallout, a specially prepared warm drink must be sipped during the bath. Drink an 8-ounce glass of warm water containing ¼-teaspoon natural sea salt and ¼-teaspoon baking soda. Each glass is to be taken with 3 tablets of calcium lactate, which is a very easy to absorb form of calcium.
The baths should be taken at night and only one bath should be taken per day.
Spirulina
Spirulina, a type of algae, has been shown to be very effective in treating the damage caused by radiation poisoning, and especially has a protective effect on the kidneys. There have been a number of scientific studies verifying its protective effect from radiation.
Sea Vegetables
Scientific studies show that sea vegetables, such as kelp, contain sodium alginate, which has the ability to bind to radioactive strontium. Eating sea vegetables such as kelp will detox and protect from radiation.
Kombu, a member of the kelp family, is one of the most radioprotective sea vegetables because it is high in fucoidan, a potent radioactive detoxifier. Bladderwrack, another type of sea vegetable, is also rich in fucoidan and can protect and detox from radiation.
Sea vegetables are also rich in iodine, which has a protective effect on the thyroid in the event of a nuclear disaster (see information on potassium iodide tablets above). They also bind to and detox heavy metals.
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission recommends that we consume two to three ounces (wet weight) of sea vegetables per week, or two tablespoons daily to protect from radiation toxicity. This should be increased fourfold during or after direct exposure to radiation.
Remember to consume sea vegetables that have been tested to be free of heavy metals.
Chlorella
Scientific studies have also shown that chlorella has a protective effect against radiation. Chlorella is rich in chlorophyll, and it has been shown in scientific experiments that animals on a chlorophyll rich diet have an increased survival rate from high doses of radiation.
Bentonite Clay Baths
Clay has a long history of being used successfully to remove and contain nuclear waste from the environment and from the human body. Clay absorbs and binds to radioactive toxins.
Use a a pure bentonite clay that has been tested to be low in aluminum. New Roots Bentonite Clay, for example, has been fully tested to be free of heavy metals.
Clay can be taken internally, but clay baths are preferable for radiation exposure.
Instructions on How to Take a Clay Bath
Homeopathic Remedies for Radiation
Examples of homeopathic remedies used by professional homeopaths to treat and detox radiation are radium bromatum, uranium nitricum, plutonium nitricum, x-ray and plumbum.
Click here to learn more about Homeopathic Remedies for Radiation
Constitutional homeopathic remedies for radiation exposure are very powerful and should be prescribed and progress should supervised by a professional homeopath. Contact the clinic or a local classical homeopath in your area.
References & Further Reading
Loseva L.P. and I.V. Dardynskaya “Spirulina- natural sorbent of radionucleides.” Sep 1993. Research Institute of Radiation Medicine, Minsk, Belarus. 6th Int’l Congress of Applied Algology, Czech Republic. Belarus.
Paul, T. M., Stanley C. Skoryna, and Deirdre Waldron-Edward.
Unsworth EF, Pearce J, McMurray CH, Moss BW, Gordon FJ, Rice D.Investigations of the use of clay minerals and prussian blue in reducing the transfer of dietary radiocaesium to milk. Sci Total Environ. 1989 Sep;85:339-47.
Mercury & Heavy Metal Detox Dangers & Solutions
Those of you who are familiar with naturopathic doctors are very likely also familiar with the concept of detoxing one’s body of heavy metals. The process of detoxing heavy metals is commonly known as chelation.
Chelation therapy is the use of chelating agents (e.g. DMSA, EDTA, DMPS) to detoxify poisonous metal agents such as mercury, arsenic, and lead by converting them to a chemically inert form that can be excreted without further interaction with the body, and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1991.
I will be the first to admit that we live in a polluted world that is filled with toxins. We breathe polluted air, drink polluted water, and eat polluted food. Pregnant women are warned not to eat tuna fish because they are filled with mercury (as well as other toxins), absorbed from the polluted waters of the ocean. Like the ocean, our atmosphere is also polluted with mercury. Add mercury-containing vaccines and amalgam dental fillings into the mix, and you can be sure that your body does contain some undesireable amount of mercury.
Could we all benefit at least a bit from detoxing our body of heavy metals? Most certainly. However, many alternative health practitioners and alternative health companies seem to be cashing in on the concept of heavy metal toxicity by saying it is responsible for a variety of ills including cancer, autism, chronic fatigue, and almost everything under the sun.
First I will be examining dangerous ways of detoxing heavy metals. Shockingly enough, these supplements are routinely prescribed by many naturopaths and DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) Doctors. I will then be looking at some safer ways of detoxing, and of treating disease in general.
DMSA
Even as early as 10 years ago, alternative health expert Dr. Mercola was writing about the dangers of using DMSA for mercury detoxification of autistic children.
Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), is the organosulfur compound with the formula HO2CCH(SH)CH(SH)CO2H. It is an FDA approved synthetic drug, used by some naturopaths and DAN! Doctors to chelate (excrete) heavy metals from the body. DMSA has also been used by traditional MDs in cases of lead poisoning. It is not a natural supplement.
The side effects of DMSA include seizures, increased self-stimming, compromised central nervous system function, ataxia, convulsions, nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, headache, dizziness, sensorimotor neuropathy, decreased urination, arrhythmia, and infection. These side effects are probably due to the inability of the liver and kidneys to detox the mercury in the tissues adequately. Thus, the mercury circulates in the blood, taxing the brain, lungs, muscles, heart, kidney and liver.
EDTA
EDTA is a widely used initialism for the organic compound ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Like DMSA, EDTA is FDA approved, has traditionally been used to treat lead poisoning, and is not a natural supplement. Unlike DMSA, EDTA is a weak chelator of mercury.
Taking EDTA can be dangerous because it will chelate calcium and other essential minerals out of the body, along with the undesireable heavy metals.
Treatment is commonly administered via IV. Not only is treatment typically expensive, but potential side effects are kidney failure, convulsions, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrythmias, allergic reactions, respiratory arrest, and even death.
DMPS
Dr. Mercola and other alternative practitioners believe this is a safe alternative to DMSA, but I’m not convinced.
Dimercapto-propane sulfonate (DMPS) is an experimental drug used for chelation, not approved by the FDA.
Drs. Levy and Huggins are experts in the field of toxicity due to mercury amalgam fillings. In their book Uninformed Consent, they talk about the dangers of using synthetic chelators: “Heavy metal chelators almost always overaccelerate the detoxification of the post-TDR (total dental revision) patient. DMSA, DMPS, and EDTA can all do this. DMPS is consistently the greatest offender here. Immune declines and clinical illness can result for weeks and sometimes even months after only one injection of DMPS.”
DMPS side effects include shivering, fever, mild to severe skin reactions, nausea, dizziness, and weakness. Long term use of DMPS can influence the mineral balance, especially for elements zinc and copper. Administration of DMPS causes mobilization of mercury taken up in the body. In isolated cases therefore, clinical symptoms of mercury poisoning may be produced.
Chlorella
Chlorella is a variety of algae found in fresh water such as lakes or ponds. It is commonly used as a natural chelation supplement.
Chlorella has a great affinity for mercury and heavy metals. However, Dr. Mercola points out that chlorella also readily extracts mercury from the water it is grown in. Analysis of at least one specimen of commercially available chlorella has shown high levels of mercury.
Safe, Effective Heavy Metal Detox
I wholeheartedly believe that the safest and most effective way of detoxing heavy metals is to use methods that detoxify the body gently and slowly.
To find out whether heavy metals are indeed the root cause of the problem, I recommend doing a hair mineral test. If heavy metals are not the cause, the hair mineral test will identify what is the true problem.
Assuming that heavy metals are the root cause of the problem, the last thing one should do with a toxic individual is to use strong chelating agents. Most likely their body will not be able to handle these aggressive methods because their organs of excretion aren’t working as well as other peoples’, which is why they are so toxic in the first place.
Homeopathic Remedies
Even the most sensitive, reactive person is able to handle homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy gently detoxes the body naturally, without any dangerous side effects. One of the great things about homeopathy is that the dose can always be adjusted downwards to accommodate even the most sensitive individual. Homeopathic treatment is never dangerous and is very effective.
We use the Pekana detox kit combined with the “Toxex” heavy metal detox remedy by Pekana in order to get rid of any heavy metals safely and effectively.
Contact the clinic or a qualified classical homeopath in your area to inquire about homeopathic detox remedies.
Homeopathy, combined with vitamin therapy (see below), is the most gentle and effective way to detox heavy metals.
Vitamin C
Almost anybody can benefit from Vitamin C supplementation. Many people suffering from heavy metal toxicity see amazing results just from using Vitamin C supplementation alone.
Two types of Vitamin C are recommended, to be taken together: Calcium Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Palmitate.
Dosage: Both forms of Vitamin C (Calcium Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Palmitate) are taken 3 times per day. The general rule is not more than 1000 mg per year of age. So a child of 4 years can be given approx. 4000 mg a day divided over three doses a day. This means 3 times Calcium Ascorbate 1000 mg and 3 times Ascorbyl Palmitate of 500 mg. This makes 3600 mg per day. Children 6 years and older, and adults, should take a maximum of 6 grams per day.
Diarrhea: The only serious side effect of taking too much Vitamin C is diarrhea. If diarrhea occurs, decrease the dosage.
Zinc
Toxic heavy metals rob the body of zinc.
Give 10 mg for children under 4, 20 mg to children 4 to 8, and 30 mg to children 9 years and older and adults.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
A good-quality, uncontaminated fish oil is the best source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Omega-3 Fatty Acid supplementation helps with autism, all types of cognitive impairment, as well as skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis. Take up to 500 mg per day.
Bentonite Clay
Clay therapy has been used for thousands of years by indigenous peoples. When taken internally, clay has the ability to absorb harmful, toxic substances from within the body, binding with them and carrying them out of the body. Unlike synthetic chelating agents such as DMSA, clay does not cause the release of toxins into the bloodstream/ instead, it actually absorbs the toxins before they enter the bloodstream. Clay cannot be digested. It simply passes through the digestive system, absorbing toxins as it passes through, then the toxins are eliminated when the clay is eliminated through the bowel.
Those who cannot or will not drink clay can still experience its benefits by taking clay baths. Clay has the ability to pull toxins through the pores of the skin.
Fasting & Restricted Diets
Water fasting is a cheap, easy way of detoxing the body. When the body is free from the process of digestion, energy is freed so that the body can heal itself. Those who don’t like the idea of fasting can also benefit from a detox diet: try cutting out wheat, dairy, sugar, alcohol and caffeine. Fasting is not recommended for children. However, many people, especially autistic children, do benefit tremendously from a gluten and casein (dairy) free diet.
Sweating
Sweating is a great way to release toxins from the body. Try saunas, steam rooms, or vigorous exercise.
Research
Brown MJ, Willis T, Omalu B, Leiker R (2006). “Deaths resulting from hypocalcemia after administration of edetate disodium: 2003–2005“. Pediatrics 118 (2): e534-6. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0858. PMID 16882789.
Further Reading
Knishinsky, Ran, The Clay Cure: Natural Healing from the Earth, Inner Tradition, Rochester, Vermont, 2000.
Smits, Tinus. Autism: Beyond Despair, Emryss Publishers, Haarlem, Netherlands, 2010.