The Detoxification Myth

Another parent came by today and told me she had spent several thousands of dollars having her child ...well, I'm not sure how to put it: "Detoxicated." This involved blood transfusions, taking what is referred to as medication to cleanse the body of toxins and a major change in diet. I never know what to say to this, the evidence is so clear, toxins and detoxification are unrelated to Autism, Aspergers, ADHD or any other problem patients see me for. But if you look on the web it's toxin, toxin and more toxins that you are told to worry about. One of the many ways parents are lead down this path is by tests that show their child is full of toxins. These are usually misleading tests that leach different chemicals from the body that the body, EVERYBODY, naturally has. You take a pill or drink a fluid and then your urine or blood is measured and amazingly and scary levels of these toxins appear. Well, first, most are normal to everyone...yes our body produces some strange things, naturally! Including acids and formaldehyde. Yes, we make it in our own bodies! And you can take a pill or drink a solution that leaches, literally drags it out of the body. Then, after this procedure, the urine sample is shown to have high levels of these substances. Smoke and mirrors.

Well, it's all very complicated, and some use this complicated nature of things to fool us. Here is a great podcast...a little "snarky" but it really gets the point across about these things.

The Detoxification Myth

another great source of basic information on detoxification can be found at www.quackwatch.com I recommending giving that a read.


finally, the Skeptic Society -Canadian - has a great article here on detoxification: click here.

This is a nice group of short reads, I'd print them out and read them carefully. It's a sorry world where we can be taken in by these myths at almost every corner where there is a drug store we should be able to trust. But knowledge is health they say, and asking the right questions is a good place to start.

Jim Roche

This blog is NOT meant to provide medical advice. Some people actually have toxins from exposure to chemicals in the workplace or home. But don't trust me, don't trust a sales pitch. Ask your medical doctor, your MD, for advice. You live in Canada, the advice from a trained professional is still free!