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Drug Detoxification of Children
Treatment of Children with the Detoxification Method Developed by Hubbard
(Continued)Toxic Body Burden Reduction
The detoxification method developed by Hubbard is designed to gradiently mobilize and excrete fat-stored xenobiotics. This approach has proven safe and effective in patients with a variety of chemical exposures, including Michigan farmers exposed to pesticides and PBBS, electrical workers exposed to PCBs, painters exposed to heavy metals and chlorinated solvents, firemen exposed to dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans, and drug users. Studies have shown a consistent pattern of reduced body burdens associated with symptom reduction.19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
The need for toxic body burden reduction was again emphasized by a recent study of Michigan women. Breast tissue from women with breast cancer was compared to tissue from women with other breast diseases. Women with cancer had fifty to sixty fold higher levels of organochlorine compounds including pesticides and PCBs in their breast tissue than the women without cancer.31
Study Group
The study group consists of 18 children from 10 families. In each of these cases, the entire family became ill following a known change in their environment. The distribution of families, children, and contaminant are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
No. of Families |
Chemical |
No. of Children |
Four |
Chlordane |
six |
Two |
4 phenylcyclohexane |
six |
One |
Aldrin and Dieldrin |
two |
One |
Unknown water contaminant |
two |
One |
Heavy metal |
one |
One |
Paints and solvents |
one |
Children in these families ranged from neonatal to fifteen years old at the time of exposure. Treatment ages ranged from four to twenty-one. Their chief complaints included headaches, allergies, respiratory problems, recurrent infections, fatigue, and multiple chemical sensitivities (Table II).
Table II
Chief Complaints
Complaint |
No. of Children |
Environmental sensitivity |
six |
Headache |
six |
Fatigue |
five |
Allergies |
two |
Respiratory problems |
three |
Recurrent infections |
two |
No major complaint |
one |
Detoxification Treatment, Hubbard Method
The Hubbard program is an intensive detoxification program. As with adults, children were medically screened prior to treatment, and given a detailed medical history and physical examination. Routine blood and urine screens were performed. Contraindications to treatment are described in the literature elsewhere, but include heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, hypertension, and inability to participate in a mild physical therapy exercise program.
The program was delivered in a clinical setting. Fat biopsies were judged, in most cases, as too invasive given the age of most of the participants.
In summary, the Hubbard protocol consists of : 1) Medical exam and diagnostics 2) Incremental dosages of nicotinic acid (niacin) to promote turnover of fatty acids 3) The starting dose is normally 100 mg and increases over treatment period (on average two to four weeks) 4) Running (or if unable, alternate aerobic physical therapy exercise as prescribed by the physician) to promote deep circulation. Normally 20 to 30 minutes 5) Alternating periods in a low temperature, ventilated sauna to promote sweat and sebaceous gland excretion 6) Proper cool downs as needed with replacement of water, salts, and minerals 7) Polyunsaturated vegetable oil administered orally to reduce enterhepatic recirculation. Normally a few tablespoons a day taken with food 8) Replacement and balance of vitamins and minerals 9) Adequate fresh vegetables and fiber in diet 10 ) Adequate sleep and schedule with ideally five hours per day on treatment. |
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The standard Hubbard protocol was given to these children. However, there were physician modifications to allow for their decreased body size. In addition, extra attention was paid to clearly informng the patients as to the purpose of the program and its end point, so they knew what to expect and could communicate well with the supervisory staff.
Specific modifications included:
1) Lower niacin starting (25 mg), incremental, and end point doses
2) Reduced oil doses to avoid gastric distress
3) Powdered vitamins (not pills) at less than adult doses made palatable in fruit juice mixes
4) Treatment intervals reduced to maximum of fifteen minutes — smaller body sizes having more rapid core temperature increases
5) Extra supervision to monitor: dehydration, overheating, and inadequate salt or mineral replacement
6) Total treatment time per day reduced to three hours
7) Additional dietary supervision.
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