Clear Body, Clear Mind
Encyclopedia
Clear Body, Clear Mind is a book published in 1990 by the Church of Scientology
's publishing house Bridge Publications
. It is credited to L. Ron Hubbard
who died four years earlier, and is largely a compilation of material he wrote in the 1960s. It is one of the canonical
texts of Scientology
and mainly deals with the Purification Rundown
("Purif"). This "detoxification" program, created by Hubbard, is believed by Scientologists to have unique medical and spiritual benefits, but has been criticized by medical professionals as "dangerous", "quackery," and "in some cases lethal".
, Criminon
and Second Chance
. It is promoted as a cure for conditions including cancer
, AIDS
, heart problems
, kidney failure
, liver disease
and obesity
. The procedure is viewed as dangerous by many medical professionals, as it calls for saunas and vitamins far in excess of safe levels. Side effects listed by Scientology include dehydration
, electrolyte disturbances including hyponatremia
(low sodium level) and hypokalemia
(low potassium level), and heat-related illnesses
. Some families have sued the Church of Scientology claiming that the Purif was responsible for the death of a relative.
Hubbard claims to have been the discoverer of the "acid flashback" phenomenon, in which LSD
is said to lodge itself in tissues and re-enter the bloodstream years later. He claims to have made this discovery "In the 1970s, working with cases of individuals who had been drug users". (pg. 23, 1990 hardcover edition)
Scientology's official website says of the book:
The claim of "Over 250,000" successes drew censure from the UK's Advertising Standards Authority
. The figure was a count of everyone who had completed the program, including people whose "drug" exposure was infrequent use of alcoholic drinks or prescription drugs.
A 1995 review of the book at a medical conference described the mega-doses of Niacin as inappropriate, especially since they cause the release of histamine
, which is counter-productive when dealing with chemical sensitivity.
, Hubbard (1957) sets out his idiosyncratic theories of radiation
, including the idea that large doses of vitamins could both alleviate and prevent radiation sickness
.
Purification: An Illustrated Answer To Drugs (New Era Publications, 1984. ISBN 8773363502) is an earlier, illustrated explanation of the Purification Rundown. Another illustrated book, Narconon New Life Detoxification Program: the effective purification program by L. Ron Hubbard. (Bridge Publications, 1991. ISBN 0884046583) is listed as based on Clear Body, Clear Mind.
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
's publishing house Bridge Publications
Bridge Publications
Bridge Publications may refer to:*Bridge Publications , the Church of Scientology's North American publishing arm*Bridge Publications , a United Kingdom publisher of guides to vacation and holiday activities in the UK and Ireland...
. It is credited to L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
who died four years earlier, and is largely a compilation of material he wrote in the 1960s. It is one of the canonical
Canonical
Canonical is an adjective derived from canon. Canon comes from the greek word κανών kanon, "rule" or "measuring stick" , and is used in various meanings....
texts of Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
and mainly deals with the Purification Rundown
Purification Rundown
The Purification Rundown, also known as the Purif or the Hubbard Method, is a controversial detoxification program developed by Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard and used by the Church of Scientology as an introductory service. Scientologists consider it the only effective way to deal with the...
("Purif"). This "detoxification" program, created by Hubbard, is believed by Scientologists to have unique medical and spiritual benefits, but has been criticized by medical professionals as "dangerous", "quackery," and "in some cases lethal".
Purification Rundown
The Purif consists of a "combination of exercise, vitamins, nutrition and sauna use," which purportedly "dislodges drug residues and other toxins from the fatty tissues so that these substances can then be eliminated from the body." Scientologists are expected to take the Purif as part of their spiritual progress and it is also promoted in secular contexts via Scientology-related groups including NarcononNarconon
Narconon is a residential program aimed at substance abusers, headquartered in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It operates through several dozen treatment centers worldwide, chiefly in the United States and Western Europe. Each Narconon center is independently owned and operated under a license...
, Criminon
Criminon
Criminon is a program for rehabilitating prisoners using L. Ron Hubbard's teachings. Criminon International, a non-profit, public-benefit corporation managing the Criminon program, was spawned from Narconon International in 2000, and is part of Association for Better Living and Education's public...
and Second Chance
Second Chance Program
The Second Chance Program is a controversial detoxification and rehabilitation program based on the ideas of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology. It focuses on individuals convicted of substance abuse offenses. The program utilizes a combination of saunas, vitamins, minerals...
. It is promoted as a cure for conditions including cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, heart problems
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
, kidney failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
, liver disease
Liver failure
Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs of liver disease , and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage . The complications are hepatic encephalopathy and impaired protein synthesis...
and obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
. The procedure is viewed as dangerous by many medical professionals, as it calls for saunas and vitamins far in excess of safe levels. Side effects listed by Scientology include dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
, electrolyte disturbances including hyponatremia
Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disturbance in which the sodium concentration in the serum is lower than normal. In the vast majority of cases, hyponatremia occurs as a result of excess body water diluting the serum sodium and is not due to sodium deficiency. Sodium is the dominant extracellular...
(low sodium level) and hypokalemia
Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia or hypokalaemia , also hypopotassemia or hypopotassaemia , refers to the condition in which the concentration of potassium in the blood is low...
(low potassium level), and heat-related illnesses
Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia is an elevated body temperature due to failed thermoregulation. Hyperthermia occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate...
. Some families have sued the Church of Scientology claiming that the Purif was responsible for the death of a relative.
Medical claims
The book includes a disclaimer to the effect that the Purification Rundown is not a medical treatment and that it should not be read as making medical claims. However, in their Introduction to the book, David Root M.D. and James Barnes write:L. Ron Hubbard's Purification program remains the only proven and safe method for reducing or eliminating chemical residues from the body. It has been used to alleviate the symptoms and concerns of people exposed to radiation. With each year, the importance of this discovery to every man, woman and child on this planet becomes more evident.
Hubbard claims to have been the discoverer of the "acid flashback" phenomenon, in which LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
is said to lodge itself in tissues and re-enter the bloodstream years later. He claims to have made this discovery "In the 1970s, working with cases of individuals who had been drug users". (pg. 23, 1990 hardcover edition)
Scientology's official website says of the book:
"Pesticides, solar radiation, drug and environmental toxins have become increasingly pervasive in today’s society. They damage not just your health, but your personality and your ability to think clearly. Clear Body, Clear Mind -'The Effective Purification Program, by L. Ron Hubbard, details his groundbreaking discoveries in this field. Discover the world’s only all-natural, proven program to eliminate drug and toxic residues lodged in the fatty tissues of your body. Over 250,000 have done this program with spectacular success." http://www.scientology.org/en_US/results/introservice/books/cbcm.html
The claim of "Over 250,000" successes drew censure from the UK's Advertising Standards Authority
Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
. The figure was a count of everyone who had completed the program, including people whose "drug" exposure was infrequent use of alcoholic drinks or prescription drugs.
A 1995 review of the book at a medical conference described the mega-doses of Niacin as inappropriate, especially since they cause the release of histamine
Histamine
Histamine is an organic nitrogen compound involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter. Histamine triggers the inflammatory response. As part of an immune response to foreign pathogens, histamine is produced by...
, which is counter-productive when dealing with chemical sensitivity.
Related books
In All About RadiationAll About Radiation
All About Radiation is one of the books by L. Ron Hubbard that form the canonical texts of Scientology. Its first printing was from HASI by way of the Speedwell Printing Company, Kent, England, 1957. Later editions were published by the Church of Scientology's in-house publisher Bridge Publications...
, Hubbard (1957) sets out his idiosyncratic theories of radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
, including the idea that large doses of vitamins could both alleviate and prevent radiation sickness
Radiation Sickness
Radiation Sickness is a VHS by the thrash metal band Nuclear Assault. The video is a recording of a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, London in 1988. It was released in 1991...
.
Purification: An Illustrated Answer To Drugs (New Era Publications, 1984. ISBN 8773363502) is an earlier, illustrated explanation of the Purification Rundown. Another illustrated book, Narconon New Life Detoxification Program: the effective purification program by L. Ron Hubbard. (Bridge Publications, 1991. ISBN 0884046583) is listed as based on Clear Body, Clear Mind.
Publishers' sites
- www.clearbodyclearmind.com Official Site.
- New Era Publications: Clear Body, Clear Mind
- www.asdegasdgasdcasdgt4.org International Academy of Detoxification Specialists.
- www.chernobyl.info Tschernobyl - Information Detoxification Program.
Critical sites
- Stop Narconon Critical commentary on the book's introduction by Dr Dave Touretzky