Niacin Detox was an important part of the Purification Program developed by scientists by 1979 for releasing toxins from tissues. The program was developed as a result of research into methods of cleansing the body of drugs.
Niacin is Vitamin B3 and along with B1 and B2 is needed for the Phase 1 detox. Niacin, nicotinamide and nicotinic acid are all forms of Vitamin B3 but niacinimide plays no part in detoxification.
Niacin is needed for energy production, proper digestion, manufacture of hormones, gene expression, a healthy nervous system and healthy skin. We cannot do without it. A certain amount can be made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan, found in meat, dairy and eggs, if there is adequate B1, B2 and B6 but this does not supply our total needs.
Vitamin B3 is found in all organ meats, chicken, beef, salmon, tuna, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, beans, peas, raw mushrooms, avocados, nuts, dried figs, prunes and dates. Processed food suffers from a loss of niacin.
Sometimes the term niacin detox is used to describe a program often used to lower LDL cholesterol without drugs. Niacin can improve cardiovascular health and it is often used by doctors of alternative medicine and naturopaths as part of a program to reverse coronary artery disease. It can lower blood fats including cholesterol and widen the small blood vessels known as capillaries improving circulation.
The niacin detox I am talking about here is different. It bursts open fat cells ( lipolysis) to release chemicals or drugs that are stored in them. Many chemicals are stored in the fatty layers of your body. Once the toxins have been released they are detoxed from the body through the skin and intestines.
You may read some articles that say there is no scientific evidence that niacin can detox stored chemicals from the cells but the truth is that they have known that it works for some years but not exactly how.
Niacin is used in the Gerson Therapy for cancer. Dr Gerson recommended 50mg six times a day for four to six months. He stated that Niacin helps to bring back sufficient glycogen into the liver cells. It also helps in protein metabolism, acts to open small arteries and capillaries and raises electrical potential in cells
Dr George Yu described the niacin detox program that he uses in his practice at the Longevity Now Conference held earlier this year
The dose for the niacin detox protocol varies from practitioner to practitioner but the program should include exercise and far infrared
(FIR) sauna.
Here’s a regime which should be followed for a month.
Niacin
Start by taking 50 mg a day with food and gradually build up the dose to at least 500mg. You can go up to 1000 mg a day if you think you are quite toxic. People with severe toxicity problems can take up to 5000mg but should be supervised by a health practitioner.
By gradually increasing the dose you will avoid the niacin flush. Niacin dilates the capillaries, increases circulation and releases histamine from cells which will cause the skin to flush, feel hot, make your heart pound and may cause you to itch. It can last for up to an hour but is not at all harmful.
When you continue to take niacin you develop a tolerance and will no longer flush. Don’t be tempted to take non-flush niacin and this will not have the same detox effect.
Exercise
Use a mini-trampoline ( rebounder) for this. Jump on it for at least 10 minutes and preferably 20 minutes prior to using a FIR sauna. You may have to gradually build up your exercise time if you are not used to doing any.
FIR Sauna ( or other heat source)
Spend 40 minutes if you can in a sauna built of environmentally safe materials. If you don’t tolerate heat well, have multiple chemical sensitivity or chronic illness then start out with 5 minutes and gradually increase the time by 5 minutes a day.
Wipe sweat from your body while in the sauna and follow it with a cleansing shower using neutral pH organic soap to wash off toxins from the skin. Be sure to wash your hair too. Wipe down the walls of the sauna and launder your towels as soon as possible in hot water because they will be laden with toxins that you have excreted from your body through the skin.
Drink 8 oz pure water for every 15 minutes you spend in the sauna to replace lost fluids.
Additional aids to detoxification
You can take Bentonite clay, activated charcoal, chlorella, psyllium seed or zeolite to help eliminate the toxins from the intestines.
A massage or other form of body work can help to relax muscles and increase circulation encouraging further cleansing.
A good detox diet that includes fresh vegetable juices, green smoothies and a large amount of fresh, raw and lightly cooked vegetables to help replace vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are needed for detox and repair of tissue damaged by the chemical toxins.
Long term intake of 2000mg ( 2 grams) or more a day may lead to side effects of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, flare up of gout, headache; heartburn, skin discoloration and raised liver enzymes in rare cases. These all disappear when therapy is stopped. Dr George Yu says that he never sees any permanent damage with doses up to 5000mg.
It’s worth noting that diabetics may see a reduced tolerance to glucose and people with peptic ulcers may experience more pain. It should not be used in cases where there is any danger of bleeding. If in any doubt be sure to seek the advice of a health practitioner familiar with the Niacin Detox before taking it.
Quite honestly why don’t you say this is the Hubbard Detox ? I worked with this program for years and in many countries and it WORKS.
Obviously you are trying to not bring up the “controversial” name Hubbard… however I have never found it a problem when dealing with Governments or others who seriously were looking for solutions to detoxify people. It is unprofessional not to give the source of a method or new ways of explaining things. No one has a problem mentioning people like Pasteur, Einstein, Darwin etc etc. And then too it is well known that new methods or ways of explaining phenomena that challenge status quo – vested interests – sometimes take years to be accepted case in point the Atkins Diet (ketone diet) or Kilmer Mc Cullen’s ‘Cholesterol is not what cause arteriosclerosis and heart attacks’.
Hi Bente, you are right, the original program I refer to was the Hubbard protocol. It was not my intention to avoid saying so. In fact I don’t know now why I didn’t mention it but it was not to avoid controversy. Not my style. Not all doctors who use niacin therapy to detox their patients do the full Hubbard protocol though.
Sandy
Thank you Sandy, For your site and otherwise very good data and for your answer. As I am right now looking more into what part Niacin and what part Lecithin have in the lipolysis ie freeing the fatty acids from their stores in the fatty tissues – a lot of research/studies have been done into both niacin and lecithin in the last 2 decades – I found that while (as you mention) niacin does increase the HDL etc etc – as regards triglycerides, niacin is actually anti-lipolytic and it is the lecithin and the ‘all blend oil’ the Hubbard Protocol recommends taking that gets the fatty acids out into the capillaries, which niacin meanwhile has widened so the blood can flow faster and carry the fatty acids to where they are needed – for giving us energy. I agree it is a good idea to take some fibre like psyllium seed or kelp to help the toxins be excreted and not reabsorbed.
will this help with psoriasis of the skin?
Hi Jane,
Getting rid of any toxins will help to improve your health there is no doubt but you will likely need to do more to combat psoriasis. Skin problems are linked to to the gut so one of the first things to attend to is the health of the gut. Gluten avoidance often helps. There is also evidence that people with psoriasis have a methylation defect. This means that you may have to take the methylated forms of vitamin B12 and folate such as methylcobalamin and methyl folate, or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. I have also read that taking a supplement of curcumin can help with psoriasis. It can be hard to absorb but the liposomal forms are better for this. Stress reduction is important too. You can check all this information out online. Doing this has worked for several people I know.
Hope this helps.
Good health,
Sandy
I want to try a b3 detox but could you please clarify the benefits of flush vs. No-flush b3?
Hello Mayim,
No flush niacin (inositol hexanicotinate) with not have the same detox effect as niacin (nicotinic acid) but can help to lower “bad” cholesterol. Niacin is preferable for treating circulatory problems because of its effects on the blood vessels. It also helps to lower high cholesterol levels.
Niacinamide, a third form of B3, is often used for treating deficiency of B3, osteoarthritis and diabetes. Either niacin or niacinamide may be used for treating anxiety and depression.
Hope that helps. Good luck with your Detox.
Sandy
For the average person, I believe the Hubbard Protocol is definitely overkill as it was designed for persons with serious drug addiction history or heavy toxin exposure. I think a more reasonable approach for most people would be the Dr. Yu method or better yet that described by Jessica Bonovich, RN (How to Maximize the Benefits of Sauna for Detoxification). Anyone with a real problem to deal with and wants to try the Hubbard process really should do so under the supervision of someone experienced in getting people successfully through the process without harm. What I still don’t understand is the purpose of titrating up the dose of niacin. If rebound lipolysis occurs with 100 mg of niacin, why would more be needed? Is the flushing a necessary component of the process?
Dennis, I believe the titration dose of niacin varies from practitioner to practitioner but the protocol used by most was extensively researched in the 1960s. More research would be be needed to see if a lower dose would work as well. The flushing is said to increase circulation and open blood vessels enabling toxins to be released more easily in the sauna. People can and do develop a tolerance to niacin and do not necessarily flush so I don’t think that flushing is a necessary component of the process.
I agree that it’s best to be supervised by a experienced practitioner if you have a serious toxicity problem.
Thanks for your comments.
Good health,
Sandy
Repeating as I think my comment didn’t go thru
Did the niacin before reading the protocol I found after. Have rash from it now as I got to 5000 mg per day. Stopped it and taking charcoal. Have bentonite also and started to use my infrared bulb I made. Any thoughts on the rash removal and how long would be appreciated. Can I presume the rash is not contagious.
Hi Rich, I assume you mean that you have a lasting skin rash as a result of taking the high dose niacin. I suspect that you have released more toxins than your liver and kidneys can deal with so the body forces them out of the skin causing the rash. It won’t be contagious unless by chance you have caught something that’s causing it. Apart from what you are already doing you could do some skin brushing to help move your lymph circulation. Does your infrared bulb make you sweat? Sweating can help eliminate some toxins but don’t forget to keep well hydrated. You may need to look into giving your liver some nutritional detox support. A liposomal glutathione could help. Regular glutathione supplements tend to be poorly absorbed. I don’t know how long the rash will last but I hope for your sake it does not last long.
Good health,
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
It appears that it’s slowly subsiding and yes it is hanging around but not getting worse and not itching much anymore. I have been using Balmex also as it’s only Zinc would helps ease and control the rash. Have to do the Infra red consistently as I did it that day but not yesterday but will later. Been also drinking distilled water and taking Charcoal to help remove it and eating fruits to use as astringents to remove whatever is within. Appreciate your response and i feel comfortable that this will be gone by the end of the week. Also would you know what level Niacin can be taken again afterwards as it assisted in dramatically dropping my cholesterol by some 45 points to 233. appreciate it and Happy New Year. IL&G Rich
Hi Rich,
Glad to hear you are getting some relief from the things you are doing. Zinc is needed for skin health so I can see why the Balmex is helping you.
The greatest effect on lowering LDL is said to occur with a 2000 – 3000 mg daily dose of niacin. I would suggest you increase it very slowly again to 2000mg and stay on that dose for 4 weeks before trying to increase it very slowly again. How are your liver enzymes? Did you have a liver function blood test done recently? It may be a good idea to get one done to check if not. It will not tell you about liver detoxification but niacin can raise liver enzymes in some people which is an indication of damage to liver cells.
Happy and healthy New Year to you too.
Sandy
Appreciate all you feedback for my questions. Happy New Year to you and your family. IL&G
Hi Sandy,
For those who have gotten the gene therapy(vaccine) shot and are suffering adverse effects such as blood clots and discomfort. Would you recommend niacin flush for them?
Sora
Hi Sora,
Sorry for the delay in responding. I’ve been away for a few days. Suspected blood clots following a Covid vaccine is a medical emergency and the person should seek medical help right away. Although a niacin flush could help prevent blood clot formation it would not be the first thing I would think of to dissolve clots. Serrapeptase has been suggested by some to dissolve blood clots but there have not been enough studies on it to say if it could work. Other natural foods are garlic, curcumin and chia seeds but these would take time. Your best course of action I think would be to consult with a good naturopathic or functional medicine doctor.
All the best,
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Thank you so much for all the good info!
Can you please recommend the brand of Niacin that is good as well as the brand of activated charcoal tablets and the best coconut water? I know that I can trust your recommendations. You know what you are talking about.
So sorry for the late response Ang. I was away for a couple of weeks and am only now just catching up. You don’t say in which country you live but Seeking Health is a good brand for niacin which you should be able to get in the USA and the UK. For activated charcoal capsules Integrative Therapeutics Inc and Bulletproof are reputable companies and produce good products. As for the best coconut water I like Tiana organic which is raw from green coconuts.
Good health!
Sandy