A 34 year old US Army National Guard Captain and UH-60 Black Hawk Pilot with fourteen years time in service:

On September 11, 2001 this pilot joined other military volunteers in the rescue and recovery efforts at ground zero. On September 16th, he was hospitalized because he could not breathe and continued to develop additional symptoms including cough, productive sputum, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, wheezing, disordered sleep, fatigue, skin rashes, severe stomach and chest pain, and chronic nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Over the next few months, his mental condition deteriorated and he experienced flashbacks of the WTC incident. Army Medical Center records also show additional hospitalizations for asthma and pneumonia requiring intubation. He remained in the lower Manhattan area until March 2002.

By December 2003, the Army had revoked his flight orders due to these health conditions. This serious personal setback also cost the Army approximately $3 million, which it had invested in his flight training.

At the time he began the Hubbard Sauna Detoxification, he was taking 10 medications daily including Albuterol, Advair and Nexium. Laboratory tests included Complete Blood Count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid panel, lipid panel, Electrocardiogram (ECG), and urinalysis. Interestingly, results were all within normal ranges, even though the patient was obviously ill. During treatment and coincident with improved symptoms he gradually discontinued use of all medications.

Following his 21 day course of therapy, the Captain began his application for restored flight status. He completed a careful general internal medicine evaluation and a series of comprehensive specialty assessments at the Army Medical Center. Records indicate his irritable bowel syndrome, cough and breathing completely resolved and state “he is now able to run 5 miles in 50 minutes.” Other symptoms had improved including sleep apnea and congestion, although he still experienced pollen allergies.

Within months of treatment completion he had met all physical requirements for deployment and was sent to Iraq in a non-flight capacity. Eighteen months following treatment, he passed all medical and mental tests and received his final flight clearance. He states “To my knowledge, a recovery of this nature has never happened before.”

The following case histories were presented by David E. Root, MD, MPH in testimony before the Presidential Special Oversight Board for Department of Defense Investigations of Gulf War Chemical and Biological Incidents.

A forty-nine year old Marine Lieutenant Colonel who served in the Gulf War Theater from August 1990 to March 1991 as a Marine offload coordinator for the Marine Expeditionary Force:

He was in excellent health when he deployed to Saudi Arabia. He used pyridostigmine bromide, wore clothing that was impregnated with pesticides (deet and permethrin) and was given anthrax vaccine.

He complained of multiple joint, muscle and tendon pains, particularly at the shoulders, foot, hands and knees, headaches, fatigue, memory problems, irritability, lack of energy and sleep problems. He underwent treatment in my office using the Hubbard Detoxification Program in June 1996, completing in sixteen days. Upon completion, he felt that the above symptoms were at least “ninety-five percent improved.”

A twenty year old Marine Reserve Lance Corporal from Connecticut stationed near Kafghee, Saudi Arabia and in Kuwait City who was therefore in the middle of the oil fire area in Kuwait:

He took pyridostigmine bromide tablets twice a day and had clothing impregnated with DEET and permethryn, as well as being exposed to some lindane for delousing of prisoners.

He also complained of skin rashes, knee and shoulder pain, as well as cough producing black sputum, multiple muscle aches, slurred speech, dizziness, nervousness and lack of enthusiasm. He underwent a detoxification program in March and April of 1996, for a total of twenty-seven days on the program, and felt at least “eighty to ninety percent improved” compared to pretreatment levels of symptomatology.

More Case Histories presented by Dr. Root at the Third International Conference on Chemical Contamination and Human Detoxification:

A forty-three year old nonsmoking female and wife of the Lieutenant Colonel described above as Case Number two; she was exposed to Desert Storm chemicals when her spouse returned from deployment in Kuwait in 1991:

Her excellent health history changed with an atypical PAP smear in 1992 that recurred several times but follow-up biopsies were negative. She also developed additional symptoms including irregular menstrual cycles, chest rash, chills and fever that were categorized as “PMS.” She often had swollen glands, gum infections, and a metallic taste in her mouth. She developed migraines along with food sensitivities. Prior to her husband’s return from deployment her exercise habits included resistance training and daily 6 mile jogs. At her enrollment physical exam in September 1996, she stated that she was no longer able to do this due to fatigue and joint discomfort. Additionally, their 16 year old son became very ill when her husband returned. Her laboratory tests included CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, EKG, urinalysis and were all normal.

During her 28 day program she noted yellow tan stains on her towels and at times black spots. She also experienced night sweats, had recurring skin acne that finally cleared and once reexperienced a methamphetamine manifestation from a dose she had taken in her teens. By treatment completion she had fully regained her energy levels and had returned to regular exercise. Following treatment, her PAP tests and menstrual cycles also returned to normal. She stated her “body feels peaceful.”

A fifty-six year old Caucasian male who had been deployed as a paratrooper in the Army's legendary 101st Airborne and one of only seven men who survived fighting at Hamburger Hill to complete their tour of duty and return home alive. A non-smoker with no history of drug or alcohol use:

Thirty six years ago during his tour of duty in Viet Nam he was directly sprayed with Agent Orange. On completion of military service, he went to the Veteran's Administration seeking help for symptoms that included chloracne and was offered disability.

Employed for the past 20 years by the New York Sanitation Department, he worked 11-12 hour shifts seven days a week removing WTC debris. Shortly after 9-11, he was diagnosed with bronchitis and given a course of antibiotics that did not reduce the symptoms. At enrollment on the Hubbard method in June 2005, he was taking Combivent, Prednisone and Pulmacort and states they also were ineffective. His chief complaints included a persistent cough and wheezing, hearing loss, inability to concentrate and short term memory loss, gastrointestinal disturbances, fatigue and depression. He reported that he had mental and physical impairment that affected his work and personal life at least 20 of the prior 30 days. He stated his symptoms began after his work at the WTC site and were common among other sanitation workers.

Laboratory tests prior to treatment included CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid panel, lipid panel, ECG, and urinalysis. Results were all within normal ranges. He was diagnosed with chemical exposure and fatigue and elected to undergo detoxification therapy.

During his 31 day program he worked up to 5000 mg of niacin. During the therapy his skin broke out. “I saw a chemical coming out of me,” he reported. “It smelled like chlorox. It wasn’t a faint smell. It was clear and apparent to anyone near me.”

By treatment completion his symptoms had completely resolved. “I can finally sleep,” he says. “I can go a couple of weeks without coughing once. That’s not a small improvement. That’s an unbelievable improvement.” “I feel younger than when I first came to the program… This is the first thing that’s helped me, they did more than just sit there and argue about what the problem might be. These people did something to make things better.”