I am one of those moms that really does believe in whole health and wellness, not only for myself but especially for my kids.  It has been all x-rays and CT scans lately, which is a lot of radiation that he is being subjected to.  My son has a great deal he has to go through in getting him ready for Phase 1 of his orthodontic treatment, which will then take us right into his bone graft surgery.  I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can to keep him healthy and his immune system strong throughout his journey and beyond.

Needless to say, my husband and I have been worried about all of the radiation exposure his little body has been subjected to with the numerous dental x-rays and 360 degree head CT scans needed in order to proceed with treatment.  Although his doctors assure us that it is little more exposure than his tablet or playing on a cell phone; I’m still not comfortable with his exposure.  I began researching and reading up on different therapies that could be used to help remove the excess radiation and have in fact incorporated them into our son’s routine following x-rays throughout his treatment.

The first and most consistent information I found was on bentonite clay and its many uses, one of which is removing radiation.  For kids it is recommended using the clay in a bath and having your child simply play in the tub with the mixture for approximately 30-45 mins.  The clay helps to draw out impurities
through the skin.  I found Aztec Healing Clay at Sprouts and picked that up for this use.  I’ve used this before as a face mask and love it so I was happy to know that it could be used as a detox in a bath and is a gentle detox for kids.  Here is a link to the article I found most helpful regarding bentonite clay detox Bentonite Clay Detox for Radiation Exposure.  

My son thinks it’s pretty hilarious that I want him to take a bath to get clean in a tub full of “dirt.”  He is on board playing in the “dirty” water and I feel better knowing he is detoxing and that it is gentle enough that he isn’t feeling any side effects from it.

Through my research I also found that Vitamin C is another great way to detox kids from the damaging effects of radiation exposure.  I usually give him every few days anyway but after his X-rays I began giving to him every day for a few weeks.

Activated charcoal is another gentle detox I found in my search but is a little harder to incorporate into our routine.  He is not able to swallow pills and even if I try to sneak this into a smoothie there is simply no sneaking as it turns the smoothie black.  So there’s that.  Activated charcoal is great at absorbing toxins and removing them through your bowels.  This is something I can have him take when he is a bit older.

Further research showed that Oils such as sesame oil, extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil also help pull radiation out. Sources recommend drinking 4 ounces of oil if you have been exposed. Not only do the lipids in the oils bind the toxins, they also offer a protective layer on cellular membranes. Studies done on mice exposed to lethal exposure to x-rays have found that the mice can survive if they are given oil. We already use coconut oil in our home for many different ailments and learning that it could be helpful after being exposed to x-rays is another plus for me! We add coconut oil to yogurt and oatmeal. Another treat is warm coconut milk with honey AND coconut oil.  Much easier to get my little guy to take than the activated charcoal.

These are all some great things to try if you feel your cleft kiddo has been exposed to multiple x-rays and you want to gently help with detoxing.  I recommend doing your own research, talking with your pediatrician, and finding what works for you and your family.

I’m also interested in finding out what you have tried and how it has worked for your family.