Detox from a PET Scan. I’ve been experiencing some discomfort in my neck area for some time now. All this time my doctors have always told me that my MRI and ultrasounds are stable and look great, and my blood work reflects a strong immune system. At some point some doctors implied that the discomfort in my neck is being caused by stress or emotions. But I just couldn’t settle with that and had to continue to seek answers. My husband suggested this was coming from issues with my gut, but I just couldn’t believe that, either. It was my neck that was bothering me. What do my neck and throat have to do with my gut?

Shortly after I came back from last Peru trip from October 2017, the symptoms had become so intense that three doctors recommended a PET scan. Of course, we were all focusing on the cancer. It is true! As a cancer patient any symptom we have, we quickly think of cancer. Is it spreading? Did it come back? Etc. For a while now my husband had suggested I do an endoscopy, which I disregarded until recently. I consulted with a gastroenterologist and he suggested the same. But my husband and the gastroenterologist also suggested that I start taking Nexium right away to see if it helped with the symptoms, and so I did. By this time my PET scan and endoscopy were already on the calendar.

I feel happy

I’m happy to report that the PET scan came back clean except for the lesion on my thyroid, which they described as STABLE. Yay! On the other hand, the endoscopy procedure found irritation and other gut issues unrelated to cancer. Thank God!

Even so, I did have one big concern. I had learned in my journey that you should try to avoid PET scans because of the radioactive substance they inject you with as part of the procedure. Which is why, as soon as I had it done, my mind immediately went to the scan’s potential impact. How would I detoxify my body from this procedure? After all, I am striving to be extremely intentional about what I put on or in my body—and radioactive material is not on my list of things I want to be near! Here’s what I learned about how to detox from a PET scan…

What is a PET scan?

A PET scan is a type of imaging test used to examine various body tissues or follow the progress of certain conditions. PET stands for “positron emission tomography,” and it is categorized as a type of nuclear medicine procedure. One of the reasons doctors like PET scans is that PET scans let them see how your body is functioning at the chemical level.

To create images, PET scans use a small amount of a radioactive substance, often called a radioactive tracer. This radioactive material is usually injected into your body through an IV line, so that it can be absorbed by your organs and tissues. The scan then detects subatomic particles called positrons that these radioactive tracers emit.

Why should you detox after having a PET scan?

Main stream medicine will tell you that the amount of radiation exposure that you get from these radioactive tracers is too low to affect normal processes in your body. They will also tell you that this radiation exposure is not considered safe for developing fetuses, and that PET scans are not safe for pregnant women. Personally, I do not want any radioactive substances hanging around in my body, especially a radioactive substance that was formulated to be absorbed by my organs and tissues!

How do you detoxify your body after having a PET scan?

There are a number of things you can do that are reported to help detox your body after a PET scan or other radiation exposure. These include:

• Drink plenty of filtered water. This will help flush the radioactive tracers out of your body. Here is an Ionized Alkaline water I like.
• Eat cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables all contain sulfur, which is a powerful detoxing agent that can help remove radiation from the body.
• Eat organic apples. Apples are very high in pectin, which can bind with radioactive residues to help remove them from the body.
• Take magnesium supplements. Doing this both before and after your PET scan will help your body to detoxify.
• Get a glutathione (GSH) IV. See my article about glutathione, which has been called the “mother of all antioxidants.”
• Take Epsom salt baths. Epsom salt, also known as magnesium sulfate, is known for its ability to draw out toxins through your skin. Dissolve 2 cups Epsom salt in a standard tub full of hot water. Immerse as much of your body in the water as you comfortably can, and soak for 20 minutes. When you are done, get up slowly and then quickly shower off with cool water. Although it is best to avoid eating immediately before or after taking a detoxifying Epsom salt bath, you should hydrate with filtered water.

Note about PET scan

Note: If you have any reason to believe that soaking in a hot bath is not a good idea for you, please consult with your doctor before trying any type of detoxifying bath.

• Take a clay bath. Place 1 cup of bentonite clay (Here is the one I love) in a plastic bowl. Add a small amount of water, and use a plastic spoon to mix the clay and water together until it forms a thick paste. Add this clay paste, as well as 1 cup of Epsom salts, to the warm bath water. Soak for 30 minutes and then rinse off with a quick shower.
• Take certified pure bio-cultured Chlorella daily. Chlorella is a single-celled fresh water algae. While it is rich in chlorophyll, protein, iron, magnesium, amino acids and other nutrients, it is also used as a detoxifying supplement because of its ability to bind to heavy metals and unwanted chemicals and radioactive particles in the body.

If you choose to take Chlorella, it is important to find a very high quality supplement that is a “cracked cell wall chlorella.” Low-quality supplements may contain mercury or may not be in a format that can be absorbed by the body. Click Here for my preference.

Note: Chlorella should be avoided by pregnant or nursing women as well as anyone with an iodine sensitive thyroid condition, an allergy to iodine, a blood clotting disorder, or sensitivity to certain types of mold.¹

Eat Organic and Sauna Therapy

•  Eat organic Spirulina. This type of blue-green algae is considered a “superfood.” It is a powerful antioxidant. It contains many elements that help support the immune system. And it helps with detoxification by boosting liver function and by helping to remove toxins such as heavy metals and other pollutants from the body. Click Here to see the one I prefer.

Although some people can mix spirulina with water and drink it straight up. I prefer to add it to soup or mix it into my smoothie.

•  Use Infrared Sauna Therapy. For more information, see my article about this type of therapy.

What’s your experience with detoxification after a PET scan?

Because I do not want to count on any one method to completely remove all of that radiation from my body. I am using most of the above methods in a multi-faceted approach. How about you? I’d love to hear about your experience. Please share it below!