Cover Image for Within an anti-vaccine Facebook group promoting a false cure for autism.
Fri Oct 04 2024

Within an anti-vaccine Facebook group promoting a false cure for autism.

Parents of newborns are reporting symptoms such as diarrhea, spasms, and episodes of extreme crying in their children after administering the detox treatment Pure Body Extra.

Last month, a mother from Massachusetts, Katlyn, shared a disturbing message in a private Facebook group that promotes and sells a dietary supplement that its members believe can cure various ailments. In her post, Katlyn recounted that she had started giving her two-year-old daughter drops and a spray of the product, and that after using it, the girl developed painful skin bumps. Katlyn wondered if this could be a symptom of detoxification, as her daughter had never experienced such issues before.

The product in question is Pure Body Extra (PBX), a zeolite-based detox treatment that its promoters claim eliminates heavy metals from the body. This product is available in two forms: a spray for cellular detoxification and drops for digestive and overall wellness. While it has gained popularity in communities that oppose vaccination, its manufacturers clarify that it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. However, many in the group claimed that PBX could address everything from cancer to autism.

Quickly, Shannon, another group member, suggested that rashes were normal during detoxification, to which the group's administrator, Nikki, agreed, advising Katlyn to reduce the amount of the product while still administering it to her daughter. Days later, Katlyn wrote again, sharing that her daughter had experienced severe diarrhea after a change in the dosage and asked if that was common.

Messages from parents about painful and concerning side effects from using PBX on their children are common in this group. Other parents also reported similar issues: diarrhea, irritability, and acne breakouts. Additionally, group members exchange images of their children's feces in search of parasites, due to the unfounded belief that these detox treatments can eliminate parasites from children's bodies.

This group is a recent example of how the anti-vaccine community has utilized platforms like Facebook to emphasize pseudoscientific and dangerous beliefs, especially towards products aimed at children's health. Social media has been used to promote unregulated treatments, including absurd claims like the use of bleach or ivermectin as remedies for autism.

The group's founder, Julia Czelazewicz, is also an active figure on other social media, where she promotes products and shares her experience with PBX. Despite complaints and reports of adverse effects, the platforms have been reluctant to remove the group, drawing criticism from activists who believe these attitudes constitute child abuse.

Czelazewicz has stated that she has not made claims about the product's ability to cure autism but has avoided answering questions about the adverse effects parents have reported. Promoting PBX as a detoxifier for children lacks scientific basis and can be harmful, despite claims that these products are safe for all ages.

The use of zeolites is based on their effectiveness in various industries, but their use as a detoxifier in children oversimplifies the nature of toxicity and its potential benefits. Experts warn that what some parents identify as parasites in their children's stool could indicate intestinal damage and that the issue of exposure to parasites is very limited in the U.S.

Ultimately, promoting products like Pure Body Extra through these online platforms becomes a tool for misinformation and exposes vulnerable parents to unproven treatments that can not only be ineffective but also dangerous for their children's health.