Purification Rundown
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The Purification Rundown is a program of physical treatment developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, involving the use of saunas, vitamins, and the drinking of oils as a way to treat drug and alcohol addiction.
Known as the "the Purif" in Scientology, this program of physical treatment has generated considerable controversy for Scientology because of its ties to the religious aspects of Scientology. Hubbard promoted the Purification Rundown as a treatment and cure for a great number of physical ailments ranging from drug addiction to radiation contamination (though many of these claims have been questioned by doctors, scientists, and members of the medical profession). Today, Scientology promotes the Purification Rundown to the public as a "detoxification" program, while it also works with non-religious, Scientology-affiliated groups such as Narconon to offer this program as a treatment for addiction and high levels of stress.
Scientologists are strongly encouraged to take part in the Purification Rundown, and this controversial physical purification program is seen as a step towards purifying the spirit as well as the body (as Hubbard outlined in his book Clear Body, Clear Mind).
Extensive critical information about the ritual can be located at http://www.crackpots.org/ and http://www.narconon-exposed.org/ as well as http://stop-narconon.org/. The program is described by its supporters as a way to remove "toxins" caused by the use of narcotics or other substances, which are claimed by Scientology to build up and are retained in the fatty tissues of humans and other animals.
The notion of toxins being excreted from the human body through sweat has been questioned (and outright rejected) by professionals in the field of medicine. While such a notion is marginally true, they note, such toxins are actually quickly removed from the body through urine or excretion and even through asperation. Hubbard's notion was that such toxins stay in the body for many years and cause a great many of humanity's problems.
Criticisms of the Ritual
Hubbard's program for excreting toxins from the body was to put his subjects into saunas, and to administer niacin and other vitamins to his customers along with large quantities of various types of vegetable oil. The notion was that he could sweat out the toxins and replace the body's fatty tissues' oils with the vegetable oil. However, medical professionals have stated that the ingesting of large amounts of niacin and other vitimins can cause liver and/or kidney damage.
Disclaimer
As with all regimens and programs that could potentially affect your health, it would probably be a good idea to contact your medical doctor and describe the ritual to your doctor to get a qualified medical opinion. If you ask your doctor about the use of prolonged saunas, the ingestion of large amounts of niacin and other vitimins, and the drinking of oils to replace those lost through sweat as you try to "remove toxins from your body," your medical doctor should be able to provide enough background into whether or not to recommend the Purification Rundown.