In the eighth episode of The Healing Terrain, Dr. Drew Kidder is joined by Jimmy Scaringi to explore why detoxification protocols sometimes leave patients feeling worse—or fail to produce the progress practitioners expect.
Scaringi organizes his approach around four areas: energy, drainage, binders, and targeted support. Their conversation examines why mitochondrial function comes first, how drainage helps move waste out of the body, and why detoxification should be approached as ongoing support rather than a quick fix.
Why Detox Is More Than a Short-Term Cleanse
Scaringi opened by challenging the expectation that a brief cleanse can accomplish everything the body needs.
“We are sold the expectation that a three-day, a five-day, a seven-day, or a 30-day cleanse is going to get the job done.”
In the context of ongoing environmental exposure, he sees detoxification support as something that should extend beyond an occasional protocol.
“It really needs to be something that is done continuously. Yes, you can get aggressive for moments in time, but it should be something that is applied on a day-in and day-out basis.”
That does not necessarily mean following an intensive protocol every day. It means consistently supporting the systems the body already uses to create energy, process compounds, and eliminate waste.
Why Mitochondrial Energy Comes First
Scaringi places energy at the beginning of his four-part framework.
“Energy, which is always going to be at the cellular, mitochondrial level first. Drainage, binders, killers. Those are the four big categories.”
Mitochondria generate most of the ATP cells use to perform their work. That energy supports functions throughout the body, including those involved in hepatic metabolism and waste elimination.¹
As Scaringi explained, individuals may be tempted to begin with the most aggressive part of a protocol.
“The layperson who’s seeing an influencer or a podcast and is not working with somebody who understands this—they want to go to the killers.”
He believes this can overlook whether the patient has the cellular capacity to respond well.
“If you didn’t get to the root of the cellular problem, you bypassed an important part of the process.”
Protecting, Fueling, and Building Mitochondria
Dr. Kidder described mitochondrial support through three complementary goals.
“We have to protect them because…the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink—toxic exposure impacts mitochondria. We need to give the mitochondria the nutrients that they need to actually produce energy, but then also create new [mitochondria].”
Environmental chemicals can affect mitochondrial function by disrupting the electron transport chain, reducing ATP production, and increasing oxidative stress.²
The conversation highlighted two nutrients used in CellCore’s MitoActive: CoQ10 and pyrroloquinoline quinone, or PQQ.*
CoQ10 plays an established role as an electron carrier within the mitochondrial respiratory chain.³ Scaringi compared its role to the igniter that helps start a process.
“You want to light the firework. You have to have that igniter that starts the process.”
PQQ has been studied for its effects on mitochondrial signaling and biogenesis.⁴
“We’re giving [the mitochondria] the fuel, we’re protecting them, and we’re building new mitochondria,” Dr. Kidder summarized.
Why Drainage Must Be Open
Once energy is supported, Scaringi turns to drainage: the pathways involved in moving waste toward elimination.
“Your colon is the evicting of toxins. That’s a drainage pathway. The liver, the gallbladder—that’s a drainage pathway. Your lymphatic system…our lungs, our skin, our kidneys, our bladder. We have so many systems that were designed for elimination.”
The presence of these pathways does not guarantee that they are functioning optimally. Bowel regularity was one example discussed in the episode.
“If you charge up the cells and the mitochondria and the body can start dumping and moving toxins…but the colon is backed up and somebody’s normal is having a bowel movement once every four or five days, all you’re doing is detoxing to retox.”
Scaringi used a simple analogy to explain why sequence matters.
“If you have a clogged toilet, you can’t keep flushing it and expect it to go well.”
The takeaway for practitioners is to assess elimination before increasing the intensity of a protocol.
Where Binders Fit
In Scaringi’s framework, binders follow energy and drainage.*
“You pair the correct mitochondrial energy with drainage and then a binder. You can run all of them simultaneously, but they’ve got to be in a supportive system.”
Binders are intended to adsorb certain compounds and support their removal through the stool. But, as Dr. Kidder and Scaringi emphasized, a binder does not replace the need for regular elimination.
That makes sequencing important: support cellular energy, help maintain open drainage pathways, and then use binders as part of the larger strategy.
Why More Aggressive Is Not Always Better
“All too often, detox promotion is kill, kill, kill without an emphasis on: Can your body even eliminate what it’s trying to rid itself of?”
The conversation also addressed protocols designed to target unwanted organisms. Scaringi considers binder and drainage support especially important in these cases, rather than treating the targeted step as a stand-alone intervention.*
This is also an area where practitioner guidance matters. Parasitic infections do occur in the United States and may be acquired through contaminated food or water, insect bites, animal contact, or other exposure routes.⁵ Suspected infections require appropriate evaluation, testing, and treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Exposure Does Not Affect Everyone the Same Way
Dr. Kidder and Scaringi also discussed why two people exposed to the same organism or environmental stressor may respond differently.
“What is the terrain of the individual, and what did they get exposed to?” Scaringi asked. “It all comes back to: What are you eating? What are you drinking? What are you living in?”
A person’s immune status, nutritional health, medical history, level of exposure, and other factors can all influence the body’s response. Rather than assuming exposure will produce the same outcome in every patient, practitioners can assess the individual’s broader physiological context.
As Dr. Kidder summarized, the goal is to “trust your body to do what it was designed to do—and support it.”
Detoxification Is a Sequence, Not a Shortcut
Scaringi’s four-part framework gives practitioners a way to think beyond the short-term cleanse:
- Support mitochondrial energy.
- Open and maintain drainage pathways.
- Incorporate binders where appropriate.
- Add targeted support only when the patient is ready.
The sequence reflects a larger principle that ran throughout the conversation: a protocol should work with the body’s existing physiology.
Scaringi closed the episode with this reminder:
“Your body’s ability to heal is greater than anyone has permitted you to believe.”
Listen to the Full Episode
Why Detox Protocols Fail (Even When Done Correctly) is available on DrTalks, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
References
- Begriche K, Massart J, Robin MA, Bonnet F, Fromenty B. Mitochondrial adaptations and dysfunctions in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2013;58(4):1497-1507. doi:10.1002/hep.26226
- Mantle D, Golomb BA. Coenzyme Q10 and xenobiotic metabolism: an overview. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(12):5788. doi:10.3390/ijms26125788
- Stefely JA, Pagliarini DJ. Understanding coenzyme Q. Physiol Rev. 2024;104(2):643-687. doi:10.1152/physrev.00033.2022
- Bauerly K, Harris C, Chowanadisai W, et al. Altering pyrroloquinoline quinone nutritional status modulates mitochondrial, lipid, and energy metabolism in rats. PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e21779. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021779
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Causes Parasitic Diseases. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/causes/index.html
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
