Tom Cruise has been slammed by firefighters injured in the 9/ll attacks - for suggesting they use Scientology to heal themselves. The actor has reportedly urged people suffering the effects of smoke inhalation from the terrorist attacks to quit using their medication and inhalers - and start drinking cooking oil.

The "purification" program also advises people to take large doses of niacin and indulge in plenty of saunas. The Hollywood heavyweight - a co-founder of the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project - has also supported a new Scientology clinic preaching these remedies.

However doctors have reportedly dismissed the treatment as "quackery". Deputy Fire Commissioner Frank Gribbon told PageSix.com: "If our doctors are prescribing medication, and they [Scientologists] are saying 'don't take it', that's a problem for us."

He also claimed the department's deputy chief medical officer Dr David Prezant is against the treatment. He said: "He [Prezant] is not pleased when patients are advised to disobey doctors' orders. That's where he drew the line."

Scientology devotee Tom - who is engaged to actress Katie Holmes, who is pregnant with their first baby together - has defended the purification process, claiming: "More than 500 individuals have recovered health and job fitness through this project."

Editorial: Wow, 500. Maybe Tom should count the number of people helped by perscription drugs, because I'm pretty sure it's over, ya know, a billion. 500 doesn't even cover the entire FDNY. -Squints