Outrageous Peroxide Claims

There are some claims for hydrogen peroxide’s miracles that are hard to believe, even for the most ardent fan of the solution. Some people inject or orally ingest the solution to "cure" everything from cancer to AIDS. Both are dangerous uses, and even the American Cancer Society acknowledges that there is no medical proof of such claims for hydrogen peroxide.

Worse, hydrogen peroxide can be fatal if swallowed. Some “pure” forms of it sold in health food stores are called “food-grade” hydrogen peroxide, but ingesting it will cause vomiting, throat and stomach burns and even death. Even breathing its vapors is harmful and can create oxygen bubbles that block blood flow, cause gangrene and destroy good blood cells. This so-called “oxygen therapy” is an urban legend, and the American Cancer Society notes that there have been several patient deaths attributed to swallowing peroxide.

In one such case, Katherine Bibeau, a South Carolina woman, died after intravenously injecting hydrogen peroxide as a way to treat her multiple sclerosis. It destroyed her blood platelets, which help coagulate blood and stop bleeding, and put too much oxygen in the bloodstream, stopping blood flow to her organs.

Thus, any claims as to its use beyond a simple antiseptic, gargle or use as bleach or disinfectant are not to be believed and could cause problems far worse than those you’re attempting to treat. While it shouldn’t be the first thing you use to treat a wound, it’s not a bad idea to take some for cleansing wounds if you are hiking or camping, and clean water may not be immediately available or is in short supply. That’s the best use of it, and while it may not work miracles as some believe, it will prove a handy tool for certain times.

If someone touts its other uses, it’s wise to ask your doctor about it before attempting to use it. The consequences for misusing peroxide – as with any drug – can be fatal.