Hydrogen peroxide – a disinfectant and bleaching agent – is most commonly used in first aid situations to treat small cuts, scrapes, and burns.
But, some people believe its healing properties extend past these small skin abrasions, and are trying to ingest the liquid to “cleanse” the body or treat illnesses such as cancer.
A recent report from the Annals of Emergency Medicine said that hydrogen peroxide ingestion was being promoted as “super water” and a “natural cure” in some alternative medicine circles that promote “cleansing” the body.
Dr. Mary Ann Barnes, an integrative medicine specialist with St. Elizabeth, set the record straight on Local 12 last week.
In the video clip – click here to watch – Barnes explains why this is not the case. “This is kind of a new thing, and I don’t know why it became popular.”
Barnes uses complimentary therapies to help patients with everything from reducing blood pressure to easing pain. It works with what’s called the “Meridian System,” or energy flow in the body and has some sound science behind it.
Click here for a link to therapies recommended as safe alternative medicine treatments from the National Institutes of Health.
If someone you know has ingested a large amount of hydrogen peroxide, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
