Bio-oxidative medicine is the addition of oxygen directly to the tissues of the body in the form of lone oxygen atoms (singlet oxygen) in a highly reactive state. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reacts to form water (H2O) and singlet oxygen (O'), which is the active agent in hydrogen peroxide therapy.
In the blood, H2O2 encounters two enzymes: catalase and cytochrome-C. The part of the hydrogen peroxide that binds with cytochrome-C does not break down in the body into water and oxygen for 40 minutes. By this time this complex has spread throughout the body, and the benefits of H2O2 are available to all cells. Singlet oxygen has two effects in the body: 1) it kills anaerobic bacteria and virus (those that cannot live in oxygen); 2) it transforms biological waste products and industrial toxins into inert substances, allowing the body to cleanse itself of waste products.
Your body’s own white blood cells produce hydrogen peroxide to fight bacteria and other infections.
Only when this fails does the body turn to its own antibody production. The first use of intravenous hydrogen peroxide dates back to 1919, when a British physician, Dr. Oliver, used it during an influenza epidemic and found it killed the virus. Hydrogen peroxide was later extensively studied by Charles H. Farr M.D., Ph.D. who was nominated for his work with this compound for the Nobel Peace Prize. With the advent of penicillin, sulfa, and other antibiotics, its use fell out of favor. In this era of superinfections, antibiotic resistance, and bioterrorism, it is receiving new attention.
Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidant and in the body forms other oxidants such as hypochlorous acid that kills tumor cells, viruses, anaerobic bacteria, and parasites. It also breaks down into water and oxygen, where oxygenation of the bodies tissues has a beneficial effect on the heart, lungs, circulatory system and other organs. In cases of emphysema, it clears the lungs by producing oxygen bubbles in the tiny air sacs (alveoli), literally lifting up the mucous deposits so that they can be coughed up. It also has a hormonal effect and regulates thyroid hormone production, progesterone production, and others hormones. It stimulates immune function by increasing the production of T helper cells, monocytes, and gamma interferon. It oxidizes cholesterol and removes cholesterol plaque from arteries. It stabilizes both Type I and II diabetes and increases glycogen production from glucose. There are multiple other beneficial effects.
Why Haven’t I Heard About Hydrogen Peroxide Intravenous Therapy?
The reason is very simple – economics. Hydrogen peroxide is a naturally occurring substance that is present in every cell in your body and it cannot be patented. There is no big profit to be made on it. Because it is produced in the human body, it is undeniably very safe. It also occurs in rainwater, seawater, vegetables, and spring water. In fact people have been traveling to the baths at Lourdes, France for their healing effects. These waters are loaded with -- yes, hydrogen peroxide.
Who Could Benefit from this Therapy?
Generally, patients who may be candidates for intravenous hydrogen peroxide can be divided into two groups. The first group would be acute reactive conditions such as influenza, bronchitis, shingles, asthmatic reactions, and other acute problems. This is because of its direct killing effect on microorganisms or its effect on vasospasm or bronchospasm. Basically, any condition that is treated with an antibiotic can also be treated with H2O2 therapy.
The second group would be chronic infections and diseases or patients with autoimmune diseases or immune deficiency states. This would include conditions such as arthritis, vascular disease, gangrene, certain thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, HIV, chronic systemic candida infections, EBV, metastatic carcinoma, parkinsonism, MS, and environmental or universal allergy reactors. These lists are by no means complete. Diseases such as cancer and AIDS may be helped but not cured with this type of therapy, and it should be used in combination with other therapies that are appropriate. Much more research in this area is needed.
Many of the diseases we see in humans today are a result of years of exposure to pollution of the air, water, and food supply as a by-product of our modern industrial age. H2O2 is one of the ways a person can help assist the body cleanse itself of pollutants. So will fasting, organic foods, vitamin supplementation, chelation of heavy metals, far infra red sauna therapy, colon therapies, and intestinal cleansing programs. When the body undergoes detoxification, a person will feel temporarily worse. This is because toxins as toxins are released from storage, they must ultimately exit the body through the lungs, the liver and colon, kidneys, or sweat glands and skin. Symptoms of detoxification can feel like a mild case of the flu with fatigue, headaches, stomach upset, body aches, chills, moodiness or anxiety, etc. For more information on detoxification, click here.
How is H2O2 Given?
Some people advocate taking H2O2 by mouth. I do not. This is completely different than intravenous use which has proven to be very safe. Oral H2O2 will react with the cells of the stomach. It can react with iron and fatty acids in the stomach and intestines to form highly toxic, non-stable complexes. In rat studies, oral H2O2 caused stomach ulcers, abnormal cell changes in the duodenum, and even cancer. Of course, everyone is familiar with topical hydrogen peroxide use to disinfect wounds or cuts.
With intravenous therapy, pharmaceutical grade hydrogen peroxide is used under strict sterile technique and is infused into the circulatory system through a vein in the arm. It is mixed with a 5% dextrose solution to which magnesium sulfate and a small amount of manganese sulfate are added to prevent vein sclerosis. It takes anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours to administer, depending upon the amount of H2O2 used. In general, for acute infections one to several treatments are needed. For chronic diseases series of twenty or more treatments are usually recommended, depending upon the nature of the illness. This type of treatment is contraindicated in pregnancy, transplant patients, and disorders of cell membrane stability such as aplastic anemias. Also, it should not be given at the same time with intravenous vitamin C or EDTA chelation. If you have heavy metal toxicity, it is given after these metals are removed by chelation therapy. Complications of treatment include phlebitis (inflammation of the vein) in which the I.V. is placed, pain at the I.V. site, and a sensation of warmth during treatment. Occasionally as bacteria, viruses or parasites are being killed off in large numbers, their toxic by-products are also released in large amounts causing what is called a Herxheimer reaction. A person could experience a rash and/or fever. This same type of reaction can occur with antibiotics. This is a temporary reaction. In general, I.V. H2O2 therapy is safe and very well tolerated.
References:
1. Oliver TH, Cantab BC, and Murphy DV: Influenzal Intravenous Injection of Hydrogen Peroxide. Lancet 1920; 1:432-433.
2. Dockrell HM and Playfair JH: Killing of Blood-Stage Murine Malaria Parasites by Hydrogen Peroxide. Infect Immunology 1983; 39:456-459.
3. Gorren AC, Dekker H, Wever R Kinetic investigation of the reaction of cytochrome C oxidase by hydrogen peroxide. Biochem Biophys Acta 1986; 852(1):81-92
4. Farr CH: Physiological and Biochemical Responses to Intravenous Hydrogen Peroxide in Man. J. ACAM 1988;1:113-129.
5. Manakata T, Semba U, Shibuya Y, et al. Induction of interferon-gamma production in human natural killer cells stimulated by hydrogen peroxide, J Immunol 1985;134(4):2449-2455.
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