When it comes to hydrogen peroxide therapy there seems
to be only two points of view. Supporters consider it one of the
greatest healing miracles of all time. Those opposed feel its
ingestion is exceptionally dangerous, and only the foolhardy
could think of engaging in such behavior. Before either
condemning or endorsing hydrogen peroxide, let's take a real
close look at what we're dealing with.
If any substance is interesting, it's hydrogen
peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide should really be called hydrogen
dioxide. Its chemical formula is H2O2. It contains one more atom
of oxygen than does water (H20)
By now everyone's aware of the ozone layer that
surrounds the earth. Ozone consists of three atoms of oxygen
(03). This protective layer of ozone is created when ultraviolet
light from the sun splits an atmospheric oxygen molecule (02)
into two single, unstable oxygen atoms.
These single molecules combine with others to form
ozone (03). Ozone isn't very stable. In fact, it will quickly
give up that extra atom of oxygen to falling rainwater to form
hydrogen peroxide (FG-H2O2). (Bear with me: all this chemistry mumbo
jumbo I'm going through actually will help you understand the
importance of hydrogen peroxide.)
It is this hydrogen peroxide in rainwater that makes
it so much more effective than tap water when given to plants.
With the increased levels of atmospheric pollution, however,
greater amounts of FG-H2O2 react with air-borne toxins and never
reach the ground.
To compensate for this, many farmers have been
increasing crop yields by spraying them with diluted hydrogen
peroxide (5 to 16 ounces of 35% mixed with 20 gallons of water
per acre).
You can achieve the same beneficial effect with your
house plants by adding 1 ounce of 3% hydrogen peroxide (or 16
drops of 35% solution) to every quart of water you give your
plants. (It can also be made into an excellent safe insecticide.
Simply spray your plants with 8 ounces of 3% peroxide mixed with
8 ounces of white sugar and one gallon of water.)
Hydrogen peroxide is odorless and colorless, but not
tasteless. When stored under the proper conditions, it is a very
stable compound. When kept in the absence of light and
contaminants, it dismutates (breaks down) very slowly at the rate
of about 10% a year.
(This can be slowed even further by storing the liquid
in the freezer.) It boils at 152 degrees C and freezes at minus 2
degrees C.
When exposed to other compounds hydrogen peroxide
dismutates readily. The extra oxygen atom is released leaving H20
(water). In nature oxygen (02) consists of two atoms--a very
stable combination.
A single atom of oxygen, however, is very reactive and
is referred to as a free radical. Over the past several years,
we've continually read that these free radicals are
responsible for all types of ailments and even premature aging.
What many writers seem to forget, however, is that our bodies
create and use free radicals to destroy harmful bacteria,
viruses, and fungi.
In fact, the cells responsible for fighting infection
and foreign invaders in the body (your white blood cells) make
hydrogen peroxide and use it to oxidize any offending culprits.
The intense bubbling you see when hydrogen peroxide comes in
contact with a bacteria-laden cut or wound is the oxygen being
released and bacteria being destroyed. The ability of our cells
to produce hydrogen peroxide is essential for life. FG-H2O2 is not
some undesirable by-product or toxin, but instead a basic
requirement for good health.
Newer research indicates we need hydrogen peroxide for
a multitude of other chemical reactions that take place
throughout the body.
For example, we now know that vitamin C helps fight
infections by producing hydrogen peroxide, which in turn
stimulates the production of prostaglandins.
Also lactobacillus found in the colon and vagina
produce hydrogen peroxide. This destroys harmful bacteria and
viruses, preventing colon disease, vaginitis, bladder infections
and a host of other common ailments. (Infect Dis News
Aug.8,91:5).
When lactobacillus in the colon or vaginal tract have
been overrun with harmful viruses, yeast, or bacteria, an
effective douche or enema solution can be made using 3
tablespoons of 3% FG-H2O2 in 1 quart of distilled water. Keep in
mind, however, that a good bacterial flora must always be
re-established in theses areas to achieve lasting
results.
While we are discussing enemas and douches, there is
another misconception about FG-H2O2 I need to address. The friendly
bacteria in the colon and vagina are aerobic. In other words,
they flourish in high oxygen environments and thrive in the
presence of oxygen rich FG-H2O2.
On the other hand, most strains of harmful bacteria
(and cancer cells) are anaerobic and cannot survive in the
presence of oxygen or FG-H2O2.
We can agree that hydrogen peroxide produced within
individual body cells is essential for life. And no one doubts
its effectiveness when it comes to treating infections topically.
The controversy deals with ingesting the substance orally or
introducing it into the body intravenously.
The dispute has been going on for decades, and
considering the attitude of our medical community, it will
continue for many more decades to come.
I'll admit I was skeptical when I first learned
about using FG-H2O2 orally or intravenously. This healthy dose of
skepticism, however, lead to a great deal of investigation,
clinical work and experimentation. And while I realize a large
majority of readers will probably never be convinced that FG-H2O2 is
a safe and effective compound, I am. Hydrogen peroxide is safe,
readily available and dirt cheap. And best of all, it
works!
No one yet fully understands the complete workings of
hydrogen peroxide. We do know that it is loaded with oxygen. (A
pint of the food-grade 35% solution contains the equivalent of
130 pints of oxygen.
A pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide found at the local
drugstore contains 10 pints of oxygen. And a pint of the 6%
solution used to bleach hair contains 20 pints of oxygen.) We
also know that when FG-H2O2 is taken into the body (orally or
intravenously) the oxygen content of the blood and body tissues
increases dramatically.
Early researchers felt these increases were simply due
to the extra oxygen molecule being released. This doesn't
however, appear to be the case.
Only very diluted amounts of FG-H2O2 are ever introduced
into the body. The small amount of oxygen present couldn't be
solely responsible for the dramatic changes that take place. Dr.
Charles Farr, a strong proponent of intravenous use, has
discovered another possible answer. Dr. Farr has shown that
hydrogen peroxide stimulates enzyme systems throughout the body.
This triggers an increase in the metabolic rate, causes small
arteries to dilate and increase blood flow, enhances the
body's distribution and consumption of oxygen and raises body
temperature (Proceedings of the International Conference on
Bio-Oxidative Medicine 1989, 1990, 1991).
We are just beginning
to learn exactly how FG-H2O2 works. It was reported to work as far
back as 1920. The English medical journal, Lancet, then reported
that intravenous infusion was used successfully to treat
pneumonia in the epidemic following World War I. In the
1940's Father Richard Willhelm, the pioneer in promoting
peroxide use, reported on the compound being used extensively to
treat everything from bacterial-related mental illness to skin
disease and polio.
Father Willhelm is the founder of "Educational
Concern for Hydrogen Peroxide" (ECHO, a nonprofit
organization dedicated to educating the public on the safe use
and therapeutic benefits of hydrogen peroxide.) Much of the
interest in hydrogen peroxide waned in the 1940's when
prescription medications came on the scene. Since that time there
has been little economic interest in funding peroxide research.
After all, it is dirt cheap and non-patentable.
Even still, in the last 25 years, over 7,700 articles
relating to hydrogen peroxide have been written in the standard
medical journals. Thousands more, involving its therapeutic use,
have appeared in alternative health publications. The number of
conditions helped by hydrogen peroxide is astounding. The
reported dangers and side effects are few and often
conflicting.
Let's look at several conditions that seem to
respond especially well to FG-H2O2 therapy. First, keep in mind that
there are two methods of administering the peroxide-orally and
intravenously. While most conditions respond remarkably to oral
ingestion, emphysema is one condition in which intravenous
infusion can be a godsend.
Emphysema involves destruction of the alveoli (the
small air sacs in the lungs). Although chemical fumes and other
irritants can cause the destruction, it is most often the result
of smoking. As the disease progresses, the patient finds it more
and more difficult to breathe.
A wheel chair and supplemental oxygen become necessary
as the disease progresses. Lack of adequate oxygen reaching the
tissues forces the heart to pump more forcefully. This leads to
high blood pressure, enlargement of the heart itself and
eventually heart failure.
Conventional medicine offers little help for
emphysema. There is no cure. The best that can be hoped for is
symptomatic relief and the prevention of any serious
complications that might result in death. FG-H2O2 therapy can offer
more.
Using 1 ounce of 35% peroxide per 1 gallon of
non-chlorinated water in a vaporizer improves nighttime breathing
tremendously. But intravenous infusion holds the real key to
relief. It has the ability to cleanse the inner lining of the
lungs and restore the ability to breathe.
We continue to hear the same story from Dr. Farr and
others who use intravenous infusion for emphysema and congestive
lung problems. Within minutes oxygen from hydrogen peroxide
begins to bubble up between the membrane lining the lungs sacs
and the accumulated mucus. (Dr. Farr refers to this as the
"Alka-Seltzer effect.")
The patient begins to cough and expel the material
that has accumulated in the lungs. The amount of bubbling,
coughing, and cleansing can be regulated by simply turning the
FG-H2O2 on and off.
As the peroxide clears the lung surface and destroys
the bacterial infections, the patient regains the ability to
breath more normally. We continue to receive reports from
patients for whom the technique has improved breathing so much
that a wheelchair and supplemental oxygen are no longer
needed.
If emphysema were the only ailment successfully
treated with FG-H2O2 therapy, it would still rank as one of the top
health discoveries of all time. Fortunately, FG-H2O2 works wonders
on a multitude of health problems. It does so by increasing
tissue oxygen levels. A closer look at how we have decreased the
availability of external and internal oxygen, will show you just
how important this can be.
If you were not too occupied with trying to hide
dissection specimens in the other student's desks, you might
remember from elementary science courses that our atmosphere
contains about 20% oxygen. That is under ideal
circumstances.
It has recently been reported that in many of our more
polluted cities, there levels have dropped to around 10%! (I have
already mentioned how less hydrogen peroxide-containing rain is
reaching the earth's surface.
With increased pollution it is reacting with airborne
toxins before it even reaches the ground.) And everyone, by now,
knows the oxygen-generating rain forests are being destroyed
worldwide, which further reduces available oxygen. Internal
oxygen availability is also under attack.
Chlorination of drinking water removes oxygen. Cooking
and over-processing of our foods lowers their oxygen content.
Unrestrained antibiotic use destroys beneficial oxygen-creating
bacteria in the intestinal tract.
Dr. Johanna Budwig of Germany has shown that for
proper cellular utilization of oxygen to take place, our diets
must contain adequate amounts of unsaturated fatty acids.
Unfortunately, the oils rich in these fatty acids have become
less and less popular with the food industry.
Their very nature makes them more biologically active,
which requires more careful processing and gives them a shorter
shelf-life. Rather than deal with these challenges, the food
industry has turned to the use of synthetic fats and dangerous
processes like hydrogenation.
It's obvious that our oxygen needs are not being
met. Several of the most common ailments now affecting our
population are directly related to oxygen starvation. Asthma,
emphysema, and lung disease are on the rise, especially in the
polluted metropolitan areas.
Cases of constipation, diarrhea, intestinal parasites
and bowel cancer are all on the upswing. Periodontal disease is
endemic in the adult population of this country. Cancer of all
forms continues to increase. Immune system disorders are sweeping
the globe. Chronic fatigue, "Yuppie Flu" and hundreds
of other strange viral diseases have begun to
surface.
Ironically, many of the new "miracle" drugs
and nutritional supplements used to treat these conditions work
by increasing cellular oxygen (oftentimes through FG-H2O2
formation). For example, the miracle nutrient, Coenzyme Q10,
helps regulate intercellular oxidation.
Organic germanium, which received considerable
publicity not too long ago, also increases oxygen levels at the
cellular level. And even substances like niacin and vitamin E
promote tissue oxidation through their dilation of blood
vessels.
Hydrogen peroxide is only one of the many components
that help regulate the amount of oxygen getting to your cells.
Its presence is vital for many other functions as
well.
It is required for the production of thyroid hormone
and sexual hormones. (Mol Cell Endocrinol 86;46(2): 149-154)
(Steroids 82;40(5):5690579). It stimulates the production of
interferon (J Immunol 85;134(4):24492455). It dilates blood
vessels in the heart and brain (Am J Physiol 86;250 (5 pt 2):
H815-821 and (2 pt 2):H157-162). It improves glucose utilization
in diabetics (Proceedings of the IBOM Conference 1989, 1990,
1991).
Hydrogen Peroxide article - Continue to part 2
These statements have not been reviewed by the FDA. Products are
not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Note: It is important to add
Essential Nutrients to any FG-H2O2 program
to enhance healing and promote immune system function.