Hydrogen Peroxide Versus The Virus

With the upcoming influenza season and COVID cases on the rise, preventive measures and early intervention are key. A simple and cost-effective measure in the combat against viruses is “oxygen therapy” in the form of nebulized hydrogen peroxide.

Nebulized hydrogen peroxide is considered experimental by the FDA rendering it controversial in the medical field. However, hydrogen peroxide has been approved by the FDA and other official health agencies to be used as a disinfectant for facilities and equipment that have been in contact with SARS-CoV-2. A solution of just 0.5% was shown to inactivate coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces within one minute.

This article will review medical use of hydrogen peroxide, how It works, and its potential to combat viral infections.

History of Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide was first synthesized in 1818 and has been used for many reasons, from disinfectant to detergent to bleaching agent to rocket fuel.

Hydrogen peroxide is naturally produced in the human body and therapeutic medical use spans decades. The first reported medical success using hydrogen peroxide against viral diseases targeting the respiratory system was during the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu pandemic. Death rate during this pandemic was estimated to be over 80%. However, when Indian troops with influenza and associated pneumonia were treated with intravenous hydrogen peroxide, mortality was reduced by half.

With new prescription medications on the rise in the 1940s, there was a reduced medical interest in un-patentable and inexpensive hydrogen peroxide for therapeutic research. In the late 1980s, hydrogen peroxide was reported to offer therapeutic effects by directly destroying microorganisms due to its oxygenating actions. Hydrogen peroxide in different forms of delivery has been used for a wide range of conditions including AIDS, cancer, Epstein-Barr virus, COPD, asthma, fungal infection, gum disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, eczema and more.

It has been used by thousands of doctors in thousands of patients to conquer viral infections, spanning decades. Charles Farr MD, “Father of Oxidative Medicine,” revitalized the idea to combat viruses with intravenous hydrogen peroxide in 1990. Since that time, President of the American Ozone Therapy Association and “Godfather of Ozone,” Frank Shallenberger MD, has conducted subsequent research and use of nebulized hydrogen peroxide, treating hundreds of cases of bronchitis, sinusitis, colds and flus. It is claimed to be just as effective as intravenous therapy.

How and Why Hydrogen Peroxide Works?

Hydrogen peroxide is natural to the body and is vital for various functions in the body. Add another oxygen atom to water (H2O) and you get hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It is this extra oxygen atom that is deadly to cells serving as virus replicating factories. Your own immune cells create H2O2 to fight off viruses. H2O2 exhibits the following effects:

•  Stimulates immune fighting cells (monocytes, T-helper cells)
• Activates immune fighting lymphocytes which commonly drop with influenza and COVID
• Compensates for lack of oxygen
• Stimulates production of antioxidants
• Increases production of interferon-gamma which plays a role in immunoregulation; low IFN-gamma has been identified as a risk factor for lung fibrosis in COVID patients
• Targets and disrupts the viral envelope that protects the virus when it travels between host cells

H2O2 Use Against Viruses

As mentioned, hydrogen peroxide was first used therapeutically to combat influenza and has been used for the treatment of many viruses. Some doctors have also claimed success with H2O2 use against COVID. For therapeutic purposes, H2O2 is considered experimental by the FDA as they do not have sufficient evidence to support its use.

In vitro studies have shown H2O2’s effects on viruses. A review reported a 3% solution of H2O2 effectively inactivated various viruses; influenza and coronaviruses being most sensitive to it. They suggest a 1% H2O2 mouth rinse could reduce viral load. No adverse effects were demonstrated among patients using 1 – 1.5% mouth rinses with two years of follow-up. A separate study suggests H2O2 mouth gargles and nasal washes with a nebulizer could lead to a significant reduction in respiratory complications and hospitalizations among COVID positive patients.

Brownstein et al. conducted a study in 107 people with COVID who were treated with a combination of nutraceuticals, medications, and nebulized or intravenous H2O2. Of all subjects, 85% received nebulized H2O2. This combined approach had a 100% success rate. Most patients had respiratory improvement after two nebulization treatments. No adverse effects were reported.

A separate study assessed use of H2O2 as an adjunct treatment in 23 COVID patients. Within the first two and a half days of H2O2 nebulization treatment, most of the patients reported immediate relief of respiratory symptoms as well as improved oxygenation via pulse oximeter reading. H2O2 therapy was extended as a prophylactic treatment for 28 people in close contact with the COVID positive patients. Of all exposed people who started prophylactic H2O2 intervention, none reported acquiring COVID at the end of the 30-day study follow up period.

Is H2O2 safe?

Beware, store bought H2O2 used without dilution can be corrosive. The recommended dilution for therapeutic intervention is 30 times lower than store bought. At appropriate doses using less than 3%, adverse effects are rare. It must be reiterated that at the correct dilution, it is safe and non-toxic.

Dilutions of 3% and lower have been used for oral and nasal rinses. Nebulization dilutions are lower, 0.05% – 0.1%. Accidental misuse is a cause for adverse effects. The most common side effects experienced from too prolonged or too concentrated solutions are nose and throat irritation. For therapeutic purposes, food grade H2O2 is necessary as it does not contain stabilizers.

Traditional warnings and research publications cite only inappropriate concentrations and applications of H2O2 being harmful. The use of low dilutions are neglected in these reports.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry warns a 10-20% strength of H2O2 can lead to tissue damage, ulceration and severe injury. As a result, Lung Foundations such as the COPD Foundation have taken a stance that nebulized H2O2 is dangerous.

The COPD Foundation published a statement saying, “Serious injury can occur to the airway if high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are inhaled and can cause subglottic stenosis and laryngospasm, which can lead to intubation and mechanical ventilation.” They cite an article, “Accidental ingestion of 35% hydrogen peroxide,” to support this stance. This article also states ingestion of 3% H2O2 usually only results in mild gastritis. Please note a concentration of 35% can be fatal. H2O2 should never be consumed or nebulized at these percentages as they are totally inappropriate.

Another study states all adverse effects using 0.2% H2O2 for nebulizing were self-limited and recovered within 5-20 minutes. Adverse effects noted were: momentary shortness of breath due to accidental use of undiluted solution, chest tightness in a patient who had just eaten prior to treatment that resolved with reflux medication, headache that was present before treatment, nasal irritation in a patient who had used steroid nasal spray prior to treatment, eye irritation from a leaky mask.

No side effects were reported in one study using 0.04% nebulized H2O2 in COVID patients.

Reported side effects from a separate study of nebulized H2O2 in COVID patients were sore throat, dry throat, headache and dizziness. All were reported to be self-limited and did not lead to study drop outs.

At low dilutions, no published studies found any severe adverse effects or lethality.

Hydrogen peroxide is highly accessible, cost-effective and has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses

Further studies and clinical trials are currently underway to assess the full therapeutic effects of H2O2 against SARS-CoV-2. The documented success of H2O2 stems all the way back to 1819 in the treatment of influenza. Since that time, doctors all over the world have been using oxidative therapies for many conditions but especially in the treatment of viral infections. More research and publications on H2O2 can be read here.

At dilutions between 0.05% – 0.1% for nebulizing, H2O2 is non-toxic. However, it is imperative precise instructions are read and followed to ensure safe dilutions are met.

Prevention and maintenance H2O2 nebulizing can be done daily. Treatment frequency can be adjusted to hourly depending on symptoms. Don’t wait for symptoms to begin or worsen to start early intervention.

Have an awesome day and wonderful and safe Holiday Weekend, Dr D