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Hydrogen peroxide as a 'therapy': what Poison Control sees

A disinfectant sold as an oxygen cure. The poison centres know it by its injuries.

Not supported Reviewer pending Updated 2026-11-05

Author: ProperHealth editorial desk, prepared at the request of Arshad Tariq, RPh (Clarkson Pharmacy). Reviewer: pending. Editorial pieces are opinion informed by the sources listed; they are not medical advice.

Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive chemical usually diluted in water.1 The 3 % bottle in the bathroom cabinet is a mild disinfectant. The 35 % product sold as "food grade" is promoted — in the same circles as chlorine dioxide — as an oxygen therapy to be sipped in water or given by infusion for allergies, arthritis, diabetes, HIV and heart rhythm problems. These uses are not based on scientific evidence.2

What the poison centres see

"Food-grade" hydrogen peroxide is not food and can cause serious internal burns if swallowed.3 The rarer danger is gas embolism — bubbles of oxygen released in the body that block blood vessels. Most cases of gas embolism caused by hydrogen peroxide have occurred after large ingestions or ingestions of products with high concentrations,4 and a gas embolism can be life-threatening and immediate medical attention is required.5 Children and adults who swallowed concentrated hydrogen peroxide have suffered severe injuries, and some have died.6

Why the idea persists

The appeal is the same as for ozone: the molecule releases oxygen, so it must "oxygenate" the blood and kill germs. In the body it releases that oxygen as gas and as tissue damage. No regulator, guideline or trial supports swallowing or injecting it for any disease, and ProperHealth publishes no instructions for doing so.

What this means for a reader

Keep the 3 % bottle for cuts and the household. If a product or a clinic offers concentrated hydrogen peroxide as a treatment, that is a reason to walk away, and if someone has swallowed it, Poison Control is free and available at any hour.

References

Each passage was checked word for word against the saved copy when this page was built.

  1. 1 Poison Control (America's Poison Centers), "Hydrogen Peroxide": “Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive chemical usually diluted in water.” source
  2. 2 Poison Control (America's Poison Centers), "Hydrogen Peroxide": “These uses are not based on scientific evidence.” source
  3. 3 Poison Control (America's Poison Centers), "Hydrogen Peroxide": “food-grade" hydrogen peroxide is not food and can cause serious internal burns if swallowed.” source
  4. 4 Poison Control (America's Poison Centers), "Hydrogen Peroxide": “Most cases of gas embolism caused by hydrogen peroxide have occurred after large ingestions or ingestions of products with high concentrations.” source
  5. 5 Poison Control (America's Poison Centers), "Hydrogen Peroxide": “A gas embolism can be life-threatening and immediate medical attention is required.” source
  6. 6 Poison Control (America's Poison Centers), "Hydrogen Peroxide": “Children and adults who swallowed concentrated hydrogen peroxide have suffered severe injuries, and some have died.” source