This was written by Becky Ransey of Indiana (a doctor's Wife), and I want to share it with you. She was over recently for coffee and smelled the bleach I was using to clean my toilet and counter tops. This is what she told me:

"I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little old bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. What does bleach cost? My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors don't tell you about peroxide.

"Have you ever smelled bleach in a doctor's office? NO! Why? Because it smells, and it is not healthy! Ask the nurses who work in the doctor's offices, and ask them if they use bleach at home. They are wiser and know better!

"Did you also know bleach was invented in the late 40's? It's Chlorine, folks! And it was used to kill our troops.

"Peroxide was invented during WWI. It was used to save and help cleanse the needs of our troops and hospitals. Please think about this:

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe.) No more canker sores, and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe down your countertops, or spray it on the counters directly.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to Kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of Peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.

8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes, and then blow your nose into a tissue.

9. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

10. Put half a bottle of peroxide into your bathwater to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.

11. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour it directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

12. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors. There is no smearing, which is why I love it so much for this.

"I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without!

"With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner!"

I would advise caution in the use of Hydrogen Peroxide in treating wounds. I would certainly irrigate the wound afterward with sterile normal saline to remove any peroxide.

While I cannot verify reports from the Vietnam War that peroxide caused significant increase in wound infections in that environment, there is certainly some evidence that this is quite possible. This article, from "EMERGENCY MEDICINE®: The Practice Journal for Emergency Physicians is a monthly journal for emergency physicians and physicians working in urgent care settings." says:

http://www.emedmag.com/ht[...]804.asp

"The major error here, of course, was committed by the surgical resident who, for some unfathomable reason, decided to use hydrogen peroxide as an irrigating solution. Hydrogen peroxide solutions are corrosive and can cause tissue necrosis. In addition, they release oxygen into the tissues when they come in contact with peroxidases and hemoglobin.

The only irrigating solution that has been shown to be effective and relatively innocuous is normal saline. Almost any other foreign substance that is placed in a wound can delay healing and damage granulating wounds. This includes undiluted iodophor solutions. As a general rule, if the substance cannot be used in the eye, it should not be introduced into wounds.

Iodophors are appropriate for skin preparation, not wound cleansing. The body's capacity for wound healing is generally so great that the negative effects of an irrigating fluid are trivial compared with this natural ability. However, when a wound contains a large inoculum of bacteria or a significant amount of devitalized tissue, or when there is impaired circulation to the wound site, use of an unphysiologic irrigating fluid can tip the scale, leading to infections and dehiscences. "

It is important to understand that medicine is a dynamic field and theories go in and out of practice as new studies are made. One might consider that in a hot, moist environment adding additional oxidizer to the mix could create an ideal environment for bacterial growth. It can also inhibit healing because it has a sort of corrosive effect on the delicate body tissues. I have seen articles by wound nurses that say not to use it.

This is not to say that all the suggestions above are invalid. Nurses used to clean blood from their whites with peroxide and then wash them (often with ZOUT, which is still available.) I used it to clean my earrings, but it can oxidize some finishes, like silver.so I would not risk it.

Ultrasonics can clean jewelry safely but untrasonic cleaning of teeth can make your fillings fall out.. So use caution when adopting clever new uses for things.

Hi Karen,

When I saw the name of the thread I thought it would be about hair coloring.....

Thanks for the info. I've used hydrogen peroxide to soften ear wax for years.

Best,
Melody