here, I cite from Pharyngula regarding a young skeptical man's exposure of a very dangerous sCAM panacea, oral industrial bleach [see 001., below]; then, from a New Zealand report that quotes naturopaths supporting this 'therapy' anyway [see 002., below]; and finally, from CNN which mentions the FDA has issued a warning on MMS [see 003., below]:
001. P.Z. Myers writes in "Drinking Bleach is Good For You?" [2010-10-18]:
"I haven't heard much about Rhys Morgan in the US [...] but he won an award at TAM London for his skeptical work [...he] boldly took on peddlers of evil woo: they were selling some crap called Miracle Mineral Solution, which is nothing but bleach [...] it takes some gall for a quack to prescribe a treatment for a chronic intestinal disorder that involves glugging down a corrosive poison, and then when the poor patient suffers with a painfully sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea, to claim that they should drink more, that's a sign that it is working...but that's what they were doing [...] realize too that he's only 15 years old, so we can look forward to another hundred years or so of Mr. Morgan shredding the quacks. I almost feel sorry for the poor lying frauds."
Note: Dr. Myers is right to CONDEMN this. Notice, some things are simply WRONG and don't deserve the charity of 'fair and balanced' reporting, since they are ABSURD and HARMFUL.
002. New Zealand's The Daily Post reports, in "Naturopath Reports Good Results From 'Harmful' Liquid"(2010-10-16):
"Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) is being marketed to cure various illnesses from colds and flu to Aids, hepatitis, malaria, herpes, tuberculosis and cancer [a cure-all / panacea!]. Medsafe has issued an official warning advising people to stop taking the liquid [...] 'the product instructs consumers to mix the 28 per cent sodium chlorite solution with an acid such as citric acid. This mixture produces chlorine dioxide, a potent bleach used for stripping textiles and industrial water treatment [...] high oral doses of this bleach, such as those recommended in the labeling, can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and symptoms of severe dehydration' [...yet a] Rotorua naturopath [...] said she was living proof the solution was helpful not harmful [...] 'it's fast and quick acting and I've never had a negative effect [...] this is just a battle between pharmaceutical companies and complementary medicine. The sickness industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and the reason why Medsafe is against this is because it's a relatively cheap way to treat sickness' [...another] Rotorua naturopath Aiden Pargeter of the Naturopathic Center said he didn't object to the use of MMS and hadn't heard of any personal reports of it being harmful. 'It has its place. Because chlorine dioxide increases the oxygen in the blood it is good for parasites' he said.'"
Note: actually, I think perhaps OXYGEN increases the oxygen level of the blood, in certain conditions, like emphysema. Let me think of the options here for an emphysemic, for instance: rot my guts out with bleach and go hypoxic, or take my life-saving O2 and not corrode my GI tract?
NDs, of course, have a fetish for imaginary parasites. It was naturopath Hulda Clark, after all, who claimed an imaginary parasite was responsible for cancer, who invented a machine to zap the cancer, and who died of cancer recently.
003. CNN reports "FDA warns against using Miracle Mineral Solution" (2010-08-02):
"the Food and Drug Adminstration [sp., 'Administration'] is warning people not to use a supplement that claims to treat diseases ranging from HIV to acne, after receiving reports it is making consumers sick [...] the FDA has received numerous reports of serious side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and life threatening low-blood pressure from dehydration [...] when used as directed, the FDA says Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) produces chlorine dioxide, a potent bleach often used in industrial water treatment and [for] stripping textiles [...] MMS is also marketed under the name Miracle Mineral Supplement [...] if you have used MMS and its made you sick, the FDA says you should see a doctor as soon as possible. [And] the FDA would also like to hear from you. Click here for more information."
Note: perhaps the notorious 'supplement industry protecting' DSHEA law is shielding the maker? As that Quackwatch article states:
"most people think that dietary supplements and herbs are closely regulated to ensure that they are safe, effective, and truthfully advertised. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although some aspects of marketing are regulated, the United States Congress has concluded that 'informed' consumers need little government protection. This conclusion was embodied in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 -- commonly referred to as 'DSHEA' -- which severely limits the FDA's ability to regulate these products."
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