Miracle Mineral Supplement
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Miracle Mineral Supplement, often referred to as Miracle Mineral Solution or MMS, is bleach the name given by its promoter and sometime Colonel Sanders lookalike Jim Humble to an aqueous solution of 28% sodium chlorite, a toxic industrial chemical[1][2][3][4][5] known to cause fatal renal failure,[6] in distilled water, prepared in a citric acid solution resulting in the formation of chlorine dioxide, a potent oxidising agent used in water treatment and in bleaching.[7] The name was first coined by author, Jim Humble, in his 2006 self-published book, The Miracle Mineral Solution of the 21st Century.
MMS is promoted as a cure for HIV, malaria, viral hepatitis, the H1N1 flu virus, common colds, acne, cancer and much more (though apparently not gullibility). All evidence in support of this comes from Jim Humble's book and from anecdotes promoted by Humble.[8][9] MMS is often described as a water purifier (especially on eBay where sales of quack remedies are notionally banned) so as to circumvent regulations prohibiting the sale of unregulated medicines.[10] In January 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that one vendor admitted that they do not repeat any of Jim Humble's claims in writing in order to circumvent regulations against using it as a medicine.[11]
It is so self-evidently bullshit that even whale.to expresses skepticism, preferring "proven" radionics devices.[12]
In claiming to cure a broad spectrum of disparate and unrelated conditions, all without the basis of credible evidence, it fails the "Barrett Test" as proposed by Stephen Barrett who advises to "be skeptical of any product claimed to be effective against a wide range of unrelated diseases — particularly diseases that are serious. There is no such thing as a panacea or 'cure-all'."[13]
Teenaged Welsh blogger Rhys Morgan rose to prominence with his tale of taking on promoters of MMS in a forum for support of Chrohn's sufferers (Morgan has Chrohn's). He was hounded off the site and banned for criticising MMS.[14] At least one importer has been convicted in the UK.
In recent years, MMS has been promoted as a "cure" for autistic children.[15] In addition to the obvious dangers of subjecting a developing child's gastrointestinal system to industrial bleaching agents, forcing MMS on an unconsenting child almost certainly qualifies as child abuse and could potentially lead to legal repercussions for the caregiver, including loss of custody of the child. MMS has also been promoted to the anti-vaccination movement at summit known as Autism One.[16]
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[edit] Government alerts
- In December 2009 an alert was issued by the Belgian Poison Control Centre to the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. In response to this, an evaluation was performed by the French "Comité de coordination de toxicovigilance" in March 2010, warning about a dose-dependent irritation and possible toxic effects. They also warned that patients affected by serious diseases could be tempted to stop their treatments in favour of this alternative treatment.[17]
- A similar notice was released in July 2010 by the US Food and Drug Administration warning that the instructions for preparing the solution by mixing it with an acidic solution (e.g. orange juice) would produce chlorine dioxide, "a potent bleach used for stripping textiles and industrial water treatment." Because of reports including nausea, vomiting, and dangerously low blood pressure as a result of dehydration following instructed use, the FDA has advised consumers to dispose of the product immediately.[18]
- In the UK, the Food Standards Agency also released a warning, following the warnings from Health Canada and the US FDA, in it they stated that "MMS is a 28% sodium chlorite solution which is equivalent to industrial-strength bleach.[19]
- Following media attention towards MMS seminars in Ireland and New Zealand, politicians in both countries have taken up bills aiming to ban any sale of the compound.[20][21]
[edit] Effects
When taken as directed by Humble the likely effects include severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, dehydration and hypotension. If the solution is diluted less than instructed, it could cause damage to the gut and red blood cells, potentially resulting in respiratory failure."[22][23]
Chronic exposure to small doses of chlorine dioxide could cause reproductive and neurodevelopmental damage, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.[24]
In animal subjects chlorine dioxide has been shown to impair thyroid function and reduce T4 cell count in monkeys after 6 months.[25] Another study in rats resulted in reduced red blood cells count when exposed to 100 mg/L of chlorine dioxide concentration in their drinking water, after 3 months.[26]
The United States Department of Labor restricts occupational exposure through inhalation of chlorine dioxide to 0.1ppm since concentrations at 10ppm resulted in deaths in rats, after 10 days while a case where a worker was accidentally exposed to 19ppm resulted in death.[27] According to the same organisation "chlorine dioxide is a severe respiratory and eye irritant in humans."
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, McGraw-Hill Professional; 8th edition (March 28, 2006), ISBN 978-0071437639
- ↑ Belgian Poison Centre, "Chlorates" accessed 2011-02-17
- ↑ Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. Robert E. Gosselin, Roger P. Smith, Harold C. Hodge, Jeannet Braddock. Uitgever: Williams & Wilkins; 5 edition (September 1984) ISBN 978-0683036329
- ↑ Sodium Chlorite — Summary Report of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products — Veterinary Medicines Evaluation Unit [1]
- ↑ Health Canada, "Health Risks Associated with Use of Miracle Mineral Solution"], 12 May 2010
- ↑ Acute sodium chlorite poisoning associated with renal failure. Lin JL, Lim PS. Ren Fail. 1993;15(5):645-8. PMID 8290712
- ↑ FDA Warns Consumers of Serious Harm from Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), accessed 2010-07-30
- ↑ F.D.A. Warning letter
- ↑ Marissa Calligeros, "Backyard cancer 'healer' deceived patients", The Brisbane Times, 24 April 2009
- ↑ Erik Jensen, "Deadly chemical being sold as miracle cure", The Sydney Morning Herald 2010-01-09
- ↑ Sarah Harvey, "'Miracle' chemical dubbed a danger", Sunday Star Times 2010-01-24
- ↑ Miracle Mineral Supplement, whale.to (tinfoil hat recommended)
- ↑ Stephen Barrett, "Ten Ways to Avoid Being Quacked, 2 April 1997
- ↑ The man who encourages the sick and dying to drink industrial bleach, The Grauniad
- ↑ http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2012/05/30/mms-or-how-to-cure-autism-with-bleach-brought-to-you-by-autismone/
- ↑ Science-Based Medicine: Bleaching away what ails you
- ↑ Evaluation des risques liés à la consommation du produit dénommé « Solution Minérale Miracle » (MMS), Comité de coordination de Toxicovigilance, March 2010
- ↑ "FDA Warns Consumers of Serious Harm from Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS)", ibid
- ↑ BBC News Online, "Praise for Rhys Morgan, 15, over 'miracle' cure alert", 15 October 2010
- ↑ Irish Examiner, "Senator to raise ‘Miracle cure’ group's Irish seminar in Seanad", 20 September 2014
- ↑ The New Zealand Herald], "Bill to ban unethical products like Ebola 'cure' before Parliament", 5 November 2014
- ↑ Food Standards Agency, "Warning against consumption of Miracle Mineral Solution"
- ↑ BBC News, "Alert issued on danger supplement", 2010-09-24
- ↑ Environmental Protection Agency: Chlorite (sodium salt)
- ↑ National Institutes of Health, "Subchronic toxicity of chlorine dioxide and related compounds in drinking water in the nonhuman primate"
- ↑ "Toxicity of Chlorine Dioxide in Drinking Water", International Journal of Toxicology
- ↑ OSHA.gov, "Chlorine Dioxide"