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Miracle Mineral Supplement, often referred to as Miracle Mineral Solution or MMS, is the colloquial product name for an aqueous solution of 28% sodium chlorite in distilled water. The name was first coined by author, Jim Humble, in his 2006 self-published book, The Miracle Mineral Solution of the 21st Century. The compound is essentially the same as industrial-strength bleach.

Jim Humble, a noted snake-oil salesman, promotes MMS as a cure for HIV, malaria, hepatitis viruses, the H1N1 flu virus, common colds, acne, against cancer, and almost any disease. There is no mainstream evidence for any of these claims, which come from a multitude of testimonials, Humble's book, and the ramblings of his deluded followers. MMS is often described as a water purifier so as to circumvent regulations prohibiting the sale of unregulated medicines. 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 to circumvent regulations against using it as a medicine.

When prepared with a citric acid solution as described in its instructions for preparation, the mixture produces chlorine dioxide, a potent oxidizing agent used in water treatment and in bleaching. The director of the New South Wales poison center has stated that using the product is "a bit like drinking concentrated bleach" and that users have displayed symptoms consistent with corrosive injuries, such as vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea. Sodium chlorite, the main constituent of MMS, is a toxic chemical that can cause fatal renal failure.

Safety

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. A similar notice was released in July 2010 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning that the instructions for preparing the solution by mixing it with an acidic solution, or even 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.

In the UK, the Food Standards Agency also released a warning, following the warnings from Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in which they stated that "MMS is a 28% sodium chlorite solution which is equivalent to industrial-strength bleach. When taken as directed it could cause severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, potentially leading to dehydration and reduced blood pressure. If the solution is diluted less than instructed, it could cause damage to the gut and red blood cells, potentially resulting in respiratory failure."

MMS is not approved for the treatment of any disease and chronic exposure to small doses of chlorine dioxide could cause reproductive and neurodevelopmental damage, according to the EPA. A short term study found no effects in hematological or urine chemistry or in physical symptoms in human volunteers over a period of 84 days. While studies of chlorine dioxide effects in humans are rare, studies on animal subjects are more common; chlorine dioxide has been shown to impair thyroid function and reduce T4 cell count in monkeys after 6 months. 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. 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. According to the same organisation "chlorine dioxide is a severe respiratory and eye irritant in humans".

Jim Humble, a certifiable lunatic, claims the MMS can not be shown to damage anyone when taking "properly". But, what can you expect from a bunch of people chugging bleach?

See also

• snake oil
• quackery
• pseudoscience

References

1. "Miracle Mineral". Miracle Mineral. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
2. "Praise for Rhys Morgan, 15, over 'miracle' cure alert". BBC News Online. 15 October 2010.
3. F.D.A. Warning letter
4. Calligeros, Marissa (24 April 2009). "Backyard cancer 'healer' deceived patients". The Brisbine Times. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
5. Jensen, Erik (2010-01-09). "Deadly chemical being sold as miracle cure". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
6. Harvey, Sarah (2010-01-24). "'Miracle' chemical dubbed a danger". Sunday Star Times. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
7. ^ "FDA Warns Consumers of Serious Harm from Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS)". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
8. Jensen, Erik (2010-01-09). "Deadly chemical being sold as miracle cure". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
9. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, McGraw-Hill Professional; 8th edition (March 28, 2006), ISBN 978-0071437639
10. "Chlorates" (in French). Belgian Poison Centre. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
11. 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
12. Sodium Chlorite - Summary Report of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products - Veterinary Medicines Evaluation Unit
13. "Health Risks Associated with Use of Miracle Mineral Solution". Health Canada. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
14. Acute sodium chlorite poisoning associated with renal failure. Lin JL, Lim PS. Ren Fail. 1993;15(5):645-8. PMID 8290712
15. "Evaluation des risques liés à la consommation du produit dénommé « Solution Minérale Miracle » (MMS)" (PDF). Comité de coordination de Toxicovigilance. march 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. "Praise for Rhys Morgan, 15, over 'miracle' cure alert". BBC News Online. 15 October 2010.
17. Food Standards Agency. "Warning against consumption of Miracle Mineral Solution".
18. "Alert issued on danger supplement". BBC News. 2010-09-24.
19. "Chlorite (sodium salt) (CASRN 7758-19-2) | IRIS | US EPA". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
20. "Chlorine dioxide (CASRN 10049-04-4) | IRIS | US EPA". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
21. "Subchronic toxicity of chlorine dioxide and related compounds in drinking water in the nonhuman primate". 2010-02-25. PMC 1569048. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
22. "Toxicity of Chlorine Dioxide in Drinking Water - International Journal of Toxicology". Informaworld.com. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
23. ^ "Chlorine Dioxide". Osha.gov. Retrieved 2010-04-07.

• Alternative detoxification
• Alternative medicine
• Toxicology
• Toxins
• Health fraud
• Pseudoscience