As far as medical uses for hydrogen peroxide go, well, it’s kinda fallen out of favor in the medical community. While many of us were raised by parents who used hydrogen peroxide to clean our cuts and scrapes, the brown bottle stuff is no longer recommended for such purposes. In fact, it’s been shown that hydrogen peroxide can actually slow the healing process and kill healthy tissue. Other disinfectants are better for cleaning wounds.
In her book, Dr. Cynthia Koelker includes only passing references to hydrogen peroxide, and nothing about how it is used to treat a patient. She recommends only storing on 16-oz bottle per family for a long-term disaster. Dr. Joseph Alton, on the other hand, has a few suggestions for its use and reasons for having it on hand.
Lice. Bathe in a tub with ½ cup borax and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide daily for 21 days as a treatment for lice.[1]
Ear infections (otitis media). To manage an ear infection without resorting to precious oral antibiotics:
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon rubbing alcohol and 1/4 teaspoon vinegar or hydrogen peroxide together.
- With the patient lying on his side with the afflicted ear up, put 3-4 drops of the mixture in the affected ear.
- Have the patient remain in this position for 5 minutes, and then tilt the head and drain out the solution.
- Next, use plain warm olive oil, or add one drop of any one of the following essential oils to 2 ounces of olive oil:
- tea tree
- eucalyptus
- peppermint
- thyme
- lavender
- garlic
- mullein
- Put 2-3 drops of warmed oil mixture in the ear canal.
- This does not need to be drained or removed.
- Repeat 3-4 times per day.[2]
Oral rinse. Make a mouth rinse in a 1:1 ratio with water and 3% hydrogen peroxide. Swish for 2 minutes for maximum efficacy.[3] It’s particularly effective for treating trench mouth.
Disinfectant. Use a 0.5% solution (so 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to 5 cups to water) to disinfect surfaces.[4] This kills viruses, even covid, within one minute.
Peroxide-based
Disinfecting Wipes
using 3% hydrogen peroxide (this is what's commonly sold in drugstores)
|
Disinfecting wipes peroxide to water ratio |
|
|
3% Hydrogen Peroxide |
Water |
|
1 tablespoon |
5 tablespoons |
|
2 tablespoons |
½ cup + 2 tablespoons |
|
3 tablespoons |
1 cup – 1 tablespoon |
|
¼ cup |
1 pint – 2 tablespoons |
|
½ cup |
1 quart – ¼ cup |
Toothpaste. If you run out of toothpaste, you can make your own.
- 2 tablespoons food-grade diatomaceous earth
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon bentonite clay or activated charcoal
- 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap
- 1-2 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide, distilled water, or plain water
- 3-4 drops food grade essential oil--peppermint, cinnamon, clove, anise, spearmint, optional, or ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, optional
Combine all ingredients in a small jar and stir until smooth.
Based
on what we've got here, you may decide that hydrogen peroxide isn't
necessary for your personal preparedness. I like the disinfect options
myself, but as far as strictly medical uses, I'd probably pass. There
are other supplies that will work just as well. However, hydrogen
peroxide has a lot of other great uses for those who prepare. Tune in
on Thursday for more info.
Links to related posts:
DIY
Sanitizers for Hands and Other Surfaces
[1] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 2013, 121.
[2] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 2013, 438.
[3] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 2013, 129.
[4] https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(20)30046-3/fulltext
5.31.22
After a couple of batches of broccoli sprouts went bad a few years ago, I read that H2O2 would disinfect seeds and solve the problem. Right before sprouting, I soak the seeds in an inch of water with a splash of peroxide. After about 5 minutes of soaking, I rinse and soak as usual. Problem solved!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteI recently mixed up a batch of most of the toothpaste recipes you've included in previous posts, one of which is the one in this article. I host a preparedness group once a month and we just had a taste test of the toothpastes. This one was the absolute worst, thanks to the inclusion of a tablespoon of soap! It leaves a very definite taste of soap in the mouth, which we all were disgusted by. I modified it by cutting the soap amount in half, but I would probably reduce it even further. I also added some liquid stevia drops. With the changes, it became much more tolerable!
ReplyDelete