Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?UsesResearchLegalityRisks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
Uses
Research
Legality
Risks
Hydrogen peroxide therapy is acancertreatment used in alternative medicine.Hydrogen peroxide (H202) is an oxidizing liquid, meaning it produces oxygen. The theory is that hydrogen peroxide can introduce oxygen into cancer cells and kill them.
There is very little scientific evidence in support of using hydrogen peroxide therapy to treat cancer, and in some cases, its use has even been fatal.Most evidence in support of hydrogen peroxide therapy comes from small, inconsistent studies.Never ingest hydrogen peroxide, as doing so can result in internal burns.
This article explains how hydrogen peroxide therapy is proposed to work. It covers the history behind hydrogen peroxide therapy, along with the risks involved with trying to use it as a medical treatment.
Natt Boonyatecha / Getty Images
What Is Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy?
Hydrogen peroxide therapy is based on the fact that cancer cells thrive in low-oxygen (hypoxic) tissues.It’s also thought that oxygen molecules from broken-down hydrogen peroxide can killcancer cells, since too much oxygen is toxic to these cells.
You may also see hydrogen peroxide therapy referred to as:
Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe to Use on Skin?
What Has Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy Been Used For?
Is There Any Evidence to Support Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy?In 1993, the American Cancer Society stated that “there is little or no evidence that [hyperoxygenation therapies] are effective for the treatment of any serious diseases, and each has demonstrated potential for harm.“As of 2024, there is very little evidence that hydrogen peroxide therapy can slow the progression of cancer in humans.
Is There Any Evidence to Support Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy?
In 1993, the American Cancer Society stated that “there is little or no evidence that [hyperoxygenation therapies] are effective for the treatment of any serious diseases, and each has demonstrated potential for harm.“As of 2024, there is very little evidence that hydrogen peroxide therapy can slow the progression of cancer in humans.
What Research Says About Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy
The study was performed in mice with lung and pancreatic cancer. When combined with radiotherapy, the drug effectively destroyed the mice’s tumors while also preventing radiation-induced tissue damage in the oral cavity, known as oral mucositis.
In 2023, the FDA began its review of Avasopasem manganese as a potential therapy for oral mucositis.Later that year, the FDA declared that there was not enough evidence of Avasopasem’s safety or effectiveness for reducing oral mucositis in people withhead and neck cancer.
Another study from 2021 involved abreast tumorsitting close to the skin’s surface. A hydrogen peroxide-soaked gauze was applied to the tumor during radiotherapy. Three months post-treatment, the breast tumor appeared to be in complete remission. Researchers theorized that hydrogen peroxide increased the tumor’s sensitivity to radiation.
Phase I of a small clinical trial published in 2020 also showed promising results. For this study, 12 people with breast tumors were given injections of a hydrogen peroxide gel solution directly into the tumors. When paired with radiotherapy, the treatment appeared to reduce most breast tumors, although researchers noted that further investigation is needed.
The few studies done in humans are small, and the mode of administering hydrogen peroxide is varied. Although the use of hydrogen peroxide in cancer treatment is of increasing interest in the medical community, more research with consistent results is needed before any conclusions can be made.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Detox the Body?Hydrogen peroxide detoxes can be found online and at alternative medicine clinics, but they are neither FDA-approved nor guaranteed to be safe or effective. There is no evidence to support the use of hydrogen peroxide as a detox, and doing so can be dangerous.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Detox the Body?
Hydrogen peroxide detoxes can be found online and at alternative medicine clinics, but they are neither FDA-approved nor guaranteed to be safe or effective. There is no evidence to support the use of hydrogen peroxide as a detox, and doing so can be dangerous.
Can I Use Peroxide and Alcohol on My Incision?
Is Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy Legal?
Since it is not approved to treat cancer or other medical conditions, it is illegal for health providers to promote hydrogen peroxide therapy as a treatment for cancer or other diseases.
Risks of Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy
Hydrogen peroxide should only be used as a household cleaner or disinfectant. Store-bought hydrogen peroxide should never be applied to the skin or ingested in any way.
Swallowing even a small amount of hydrogen peroxide can result in:
Swallowing larger or more highly concentrated amounts can result in severe internal burns.Also, a 2017 study found that people who had ingested hydrogen peroxide in high doses over the course of a 10-year period experienced adverse health effects, such asstroke, disability, and death.
This case, like many others, is an important reminder that just because a treatment is offered at a natural or alternative health clinic, does not mean that it is safe.
How Do You Use Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide?
Summary
Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing liquid that creates oxygen in the body. Some people believe it can help treat or cure cancer because high levels of oxygen may be toxic to cancer cells and can kill them. However, hydrogen peroxide is not FDA-approved for treating cancer. Also, there have been several reports of people who have died from ingesting hydrogen peroxide or receiving hydrogen peroxide therapy intravenously. Because hydrogen peroxide therapy is not FDA-approved to treat cancer, it is illegal for alternative medicine practitioners to promote it for this purpose.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Maryland, Baltimore.Hydrogen peroxide: summary report.Rzepczyk S, Świderski P, Sommerfeld-Klatta K, et al.Causes of death during the intravenous infusion of dimethysulphoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the course of alternative medicine therapy.Toxics. 2023 Jul;11(8):652. doi:10.3390/toxics11080652Andrés C, de la Lastra J, Juan C, Plou F, Pérez-Lebeña E.Chemistry of hydrogen-peroxide formation and elimination in mammalian cells, and its role in various pathologies.Stresses. 2022 Jul;2(3):256-274. doi:10.3390/stresses2030019McGill University.Hydrogen peroxide: The body’s best defense system.Johns Hopkins Medicine.How cancer cells thrive in when oxygen is scarce.Park WH.Hydrogen peroxide inhibits the growth of lung cancer cells via the induction of cell death and G1‑phase arrest.Oncol Rep.2018;40(3):1787-1794. doi:10.3892/or.2018.6535Norman G.Off-label use vs off-label marketing.JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2023 Mar;8(3):359-370. doi:10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.12.012Flohé L.Looking back at the early stages of redox biology.Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Dec;9(12):1254. doi:10.3390/antiox9121254Cozza A, Maggioni G, Thiene G, Bonati M.The 1918 influenze pandemic versus COVID-19: A historical perspective from an Italian point of view.Am J Public Health. 2021 Oct;111(10):1815–1823. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2021.306412American Cancer Society.Questionable methods of cancer management: Hydrogen peroxide and other ‘hyperoxygenation’ therapies.CA. 1993 Feb;43(1):47-56. doi:10.3322/canjclin.43.1.47Sishc BJ, Ding L, Nam TK, et al.Avasopasem manganese synergizes with hypofractionated radiation to ablate tumors through the generation of hydrogen peroxide.Sci Transl Med. 2021 May;13(593):eabb3768. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.abb3768Galera Therapeutics, Inc.Galera announces FDA acceptance and priority review of Avasopasem NDA for radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis.Galera Therapeutics, Inc.Galera receives response letter from U.S. FDA for Avasopasem Manganese.Oike T, Tomizawa K, Adachi A, Wada M, Ohno T.Radiotherapy with hydrogen peroxide-soaked gauze for unresectable breast cancer.Cureus. 2021 Oct;13(10). doi:10.7759/cureus.19167Nimalasena S, Gothard L, Anbalagan S, et al.Intratumoral hydrogen peroxide with radiation therapy in locally advanced breast cancer: Results from a phase 1 clinical trial.Clin Invest. 2020 Nov;108(4):1019-1029. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.06.022Urban M, Rath T, Radtke C.Hydrogen peroxide (H202): A review of its use in surgery.Wien Med Wochenschr. 2019 Jun;169(9-10):222-225. doi:10.1007/s10354-017-0610-2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Understanding the regulatory terminology of potential preventions and treatments of COVID-19.Poison Control.Hydrogen peroxide.Hatten BW, French LK, Horowitz BZ, Hendrickson RG.Outcomes after high-concentration peroxide ingestions.Ann Emerg Med.2017;69(6):726-736.e2. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.11.022
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Maryland, Baltimore.Hydrogen peroxide: summary report.Rzepczyk S, Świderski P, Sommerfeld-Klatta K, et al.Causes of death during the intravenous infusion of dimethysulphoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the course of alternative medicine therapy.Toxics. 2023 Jul;11(8):652. doi:10.3390/toxics11080652Andrés C, de la Lastra J, Juan C, Plou F, Pérez-Lebeña E.Chemistry of hydrogen-peroxide formation and elimination in mammalian cells, and its role in various pathologies.Stresses. 2022 Jul;2(3):256-274. doi:10.3390/stresses2030019McGill University.Hydrogen peroxide: The body’s best defense system.Johns Hopkins Medicine.How cancer cells thrive in when oxygen is scarce.Park WH.Hydrogen peroxide inhibits the growth of lung cancer cells via the induction of cell death and G1‑phase arrest.Oncol Rep.2018;40(3):1787-1794. doi:10.3892/or.2018.6535Norman G.Off-label use vs off-label marketing.JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2023 Mar;8(3):359-370. doi:10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.12.012Flohé L.Looking back at the early stages of redox biology.Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Dec;9(12):1254. doi:10.3390/antiox9121254Cozza A, Maggioni G, Thiene G, Bonati M.The 1918 influenze pandemic versus COVID-19: A historical perspective from an Italian point of view.Am J Public Health. 2021 Oct;111(10):1815–1823. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2021.306412American Cancer Society.Questionable methods of cancer management: Hydrogen peroxide and other ‘hyperoxygenation’ therapies.CA. 1993 Feb;43(1):47-56. doi:10.3322/canjclin.43.1.47Sishc BJ, Ding L, Nam TK, et al.Avasopasem manganese synergizes with hypofractionated radiation to ablate tumors through the generation of hydrogen peroxide.Sci Transl Med. 2021 May;13(593):eabb3768. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.abb3768Galera Therapeutics, Inc.Galera announces FDA acceptance and priority review of Avasopasem NDA for radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis.Galera Therapeutics, Inc.Galera receives response letter from U.S. FDA for Avasopasem Manganese.Oike T, Tomizawa K, Adachi A, Wada M, Ohno T.Radiotherapy with hydrogen peroxide-soaked gauze for unresectable breast cancer.Cureus. 2021 Oct;13(10). doi:10.7759/cureus.19167Nimalasena S, Gothard L, Anbalagan S, et al.Intratumoral hydrogen peroxide with radiation therapy in locally advanced breast cancer: Results from a phase 1 clinical trial.Clin Invest. 2020 Nov;108(4):1019-1029. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.06.022Urban M, Rath T, Radtke C.Hydrogen peroxide (H202): A review of its use in surgery.Wien Med Wochenschr. 2019 Jun;169(9-10):222-225. doi:10.1007/s10354-017-0610-2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Understanding the regulatory terminology of potential preventions and treatments of COVID-19.Poison Control.Hydrogen peroxide.Hatten BW, French LK, Horowitz BZ, Hendrickson RG.Outcomes after high-concentration peroxide ingestions.Ann Emerg Med.2017;69(6):726-736.e2. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.11.022
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of Maryland, Baltimore.Hydrogen peroxide: summary report.Rzepczyk S, Świderski P, Sommerfeld-Klatta K, et al.Causes of death during the intravenous infusion of dimethysulphoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the course of alternative medicine therapy.Toxics. 2023 Jul;11(8):652. doi:10.3390/toxics11080652Andrés C, de la Lastra J, Juan C, Plou F, Pérez-Lebeña E.Chemistry of hydrogen-peroxide formation and elimination in mammalian cells, and its role in various pathologies.Stresses. 2022 Jul;2(3):256-274. doi:10.3390/stresses2030019McGill University.Hydrogen peroxide: The body’s best defense system.Johns Hopkins Medicine.How cancer cells thrive in when oxygen is scarce.Park WH.Hydrogen peroxide inhibits the growth of lung cancer cells via the induction of cell death and G1‑phase arrest.Oncol Rep.2018;40(3):1787-1794. doi:10.3892/or.2018.6535Norman G.Off-label use vs off-label marketing.JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2023 Mar;8(3):359-370. doi:10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.12.012Flohé L.Looking back at the early stages of redox biology.Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Dec;9(12):1254. doi:10.3390/antiox9121254Cozza A, Maggioni G, Thiene G, Bonati M.The 1918 influenze pandemic versus COVID-19: A historical perspective from an Italian point of view.Am J Public Health. 2021 Oct;111(10):1815–1823. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2021.306412American Cancer Society.Questionable methods of cancer management: Hydrogen peroxide and other ‘hyperoxygenation’ therapies.CA. 1993 Feb;43(1):47-56. doi:10.3322/canjclin.43.1.47Sishc BJ, Ding L, Nam TK, et al.Avasopasem manganese synergizes with hypofractionated radiation to ablate tumors through the generation of hydrogen peroxide.Sci Transl Med. 2021 May;13(593):eabb3768. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.abb3768Galera Therapeutics, Inc.Galera announces FDA acceptance and priority review of Avasopasem NDA for radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis.Galera Therapeutics, Inc.Galera receives response letter from U.S. FDA for Avasopasem Manganese.Oike T, Tomizawa K, Adachi A, Wada M, Ohno T.Radiotherapy with hydrogen peroxide-soaked gauze for unresectable breast cancer.Cureus. 2021 Oct;13(10). doi:10.7759/cureus.19167Nimalasena S, Gothard L, Anbalagan S, et al.Intratumoral hydrogen peroxide with radiation therapy in locally advanced breast cancer: Results from a phase 1 clinical trial.Clin Invest. 2020 Nov;108(4):1019-1029. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.06.022Urban M, Rath T, Radtke C.Hydrogen peroxide (H202): A review of its use in surgery.Wien Med Wochenschr. 2019 Jun;169(9-10):222-225. doi:10.1007/s10354-017-0610-2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Understanding the regulatory terminology of potential preventions and treatments of COVID-19.Poison Control.Hydrogen peroxide.Hatten BW, French LK, Horowitz BZ, Hendrickson RG.Outcomes after high-concentration peroxide ingestions.Ann Emerg Med.2017;69(6):726-736.e2. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.11.022
University of Maryland, Baltimore.Hydrogen peroxide: summary report.
Rzepczyk S, Świderski P, Sommerfeld-Klatta K, et al.Causes of death during the intravenous infusion of dimethysulphoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the course of alternative medicine therapy.Toxics. 2023 Jul;11(8):652. doi:10.3390/toxics11080652
Andrés C, de la Lastra J, Juan C, Plou F, Pérez-Lebeña E.Chemistry of hydrogen-peroxide formation and elimination in mammalian cells, and its role in various pathologies.Stresses. 2022 Jul;2(3):256-274. doi:10.3390/stresses2030019
McGill University.Hydrogen peroxide: The body’s best defense system.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.How cancer cells thrive in when oxygen is scarce.
Park WH.Hydrogen peroxide inhibits the growth of lung cancer cells via the induction of cell death and G1‑phase arrest.Oncol Rep.2018;40(3):1787-1794. doi:10.3892/or.2018.6535
Norman G.Off-label use vs off-label marketing.JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2023 Mar;8(3):359-370. doi:10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.12.012
Flohé L.Looking back at the early stages of redox biology.Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Dec;9(12):1254. doi:10.3390/antiox9121254
Cozza A, Maggioni G, Thiene G, Bonati M.The 1918 influenze pandemic versus COVID-19: A historical perspective from an Italian point of view.Am J Public Health. 2021 Oct;111(10):1815–1823. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2021.306412
American Cancer Society.Questionable methods of cancer management: Hydrogen peroxide and other ‘hyperoxygenation’ therapies.CA. 1993 Feb;43(1):47-56. doi:10.3322/canjclin.43.1.47
Sishc BJ, Ding L, Nam TK, et al.Avasopasem manganese synergizes with hypofractionated radiation to ablate tumors through the generation of hydrogen peroxide.Sci Transl Med. 2021 May;13(593):eabb3768. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.abb3768
Galera Therapeutics, Inc.Galera announces FDA acceptance and priority review of Avasopasem NDA for radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis.
Galera Therapeutics, Inc.Galera receives response letter from U.S. FDA for Avasopasem Manganese.
Oike T, Tomizawa K, Adachi A, Wada M, Ohno T.Radiotherapy with hydrogen peroxide-soaked gauze for unresectable breast cancer.Cureus. 2021 Oct;13(10). doi:10.7759/cureus.19167
Nimalasena S, Gothard L, Anbalagan S, et al.Intratumoral hydrogen peroxide with radiation therapy in locally advanced breast cancer: Results from a phase 1 clinical trial.Clin Invest. 2020 Nov;108(4):1019-1029. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.06.022
Urban M, Rath T, Radtke C.Hydrogen peroxide (H202): A review of its use in surgery.Wien Med Wochenschr. 2019 Jun;169(9-10):222-225. doi:10.1007/s10354-017-0610-2
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Understanding the regulatory terminology of potential preventions and treatments of COVID-19.
Poison Control.Hydrogen peroxide.
Hatten BW, French LK, Horowitz BZ, Hendrickson RG.Outcomes after high-concentration peroxide ingestions.Ann Emerg Med.2017;69(6):726-736.e2. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.11.022
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