During the 2020 pandemic, while scientists really left their skin to develop a vaccine, all kinds of characters appeared offering alleged magic remedies, miracle solutions or drugs that did not have any scientific endorsement to face the ravages of the coronavirus.
Among all these stands out an old acquaintance among whom we have been denouncing pseudomedicine for years, MMS, a molecule with a long and curious history, but which is not useful for the coronavirus or for any other disease.
Of course, it is a good industrial bleach and is very useful for pool maintenance.
The story of this false remedy arises from the elucubrations of Jim Humble, a former NASA engineer (if we believe what he said about himself; as you can see, in this story everything is presumed or must be believed) that looking for gold in Venezuela he had an inspiration that led him to discover MMS. He sent the recipe to friends in Africa and there they successfully treated 100,000 people for malaria, until missionaries prevented it, always according to his story. In addition, he discovered that it was not only useful for malaria, but also for autism, cancer, AIDS or acne. So excited was he that he called it miracle mineral solution or MMS, meaning miracle mineral solution. The composition of this supposed remedy is an 8% solution of sodium chlorite that, when mixed with acid (a little lemon juice is worth it), produces chlorine dioxide,a molecule for industrial use, but quite toxic and without any therapeutic indication. Of course, when using it, many people felt nausea, diarrhea or dehydration, the effects of chlorine dioxide poisoning, but Humble cleverly blamed these symptoms on the non-existent healing process.
Given the popularization of this substance and the appearance of several cases of poisoning, several health agencies published warnings about the product and stressed its null therapeutic activity. It should be remembered that its sale as a medicine is prohibited. Humble was undaunted. He reconverted his business by founding the Genesis II Church, in which his sacrament consisted of consuming MMS, which allowed him to circumvent the law in several countries. And don't forget that none of this was altruistic. Each miraculous bottle of MMS contains sodium chlorite worth 20 euro cents and was sold for 30 euros.
In Europe, MMS came from the hand of Ludwig Kalcker, and found an echo in the misty world of natural therapies. In 2012 the Civil Guard arrested several people for selling this product, claiming it was a medicine. All this checkered history has not prevented that it continues to be relatively easy to find and that the internet is full of pages that speak of its virtues. In 2017, another complaint was filed against Kalcker and two other people for the son of a person with arthritis who saw how his mother had been prescribed this non-drug at a herbalist, but were acquitted. Spanish legislation is not at all efficient when it comes to defending patients who are victims of pseudo-therapies and the criterion that is followed is that if someone takes an unauthorized product, it is because they want to,leaving unpunished the fact that something is being sold claiming properties that it does not really have.
Is there something scientifically based in this whole story?
It is already very suspicious that a product cures autism, malaria, Ebola or covid, and more if we take into account that it is only one of the components of bleach and, as such, a strong oxidant.
Obviously it is a good disinfectant, but can it distinguish the parasite that causes malaria from healthy cells? The covid virus from other cells? A cancer cell from one that is not?
The answer is a clear and resounding no.
Taking MMS is like drinking diluted bleach.
A savage.
It is still surprising that the supposed therapeutic applications of MMS are increasing, but there is still a worrying lack of clinical trials to support its efficacy.
So, against the covid, vaccine.
And to disinfect surfaces, MMS, sorry, bleach.
Sign in to continue reading
Just by having an account you can read this article, it's free
Sign upLogin
Thanks for reading EL PAÍS
