Hydrogen Peroxide == Can it "cure" fungus? - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

Merrida · 02-01-2003, 11:37 AM

I had been reading some "old fashioned" remedies for different conditions, and in a few of them I noticed they used either hydrogen peroxide, or other oxygenating agents to treat a variety of different conditions, including (but not limited to): nail discolouration (from smoking, nail polish, food stains, and fungal infections <?> ), wound cleanser ointments (and they listed ringworm, jock itch), and there was a "foot bath" preparation that also contained hydrogen peroxide soak (and they listed athlete's foot among the "conditions" this soak was supposed to benefit).

So could it then be assumed that a hydrogen peroxide solution might be useable for fungal infections, like if acne was fungus related, or other skin lesions, or what about scalp sores (some of which lead to dandruff and some causes of dandruff are fungal which is why the main ingredients are often anti-fungal agents), and what about thrush, and other conditions?

Given the abundance of reading material I'm referencing, I was not sure where to post this because of the areas of cross-over regarding different conditions with this one commonality.

Any thoughts? Or any experience?

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Life isn't what happens to you -- it's how you react to it!

Thoughts don't make us who we are -- Actions do.

mlgable · 02-01-2003, 11:48 AM

Peroxide will not take care of candidia aka yeast bacteria which is what athletes foot is. The only thing that will take care of it is either and antifungal cream available over the counter at your local drug store/department store or tea tree oil which can be purchased there also. Peroxide will lighten stained things as mentioned as it does have a bleaching type action but use with caution as full strenght it can be harmful if swallowed or if you get it in your eye etc. A better solution for cleansing wounds and sores is normal saline as it is not as harsh on the skin.

Jay Tor · 02-01-2003, 12:09 PM

I'd be wary of using hydrogen peroxide [H2O2] for everything simply because the easily liberated oxygen [O2] and hydroxy [HO] components have been mentioned in literature as damaging. Isn't the whole idea behind anti-oxidants their ability to prevent, block or circumvent excess exposure to these substances?

As well, I imagine that fungi, like other classes of organisms come in different varieties. So you might just end up providing the offending fungus the optimal environment to thrive [aerobic versus anaerobic metabolisms].

Try a search on the pharmacology sites for information, or this Medical Biochemistry Page site:
[url="http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/home.html"]http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/home.html[/url]

Personally, I'm a vinegar fan.

Regards,
Jay

[This message has been edited by Jay Tor (edited 02-01-2003).]

Merrida · 02-02-2003, 10:02 AM

What made the concept interesting to me was the fact that fungus thrives in dark, moist environments, not very air-ated environments. So along those lines, I'd think that bombarding the area with oxygen would actually be the antithesis of giving it a growth environment.

The formula with hydrogen peroxide in it for nails mentioned stains, yes, but also fungus.

As for "full strength" -- While possible, I think it would be very difficult for people to even FIND "full strength" hydrogen peroxide. Perhaps for fuel, but otherwise the stuff most of us have access to at least off the shelf is a 3% solution.

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Life isn't what happens to you -- it's how you react to it!

Thoughts don't make us who we are -- Actions do.