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Miracle Mineral Supplement

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Miracle Mineral Supplement, often referred to as Miracle Mineral Solution, Master Mineral Solution, or MMS, is the colloquial product name for an aqueous solution of 28% sodium chlorite in distilled water. The product contains essentially the same ingredient as industrial-strength bleach before "activation" with a food-grade acid. The name was first coined by Jim Humble in his 2006 self-published book, The Miracle Mineral Solution of the 21st Century. A more dilute version is marketed as Chlorine Dioxide Solution (CDS). MMS is promoted as a cure for HIV, malaria, hepatitis viruses, the H1N1 flu virus, common colds, acne, cancer, and more. There have been no clinical trials to provide evidence in support of these claims, which come only from anecdotal reports and Humble's book. In January 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that one vendor admitted that they do not repeat any of Humble's claims in writing to circumvent regulations against using it as a medicine. Sellers sometimes describe MMS as a water purifier so as to circumvent medical regulations.

When citric acid or other food acid is used to "activate" MMS as described in its instructions, the mixture produces an aqueous solution containing chlorine dioxide, a potent oxidizing agent used in the treatment of water and in bleaching. The director of the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre 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 acute renal failure if ingested.

Judgments

MMS was a cure touted by an Australian couple targeting the Seattle area. They ran websites using fake testimonials (accompanied by sexy vignettes), photographs, and Seattle addresses, to promote downloadable books touted as containing secret cures as well as selling bottles labeled "water purification drops" with a brand name of "MMS Professional". The Washington State Attorney General's Office filed suit, and in conjunctions with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), secured a settlement of more than US$40,000, roughly $25,000 for state legal fees and $14,000 to be divided among 200 consumers. In the ACCC legal action, the presiding judge described the cures as quack medicine and found the claims on the websites "false, misleading or deceptive".

A woman from north Mackay, Australia, without qualifications to practice, charged up to A$2,000 to inject patients with MMS in her garage which lacked proper facilities for sterilization, and went as far as advising a person to avoid chemotherapy while promoting a treatment with "no scientific basis". The Queensland Office of Fair Trading got a court order prohibiting her from "making any claims she is able to treat, cure, or benefit any person suffering from cancer" and she was charged court costs of A$12,000.

See also

References

  1. "Miracle Mineral". Miracle Mineral. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  2. "Agency warning on chlorine solutions" (Press release). Food Standards Agency. July 3, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  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. Harvey, Sarah (2010-01-24). "'Miracle' chemical dubbed a danger". Sunday Star Times. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
  6. Jensen, Erik (2010-01-09). "Deadly chemical being sold as miracle cure". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  7. How To Use The Miracle Mineral Supplement
  8. "FDA Warns Consumers of Serious Harm from Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS)". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  9. Jensen, Erik (2010-01-09). "Deadly chemical being sold as miracle cure". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  10. Sodium Chlorite - Summary Report of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products - Veterinary Medicines Evaluation Unit
  11. "Health Risks Associated with Use of Miracle Mineral Solution". Health Canada. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  12. Lin JL, Lim PS (1993). "Acute sodium chlorite poisoning associated with renal failure". Ren Fail. 15 (5): 645–8. PMID 8290712.
  13. ^ Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leanne Rita Vassallo and Aaron David Smith (FCA 954 August 20, 2009), Text.
  14. Pulkkinen, Levi (August 3, 2009), "Sexy stories, bogus cures lead to action by state AG", SeattlePI.com, seattlepi.com staff, OCLC 3734418, retrieved February 12, 2012
  15. "Washington Attorney General reels in refunds for consumers hooked by Aussies' quack medicine web sites" (Press release). Washington State Office of the Attorney General. March 8, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  16. "Aussie net scammers stung after $1.2m haul", iTnews for Australian Business, Haymarket Media, Aug 26, 2009, retrieved February 12, 2012
  17. "Woman told to stop selling cancer 'miracle drug'", ABC News, Australia, April 23, 2009, retrieved February 12, 2012
  18. "Unregistered health provider ordered to stop misleading cancer patients" (Press release). Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading, The Honourable Peter Lawlor. April 23, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  19. "Praise for Rhys Morgan, 15, over 'miracle' cure alert". BBC News Online. 15 October 2010.
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