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TECHNICAL DISCUSSION

Stabilized Oxygen

James D. Berg, Ph.D. Department of Medical Microbiology,

Stanford University School of Medicine

 

    I shall summarize some potential mechanisms for stabilized oxygen as a therapeutic agent.

The three hypothesises that follow are based on my research with chlorine dioxide and stabilized oxygen, the research that has been conducted in other laboratories, and the hundreds of testimonials that have been obtained describing the efficacy of stabilized oxygen in the treatment of various disorders.

    The first hypothesis addresses the topical application for the treatment of burns, abrasions and allergic reactions. The last two hypothesis primarily describe potential mechanisms following ingestions or when applied topically for the treatment of bacterial and viral infections.

    Firstly, when applied topically the stabilized oxygen may act as an osmotic agent, similar to the application of Epsom salts. The concentration of salts in stabilized oxygen, even when applied in a 1% solution is quite high. The ensuing osmotic gradient would be a sufficient driving force for the removal of toxins (from burns, allergenic substances) from the skin. The same gradient may in a similar way promote healing by increasing the rate of transport of factors involved in healing in the case of abrasions and burns. The aforementioned mechanism may appear simple, nonetheless it may partially explain the promotion of healing and desensitization of burns and rashes that have been documented.

    Secondly, in either topical or internal use, the stabilized oxygen can act as a non-specific biocide.

The chlorite, a major constituent of stabilized oxygen, and one of its reaction products, chlorine dioxide, are extremely effective viricides, bactericides, and fungicides. We have shown chlorine dioxide to be extremely effective against pathogenic bacteria such as legionella pneumophilia, and viruses such as the polio virus in our laboratory. Its effectiveness against other viruses has also been demonstrated.

    At physiological pH, the predominant chemical species will be chloride ion. The chlorite is biocidal, yet less toxic than chlorine since it is a less powerful oxidant in the ionic form. At the pH of the stomach (pH 3-4) one can expect chlorine dioxide to be produced from the chlorides. This will be a transient phenomenon ultimately yielding chlorine ion again, which will be absorbed by the body, passed through the lower intestinal tract and extracted by the kidneys. If a substantial dose of stabilized oxygen has been taken one could hypothesize that the chlorine and chlorine dioxide would act against any pathogenic microorganisms in the body. This may explain the effectiveness of stabilized oxygen in lessening the severity and duration of the gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhoea, flu and so forth that have been reported.

    The third potential mechanism of stabilized oxygen involves utilization of chlorite by cells, particularly leukocytes, as a substrate to increase the efficiency of a group of enzymes known as peroxidases. These enzymes are an important component in the immune system since they are involved in the oxidation of foreign materials such as viruses and toxins.

    The results of our own experiments with stabilized oxygen, modelled after Hager's work with chlorite, support his findings. (Hager is Dr. Lowell P. Hager at the University of Illinois) Namely, stabilized oxygen or the chlorite it contains, significantly improves the efficiency of the two enzymes chloroperoxidase and peroxidase . The reactions of another model system utilizing myeloperoxidases in leukocytes are given in the following equations:

 

1.    O₂ + O₂ + 2H + ^SOD --> O₂ + H₂O₂        2.    H₂O₂ + ClO₂ -^MPO --> ^ClO  H₂O

 

There are two interesting outcomes of chlorite utilization by these two enzymes. The first is that the immune system may be directly enhanced by the increased rate of oxidation of foreign material by the leucocytes. The second result is an increased ability by all metabolically active cells to scavenge free radicals. This has been shown in equation 1 above. The rate of removals of superoxide radicals (O2) by superoxide dismutase (SOD) will be increased as the peroxide removal is enhanced by the chlorite in the coupled second reaction, equation 2. The latter result, increased efficiency of removal of free radicals, is interesting in light of some contemporary theories attributing the cause of disease, debilitating aspects of ageing and the onset of cancer to excessive levels of free radicals. The source of the free radicals may be environmental or metabolic.

    These three possible mechanisms are of course not exclusive of one another. It is quite probable that all three act simultaneously. There are also undoubtedly other more complex mechanisms. However, the available data on chlorite is limited. Therefore, only the three aforementioned mechanisms have been proposed.

 

The above report was first published in "The Search For Health (U.S.A.)" October 1988 issue.

The scientific literature on the nature of chlorine dioxide and other chlorine chemistry is extensive. However, studies on the chlorite ion and its role in human biochemistry are limited. Nevertheless, Dr. Berg's conclusions are more than adequately supported in the literature. Dr. Berg's analysis should not be construed as claims for stabilized oxygen as a healing agent. Stabilized Oxygen is sold as a general adaptogen, not as a drug.

 

 

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