Nurses warn of the danger of using the "miracle enema" of MMS, without any scientific basis.

Magnet therapies, energy healing or Reiki, extreme diets such as alkaline diets or biodecoding , among others, are some of the pseudotherapies , lacking scientific evidence, that have gone viral in recent times, especially through social media and other communication channels, and which have led to significant health problems among their users. Now, the latest trend is the rectal consumption of what is known as Miracle Mineral Solution or MMS.

It is a compound with high oxidizing power used as an industrial bleach, similar to bleach, and whose use in humans, administered rectally, not only lacks scientific evidence, but " can endanger the lives of thousands of people," warns the General Nursing Council. It is a 28% aqueous solution of sodium chlorite, a product commonly used in paper manufacturing and water treatment. Its use in humans, in any of its forms of administration , not only lacks scientific backing, but can also be toxic and put their lives at risk.

The enema, marketed online as a pseudotherapy, promises to be a "miracle cure" for all kinds of illnesses , from cancer to autism, AIDS, and COVID-19. Furthermore, it is offered without guarantees, regulation, and at exorbitant prices.

"These products appeal to desperation and are presented as a last hope , delaying truly useful treatments for the patient. This turns them into a lucrative business for those who take advantage of vulnerability. Their consumption can cause everything from digestive tract injuries to anemia, kidney failure, or even the need for hospitalization. Therefore, nurses must continue working, through prevention and health education, to debunk these hoaxes that seriously endanger the health of the population," warns Héctor Nafría, scientific communicator at the Scientific Culture Unit of the General Nursing Council (CGE).

When a therapy has no scientific basis, even if it seems harmless, the consequences of its use can be decisive for our health.

The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) recommends against consuming this harmful product, as there is no evidence of any use to treat or prevent coronavirus infection, nor that it is effective against other diseases such as malaria, autism , cancer, or parasitic or degenerative diseases. Its consumption may delay access to and initiation of vital treatments for the patient.

"Pseudotherapies can cause physical, psychological, economic, and social harm. Worse still, they may result in people not accessing the correct treatment or delaying it. This frequently occurs in serious illnesses like cancer , which require urgent care. As some clinical cases demonstrate, the toxic profile of this "miracle enema" includes methemoglobinemia, which prevents our body from transporting oxygen, intravascular hemolysis, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration, among other effects," explains Nafría.

The excess of unverified information circulating online, unreliable channels and sources of information, and promises of instant, "miraculous" cures lead many patients to take these harmful substances. There is no evidence in favor of them, but there is evidence against their use.

«In 2021, they reported the first case of clinically significant acute proctocolitis with a histological correlation secondary to the ingestion of this substance. The patient admitted to having used MMS once a week for the past three months to relieve her chronic back pain. This demonstrates how desperately difficult it is for patients, especially those with cancer, to live with pain. Given the high prevalence of these diseases and their difficult management, we are obligated to exercise responsible healthcare, educating patients about the dangers that therapies of this type can entail . Although further research is needed, the biological effect of MMS on various cell types using different bioanalytical tools has not shown significant differences between treated and untreated cells. "So, at best, the use of MMS could result in a regrettable delay in accessing clinically tested therapies that can have a positive impact on human cells," says Pedro Belinchón de Miguel, director of the Official Master's Degree in Oncology Nursing at the European University of Madrid.

"As professionals close to the public, nurses must educate, inform, and protect citizens, debunking hoaxes and dismantling pseudotherapies is another way of providing care. We must explain the science behind every treatment option so that patients can make health decisions based on knowledge and truthful information. Pseudotherapies are not a safe option, but science is," concludes Florentino Pérez Raya, president of the General Council of Nursing.