OXIDANTS AS PHYSIOLOGIC AGENTS

Oxidants are atoms or molecules which take up electrons. Reductants are atoms or molecules which donate electrons to oxidants. Dr.Hesselink was already very familiar with most of the medicinally useful oxidants. He has taught at numerous seminars on their use and explained their mechanisms of action on the biochemical level. Examples are: hydrogen peroxide, zinc peroxide, various quinones, various glyoxals, ozone, ultraviolet light, hyperbaric oxygen, benzoyl peroxide, anodes, artemisinin, methylene blue, allicin, iodine and permanganate. Some work has been done using dilute solutions of sodium chlorite internally to treat fungal infections, chronic fatigue, and cancer; however, little has been published in that regard. [5a-5h]

Low dose oxidant exposure to living red blood cells induces a change in oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O2) activity so that more oxygen (O2) is released to tissues throughout the body. [6a-6d] Hyperbaric oxygenation (oxygen under pressure) is:
1) a powerful detoxifier against carbon monoxide;
2) a powerful support for natural healing in burns, crush injuries, and ischemic strokes; and
3) an effective aid to treat most bacterial infections. [7a-7d]
Taken internally, intermittently and in low doses many oxidants have been found to be powerful immune stimulants. Sodium chlorite acidified with lactic acid as in the product “WF10″ has similarly been shown to modulate immune activation. Exposure of live blood to ultraviolet light also has immune enhancing effects. These treatments work through a natural physiologic trigger mechanism, which induces peripheral white blood cells to express and to release cytokines. These cytokines serve as a control system to down-regulate allergic reactions and as an alarm system to increase cellular attack against pathogens. [8a-8v]

Activated cells of the immune system naturally produce strong oxidants as part of the inflammatory process at sites of infection or cancer to rid the body of these diseases. Examples are: superoxide (*OO-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (HO*), singlet oxygen (O=O) and ozone (O3). [9a-9v] Another is peroxynitrate (-OONO) the coupled product of superoxide (*OO-) and nitric oxide (*NO) radicals. [10a-10h] Yet another is hypochlorous acid (HOCl) the conjugate acid of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO). [11a,11b,11c] The immune system uses these oxidants to attack various parasites. [12a,12b,12c]