Online communities advocating the use of a toxic bleach solution to treat illnesses like cancer, HIV, and autism believe they may have found a sympathetic ear in Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to a recent report by Wired’s David Gilbert.
For years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strongly warned against using chlorine dioxide, a chemical compound marketed under various names such as “Miracle Mineral Solution,” “Chlorine Dioxide Solution,” and “God’s Detox.” These substances, often touted as cure-alls since the mid-1990s, have no proven medical benefits and pose serious health risks when ingested.
A surprising development occurred when a long-standing FDA warning about chlorine dioxide was quietly removed in May. This change has energized the so-called “bleachers,” a fringe group that promotes the compound as an alternative therapy for numerous serious illnesses. Activists see this move as a signal of shifting political attitudes, especially with Kennedy’s rising influence.
“We are thrilled that RFK Jr is in charge,” Michelle Herman, a chlorine dioxide proponent who sells it as a nasal spray, told Wired. Herman was recently photographed with other activists at a gathering at Donald Trump’s Doral resort in Miami. Though Kennedy has not endorsed the use of chlorine dioxide, he did reference it while discussing President Donald Trump’s exploration of alternative COVID-19 treatments.
“Trump was looking at all of the different remedies,” Kennedy noted. Trump himself made headlines during the pandemic when he speculated about injecting disinfectant to treat COVID-19. “And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute… And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning,” Trump said at the time, sparking widespread criticism.
Activists like Herman hope to leverage political connections to legitimize and mainstream chlorine dioxide. “We know that there is awareness and support for repurposed drugs and what are termed ‘alternative’ therapies, and we hope that the restraints and prosecutions will cease,” she said.
However, critics remain alarmed. Fiona O’Leary, an Irish autism activist and long-time opponent of bleach therapy, warned, “The bleachers are back, making connections with powerful people, reaching RFK and Trump.” She added, “Bleachers want RFK to approve chlorine dioxide as a treatment for autism, cancer, and other conditions. It is like watching a horror show.” Despite these efforts, scientists and health experts have consistently spoken out against the use of chlorine dioxide, warning of its dangers for more than a decade.