Natural Substances Not Meant to Be Swallowed: Clays, Hydrogen Peroxide, Colloidal Silver and Others

Swallowed something harmful, or not sure? Call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222 (US). It is free and confidential, and you can call for any reason, at any hour. [1] Call 911 if the person has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken. [2] Do not make anyone vomit unless poison control or a clinician says so. [1] Other countries: Poison Help by country.

At a glance

Colloidal silver

NCCIH states that silver has no known function or benefit in the body when taken by mouth and is not an essential mineral. [3] The most common serious side effect is argyria, a bluish-gray skin color that is usually permanent. [3] NCCIH also reports some evidence of kidney, liver or nervous system problems. [3]

Hydrogen peroxide

MedlinePlus describes household hydrogen peroxide as a 3% solution and says stronger solutions exist. [1] Poisoning happens when large amounts are swallowed, or get into the lungs or eyes. [1] Symptoms include burns in the mouth and throat if swallowed. [1] "Food grade" hydrogen peroxide: Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed and Europe PMC for ingestion and poisoning reports and read only the MedlinePlus page.

Baking soda

MedlinePlus says baking soda is considered nontoxic in cooking and baking, but sodium bicarbonate can be poisonous in large amounts. [4] A case report describes severe metabolic alkalosis, a dangerous shift in blood chemistry, in a man who swallowed large quantities of baking soda for indigestion. [9] A review of 78 cases found that sudden, massive swallowing was often complicated by stomach rupture and high mortality. [10] MedlinePlus drug information for sodium bicarbonate as an antacid tells readers not to use it longer than 2 weeks unless a doctor says so. [2]

Epsom salt

Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. A case report describes a 56-year-old man who swallowed Epsom salt as a laxative and needed dialysis for dangerously high magnesium. [5] Poison Control says it is possible to overdose on magnesium and that people with poor kidney function are at risk. [11] It advises against magnesium-containing products with decreased kidney function. [11]

Clays

A review of studies on eating clay (geophagy) says the practice is global, but the safety of those involved is not fully established. [6] Clay composition varies from one region to another. [6] A review of clays eaten in Ghana found elevated lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury, and infection risks from contamination. [7] That review looks at clays sold for eating, not at every cosmetic or medical clay. MedlinePlus describes pica as eating non-food materials such as dirt, and lists clay among them. [12] For skin use, see Bentonite clay.

Diatomaceous earth

Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed and Europe PMC for diatomaceous earth with human safety, ingestion or supplement terms. The results were about farming, filtration and materials science. We do not say it is safe or unsafe to swallow.

Activated charcoal

Poison Control calls charcoal a poison treatment given in an emergency room and says not to try treating a poisoning with it at home. [8] A position paper by toxicology societies says it should not be used routinely, and that there is no evidence it improves clinical outcome. [13] It should not be taken by anyone with gastrointestinal bleeding, bowel perforation or a bowel blockage. [8] For teeth-whitening and skin products, Poison Control calls its usefulness questionable. [8] NCCIH found no compelling research supporting "detox" diets for removing toxins. [14] See Detox claims.

What a reader can do

• Check whether the label says the product is for skin, bath or cleaning, not for eating; see food grade vs cosmetic grade.
• Ask a pharmacist or clinician before swallowing anything sold as a remedy. Essential oils have separate rules at Essential oil safety.
• Report a bad reaction; see side effects and reporting.