Colloidal Silver

 

Dear Mr. Berkes:   It is our understanding that some of your distributors and customers have recently been asking questions about the safety of silver in your product based on a recent advance notice of proposed rule-making by the Food and Drug Administration. Recent comments contributed by this institute to the FDA in response to its proposed rule-making point out that silver is a dietary supplement under the meaning of 21 U.S.C. Section 321 (ff), if it is labelled as a dietary supplement and not labelled for therapeutic use. Under this section of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, known as the dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, a dietary supplement, including a mineral, intended to supplement the diet, and intended for ingestion, and labelled as a dietary supplement may not be prohibited from being marketed unless the product "presents a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury" when consumed in accordance with its recommended or suggested labelling or under ordinary conditions of use. In this regard, you should be advised that we recently completed an extensive review of the scientific literature on the safety of silver, especially as it relates to its one known potential side effect, namely, Argyria.   Argyia is an irreversible discoloration of the pigment (skin) caused by excessive silver intake or chronic exposure to silver by certain tissues. The amount of silver required to develop Argyria is estimated to be 3.8 grams per day. By comparison standard 10 ppm colloidal silver contains silver in amounts equaling less than 1 milligram of silver (1,000 micrograms = 1 milligram; 1,000 milligrams - 1 gram), which therefore represents an amount approximately 1/500th to 1/1000th of the amount of silver considered to be a risk in the development of Argyria. Most cases of Argyria reported in the medical literature over the last 100 years involved chronic intravenous or intramuscular use of the silver preparations, most often involving a silver drug prescribed by physicians which in most cases contained silver nitrate. Other cases of Argyria reported in the medical literature involve application of silver preparations used for many months or years in the treatment of the eye or vagina for certain diseases. We could not locate a single case of orally consumed colloidal silver manufactured in the last 25 years causing Argyria in our review of the literature. This is probably due to the low levels of silver contained in such preparations, since only very small amounts of silver are needed for its antiseptic effect. Humans consume approximately 100 micrograms of silver every day in the diet. Additional amounts within this range would be considered safe by all reasonable estimates, especially if the amount needed to develop Argyria would be equivalent of 380,000 micrograms (or 3.8 grams) of silver a day. As for the efficacy of silver preparations, we found considerable scientific evidence published over the last 75 years that a number of silver compounds can be effective germicidal (antiseptic) agents against several hundred pathogenic organisms. However, silver is not termed an antibiotic as some have claimed because an antibiotic by definition is derived from a living organism. I hope this information is of assistance. We appreciate the concerns expressed at this time by some of your distributors and customers based on the recent proposed rule-making of the FDA. However, that rule-making seems directed at OTC drug-like silver preparation, products that contain magnitudes of silver greater than might be found in a normal colloidal silver product. Sincerely, Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D. Director, Life Sciences Division John Hopkins University Dr. Alexander Schauss, Ph.D. Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D., is the Director of the Life Sciences Division of the American Institute for Biosocial Research, Inc. in Tacoma, WA. He is a member of the Government's Commission on Dietary Supplements. He holds joint faculty positions as Associate Professor of Research and Senior Director of Research and Development at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences, in Tempe, AZ. And, as Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, OR. Dr. Schauss is an Emeritus Member of the New York Academy of Sciences, former Chairman of the Food Policy Council of the National Council for Public Health Policy, Founding Member of the British Society of Nutritional Medicine, Emeritus Executive Director of the American Preventive Medical Association, Emeritus Executive Director and current President of Citizens for Health, and a member of the American Public Health Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is an accomplished author and lecturer, and has appeared on almost every major radio and television talk show in the United States. His most recent book, "MINERALS, TRACE ELEMENTS AND HUMAN HEALTH" has become a national best seller. Metabolic Solutions Info Report Metabolic Solutions Institute 902-584-3810 Argyria rebuttal The term Argyria describes the condition of a bluish gray color of the skin, and Argyosis the bluing of the eye white, resulting from the use of SILVER COMPOUNDS. To better understand the misconception regarding Argyria, I will quote from the book "The Micro Silver Bullet"(tm) by Dr. M. Paul Farber 1996 page XII (ISBN 1-887742-00-X) In reference to a "Journal of American Medical Association" article, October 18 1995, volume 274 # 15, where cases of Argyria were cited to have been caused by silver compounds (not colloidal silver, but silver mixed with other metals), note: "These Case history presentations represent biased and unprofessional writing. The author's apparent inability to understand the difference between a silver nitrate, sulfide, or other silver compound demon-strates their lack of understanding of basic chemical properties. The matrix, substrate, and particle size are all critical to the varied functions and reactions with use of these products. That is why there has not been a single case of Argyria from a properly manufactured modern-day colloidal silver product. [editors emphasis] The cases of Argyria reported in the 1920's and 1930's resulted because the technology of the day was unable to produce a pure colloidal silver product with a small enough particle size." Ref. (4-A) The reported cases of Argyria usually involved very high and frequent doses over extended periods of time of silver salts/compounds such as silver sulfate, silver nitrate, silver chloride, etc. "...we recently completed an extensive review of the scientific literature on the safety of silver, especially as it relates to its one known potential side effect, namely, Argyria. Argyia is an irreversible discoloration of the pigment (skin) caused by excessive silver intake or chronic exposure to silver by certain tissues. The amount of silver required to develop Argyria is estimated to be 3.8 grams per day. By comparison standard 10 ppm colloidal silver contains silver in amounts equaling less than 1 milligram of silver (1,000 micrograms = 1 milligram; 1,000 milligrams - 1 gram), which therefore represents an amount approximately 1/500th to 1/1000th of the amount of silver considered to be a risk in the development of Argyria. Most cases of Argyria reported in the medical literature over the last 100 years involved chronic intravenous or intramuscular use of the silver preparations, most often involving a silver drug prescribed by physicians which in most cases contained silver nitrate. Other cases of Argyria reported in the medical literature involve application of silver preparations used for many months or years in the treatment of the eye or vagina for certain diseases. We could not locate a single case of orally consumed colloidal silver manufactured in the last 25 years causing Argyria in our review of the literature." Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D. Director, Life Sciences Division John Hopkins University The Environmental Protection Agency's Poison Control Center reports no toxicity listing for Colloidal Silver; it is therefore considered harmless in any concentration. However all of the silver salts are identified as toxic, although the only adverse effect noted is Argyria. Therefore the concern is with silver salts not Colloidal Silver.  Metabolic Solutions Info Report Metabolic Solutions Institute 902-584-3810 BYU study shows colloidal silver is as good as penicillin By Lois M. Collins Deseret, News staff writer Tests of a colloidal silver solution have concluded that it provides an alternative to antibiotics. Researchers in Brigham Young University's department of microbiology were asked to test the antimicrobial activity of Colloidal Silver. Silver is "colloidal" when it is suspended in small amounts in liquid. Silver in various forms has been used for centuries as an antimicrobial agent. In the 1800s and early 1900s, people put silver coins in their water barrels to kill microbes and make the water potable. A silver nitrate ointment is applied to the eyes of newborn babies to prevent certain eye problems. And silver sulphadiazine is regularly used to treat burn wounds. Use of Colloidal Silver, once common, faded with the advent of antibiotics. Recently, though, concerns about overuse of antibiotics and the development of antibiotic-resistant microbes has lead to a resurgence of silver's popularity. And with good reason, according to the study, conducted by BYU's David A. Revelli, microbiologist, and Ron W. Leavitt. The study compared Colloidal Silver to five classes of antibiotics: the tetracyclines, fluorinated quinolones (Ofloxacin), the penicillins, the cephalosporins (Cefaperazone) and the macrolides (Erythromycin). Both the silver and antibiotics were tested on a variety of microorganisms, including streptococcuses, pneumonia, E. coli, salmonella, shigella and others. According to the study, silver "exhibits an equal or broader spectrum of activity than any one antibiotic tested." Where each antibiotic was effective against specific susceptible organisms, silver "is equally effective" against both gram positive and gram negative organisms. "The data suggests that with the absence of toxicity associated with Colloidal Silver, in general, and the broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity of Colloidal Silver, it may be effectively used as an alternative to antibiotics," Revelli and Leavitt wrote. Dr. Dianne Farley-Jones, a family practitioner, recommends Colloidal Silver to her patients for external problems. She hasn't used it internally much, though she said it works quite well for ear infections. "With any kind of abrasion or skin problem, it works really well and really fast. And it seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect, though that hasn't been proven." Colloidal Silver also seems to have an antiviral effect, Farley-Jones said. She's used it at different times but hadn't recommended it until she saw the BYU research data. Now she encourages patients to use it as a nasal rinse for sinus infection or to spray their throats if they feel like they're getting a viral sore throat.   Metabolic Solutions Info Report Metabolic Solutions Institute 902-584-3810 Can Silver Treat AIDS? by Nancy Robey mn@primenet.com ; www.colloidal-silver.com Is there a simple, inexpensive treatment for AIDS? Perhaps so. An obscure but crucial discovery was made at the Biochemsitry Unit of Upjohn Laboratories in 1991: "Among a number of metal ions tested, Zn2+ (zinc), Cn2+ (copper), and Ag1+ (silver) were found to be the most effective inhibitors of renin and the HIV protease (data not shown). Kenectic analysis revealed that inhibition of renin by Ag1+ (silver) is basically identical with that seen with Zn2+ (zinc), i.e., concompetitive, first order with respect to the metal." Biochemistry, September 10, 1991. Further testing at Upjohn, including a clinical trial, revealed that zinc was toxic in effective dosages. This was the first report that silver is a highly effective protease inhibitor. Over the following years, this same discovery would be made several times. The following article is from the Orem Herald of Provo, Utah, February 13, 1992, on page D1: The small glass vial is filled with clear liquid resembling water. But an Orem resident is convinced it contains the cure for AIDS. "I don't have a doubt in my mind. It's what eats me alive at night," says Daryle Tichy. Suspended in the liquid, which is mostly distilled water, are ultrafine particles of positively charged silver. By researching within several different sciences, Tichy has determined that the solution will kill the AIDS virus without harming the human body. Tichy, a full time member of the administrative staff at Brigham Young University's physical plant, said he considers himself a searcher, not a researcher. He looks for patterns and answers to problems by crossing the boundaries of different disciplines such as physics and medicine... Tichy said he had the material tested at two different labs; results showed the solution killed a variety of pathogens, including the HIV virus. A year later, this same discovery was made at the University Medical Center in Geneva, Switzerland: "Metal-binding proteins are important components of retroviruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Therefore, metals could be used as antiviral agents...silver is a highly active bactericidal metal with little toxicity for humans. Silver has also been shown to be a potent inhibitor of HIV protease." Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, December 30, 1992. Three years later, Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, made this same discovery apparently independently: "We tested the ability of biotic silver protein to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in the human T cell line, SupT 1, as measured by syncytia formation. We found that pure silver protein inhibited HIV-1 replication in SupT 1 cells as measured by a reduction in the appearance syncytia in cell culture. There appeared to be little if any acute toxicity associated with the dose of biotic silver protein which inhibited HIV-1 replication...These results are very encouraging and suggest additional experiments that could be done..." Earl E. Henderson, Ph.D. Professor. The following March 20, 1995, Professor Earl E. Henderson released the findings of another experiment at Temple University: "My laboratory has studied the effects of special formulation of biotic silver protein on human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) survival and on latency reactivation of HIV-1 in the human lymphoblastoid B cell line, M57-3...The results of the...experiment show that exposure of HIV-1 to 1000 ppm of special formulation of silver protein for one hour at 37 degrees Centigrade completely eliminates infectious HIV-1 as measured by syncytia formation on SupT 1 cells..."   This is what an AIDS patient says about silver therapy: "I was infected with HIV through a forced infection in 1991. I tested positive for the HIV antibody November 18, 1991; of course, the same day as my birthday. From that day forward, my life became something totally beyond anything I could have expected...It has been rough, though. HIV has helped me so, so much. The experience has given me access to my own soul again, to a living, breathing relationship with Spirit; regardless, I have literally gone to hell for much of it...While I had plenty of good days, I was getting more and more bad days... "The 106 degree fevers began to return, the intense body pain, the harsh, long-lasting chills... I began to make my own immediate funeral arrangements....and then this voice popped into my head and told me to get the hell on colloidal silver RIGHT NOW! Sure enough, within a week I had begun to gain the weight I had lost back, and in two weeks, I had gone back to mountain climbing. Wow! I still feel absolutely incredible. I have symptoms of nothing and I am back to my hyperactive self. This new dosing of silver seems to be taking care of my oral thrush problem and is keeping the MAC at bay...I'd like to think I could be cured of this disease...I feel so good that, if I was to start getting sick again and move closer to death, I would be so thankful for this period of absolute health that it would be okay. I do not know how long I am to live, nor do I know how my death will come." T. W. Metabolic Solutions Info Report Metabolic Solutions Institute 902-584-3810   Colloidal Silver F.A.Q. 1. Q. What does "Colloidal" mean? A. The word "Colloidal" refers to something which has such a small particle size that when it is suspended (not dissolved) in a liquid medium (such as water) the particles neither sink to the bottom nor float to the top. The particles are also "ionic", which means that all the particles have the same molecular charge, so they repel each other. In the case of Colloidal Silver (CS), the particles are as small as 1/7,000th the size of a red blood cell, which makes them very easy to assimilate.   2. Q. What about purity? How long does Colloidal Silver last?   A Colloidal Silver doesn't "spoil" like most other supplements do. Since no organisms can live in CS, nothing can make it "spoil". When CS is made using the low-voltage method, over a period of time some of the silver ions lose their charge and are attracted to other nearby ions, where they clump or "aggregate" together. When this happens, the CS begins to change color as the silver particles become large enough to refract light. Depending upon the batch - how long it was "brewed", what kind of "starter" was used, what level voltage and current was used, what type of purified water was used, etc. - the CS may acquire a color ranging from light yellow to dark gold, or even a grayish cloudiness. None of this effects the efficacy of CS. Even were the CS to reach a color of dark brown or purple, it would not be toxic, though it is believed by many that it is less assimilable. When using the high-voltage method to make CS, the CS solution becomes very stable, and this "aggregation" is much less likely to occur, causing the CS to have a very long "shelf-life".   3. Q. So CS is never toxic or dangerous?   A CS must be made using water which is free from all minerals or contaminants; otherwise, while it is being made, the silver ions may join with other minerals in the water to form various silver salts, or compounds (like silver-nitrate, or silver-chloride). Some of these compounds are thought to be toxic to the human body. Generally, the best form of water is steam distilled or de-ionized water. 4. Q. What about Argyria, the "blue skin" disease? A The reality is that there is not a single recorded case anywhere of anyone developing Argyria from the use of Colloidal Silver. What few cases are on record involve the extended use over long periods of time of enormous quantities of silver salts, meaning silver joined with other, sometimes toxic, substances (like silver-nitrate). No amount of Colloidal Silver has ever been shown to cause Argyria. 5. Q. What is the best ppm to use? How much CS is needed? A The letters, ppm, stand for Parts Per Million. Based upon reports from Health Professionals all over the world, the presence of silver ions in almost any ppm is beneficial to the human body. In 1996, Dr. I. H. Tipton reported in the journal, "Health Physics", that the ideal daily intake of silver was 50-100 mcg. He believes silver to be an important trace mineral used by the body like chromium and selenium. Dr. Paul Farber reported, "Information about how much silver may have been in our ancestors diet is speculative; however, given the authoritative report by our own government some 60 years ago there is reason to believe that supplementing the body's intake of silver makes sense. One tsp of 10 PPM colloidal silver .001 to .004 particle size contains approximately 50 mcg (millionths of a gram). Therefore two teaspoons would contain an equivalent level to that found in the USA food supply of more than 60 years ago. It could be argued that the amount taken to reach a level equal to our pre-industrialized ancestors could even be more than double that figure." Remarkable results have been reported with ppm levels as low as .3 ppm. That's one third of 1 ppm! Some CS producers claim to make their product as high as 1000 ppm, using 10,000 volts of electricity. But the beneficial effect appears to be consistently positive, whatever the ppm or quantities of CS consumed. Some people experience benefits ingesting as little as 1/4 teaspoon per day, while others settle on 1 to 2 ounces or more per day. 6. Q. What happens if I take too much? Can I overdose? A. The only negative effect reported by CS users is a phenomenon called the "Herxheimer effect", named after doctor Karl Herxheimer (who identified this phenomenon). Sometimes, when a person starts off for the first time ingesting a large amount of CS, the CS is so efficient at killing pathogens in the body that the body cannot adequately dispose of the dead pathogens through the normal eliminative organs, and it resorts to the secondary ones, the lungs, sinuses and skin. Or the CS user may experience diarrhoea, as the body tries to flush itself out. In that case, one merely needs to reduce or temporarily stop the CS until the healing crisis is over, and then start taking smaller amounts of CS. A new European Union Drinking Water Standard in draft form has removed any limitations on silver in drinking water following the World Health Organisation’s "Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality" which states, "It is unnecessary to recommend any health-based guidelines for silver as it is not hazardous to human health." According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Poison Control Center, CS is considered harmless. Dr. Samuel Etris, a senior consultant at the Silver Institute, says there has never been any allergenic, toxic or carcinogenic reactions to CS. The U.S. Government's Center for Disease Control confirmed that fact in 1995. Metabolic Solutions Info Series Metabolic Solutions Institute 902-584-3810 CS for Candida, Yeast Infections, and Athlete's Foot by Marvin Robey Yeast and mold infections are among the most difficult to treat of human ailments. Some of them are also among the most debilitating, such as candida yeast. Candida yeast will readily grow in any moist area of the body, such as the mouth ("thrush"), groin ("jock itch"), vagina ("yeast infection"), and intestines. Candida yeast is found naturally in the body, but is normally kept under control by friendly bacteria, such as acidophilus. But candida yeast often gets out of control following the use of antibiotics. The antibiotic kills off the friendly acidophilus and aerobic bacteria but does not affect the yeast. Without the friendly organisms such as the multiple strains of acidophilus to control it, candida grows fast. The excess sugar of diabetes will also provide food for yeast, causing it to proliferate. Diabetics are therefore especially prone to this type of problem. The intestines form perfect breeding grounds for candida. If the condition becomes bad enough, eventually the candida irritate an area of the intestine so much that their toxins penetrate the intestinal wall into the blood stream, where they can break down the immune system. Soon the candida infection itself passes through the intestinal wall and the white blood cells are consumed in their struggle to control the infection, further destroying the immune system. Thus, candida is a common contributor to many diseases and conditions, such as AIDS, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds, flus, etc. Almost all disease and health problems are greatly aggravated by candida. Candida can sometimes be controlled by increasing the acidity of the body, especially the area the yeast is growing in. This can be done by eating acid foods, such as vinaigrette salad dressings, and by applying vinegar mixed with water to the problem area. The best antibiotic commonly used to treat this condition is Nystatin. But Nystatin is only marginally effective against yeast, and remember that the problems probably started with the use of antibiotics to begin with. Normally the body can handle minor yeast infections. However, when the yeast reaches the infectious stage wherein it is poisoning the blood and the immune system grows weak, such infections as athlete's foot, vaginal yeast infections, and fungus infections under the nails cannot be fought off. A common treatment for the general infection is a diet completely free of all sugars, even fruit and starches along with taking Nystatin. However, anyone who has tried this treatment will tell you that this very strict diet is almost impossible to follow and does little more than keep the infection from proliferating. The most effective tools against yeast infections of all kinds are acidophilus (yoghurt), Colloidal Silver, and upper colonics. Combined, they can rid the body of yeast infections about as fast as the body can dispose of the toxins from dead cultures. However, disposing of these toxins can be a real problem, for two reasons. First of all, if the intestinal infection is killed off too sudden, it is possible for the intestines to become blocked. Obviously this can be serious and sometimes requires professional treatment to clear the bowels. Second, the body tends to dispose of toxins from the blood through the skin, which causes an itchy rash when the process is too fast. Toxins from dead spores can also strain the liver and kidneys. Therefore, it is wise to take as much acidophilus as is convenient, but to build up the use of Colloidal Silver gradually, usually starting with one teaspoon of colloidal silver a day, of about ten parts per million, or the equivalent. This is usually increased by about one oz. per day until a breaking out appears or the conditions are relieved. The Colloidal Silver provides a three-fold attack on the problems of candida. First, it kills off anaerobic bacteria and virii wherever it comes in contact with them. Therefore, it virtually provides a secondary immune system against all types of disease and infections, while treating the candida. Thus much of the problems of candida are treated immediately, before the candida can be cleaned out of the system. Second, Colloidal Silver is unusually effective in treating the candida infection itself. And third, it has a strange and dynamic way of healing injured and damaged tissues fast. Since yeast infections of all kinds usually attack and consume the living tissue, a healing process is badly needed, and Colloidal Silver has a very unique way of healing these tissues fast. Users continually report that Colloidal Silver will cure athlete's foot, vaginal yeast infections, as well as candida infections of the skin very quickly and then heals the damaged tissues. However, these are often signs of an inner infection. Until the yeast infection within the body is cured, external infections keep on returning. That is no reason not to treat these conditions. But if they return, it is time to look to the source of the problems as being inward. One can, of course, find explanations for the sources of the reinfection. However, a healthy body seldom succumbs to these infections. Colloidal Silver used internally and locally is a most effective treatment available today for all of these conditions.     PART 2 Colloidal Silver in Medical Literature AIDS Study Eight people recover from the AIDS virus in a scientifically documented study. An additional seven AIDS patients recover as verified by anecdotal reports, as reported by Dr. M. Paul Farber, M.P. N.D., Ph.D., D.C. Author of the "Micro Silver Bullet TM" 4th Edition, November 1996 ISBN 1-87742-00 X Pages XIII & XVI. Lyme Disease "Borrelia burgdorferi and hermsti, organisms associated with causing the symptoms of Lyme Disease, were tested at the Department of Health and Human Services, Rocky Mountain Laboratories and Fox Chase Cancer Center, respectively, in 1995; in the Rocky Mountain Labs study, it was demonstrated that no live spirochetes of either borrellia burgdorferi [B310 Orhermsti (HS-1)] survived after 24 hours of exposure to colloidal silver in concentrations of 15 ppm and 150 ppm." - Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, January, 13, 1995, Schuan, Tom, Ph.D., Burgdorfer, Willy, Ph.D. Cancer Research "Research by Dr. Robert O. Becker, and others indicated that in laboratory tests conducted, Colloidal Silver reverted cancer cells back to normal (not kill them but return them to normal). Other observations were made such as a correlation between silver deficiency and illness or proper immune system functioning, burns, soft tissue and bone repair acceleration, and the formation of cells that appear to be able to repair virtually any part of the body. Reduction of inflammation and the antibacterial, germicidal, astringent, antibiotic attributes so far observed are yet to be fully understood." - The Body Electric, Dr. Robert O. Becker ISBN 0688069711 Quill, New York or William Morrow & Company Infections C.E.A. MacLeod reports colloidal silver being used with marked success in the following cases: "Septic and follicular tonsillitis, Vincent's angina, phlyctenular conjunctivitis, gonorrhoeal conjunctivitis, spring catarrh, impetigo (contagious acne of face and body), septic ulcer of legs, ringworm, soft sores, suppurative appendicitis after operation (the wounds cleaned rapidly), pustular eczema of scalp and pubes, chronic eczema of meatus of ear with recurrent boils, chronic suppuration in otitis media, and bromidrosis of feet. By injection: gonorrhoea and chronic cystitis (local), boils, epididymitis." - Lancet, Feb. 3, 1912 p. 83. "The germicidal action of certain metals in the colloidal state having been demonstrated, it only remained to apply them to the human subject, and this has been done in a large number of cases with astonishingly successful results. It is not suggested that colloidal metal solutions have no disadvantages, but for internal administration, either orally or hypodermically, they have the advantage of being rapidly fatal to the parasites both bacterial and otherwise without any toxic action on the host. Colloidal silver solution is quite stable even in the presence of salts and the normal constituents of the blood. Its destructive action on toxins is very marked, so that it will protect rabbits from ten times the lethal dose of tetanic (from tetanus) or diphtheric toxin." - Searle, A. B. The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease (Quoting from the British Medical Journal, May 12, 1917 p.83), E.P. Dutton & Company, New York, 1919, p.75 Metabolic Solutions Info Report Metabolic Solutions Institute 902-584-3810 Professional Quotes Regarding Colloidal Silver "... in this eye-opening research, silver is emerging as a wonder of modern medicine... perhaps, it soon will be recognized as: OUR MIGHTIEST GERM FIGHTER. For example, even the most powerful pharmaceutical antibiotics are effective against only a small number of microorganisms, and then only until drug-resistant strains develop. Yet, research at Washington University School of Medicine ... has shown that silver is bactericidal to nearly 650 different disease-causing organisms, and that silver-resistant bacteria strains do not develop." ---Science Digest "It killed not only the HIV virus, but every virus that was tested in the lab." ---U.C.L.A. Medical Center "When silver was present, the cancer cell de-differentiated and the body was restored." Dr. Gary Smith "...major enhancement of both the rate and competency of the healing process...the germ-killing of silver has been known for some time...the Soviets use silver ions to sterilize recycled water aboard their space stations... It kills even antibiotic strains, and also works on fungus infections... It stimulates bone-forming cells, cures the most common stubborn infections of all kinds of bacteria, and stimulates healing in the skin and other soft tissues." Robert O. Becker, M.D. -author of The Body Electric "... studies showed the spectrum of organisms susceptible to electrically generated silver ions was wide and .... compared favorably with...other antibiotics" --- J.A. Spadaro, Ph.D. "I know of no microbe that is not killed in laboratory experiments in six minutes." Dr. Henry Crooks "...the colloidal metals... are remarkable for their beneficial action in infective states."--- Dr. Hirschberg, John Hopkins Hospital "Silver is one of the most universal antibiotic substances. When administered in the colloidal form, it is for all practical purposes non-toxic. Silver has been proven to be effective against hundreds of infectious conditions. It has tremendous anti-microbial power; the history of safe and successful colloidal silver use is extensive, and the number of current health professionals and individuals that successfully utilize colloidal silver to reduce the length and severity of infectious disorders is growing exponentially." Zane Baranowski, CN "To primitive life forms...silver is as toxic as the most powerful chemical disinfectants and this, coupled with its relative harmlessness to animate life (i.e. mammals), gives it great potential as a disinfectant." N.R. Thompson - Runcorn Health Laboratory in England "With the many research reports and personal testimonials of it being a full spectrum natural antibiotic that destroys virtually all known and developing/mutating pleomorphic pathogens would be a lot of excitement regarding colloidal silver, especially from within the medical community...The harsh reality regarding the FDA, AMA, Pharmaceutical, and scientific community is that there appears to be a lack of enthusiasm. Reluctance to help validate the effectiveness of colloidal silver seems all too common. Although this is changing, the reason for the possible resistance may be rooted primarily in economics. For example, colloidal silver is regarded by the FDA as a pre-1938 drug. Moreover, the FDA does not have jurisdiction regarding a pure mineral element. There has been no incentive for the aforementioned bodies to go through the expensive process of controlled studies to provide proof regarding uses and effectiveness, such as the UCLA and others have done." E. Vincent Goetsch in his book, "Colloidal Silver Maker & Researcher's Manual" "Silver is emerging as a wonder of modern medicine. An antibiotic kills perhaps a half-dozen different disease organisms, but silver kills some 650! Resistant strains fail to develop. Moreover, silver is virtually non-toxic." The Association for Advanced Colloid Research "Silver Colloids greatly assist in eliminating all known pathogens and guard against opportunistic infections. This 'second immune system' is synergistic..." Dr. Robert C. Beck, DSc., wrote in "Explore!" "Colloidal silver is very effective in treating periodontal disease (gum disease). My patients enjoy the clean fresh breath as colloidal silver immediately cleanses the mouth and destroys odor-causing bacteria. I would recommend that colloidal silver solutions be used after each dental procedure or surgery to eliminate infection and speed healing." S.R. Cobble, D.D.S. Obstetrics and Gynecology "The medicine department of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA conducted tests in 1988 regarding the use of silver solutions as disinfectants. Anti-microbial and anti-bacterial effects were demonstrated in 10/5 concentrations per milliliter of the following: neisseria gonorrhea, gardurella vaginalisis, streptococcus pyogenes, staphylococcus aureus, candida albicans, candida eolobata, m. furfur, salmonella typhi." Larry C. Ford, M.D., UCLA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCLA School of Medicine, November, 1, 1988. AIDS Study "Eight people recover from the AIDS virus in a scientifically documented study. An additional seven AIDS patients recover as verified by anecdotal reports". Dr. M. Paul Farber, M.P. N.D., Ph.D., D.C. Author of the "Micro Silver Bullet TM" 4th Edition, November 1996 ISBN 1-87742-00 X Pages XIII & XVI. Lyme Disease "Borrelia burgdorferi and hermsti, organisms associated with causing the symptoms of Lyme Disease, were tested at the Department of Health and Human Services, Rocky Mountain Laboratories and Fox Chase Cancer Center, respectively, in 1995; in the Rocky Mountain Labs study, it was demonstrated that no live spirochetes of either borrellia burgdorferi [B310 orhermsti (HS-1)] survived after 24 hours of exposure to colloidal silver in concentrations of 15 ppm and 150 ppm." Schuan, Tom, Ph.D., Burgdorfer, Willy Ph.D. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, January, 13, 1995. Cancer Research Research by Dr. Robert O. Becker, and others indicated that laboratory tests conducted reverted cancer cells back to normal (not kill them but return them to normal). Other observations made such as a correlation between silver deficiency and illness or proper immune system functioning, burns, soft tissue and bone repair acceleration, and the formation of cells that appear to be able to repair virtually any part of the body. Reduction of inflammation and the antibacterial, germicidal, astringent, antibiotic attributes so far observed are yet to be fully understood. The Body Electric, Dr. Robert O. Becker ISBN 0688069711 Quill, New York or William Morrow & Company The Environmental Protection Agency's Poison Control Center reports no toxicity listing for Colloidal Silver; it is therefore considered harmless in any concentration. However, all of the silver salts are identified as toxic, although the only adverse effect noted is Argyria. Therefore the concern is with silver salts and compounds, not colloidal silver. C.E. A. MacLeod reports colloidal silver being used with marked success in the following cases: "Septic and follicular tonsillitis, Vincent's angina, phlyctenular conjunctivitis, gonorrheal conjunctivitis, spring catarrh, impetigo (contagious acne of face and body), septic ulcer of legs, ringworm, soft sores, suppurative appendicitis after operation (the wounds cleaned rapidly), pustular eczema of scalp and pubes, chronic eczema of meatus of ear with recurrent boils, chronic suppuration in otitis media, and bromidrosis of feet. By injection: gonnorrhoea and chronic cystitis (local), boils, epididymitis." Lancet, Feb. 3, 1912 p. 83. "The germicidal action of certain metals in the colloidal state having been demonstrated, it only remained to apply them to the human subject, and this has been done in a large number of cases with astonishingly successful results. For internal administration, either orally or hypodermically, they have the advantage of being rapidly fatal to the parasites both bacterial and otherwise without any toxic action on the host. Colloidal silver solution is quite stable even in the presence of salts and the normal constituents of the blood. Its destructive action on toxins is very marked, so that it will protect rabbits from ten times the lethal dose of tetanic (from tetanus) or diphtheric toxin." Searle, A. B. The Use of Colloids Health and Disease (Quoting from the British Medical Journal, May 12, 1917 p.83), E.P. Dutton & Company, New York, 1919, p.75 John Meredith, an experienced medical writer, has written a good article entitled: "The Rebellion of Germs Against Antibiotics". Mr. Meredith points out the dangers of the modern world for the easy spread of infections that antibiotics can do nothing about. He explains why drug companies hate natural remedies. They do not make available grant money to study what they feel that they cannot make money on. Mr. Meredith makes reference to a number of cases that colloidal silver has helped including "Gulf War Syndrome" and a number of common medical conditions. He makes reference to a Dr. Tipton who feels that it should be a daily mineral supplement. The article makes a point on why every household should keep colloidal silver on their shelves. It is great to protect children and the elderly. A reference is make about protection from food poisoning which is becoming more and more a serious public health issue. Metabolic Solutions Info Series Metabolic Solutions Institute 902-584-3810 Silver Ion Therapy for HIV/AIDS and Septicemia by Dr. Charles D. Beal, M.D. Silver in various forms has long been known to be microbiocidal. In recent years it has been used to sterilize waste water, often in combination with chlorine as a means to reduce the dosage of chlorine needed. Silver iodide and other silver salts have been used Medically as antiseptics for decades. In l978, Dr. Robert O. Becker, an orthopedic surgeon, treated a series of infected, open long bone fractures, resistant to all available antibiotics. He used silver ions produced by a low intensity direct current (LIDC) applied to silver coated nylon meshes placed on the open wounds. The report showed excellent results, but did not generate much interest in the medical community, which continued to rely on new antibiotics as they became available, but still with not infrequent failures. In 1989, while attending the international AIDS Conference in San Francisco, Philip Burris, Ph.D., wondered if silver ions could be used to kill the HIV virus in humans. He was able to have done in vitro studies showing that the LIDC technology could prevent the transmission of the HIV virus from infected to non-infected lymphocytes without damaging the lymphocytes. Other studies showed many bacteria to be quite sensitive to silver ions, with human cells being much less sensitive. Waste water studies of viruses occurring in sewage found the hepatitis A virus to be the most resistant to silver ions, the polio virus less resistant, and the rotovirus the most sensitive. The hepatitis virus, of course, is known to be quite resistant to antiseptics, heat and drying. The method appears useful for the eradication of Legionella pneumophilia from cooling systems. Rationale for Treatment of HIV With Silver Ions: Silver ions are produced in enormous quantities when an electric current is passed through silver metal in saline or other conducting solution, including blood. The amount of current needed is much lower than the current needed to affect the heart muscle. Silver ions are positively charged while viruses and bacteria have a weak negative charge. Thus, there is a mutual attraction between the ions and the organisms, the latter being inactivated by the ions. It seems likely that the silver ions also attach to red blood cells and proteins in the blood, as well as combining with chloride ions. Nevertheless, the enormous quantity of silver ions produced appear adequate to destroy the viral particles. The half-life of the ions in the blood is calculated to be 7.8 seconds, giving them time to react with many virons, particularly if the electrode is placed in a large blood vessel, such as the superior vena cava, which empties directly into the heart with blood from many different veins. The blood entering the heart then is pumped immediately to the lungs where the ions should still be active. It is not known, however, whether silver ions delivered via the blood stream will be found to be useful to treat pulmonary infections. The blood returning to the heart after oxygenation then is distributed to the remainder of the body. An electrode placed in an artery should be able to deliver the ions directly and rapidly to the target organ. How practical or effective such treatment would be is not known. Animal Studies Both cats and certain primates can be infected with a fatal disease caused by retroviruses similar to HIV. The feline immuno-deficiency virus (FIV) appears to be transmitted to other cats through the saliva, that is, through biting. FIV is not known to be infectious to humans. Dr. Burris was able to obtain one very ill FIV infected cat from a neighbor, but could not convince any veterinarian in the area to treat the cat with silver ions. Eventually he found a research veterinarian practicing in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, who anaesthetised the cat, placed a silicone rubber catheter containing a silver wire protruding from its end into the superior vena cava via a jugular vein. A cathode was attached to the skin of the chest. The microamp power indicated above was applied for 22 minutes by means of a small power supply, followed by the nanoamp power for 90 minutes. It was assumed that the cat would soon die of its disease. Thus the primary purpose of this treatment was to determine silver levels in the blood. It was found that the natural level was increased only briefly by about 10%. All animals maintain trace amounts of silver in the body. Of great interest, however, is that by the second post-treatment day the cat began eating well, and within four weeks the many sores on its back and ears had healed. The cat was treated in March, l996, and at the present appears perfectly healthy. It is not known whether some infectious agents remain in the cat's body. Since that apparently successful effort, attempts have been made to obtain the FIV infected cats for treatment, but so far without success. We have been informed, however, that in recent years neither the FDA nor the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been requiring animal studies prior to evaluating anti-HIV drugs in humans. Human Studies Cesar Garcia Ramirez, MD, practicing in Tijuana, became aware of the FIV treatment, and felt that it would be a compassionate act to at least try the therapy on some of his dying AIDS patients. He obtained permission from the Baja California Division of Public Health, as well as agreement for the treatment protocol from a group of physicians serving as the Institutional Review Board (Human Studies Committee). Volunteer patients were fully informed and signed consent forms. Initially, three very ill patients were chosen. Silver electrodes in silicon rubber catheters were placed in arm veins and passed up as far as the vena cava, or near to it. Each patient was treated for 12 minutes at 2.5 microamps, then for 72 hours at 125 microamps except that one patient was treated for only 48 hours. All three patients felt better by the second day, and considerably better by Day 5. Viral loads dropped precipitously, almost to zero in one patient and much lower than the initial count in the other two. The next three months were spent in equipment improvement, seeking to be able to reduce viral loads rapidly to zero in all patients, and to be able to maintain the zero level for weeks or months if need be until the badly damaged immune system has had time to recover and be able to itself combat the infection. The virus is present not only in the blood stream, but also in lymph nodes and other organs of the body. Currently in the Tijuana study, catheters are implanted in the subclavian vein (behind the clavicle) and extend to the right auricle of heart, with the electrode protruding from the end of the catheter. Since the electrodes in their present form oxidize and stop producing ions in about 5 days, the present system allows the silver electrode to be removed and replaced while the catheter remains in place. Using this method, viral levels have been maintained at zero or nearly so for six weeks in one patient. Her CD4 count is now beginning to rise, as is the total lymphocyte count. Most importantly, she feels much better than prior to treatment. She also was infected with herpes, hepatitis C, toxoplasmosis of the brain, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) affecting one eye. It thus is very surprising that the patient has improved so much. Whether any of these secondary opportunistic infections have in reality been successfully treated can be determined only after prolonged follow-up. Many more patients will need to be treated and followed for these often-fatal complications. In addition to the work described above, 18 AIDS patients, all seriously ill, are now under treatment. The therapy is being done on a compassionate basis, responding to very strong pressure from the local AIDS community, their families and friends. Unfortunately, in none of these 18 is adequate laboratory work being performed, simply because the cost of the rather extensive studies required to document the value of silver ion therapy is too great. Virtually all of these patients are destitute. It is very gratifying, nevertheless, that all of them now are feeling much better, and some quite well. It is little wonder that there is such pressure for treatment. Side Effects of Silver Ion Therapy Until now no side effects attributable to this therapy have been observed. It should be remembered that the present most effective oral therapy available - protease inhibitors used in combination with other drugs - is quite toxic, producing many side effects, enough so that some patients are unable to tolerate the therapy. One patient that was treated with silver ions for only 48 hours had a serious flare-up of his herpes infection soon after the treatment was stopped. On the other hand, the woman described above who was treated for 6 weeks, experienced a disappearance of her herpes lesion. At present it is impossible to say whether the silver ion therapy was the cause of the effect in either case. Silver Metal Toxicity Silver appears to be a relatively non-toxic trace metal for mammals. It is largely metabolized and excreted by the liver into the bile and eliminated from the body. In the past the excessive and long term use of silver compound nose and eye drops in some people were found to produce a grayish discoloration of the skin, termed "Argyria." Even the large amount of silver required to produce this staining appeared to cause no other problems. Some silver compounds, such as silver nitrate, are highly caustic. It has been observed that ingestion of 10 grams of this substance is fatal to human adults, but the amount of colloidal silver entering the body using the above protocol is measured in micrograms. It is not certain that some months of treatment will not produce evidence of toxicity, but it is considered a very good sign that none has been observed so far. Anticipated Further Studies As of the present only 4 patients have been treated and followed with adequate laboratory studies. The ideal design of the equipment and its use in the body continues to need exploration. How long initial therapy needs to be continued remains to be determined, and whether periodic pretreatment will be required can only be determined by long term follow-up of the patients. Whether silver ion therapy will work best in combination with other modes of treatment must be explored. It is believed that for the initial Phase 1 studies conducted in Tijuana a total of 50 patients need to be treated and carefully followed, collecting enough laboratory and clinical data to present to the US FDA, as well as regulatory bodies of other countries, in order to gain permission to continue the trials in the USA and elsewhere. Laboratory research needs to accompany the clinical work. It seems likely that there will be many other applications for silver ion therapy, such as the treatment of septicaemia (bacteremias) and other infections. Septicaemia is a very common cause of death in seriously ill and in some healthy patients who contract antibiotic resistant ("killer") streptococci, as well as other highly pathogenic bloodborne organisms. Septicaemia being bloodborne, should be immediately and forcefully reacted upon by the silver ions. For antibiotic resistant septicaemia there presently are no satisfactory therapeutic options, though many millions of dollars have been spent in the search. Some of the many agents responsible for respiratory infections may respond to the therapy. Preliminary laboratory work can help define which infections are more likely to respond. It is known that some leukaemia and certain other cancers are related to viral infections. Some patients suffering from chronic fatigue and similar syndromes may have indolent viral infections. All of these possibilities need to be explored as to whether or not they will respond to silver ions. Agents of tropical diseases such as malaria, typhoid, Chagas, and leishmaniasis should undergo preliminary laboratory evaluation prior to human trials. Lassa, Ebola and Hanta Viruses, often rapidly fatal, might respond to quite short term, easily administered therapy. Thus almost certainly the most immediate and urgent use of silver ions will be found in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and septicaemia. Still, many other possibilities eventually should be explored. COPYRIGHT 1999. LIFE & HEALTH RESEARCH GROUP. Note: Information printed in this newsletter is received from sources deemed reliable, but no guarantee, express or implied, can be made regarding the accuracy of same. Therefore readers are encouraged to verify for themselves and to their own satisfaction the accuracy of all reports, recommendations, conclusions, comments, and opinions. Additionally, the contents of this newsletter are strictly for information purposes only, and should not in any way be construed as providing or attempting to provide medical advice. You should always consult with a competent and fully- informed medical professional before making any personal or family health-care decisions. CONTACT INFORMATION: Silver Bullet Enterprises 25277 W. Main St., Dept. INT Lenwood, CA 92311 Voice: (760) 253-2988 Fax: (760) 253-1158 Email: barwick@telis.org     Part 3   Colloidal Silver in Medical Literature > > AIDS Study >Eight people recover from the AIDS virus in a >scientifically documented study. An additional seven >AIDS patients recover as verified by anecdotal >reports, as reported by Dr. M. Paul Farber, M.P. N.D., >Ph.D., D.C. Author of the "Micro Silver Bullet TM" 4th >Edition, November 1996 ISBN 1-87742-00 X Pages XIII & >XVI. > >   Lyme Disease >"Borrelia burgdorferi and hermsti, organisms >associated with causing the symptoms of Lyme Disease, >were tested at the Department of Health and Human >Services, Rocky Mountain Laboratories and Fox Chase >Cancer Center, respectively, in 1995; in the Rocky >Mountain Labs study, it was demonstrated that no live >spirochetes of either borrellia burgdorferi [B310 >Orhermsti (HS-1)] survived after 24 hours of exposure >to colloidal silver in concentrations of 15 ppm and >150 ppm." - Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain >Laboratories, January, 13, 1995, Schuan, Tom, Ph.D., >Burgdorfer, Willy, Ph.D.    Cancer Research >"Research by Dr. Robert O. Becker, and others >indicated that in laboratory tests conducted, Colloidal Silver reverted cancer cells back to normal >(not kill them but return them to normal). Other observations were made such as a correlation between >silver deficiency and illness or proper immune system >functioning, burns, soft tissue and bone repair >acceleration, and the formation of cells that appear >to be able to repair virtually any part of the body. >Reduction of inflammation and the antibacterial, >germicidal, astringent, antibiotic attributes so far >observed are yet to be fully understood." - The Body >Electric, Dr. Robert O. Becker ISBN 0688069711 Quill, >New York or William Morrow & Company > >   Infections >C.E.A. MacLeod reports colloidal silver being used >with marked success in the following cases: "Septic >and follicular tonsillitis, Vincent's angina, >phlyctenular conjunctivitis, gonorrhoeal >conjunctivitis, spring catarrh, impetigo (contagious >acne of face and body), septic ulcer of legs, >ringworm, soft sores, suppurative appendicitis after >operation (the wounds cleaned rapidly), pustular >eczema of scalp and pubes, chronic eczema of meatus of >ear with recurrent boils, chronic suppuration in >otitis media, and bromidrosis of feet. By injection: >gonnorrhoea and chronic cystitis (local), boils, >epididymitis." - Lancet, Feb. 3, 1912 p. 83. > >"The germicidal action of certain metals in the >colloidal state having been demonstrated, it only >remained to apply them to the human subject, and this >has been done in a large number of cases with >astonishingly successful results. It is not >suggested that colloidal metal solutions have no >disadvantages, but for internal administration, either >orally or hypodermically, they have the advantage of >being rapidly fatal to the parasites both bacterial >and otherwise without any toxic action on the host. >Colloidal silver solution is quite stable even in the >presence of salts and the normal constituents of the >blood. Its destructive action on toxins is very >marked, so that it will protect rabbits from ten times >the lethal dose of tetanic (from tetanus) or >diphtheric toxin." - Searle, A. B. The Use of Colloids >in Health and Disease (Quoting from the British >Medical Journal, May 12, 1917 p.83), E.P. Dutton & >Company, New York, 1919, p.75 > > >Metabolic Solutions Info Report >Metabolic Solutions Institute >902-584-3810 > >Professional Quotes Regarding Colloidal Silver > >"... in this eye-opening research, silver is emerging >as a wonder of modern medicine... perhaps, it soon >will be recognized as: OUR MIGHTIEST GERM FIGHTER. For >example, even the most powerful pharmaceutical >antibiotics are effective against only a small number >of microorganisms, and then only until drug-resistant >strains develop. Yet, research at Washington >University School of Medicine ... has shown that >silver is bactericidal to nearly 650 different >disease-causing organisms, and that silver-resistant >bacteria strains do not develop." ---Science Digest > >"It killed not only the HIV virus, but every virus >that was tested in the lab." ---U.C.L.A. Medical >Center > >"When silver was present, the cancer cell >de-differentiated and the body was restored." Dr. Gary >Smith > >"...major enhancement of both the rate and competency >of the healing process...the germ-killing of silver >has been known for some time...the Soviets use silver >ions to sterilize recycled water aboard their space >stations... It kills even antibiotic strains, and also >works on fungus infections... It stimulates >bone-forming cells, cures the most common stubborn >infections of all kinds of bacteria, and stimulates >healing in the skin and other soft tissues." Robert O. >Becker, M.D. -author of The Body Electric > >"... studies showed the spectrum of organisms >susceptible to electrically generated silver ions was >wide and .... compared favorably with...other >antibiotics" --- J.A. Spadaro, Ph.D. > >"I know of no microbe that is not killed in laboratory >experiments in six minutes." Dr. Henry Crooks > >"...the colloidal metals... are remarkable for their >beneficial action in infective states."--- Dr. >Hirschberg, John Hopkins Hospital > >"Silver is one of the most universal antibiotic >substances. When administered in the colloidal form, >it is for all practical purposes non-toxic. Silver has >been proven to be effective against hundreds of >infectious conditions. It has tremendous >anti-microbial power; the history of safe and >successful colloidal silver use is extensive, and the >number of current health professionals and individuals >that successfully utilize colloidal silver to reduce >the length and severity of infectious disorders is >growing exponentially." Zane Baranowski, CN > >"To primitive life forms...silver is as toxic as the >most powerful chemical disinfectants and this, coupled >with its relative harmlessness to animate life (i.e. >mammals), gives it great potential as a disinfectant." > N.R. Thompson - Runcorn Health Laboratory in England > >"With the many research reports and personal >testimonials of it being a full spectrum natural >antibiotic that destroys virtually all known and >developing/mutating pleomorphic pathogens would be a >lot of excitement regarding colloidal silver, >especially from within the medical community...The >harsh reality regarding the FDA, AMA, Pharmaceutical, >and scientific community is that there appears to be a >lack of enthusiasm. Reluctance to help validate the >effectiveness of colloidal silver seems all too >common. Although this is changing, the reason for the >possible resistance may be rooted primarily in >economics. For example, colloidal silver is regarded >by the FDA as a pre-1938 drug. Moreover, the FDA does >not have jurisdiction regarding a pure mineral >element. There has been no incentive for the >aforementioned bodies to go through the expensive >process of controlled studies to provide proof >regarding uses and effectiveness, such as the UCLA and >others have done." E. Vincent Goetsch in his book, >"Colloidal Silver Maker & Researcher's Manual" > >"Silver is emerging as a wonder of modern medicine. An antibiotic kills perhaps a half-dozen different disease organisms, but silver kills some 650! Resistant strains fail to develop. Moreover, silver is virtually non-toxic." The Association for Advanced >Colloid Research "Silver Colloids greatly assist in eliminating all known pathogens and guard against opportunistic infections. This 'second immune system' is synergistic..." Dr. Robert C. Beck, DSc., wrote in >"Explore!"  "Colloidal silver is very effective in treating periodontal disease (gum disease). My patients enjoy the clean fresh breath as colloidal silver immediately cleanses the mouth and destroys odor-causing bacteria. I would recommend that colloidal silver solutions be >used after each dental procedure or surgery to eliminate infection and speed healing." S.R. Cobble, D.D.S. Obstetrics and Gynecology "The medicine department of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA conducted tests in 1988 regarding the use of silver solutions as disinfectants. Anti-microbial and anti-bacterial effects were demonstrated in 10/5 concentrations per milliliter of the following: neisseria gonorrhoea, gardurella vaginalisis, streptococcus pyogenes, staphylococcus aureus, candida albicans, candida eolobata, m. furfur, salmonella typhi." Larry C. Ford, M.D., UCLA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCLA School of Medicine, November, 1, 1988. AIDS Study "Eight people recover from the AIDS virus in a scientifically documented study. An additional seven AIDS patients recover as verified by anecdotal reports". Dr. M. Paul Farber, M.P. N.D., Ph.D., D.C. Author of the "Micro Silver Bullet TM" 4th Edition, November 1996 ISBN 1-87742-00 X Pages XIII & XVI. Lyme Disease "Borrelia burgdorferi and hermsti, organisms associated with causing the symptoms of Lyme Disease, were tested at the Department of Health and Human Services, Rocky Mountain Laboratories and Fox Chase Cancer Center, respectively, in 1995; in the Rocky Mountain Labs study, it was demonstrated that no live spirochetes of either borrellia burgdorferi [B310 orhermsti (HS-1)] survived after 24 hours of exposure to colloidal silver in concentrations of 15 ppm and 150 ppm." Schuan, Tom, Ph.D., Burgdorfer, Willy Ph.D. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, January, 13, 1995. Cancer Research Research by Dr. Robert O. Becker, and others indicated that laboratory tests conducted reverted cancer cells back to normal (not kill them but return them to normal). Other observations made such as a correlation between silver deficiency and illness or proper immune system functioning, burns, soft tissue and bone repair acceleration, and the formation of cells that appear to be able to repair virtually any part of the body. Reduction of inflammation and the antibacterial, germicidal, astringent, antibiotic attributes so far observed are yet to be fully understood. The Body Electric, Dr. Robert O. Becker ISBN 0688069711 Quill, New York or William Morrow & Company The Environmental Protection Agency's Poison Control Center reports no toxicity listing for Colloidal Silver; it is therefore considered harmless in any concentration. However, all of the silver salts are >identified as toxic, although the only adverse effect >noted is Argyria. Therefore the concern is with silver >salts and compounds, not colloidal silver. > >C.E. A. MacLeod reports colloidal silver being used >with marked success in the following cases: "Septic >and follicular tonsillitis, Vincent's angina, >phlyctenular conjunctivitis, gonorrheal >conjunctivitis, spring catarrh, impetigo (contagious >acne of face and body), septic ulcer of legs, >ringworm, soft sores, suppurative appendicitis after >operation (the wounds cleaned rapidly), pustular >eczema of scalp and pubes, chronic eczema of meatus of >ear with recurrent boils, chronic suppuration in >otitis media, and bromidrosis of feet. By injection: >gonnorrhoea and chronic cystitis (local), boils, >epididymitis." Lancet, Feb. 3, 1912 p. 83. > >"The germicidal action of certain metals in the >colloidal state having been demonstrated, it only >remained to apply them to the human subject, and this >has been done in a large number of cases with >astonishingly successful results. For internal >administration, either orally or hypodermically, they >have the advantage of being rapidly fatal to the >parasites both bacterial and otherwise without any >toxic action on the host. Colloidal silver solution is >quite stable even in the presence of salts and the >normal constituents of the blood. Its destructive >action on toxins is very marked, so that it will >protect rabbits from ten times the lethal dose of >tetanic (from tetanus) or diphtheric toxin." Searle, >A. B. The Use of Colloids Health and Disease (Quoting >from the British Medical Journal, May 12, 1917 p.83), >E.P. Dutton & Company, New York, 1919, p.75 > >John Meredith, an experienced medical writer, has >written a good article entitled: "The Rebellion of >Germs Against Antibiotics". Mr. Meredith points out >the dangers of the modern world for the easy spread of >infections that antibiotics can do nothing about. He >explains why drug companies hate natural remedies. >They do not make available grant money to study what >they feel that they cannot make money on. Mr. Meredith >makes reference to a number of cases that colloidal >silver has helped including "Gulf War Syndrome" and a >number of common medical conditions. He makes >reference to a Dr. Tipton who feels that it should be >a daily mineral supplement. The article makes a point >on why every household should keep colloidal silver on >their shelves. It is great to protect children and the >elderly. A reference is make about protection from >food poisoning which is becoming more and more a >serious public health issue. > > >Metabolic Solutions Info Series >Metabolic Solutions Institute >902-584-3810 > >Silver Ion Therapy for HIV/AIDS and Septicemia > >by Dr. Charles D. Beal, M.D. > >Silver in various forms has long been known to be >microbiocidal. In recent years it has been used to >sterilize waste water, often in combination with >chlorine as a means to reduce the dosage of chlorine >needed. Silver iodide and other silver salts have been >used Medically as antiseptics for decades. In l978, >Dr. Robert O. Becker, an orthopedic surgeon, treated a >series of infected, open long bone fractures, >resistant to all available antibiotics. He used silver >ions produced by a low intensity direct current (LIDC) >applied to silver coated nylon meshes placed on the >open wounds. > >The report showed excellent results, but did not >generate much interest in the medical community, which >continued to rely on new antibiotics as they became >available, but still with not infrequent failures. In >1989, while attending the international AIDS >Conference in San Francisco, Philip Burris, Ph.D., >wondered if silver ions could be used to kill the HIV >virus in humans. He was able to have done in vitro >studies showing that the LIDC technology could prevent >the transmission of the HIV virus from infected to >non-infected lymphocytes without damaging the >lymphocytes. Other studies showed many bacteria to be >quite sensitive to silver ions, with human cells being >much less sensitive. Waste water studies of viruses >occurring in sewage found the hepatitis A virus to be >the most resistant to silver ions, the polio virus >less resistant, and the rotovirus the most sensitive. >The hepatitis virus, of course, is known to be quite >resistant to antiseptics, heat and drying. The method >appears useful for the eradication of Legionella >pneumophilia from cooling systems. > >Rationale for Treatment of HIV With Silver Ions: > >Silver ions are produced in enormous quantities when >an electric current is passed through silver metal in >saline or other conducting solution, including blood. >The amount of current needed is much lower than the >current needed to affect the heart muscle. Silver ions >are positively charged while viruses and bacteria have >a weak negative charge. Thus, there is a mutual >attraction between the ions and the organisms, the >latter being inactivated by the ions. It seems likely >that the silver ions also attach to red blood cells >and proteins in the blood, as well as combining with >chloride ions. Nevertheless, the enormous quantity of >silver ions produced appear adequate to destroy the >viral particles. The half-life of the ions in the >blood is calculated to be 7.8 seconds, giving them >time to react with many virons, particularly if the >electrode is placed in a large blood vessel, such as >the superior vena cava, which empties directly into >the heart with blood from many different veins. The >blood entering the heart then is pumped immediately to >the lungs where the ions should still be active. It is >not known, however, whether silver ions delivered via >the blood stream will be found to be useful to treat >pulmonary infections. The blood returning to the heart > after oxygenation then is distributed to the >remainder of the body. An electrode placed in an >artery should be able to deliver the ions directly and >rapidly to the target organ. How practical or >effective such treatment would be is not known. > >Animal Studies > >Both cats and certain primates can be infected with a >fatal disease caused by retroviruses similar to HIV. >The feline immuno-deficiency virus (FIV) appears to be >transmitted to other cats through the saliva, that is, >through biting. FIV is not known to be infectious to >humans. Dr. Burris was able to obtain one very ill FIV >infected cat from a neighbor, but could not convince >any veterinarian in the area to treat the cat with >silver ions. Eventually he found a research >veterinarian practicing in Tijuana, Baja California, >Mexico, who anesthetized the cat, placed a silicone >rubber catheter containing a silver wire protruding >from its end into the superior vena cava via a jugular >vein. A cathode was attached to the skin of the chest. >The microamp power indicated above was applied for 22 >minutes by means of a small power supply, followed by >the nanoamp power for 90 minutes. It was assumed that >the cat would soon die of its disease. Thus the >primary purpose of this treatment was to determine >silver levels in the blood. It was found that the >natural level was increased only briefly by about 10%. >All animals maintain trace amounts of silver in the >body. Of great interest, however, is that by the >second post-treatment day the cat began eating well, >and within four weeks the many sores on its back and >ears had healed. The cat was treated in March, l996, >and at the present appears perfectly healthy. It is >not known whether some infectious agents remain in the >cat's body. > >Since that apparently successful effort, attempts have >been made to obtain the FIV infected cats for >treatment, but so far without success. We have been >informed, however, that in recent years neither the >FDA nor the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have >been requiring animal studies prior to evaluating >anti-HIV drugs in humans. > >Human Studies > >Cesar Garcia Ramirez, MD, practicing in Tijuana, >became aware of the FIV treatment, and felt that it >would be a compassionate act to at least try the >therapy on some of his dying AIDS patients. He >obtained permission from the Baja California Division >of Public Health, as well as agreement for the >treatment protocol from a group of physicians serving >as the Institutional Review Board (Human Studies >Committee). Volunteer patients were fully informed and >signed consent forms. Initially, three very ill >patients were chosen. Silver electrodes in silicon >rubber catheters were placed in arm veins and passed >up as far as the vena cava, or near to it. Each >patient was treated for 12 minutes at 2.5 microamps, >then for 72 hours at 125 microamps except that one >patient was treated for only 48 hours. All three >patients felt better by the second day, and >considerably better by Day 5. Viral loads dropped >precipitously, almost to zero in one patient and much >lower than the initial count in the other two. The >next three months were spent in equipment improvement, >seeking to be able to reduce viral loads rapidly to >zero in all patients, and to be able to maintain the >zero level for weeks or months if need be until the >badly damaged immune system has had time to recover >and be able to itself combat the infection. The virus >is present not only in the blood stream, but also in >lymph nodes and other organs of the body. > >Currently in the Tijuana study, catheters are >implanted in the subclavian vein (behind the clavicle) >and extend to the right auricle of heart, with the >electrode protruding from the end of the catheter. >Since the electrodes in their present form oxidize and >stop producing ions in about 5 days, the present >system allows the silver electrode to be removed and >replaced while the catheter remains in place. Using >this method, viral levels have been maintained at zero >or nearly so for six weeks in one patient. Her CD4 >count is now beginning to rise, as is the total >lymphocyte count. Most importantly, she feels much >better than prior to treatment. She also was infected >with herpes, hepatitis C, toxoplasmosis of the brain, >and cytomegalovirus (CMV) affecting one eye. It thus >is very surprising that the patient has improved so >much. > >Whether any of these secondary opportunistic >infections have in reality been successfully treated >can be determined only after prolonged follow-up. >Many more patients will need to be treated and >followed for these often-fatal complications. > >In addition to the work described above, 18 AIDS >patients, all seriously ill, are now under treatment. >The therapy is being done on a compassionate basis, >responding to very strong pressure from the local AIDS >community, their families and friends. Unfortunately, >in none of these 18 is adequate laboratory work being >performed, simply because the cost of the rather >extensive studies required to document the value of >silver ion therapy is too great. Virtually all of >these patients are destitute. It is very gratifying, >nevertheless, that all of them now are feeling much >better, and some quite well. It is little wonder that >there is such pressure for treatment. > >Side Effects of Silver Ion Therapy > >Until now no side effects attributable to this therapy >have been observed. It should be remembered that the >present most effective oral therapy available - >protease inhibitors used in combination with other >drugs - is quite toxic, producing many side effects, >enough so that some patients are unable to tolerate >the therapy. One patient that was treated with silver >ions for only 48 hours had a serious flare-up of his >herpes infection soon after the treatment was stopped. >On the other hand, the woman described above who was >treated for 6 weeks, experienced a disappearance of >her herpes lesion. At present it is impossible to say >whether the silver ion therapy was the cause of the >effect in either case. > >Silver Metal Toxicity > >Silver appears to be a relatively non-toxic trace >metal for mammals. It is largely metabolized and >excreted by the liver into the bile and eliminated >from the body. In the past the excessive and long term >use of silver compound nose and eye drops in some >people were found to produce a grayish discoloration >of the skin, termed "Argyria." Even the large amount >of silver required to produce this staining appeared >to cause no other problems. Some silver compounds, >such as silver nitrate, are highly caustic. It has >been observed that ingestion of 10 grams of this >substance is fatal to human adults, but the amount of >colloidal silver entering the body using the above >protocol is measured in micrograms. It is not certain >that some months of treatment will not produce >evidence of toxicity, but it is considered a very good >sign that none has been observed so far. > >Anticipated Further Studies > >As of the present only 4 patients have been treated >and followed with adequate laboratory studies. The >ideal design of the equipment and its use in the body >continues to need exploration. How long initial >therapy needs to be continued remains to be >determined, and whether periodic pretreatment will be >required can only be determined by long term follow-up >of the patients. Whether silver ion therapy will work >best in combination with other modes of treatment must >be explored. It is believed that for the initial Phase >1 studies conducted in Tijuana a total of 50 patients >need to be treated and carefully followed, collecting >enough laboratory and clinical data to present to the >US FDA, as well as regulatory bodies of other >countries, in order to gain permission to continue the >trials in the USA and elsewhere. Laboratory research >needs to accompany the clinical work. It seems likely >that there will be many other applications for silver >ion therapy, such as the treatment of septicemias >(bacteremias) and other infections. Septicemia is a >very common cause of death in seriously ill and in >some healthy patients who contract antibiotic >resistant ("killer") streptococci, as well as other >highly pathogenic bloodborne organisms. Septicemia >being bloodborne, should be immediately and forcefully >reacted upon by the silver ions. For antibiotic >resistant septicemias there presently are no >satisfactory therapeutic options, though many millions >of dollars have been spent in the search. > >Some of the many agents responsible for respiratory >infections may respond to the therapy. Preliminary >laboratory work can help define which infections are >more likely to respond. It is known that some >leukemias and certain other cancers are related to >viral infections. Some patients suffering from chronic >fatigue and similar syndromes may have indolent viral >infections. All of these possibilities need to be >explored as to whether or not they will respond to >silver ions. Agents of tropical diseases such as >malaria, typhoid, Chagas, and leishmaniasis should >undergo preliminary laboratory evaluation prior to >human trials. Lassa, Ebola and Hanta Viruses, often >rapidly fatal, might respond to quite short term, >easily administered therapy. Thus almost certainly the >most immediate and urgent use of silver ions will be >found in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and septicemia. >Still, many other possibilities eventually should be >explored. > >COPYRIGHT 1999. LIFE & HEALTH RESEARCH GROUP. Note: Information printed in this newsletter is >received from sources deemed reliable, but no >guarantee, express or implied, can be made regarding >the accuracy of same. Therefore readers are >encouraged to verify for themselves and to their own >satisfaction the accuracy of all reports, >recommendations, conclusions, comments, and opinions. >Additionally, the contents of this newsletter are >strictly for information purposes only, and should not in any way be construed as providing or attempting to >provide medical advice. You should always consult with a competent and fully- informed medical professional before making any personal or family health-care decisions.     Colloidal Silver: "A Closer Look" A Closer Look At Colloidal Silver By Peter A. Lindemann, Developer of the CS-300C and CS-300D Colloidal Silver Generators   During the last two years, a number of books and articles have appeared in public on the subject of colloidal silver. Some of these include: the Bio-Tech News Special Report, "Hi-Yo Silver"; Colloidal Silver, The Natural Antibiotic Alternative, by Zane Baranowski; Colloidal Silver, by Tonita d'Raye; and "Banishing Disease with Three Nine Volt Batteries", parts I & II, by Mark Metcalf. Literally hundreds of other newsletters and small publications have repeated the information in these articles without checking the content for accuracy. The appearance of these materials two years ago was the first wave of public education concerning colloidal silver. Today, most Health Food Stores carry and sell several brands of colloidal silver, scores of MLM companies have colloidal silver products in their lines, and prices are starting to drop. While it is still possible to spend as much as $10/oz. for colloidal silver in Health Food Stores, prices can be as low as $5/oz. Some mail order catalogs sell it for as little as $2.50/oz., and I have seen small classified ads selling it for under $1/oz. The trend is definitely toward a lower price. One of the phenomena driving the price down is the appearance of the devices that allow people to make their own colloidal silver. At this time, (Spring 1997) the cottage industry of colloidal silver generators is starting to penetrate the larger market. This is starting to cause alarm in high places. One major commercial manufacturer of colloidal silver has recently issued a warning statement to its customers, alerting them to the dangers of the "inferior quality" of colloidal silver made by these devices. CNN and other major media have also tried to scare the public away from colloidal silver by showing a blue-skinned person who "suffers" from Argyria, a cosmetic condition caused by the build-up of silver compounds under the skin. Even JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) has run articles warning of Argyria and the toxicities associated with "colloidal silver proteins." On January 16, 1997, new labeling guidelines concerning colloidal silver went into effect, issued by the FDA. Other FDA rulings on "safety and effectiveness" are still pending. With all of these developments, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the whole situation around colloidal silver is heating up! The purpose of this article is to raise the level of public knowledge to a higher degree of accuracy. Knowledge is power, and the public needs to know the truth about colloidal silver.   The first thing people need to know is that there are at least FOUR different products on the market being called COLLOIDAL SILVER. The first type of product is the classic, original kind, usually called "electro-colloidal silver." This product is made either by the "electro-arc" method in deionized water, or by the "low voltage electrolysis" method in distilled water. This product is usually found in concentrations between 3-5 ppm (parts per million), but sometimes as high as 100 ppm. Properly made, this product consists of microscopic particles of pure, elemental silver suspended in water, with no other elements present. Each particle of silver carries a POSITIVE electrical charge. Colloidal silver made this way appears either transparent-clear or transparent-light yellow. The second is called "mild silver protein." This product chemically binds microscopic particles of silver to a protein molecule. It is usually found in concentrations between 20-40 ppm. Its appearance may be transparent-clear or amber. The third are "silver salts." These products can be made either chemically or electro-chemically and usually create a form of silver that DISSOLVES in the water. Concentrations range between 50-500 ppm. Its appearance is transparent-clear. The silver particles do carry a POSITIVE electrical charge, but almost invariably, these products contain other elements or compounds other than silver. The fourth is sometimes referred to as "powdered silver." This product was developed by the Russians and is made when a pure silver wire is rapidly disintegrated by an high voltage electrical discharge, similar to an old photographic flash bulb. The microscopic silver dust is collected and either dissolved in water or added to salves and creams for topical use. Concentrations range from 100-500 ppm. All of these products work, to one degree or another, as a broad spectrum germicide because they all contain microscopic particles of SILVER. That said, it is important to understand a number of things: 1) all of these products are not "colloidal suspensions" of silver, 2) these products DO NOT all behave the same in the body or in laboratory tests, 3) effectiveness and dosage varies from product to product, 4) quality varies from product to product and from batch to batch with the same product, and 5) they are NOT all uniformly safe and non-toxic. There are no industry standards that manufacturers voluntarily follow to assure quality control and there is no governmental regulation of the industry. On the other hand, there are millions and millions of satisfied colloidal silver users who would like to have continued, free access to the product, and a growing number of manufacturers entering the market with a wide variety of new products. The critical factors that make a "good" colloidal silver product are particle size, purity, concentration, and cost. The only way to authoritatively determine the first three is by laboratory analysis. The best way to determine particle size is by electron microscope photograph. The best way to determine purity is by mass spectroscopy or by x-ray defraction analysis. The best way to determine concentration is by chemical analysis of total dissolved solids. The cost of the product should be calculated in reference to the total quantity of silver present, such as: $5.00/oz of 100 ppm is equal to 25¢/oz of 5 ppm (the first has 20 times more silver by volume and costs 20 times more by volume.)   Making Your Own The simplest way to control these factors is to make the colloidal silver for yourself. By doing this, you will not know exactly what is there unless you do laboratory testing, but you will have a pretty good idea. Without laboratory testing of commercial products, you don't know much more, because the quality control batch to batch is loose with most brands. Also, by making it yourself, you will end up with real "colloidal" silver, which is the product referred to in most of the literature. If you are already making your own colloidal silver, please pay special attention to this section because much of the information you now have may be incorrect. The simplest way to make real colloidal silver at home is by the "low voltage electrolysis" method. A few batteries may be connected to some silver electrodes and placed in a glass of water. This process will cause small particles of silver to be sintered off the electrodes and enter the water. This deceptively simple method is very easy to do WRONG, and most people who are making colloidal silver at home are making an inferior product.   It's In The Water When you do this yourself, it is very important to control the purity of the water, because the purity of the water is one of the factors that controls how small the particles of silver will be. Only high quality DISTILLED water should be used. You cannot use purified or filtered water because it still has too many dissolved minerals in it. You cannot use deionized water because it doesn't conduct electricity well enough to start the reaction. Distilled water is just perfect to start the reaction slowly and let it proceed properly. Another variable that influences particle size is the water temperature. The warmer the water, the faster the reaction will take place, and the smaller the particles will be.   Please Pass The Salt Regardless of what anyone has said to the contrary, silver chloride will ALWAYS form if any amount of salt is present. Never add anything to the water that will make the water conduct electricity better. Never add salt, sea salt, or Celtic sea salt to the distilled water because the salt puts chloride ions in the water that react with the silver to form silver chloride. Another serious problem arises when making colloidal silver with salt in the water. The presence of salt increases the electrical conductivity of the water and this dramatically speeds up the reaction. As the reaction speeds up under these circumstances, it produces larger particles. The product produced is invariably cloudy-white in appearance. Actual electron microscope photographs of this material show silver particles in the range of .05 to .15 microns. These particles are TOO LARGE to form a colloidal suspension, and the proof is that the material will settle to the bottom of the container in a very short period of time. Therefore, this home brewed "colloidal silver" product may be dangerous to consume internally for TWO reasons: the presence of silver chloride and the production of large particles.   The Best Is Yet To Come The very best voltage for the reaction is 30 volts, because the electrodes run the cleanest at this voltage. If you have a small power supply, set it for 30 volts. If you are running on batteries, it is best to start at 36 volts (three 12 volt batteries or four 9 volt batteries) and let the batteries drain down from there. Holding the silver electrodes at a uniform distance away from each other yields a better product. When 30 volts is applied across silver electrodes held uniformly apart in distilled water, a totally different event happens. First, the reaction proceeds very slowly. Often, for the first 15 minutes nothing seems to be happening. Then finally, a faint yellow mist will begin to form. Within a few minutes, the reaction will speed up, but the particles produced will be a golden-yellow as viewed with a flashlight. Using this method, 8 ounces of distilled water at room temperature can be made into a 3-5 ppm colloidal silver preparation in 20-25 minutes. Made this way, colloidal silver can cost under 10¢/oz to make. Electron microscope photographs of this product show a silver particle size in the range .001 to .004 microns. During manufacturing, the particle cloud is a golden-yellow. These particles will hang in the water at the level they are produced, and for the most part, will not fall to the bottom of the glass. This is what a "colloidal" preparation of silver looks like. After the particles disperse, the water will look clear again, but may turn a light yellow if the concentration is high enough and after the particles have become evenly dispersed.   "The Yellow Color" There has been a fair amount of controversy in the public literature concerning the appearance of the "yellow" color. A lot of well meaning people have told me that "yellow is bad", "silver isn't yellow", "yellow is sulfur contamination", "yellow is iron contamination", and lots of other things. I finally found what I believe to be the answer to this question in a book titled Practical Colloid Chemistry, published in London in 1926. In the section on the "Colours of Colloidal Metals", sub-section on the "Polychromism of silver solutions" on page 69, I found the following statements: "The continuous change in colour from yellow to blue corresponds to a change in the absorption maximum of the shorter to longer wave-lengths with a decreasing degree of dispersion. This is a general phenomenon in colloid chemistry illustrating the relation between colour and degree of dispersion." This section goes on to describe the colors that show up in a wide variety of colloidal metal solutions. Interestingly, they ALL have a yellow phase. For true "electro-colloidal" silver, the particle size range that can appear yellow is .01 to .001 microns (10 to 100 angstroms) because that is the size of silver particle that best absorbs the indigo light, leaving only its inverse color, yellow, to be observed. The final transparent-yellow appearance only shows up after the particles have become evenly dispersed.   The Brown Glass Bottle Once you have gone to the trouble of making colloidal silver particles as small as .001 microns, it is important to protect them. The particles stay away from each other in suspension because they each have a positive electrical charge (+) and these "like charges" repel each other. Anything that can strip this charge off the particles will degrade the quality of the colloidal silver by a process called re-coagulation, where the particles clump together again to form larger aggregates. Ultraviolet light from the sun and many plastics can cause this process to occur. Therefore, colloidal silver is best stored in dark, glass containers. The two kinds of glass container that are suitable for this are the dark amber and the cobalt blue.   The Same Difference The biggest "secret" about the manufacture of high quality colloidal silver is that it is nearly impossible to standardize the product. Silver is apparently reactive to a number of natural forces that have yet to be identified. Even when the voltage, the water, and the water temperature are identical, different batches will proceed at different rates on different days. The speed of the reaction can vary by over 100% depending on the day. On "normal" days, the reaction is proceeding well by 15 minutes, with a visible cloud of particles. On "slow days" it may take 30 minutes before any visible production of yellow particles begins. Because of this variation, it is always wise to observe the reaction with a B flashlight so you can see how quickly the reaction is happening. Once the yellow cloud starts forming, time the batch for 5 more minutes. This is the best way to standardize your home brewed colloidal silver.   Colloidal or Ionic? Another big controversy surrounds the question of whether this method produces "colloidal" silver or "ionic" silver. Most people have been told that colloidal silver is "good" and ionic silver is "bad." Once again, the truth might be unpopular. The word "colloidal" refers to a condition where, in this case, a solid particle is SUSPENDED in a liquid (silver in water). The solid particles are too large to be considered DISSOLVED, but are too small to be filtered out. This colloidal condition is most easily detected by what is called the "Tyndall effect", where a narrow beam of light is shined through the liquid to produce a cone shaped dispersion of the light. The particles so illuminated also exhibit a random, zig-zag activity called "Brownian motion" when observed under a microscope. When something is completely dissolved, both the Brownian and Tyndall effects disappear. The word "ionic" refers to a condition where a particle has an electric charge. In the case of "electro-colloidal" silver, this electric charge is ALWAYS positive. Silver will not form a negatively charged ion. So, the truth is that electro-colloidal silver is BOTH colloidal and ionic. It is considered colloidal because of the particle SIZE and it is considered ionic because of the particle CHARGE. In fact, most of the biological studies suggest it is colloidal silver's ionic characteristics that make it such a good germicide. It is also interesting to note that the old chemistry books make no distinction between the colloidal and ionic states of the electro-colloidal metals.   Purity of Silver The quality of your finished product depends entirely on the purity of the water you start with and the purity of the silver you start with. Most of the current literature suggests that only 99.9999% pure silver can be used. Most home brew systems use 99.9% pure silver. So, what is the difference? To find out, I contacted Academy Metals, a company in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that produces commercial silver. The total allowable impurities in 99.9% (.999 fine) silver is 1000 ppm or 1 part in 1000. These impurities and their maximums are 1) Copper, 800 ppm, 2) Lead, 250 ppm, 3) Iron, 200 ppm, and 4) Bismuth, 10 ppm. This product is readily available in wire form and costs about $3.00 above the market (spot) price of silver. When this product is used to make electro-colloidal silver at a concentration of 5 ppm, the total impurities from the silver drop to 4 ppb (parts per billion) copper, 1.25 ppb lead, 1 ppb iron, .05 ppb bismuth. With all allowable impurities at these low levels, there is a reasonable argument for not being concerned. Still, sometimes small things make a big difference. 99.99% silver (.9999 fine) has total allowable impurities of 100 ppm of the same metals in the same ratios, and costs (in wire form) between $50-$90 above the spot price of silver. 99.999% silver (.99999 fine) has total allowable impurities of 10 ppm, and in wire form costs about $250 above the spot price. 99.9999% silver, in wire form, costs more than gold and is very difficult to find commercially. In one sample of 10 ppm colloidal silver we sent out for total analysis (made with 99.9% silver electrodes), the primary impurities found were: 1) Sodium, 470 ppb, 2) Calcium, 260 ppb, 3) Manganese, 70 ppb, 4) Potassium, 50 ppb, and 5) Magnesium, 24 ppb. Since none of these impurities could have come from the silver, it suggests that the purity of the water should be of greater concern to the person making their own colloidal silver, than spending extra money on purer silver. Concentration The concentration of silver in the water is usually measured in parts per million, or ppm. While this is the standard convention, ppm is a "ratio" and not an indicator of quantity. When a laboratory tests colloidal silver for concentration, they report the findings in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Milligrams per liter is an actual measurement of weight per volume, and therefore is a real quantity measurement. In the metric system, one liter of water weighs 1000 grams, and one milligram is one thousandth (1/1000) of a gram, so 1 mg/L is the same as 1 ppm, as long as we are talking about water. Silver weighs a little more than water, but the equivalence is very close, and the terms are often used interchangeably. With this in mind, we can calculate that one teaspoon of 5 ppm colloidal silver has about 25 mcg (micrograms) of silver in it.   Dosage In 1940, R. A. Kehoe reported that under normal circumstances, the average daily intake of fruits and vegetables would provide between 50-100 mcg of silver as a trace element. Since that time, the commercial farm soils of this country have become extremely deficient in trace minerals. Although I do not have authoritative figures for silver, according to the Earth Summit Report, issued in 1992, the levels of soil based minerals in North America have dropped over 85% in the last 100 years. Assuming that our ancestor's diet used to contain trace silver, and that our diet probably has greatly reduced levels, there is a reasonable argument for supplementing with colloidal silver. Two teaspoons of 5 ppm colloidal silver provides about 50 mcg of silver and could be considered a "nutritional" amount, if taken on a daily basis. Any amount above four teaspoons a day or 100 mcg should be considered a "therapeutic" amount. That said, it should not be assumed that electro-colloidal silver is equivalent to or has the same metabolic effect as receiving trace silver from dietary plant sources. But since there are very few plant sources of trace silver available today, colloidal silver is probably the best substitute. If you want to experiment with taking colloidal silver for an extended period of time, stay within the amounts considered to be nutritional. If you want to experiment with larger doses, do so with caution, and only for a day or two at a time.   Safety and Toxicity Silver can act as a heavy metal poison in the body. It can also act as a trace mineral nutrient. The difference is in the particle size, NOT the concentration. Colloidal silver with a particle size of .001 microns has particles 100 times smaller than a preparation of silver with a particle size of .1 microns. The smaller the particle, the less likely it will behave as a toxin. Typically, the worst toxic reaction from metallic silver, cited in the medical literature, is a condition called Argyria. Argyria is primarily a cosmetic condition characterized by a permanent, bluish discoloration of the skin. Argyria causes no physical discomfort, and does not have any other known side effects. Your skin just looks bluish-gray. In fact, the term "blue bloods," in reference to the royal families of Europe, probably refers to a mild, argyrial condition caused by the constant eating of food from silver place settings. It is interesting to note, however, that there has never been a case of Argyria reported from the use of electro-colloidal silver, free of salts or other impurities. Argyria, while not being a deadly condition, certainly is undesirable. It is usually caused by the massive intake of silver salts, such as silver nitrate, silver sulfate, and silver chloride. To determine just how toxic these substances are, I contacted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry through their on-line information service at (http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/ToxProfiles). All of these silver salts are talked about as toxins, but the only consequence of even high exposure in humans that is listed is Argyria. EPA issues a "control code" for each toxic substance it tracks that can cause human illness. Silver nitrate and silver sulfate have control codes, but silver chloride does not. I received essentially the same information when I spoke with Dr. Eidson at the Department of Epidemiology in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Apparently, the government thinks silver and silver compounds are toxins that essentially have no significant toxic effects other than the ability to discolor your skin. Looking just a little deeper into the situation, I pulled out Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica by J.T. Kent. In the section on the use of metallic silver as a homeopathic remedy, there are 7½ pages of indications (symptoms) that include actions on the nerves and cartilage, as well as increased tendency toward emotional outbursts and mental excitability. In fact, the list of symptoms is rather extensive. So, exposure to silver may not kill you or cause organic disease, but that may not mean there is no toxicity. Apparently, silver has the ability to act as a subtle irritant as well as lodge in certain tissues. This suggests that taking colloidal silver every day may not be a good idea for people who already have these symptoms. Effectiveness In a study done, in part, by the Institute of Microbiology in Rome, Italy, and published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, in December, 1992, various forms of silver were tested for their ability to kill micro-organisms. Pure electro-colloidal silver out performed silver nitrate, silver chloride, and silver sulfadiazine as a broad spectrum germicide. For all classes of bacteria, fungus, and mold samples tested, pure electro-colloidal silver worked better, and at much lower concentrations. They concluded that any additives reduced the effectiveness of the pure silver ion; the silver salts being as much as 100 times less effective. Electro-colloidal silver's effectiveness as a broad-spectrum germicide is directly related to the number and size of the particles. The same volume of space taken up by one silver particle .1 microns in size, will hold about 10,000 silver particles .001 microns in size. This reduction in particle size not only allows for a greater distribution of the silver, but it also greatly increases the total surface area of silver available for interacting with the environment. These, plus the stability of the electrical charge, are the most important factors when considering the effectiveness of colloidal silver.   The Regulators While silver has been shown to be a very effective germicide, killing gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses in laboratory experiments, this does not mean that it will invariably cure disease conditions in the body caused by these organisms. Colloidal silver is a fantastic adjunct to the home, but it is by no means a "cure-all". The biggest obstacle to using colloidal silver as a "home remedy" is the lack of information in the public domain on how to use it effectively in any given situation. The FDA has tested colloidal silver extensively and found that different micro-organisms succumb to its action at a wide variety of concentrations and exposure times. If any of this information entered the public domain, the FDA would consider their own research "unsubstantiated medical claims" and reason enough to classify colloidal silver as a "new drug." The "new drug" classification would be "required" because "new use protocols" had been developed that did not exist before 1938. Here is an example of the problem. It is now estimated that one in four women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. I have spoken to two women who claim to have cured themselves of breast cancer with colloidal silver. They were both diagnosed by biopsy. After the diagnosis, they took 2 teaspoons of colloidal silver a day until their surgery. One took a home-made product, the other took a silver protein product. In both cases, the biopsy of the removed breast tissue and lymph nodes was cancer free. The question is, will colloidal silver work this well for all cases of breast cancer? Probably not, but in the current legal and political environment, we may never know. No pharmaceutical company can control or monopolize ownership of colloidal silver, so none of them will ever fund the testing, which currently costs over $10 Million and takes 10 years. FDA says if you claim that colloidal silver cures breast cancer, that would classify it as a new drug, and the public cannot be given access to new drugs without proper testing. Using the FDA model, it could cost the public $1-billion to "prove" to the FDA what the FDA already knows about colloidal silver. Politics has definitely entered this picture. FDA does not want to be exposed as an enforcer for the drug companies, or be seen as an agency clearly not acting in the public's best interest. While these ideas are not new to some of us, it would be a startling revelation if a large portion of the population began thinking this way. FDA would certainly like to avoid this "public relations" embarrassment. The fact is, FDA has never spent our tax dollars discovering something important, and then published their findings for the benefit of the public at-large; especially when it involved something that was powerful, safe, and inexpensive for the public to make for themselves. Obviously, empowering the population to be self-reliant and frugal in relation to their own healthcare is not the FDA's responsibility. Colloidal silver clearly has some extraordinary capabilities and hundreds of legitimate uses. But without standardization, quality control, and extensive medical testing, the public will never know how best to use colloidal silver in a given situation. FDA may yet try to restrict public access to colloidal silver, claiming it is unsafe, even though they know how "safe and effective" it CAN BE when used properly. In the absence of the release of this authoritative testing data, the public is left just experimenting and groping for the answers. A big fight over the public's access to colloidal silver may be looming because the cost of healthcare in this country is out of control, and the public is looking for inexpensive solutions that work. In that sense, colloidal silver could be "just what the doctor ordered."   Digestive Interactions Colloidal silver is apparently able to kill nearly all micro-organisms, including the "friendly flora" your digestive system needs for proper function. I have spoken with hundreds of people who have taken colloidal silver on a daily basis and have noticed no digestive upset, even after prolonged use. I have also spoken to two individuals who reported digestive upset after taking colloidal silver one time. So, in my experience, the die-off of friendly flora is possible, but rare. There are a number of strategies that can reduce the probability of digestive interactions. The simplest one is to swish the colloidal silver around in your mouth for 30 seconds before swallowing. This promotes an absorption of the colloidal silver into the body away from the intestinal tract. Another strategy is to take smaller doses, multiple times per day, or with meals. Either way, if you do experience a die-off of friendly flora, they can be re-populated by taking any of the acidophilus products on the market.   Septic Tanks Septic tanks are like your home's intestinal tract. They only work when populated with friendly flora. If you live in a rural area with your house on a septic system and you are making your own colloidal silver, make sure you don't throw a lot of it down the sink or your septic system may stop working properly. This problem can be handled by using a product like RID-X periodically, which is a good idea anyway.   Conclusions Colloidal silver is an extraordinary product. It can enhance your health and the health of your family in hundreds of ways. Everyone should learn how to make high quality colloidal silver, and have that capability in their home, in case the regulators restrict its availability at some point in the future. This could be the best "health insurance" policy you ever implemented! If you buy one of the colloidal silver makers on the market, make sure it can make the "yellow" particles. When you make it yourself, make sure you are making the "yellow" particles. If you have any doubts about the quality of the product you are making or buying, you can send samples to any of the following laboratories for definitive testing. For particle size testing with electron microscope, contact: EMS Laboratories, 117 West Bellevue Drive, Pasadena, CA 91105 (818) 568-4065 Price will be under $200 per sample. For concentration test (mg/L) of total dissolved solids, contact: Associated Laboratories, 806 North Batavia, Orange, CA 92668 (714) 771-6900 Call for prices. For elemental analysis, including "Tyndall effect" and "precipitation" test, contact: Kimball Laboratories, 600 East 11800 South, Draper, UT 84020 (801) 571-3695 Call for prices. These companies are busy professionals who have no idea I am listing them in this article. Please don't waste their time unless you plan to submit samples for testing with payment.   References: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, on-line information service: (http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/ToxProfiles) Kehoe, R. A. et al, 1940. J. Nutr. 19:579. Kent, J.T. Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica, Jain Publishing Co. New Delhi, India, reprint 1982. Michaelis, L. The Effects of Ions in Colloidal Systems, Williams & Williams Co. Baltimore, MD, 1925. Ostwald, W. Practical Colloid Chemistry, Methuen & Co. Ltd. London, UK, 1926. Simonetti, N. et al, Electrochemical Ag+ for Preservative Use. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. American Society for Microbiology: Washington,1992, Vol. 58, No. 12, pp 3834-3836. The Association for Advanced Colloid Research, 232 NE Lincoln St. Ste."G", Hillsboro, OR 97124, private conversations. Borderland Sciences Research Foundation, PO Box 220, Bayside, CA 95442 Special thanks to Michael Theroux for valuable research and private consultation.           Excerpt from Colloidal Silver: The Natural Antibiotic by Zane Baranowski, CN (available from Elixa for $3.50) This clearly written, informative publication thoroughly explains colloids, ways of making colloidal silver, early uses, rediscovering the universal antimicrobial, visual qualities, safety and effectiveness, and modern day uses. It also has an excellent bibliography with references and resources. BEST COLLOIDAL SILVER Within the last few years, a number of colloidal silver products have appeared on the market, confusing consumers. The best way to determine if a product is a true colloid of silver is to examine the ingredients. If it contains a stabilizer, or listed trace elements other than silver, the product may not be suitable. If the product requires refrigeration, it may contain some other ingredient that might spoil at room temperature. The highest quality colloidal silver is produced by the electro-colloidal/non-chemical method. The silver particles and water have been completely "colloided" and evenly dispersed and held in suspension by an electrical current sent through the combination. This process is the only known method to create a truly homogeneous (evenly distributed) solution, containing super-fine silver particles in the range of 0.005 - 0.015 microns in diameter, suspended in water, without the need of any chemical, stabilizer, dye, or other ingredient. There is very little or no visible accumulation of silver particles either in the solution or settled on the bottom. The best products will contain the largest number of particles from the smallest total amount of silver. (Note: an artificial electrical charge applied to any element, including silver, cannot be held infinitely - like a battery, its charge will dissipate. Therefore, electro-colloidal silver cannot be expected to have infinite shelf-life; some 'fallout' may occur in any non-stabilized product over an extended period of time.)   WHAT IS A COLLOID? The term colloid (KOL' OID) refers to a substance that consists of ultra-fine particles that are suspended in a medium of different matter (i,e. a non-soluble mineral suspended in water). The particles in a colloid are typically 0.01 to 0.001 of a micron in diameter, or about four hundred thousandths to four millionths of an inch. Approximately one billion of these particles could fit into a cube four one hundredths of an inch in size. Of the five manufacturing processes, the grind process and the electro-colloidal process were primarily used to manufacture colloidal silver. Today, the FDA still allows both manufacturing techniques to be used. However, of these two methods the electro-colloidal manufacturing process is generally considered to be far superior. With the grind method, the particles of silver are usually no finer than four one-thousands of an inch. They may or may not be electrically charged. The size of the silver particle is so large compared to the possible charge, that the repelling forces would not be strong enough to offset the pull of gravity on the particles, which will tend to settle to the bottom of the solution, producing a less effective product.   Stabilizing Additives To offset this settling problem, some manufacturers add a "stabilizer" (usually a protein) to make the solution more viscous and keep them suspended for a longer period of time. The silver particles will still eventually settle to the bottom. The container will have to be shaken to redisperse the particles. However, stabilizers tend to block the beneficial effects of the silver particles. Other procedures used in producing colloidal silver that involve a simple mixture of metal and liquid (grind process) cannot possess as much potential as electro-colloids and are therefore of questionable value. The proper electrical process allows silver particles to be drawn off the ingot that are much smaller than four one-thousandths of an inch diameter. If the silver particles are within the range of four one-hundred-thousands to four one-millionths of an inch in diameter, and are uniformly charged, a stabilizer is not required to keep the particles suspended. The repelling magnetic force will offset the pull of gravity on the particles, which are animated by "Brownian Movement", and remain in suspension in a liquid medium almost indefinitely, their stability depending on the size of' the particles, the medium used and the manufacturing process employed. Visual Qualities One indicator of the quality of colloidal silver is its color. As the size of each silver particle gets larger, the color of the suspension ranges from yellow (best) to brown, to red, to gray, to black (inferior). The increasing size of the particles also reflects a proportionate decrease in quality of the product. Colloids of silver that are produced using the electro-colloidal method are a different color than the grind or chemical method forms of colloidal silver. That rule generally applies, except in the case of some brands that use an artificial yellow dye to falsify the proper color. Color variance also depends on concentration, stabilizers, and the presence or absence of other trace elements. The ideal form of colloidal silver will be almost colorless or have a very light yellow color. Besides buying from a reputable company and visually checking the color of the product, another quick way to see if a solution contains colloids is by observing the Faraday-Tyndall cone effect. When a sharp and intense hearn of light passes through a colloid solution, the path of the light will appear to be turbid. The path of the light is also altered. The path of the light will form a cone shape within the solution. The best way to observe this is to take a test tube of' colloidal silver into a dark room and shine a very bright flash light through it. Colloids will appear to be milky. (Note: a discussion can be found in Jirgensons and Straumanis' book titled "A Short Textbook of Colloid Chemistry;" New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc; London: Pergamon Press Ltd.; 1954.)   Safety and Effectiveness Specific documentation on the optimum potency or dosage for effective use is sparse. This has led to a wide range of products of varying potencies - all claiming to be the best. According to N.R. Thompson of Runcorn Health Laboratory in England, the concentration of silver necessary to sterilize water contaminated with pathogenic bacteria is between 40-200 gamma, or .04 to .2 ppm (1 ppm = 1000 gamma). In 1940 and 1966, respectively, R.A. Kehoe and I.H. Tipton reported that under normal circumstances the average daily diet will yield approximately 50mcg to 100mcg of silver. (Note: The reduction of silver in the average diet, due to commercial farming techniques, is similar to what has happened with other trace minerals including chromium, zinc and selenium - that are now known to be essential for good health. This reduction may play a role in the worldwide epidemic of chronic infections.) Therefore, it seems logical that a concentration of 3 to 5 ppm, yielding 15 mcg to 25 mcg of silver per teaspoon, will be a sufficient concentration to be both effective and safe to consume on a regular, daily basis. A 4 oz. container of colloidal silver at a concentration of 3 ppm will contain approximately 355 mcg of total silver - well below any reported toxicity level of orally consumed silver - even if several ounces were consumed on a daily basis for several years. Higher concentrations above 5 ppm, or about 591 mcg of total silver in a 4 oz container, may cause silver build-up in the system and are not necessarily more effective, For example, a 25 ppm solution would yield 2.96 mg (2,960 mcg), a 500 ppm solution would yield 59 mg (59,000 mcg), a 5,000 ppm solution would yield 590 mg (590,000 mcg)! Any product containing higher concentrations, for example having higher levels than what could be found in the average daily diet, should definitely be taken with caution, only during a time of need and certainly not for extended periods. The statement 'less is more' is often made when referring to colloidal silver and colloidal technology in general. What this means is that the number of silver particles determines the quality and effectiveness of colloidal silver, NOT simply the concentration. The term 'ppm' or 'parts per million' is confusing because it is not referring to the number of parts or particles, it is actually a different way to express total weight or total amount of silver. Since a colloidal product can have particles ranging in size from 1n to100n, it is difficult to judge the quality of a product by simply knowing the ppm. For example, a product with a concentration of 5 ppm with an average particle size of 5n would actually have more silver particles than another product of 25ppm with an average size of 50n and thus be safer and more effective. Stability, especially long-term, is another important aspect of' colloidal silver products. To avoid "fall out", some companies add a protein or chemical stabilizer, allowing a higher concentration of silver with a greater level of stability. The downside is that most stabilizers bond to and therefore reduce the antimicrobial effect of' silver. Such products contain higher levels ot total silver to compensate, and should he taken with caution because in all documented cases of silver toxicity, called Argyria (the permanent discoloration of the skin due to silver deposits), the product in question contained high concentrations of silver compounded with stabilizers such as silver nitrate or silver acetate. Argyria has never been reported from pure electro-colloidal silver free of protein or other stabilizers.   Effects on Friendly Bacteria Another advantage of correctly manufactured colloidal silver is that, with a particle size well below 1 micron (.015 to .001), a 3 to 5 ppm concentration of colloidal silver is unlikely to affect friendly intestinal bacteria. When taken orally, sublingual absorption in the mouth directly into the bloodstream should occur before the silver particles have the opportunity to migrate into the small or large intestine where intestinal bacteria normally dominate. However, in the case ot a known intestinal infection, enemas or colonies of colloidal silver could be utilized to directly expose the infection to the sterilizing benefit of colloidal silver. Consumption of colloidal silver on a daily basis would significantly reduce the incidence of infection. The ability to do this safely could be a powerful preventive health measure to enhance the lives of millions of' people susceptible to chronic infections. This is an opportunity only offered by properly prepared electrocolloidal silver that contains 99.9999% pure silver with no binding agents, stabilisers or proteins.

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