Colloidal Silver Last updated: Nov 19, 2009

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Colloidal Silver (CS) is an effective antimicrobial with powerful antibiotic properties that help destroy bacteria, fungi and viruses. Simply put, colloids are extremely minute particles suspended in water, with a positive electrical charge. The smaller the particles, the more effective they appear to be. Some manufacturers claim a long shelf life, while distributors of units that make CS as needed claim that freshness is important and that solutions weaken with time. There is enough contradictory information available to maintain a state of confusion regarding CS, its uses, potency and safety, for some time.

CS does not attack bacteria directly, but rather deactivates enzymes responsible for the multiplication and metabolism of anaerobic organisms especially. Microbes cannot mutate into silver-resistant forms, as happens with conventional antibiotics. CS acts as a catalyst and is not consumed in the process; it is known to be successful against more than 650 illness-causing microorganisms.

Safety and Toxicity
CS is claimed to be non-toxic, non-addicting, and to have no known side effects. Unlike silver nitrate, CS can be used safely as a supplement. Drug interactions and allergic reactions are unknown.

Roger Altman, Eng.Sc.D., in an experimental fashion, consumed 2.34mg of silver daily for several months then measured the total silver excreted from his body over a 24 hour period. He concluded that silver is excreted easily from the body, primarily in the urine. It also may explain why there have been no cases of argyria (a permanent blue-gray discoloration of the skin and deep tissues) reported by individuals using low dosage CS.

He also ran a measurement of silver elimination for 100 days following the cessation of silver intake. Initially, most of the silver was eliminated through the urine. He noted that increasing water intake increased silver elimination through the urine. After approximately the first month, silver elimination was greater through the feces than through the urine. He estimated that by the 100 day mark nearly all of the accumulated silver had been eliminated from his tissues.

However, despite the claim of no toxicity, and that it is “impossible” for silver in this form to accumulate in the body, caution is advised when taking large doses for extended periods of time. The indiscriminate use of silver solutions (apparently always in a form other than CS) has resulted in cases of argyria. The FDA has issued a Final Rule declaring that all over-the-counter (OTC) drug products containing colloidal silver or silver salts are not recognized as safe and effective and are misbranded. This ruling came into force on September 16, 1999.

Colloidal Silver should be used temporarily rather than continuously. Some doctors recommend that after using colloidal silver for an extended internal treatment period you should take steps to remove the silver from your system. Approaches include taking homeopathic silver (Argentum nitrate), EDTA chelation, or homeopathic DMPS. In argyria, EDTA chelation will remove the blue / gray tinge from the skin, usually with just a few treatments.

Concentrations / Dosage
Products have varied in concentration from less than 10ppm to 500ppm. Professional suppliers often offer products in the 25ppm range with a suggested dose of 25 drops (0.75cc) under the tongue 4 times per day. This dose provides about 75mcg (0.075mg; about 13 of these doses equals 1mg.)

A 1ppm concentration is the same as 1mg per liter - for example 10ppm CS contains 10mg of silver in one liter of liquid; one teaspoon of 10ppm CS contains 50mcg of silver.

There are now many quality mild silver protein (MSP) products on the market that provide higher doses of silver in a stable form. Many clients have used 100's of bottles to control end-stage Lyme disease (and other chronic hard to treat infections), without evidence of silver accumulation.

Uses
Colloidal silver is commonly recommended in acute and chronic recurrent infections for short term use (7-10 days). When atomized and inhaled through a mister, colloidal silver can be sprayed into the nose or throat as a disinfecting throat gargle.

Claims are made for benefits in the following conditions:

Acne*, allergies, arthritis - some types*, athletes foot*, bad breath, bladder infections, cystitis*, bleeding gums, boils*, burns*, candida*, canker sores, chronic fatigue, colds, colitis*, conjunctivitis*, cornea injury*, cystitis, dandruff, dermatitis, diabetes*, diarrhea*, digestive aid, diphtheria, dysentery, ear infections*, eczema - various locations*, fibrositis, flu*, gastritis, gingivitis, gonorrhea*, gum recession, halitosis, hay fever*, hemorrhoids*, hepatitis, herpes, impetigo*, keratitis, leprosy, lupus, Lyme disease, lymphagitis*, malaria, Menier's disease*, meningitis*, moles, ophthalmology, parvo virus*, pleurisy, pneumonia, prostate enlargement, pruitis - anal and other, psoriasis and skin rashes*, rheumatism, rhinitis*, ringworm*, rosacea, seborrhea, sepsis - infection*, shingles*, sinusitis*, skin cancer, sore throat, staph infections*, strep infections*, syphilis, tonsillitis*, tooth decay delay, toxemia, trench foot, tuberculosis, typhoid, ulcers*, Vincent’s angina*, warts*, whooping cough*, yeast infections*.

* Documented uses. There are other uses not contained in this list, and uses listed here may be substantiated but not noted so in this list.

 
 

Colloidal Silver can help with the following:
 
 
Allergy  Allergies Indoor
  Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever

Autoimmune
  Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythromatosis)

Digestion
  Diarrhea
  Hemorrhoids
  Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Immunity
  Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome
  Weakened Immune System
  Canker Sores (Aphthous Ulcers)

Infections
  Lyme Disease
 Many people report that the use of MSP (mild silver protein) helps to control the late-stage symptoms of Lyme disease. Doing a search on the Internet should produce many testimonies regarding it's usefulness.

  Malaria
 There are reports of colloidal silver being used successfully in Africa for malaria. It has been difficult to substantiate these claims, so nothing further is being reported at this time.


  Parasite, Blastocystosis (Blastocystis Hominis)
 It has been claimed that colloidal silver has helped eradicate this infection.

  Sinusitis
 This procedure has been reported to be helpful against sinus infection and the flu. Because silver kills on contact, it must come in contact with the infection causing pathogens. A method which brings the silver colloid into contact with the infected tissues of the sinus cavities was developed by Dr. B. J. Biagioli and is called the sinus flooding procedure.

In order to put silver into the sinus cavities a small amount of salt must be added to make an isotonic solution . When just enough salt is added, the salinity of the solution matches the salinity of the body tissue. This prevents the painful sensation that one experiences when water goes up the nose in a swimming pool.

Prepare the solution:
Add a tiny pinch of table salt to about a tablespoon of silver colloid solution to make a maximum strength rinse solution. Mix the silver and salt immediately before each session and stir together until all the salt is dissolved in the solution. Discard any left over solution; do not try to save it for later use. For additional comfort warm the rinse solution to slightly above body temperature approximately 100 degrees F. This solution may also be used with a sinus irrigator to flush out the sinus cavities if a sinus irrigator is available.

The Sinus Flooding Procedure:
a. Lay on a bed face up with the head hanging over the edge of the mattress so the nostrils are pointing straight up toward the ceiling.
b. Use an eye dropper to fill each nostril with the rinse solution. Keep filling each nostril until the rinse solution starts to drip in the throat. Remain in the same position for 2 to 3 minutes.
c. Roll over on the stomach and let the head flop forward over the edge of the mattress. Remain in that position for 2 to 3 minutes then sit up and let the rinse drain out through the nose.
d. Important: Repeat this procedure 45 minutes later. The two rinses 45 minutes apart constitute a single rinse session. Perform two or more such rinse sessions per day. Relief will typically be noticeable by the second day. It is not unusual for the sinus infection to be gone within three days.
e. Repeat two sessions per day until the infection subsides. Very persistent infections may require five to seven day or more.

Nasal spray: silver can be used in a nasal spray type bottle and sprayed directly in the nose as an adjunct to the sinus flooding procedure. No salt is needed when using a nasal spray bottle. This method can be used several times throughout the day to improve the healing benefits. This is especially convenient and transportable.

  Chronic / Hidden Infection
  Yeast / Candida
  Cystitis, Bacterial Bladder Infection
  Herpes I
  STD Herpes II
  Pneumonia
  Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
  Pharyngitis
  Athletes Foot
  Tuberculosis
  Mouth Ulcers
  Ear Infection, Middle

Metabolic
  Meniere's Disease

Musculo-Skeletal
  Rheumatoid Arthritis

Organ Health
  Diabetes Type II
  Hepatitis
  Enlarged Prostate

Skin-Hair-Nails
  Warts
  Boils, Abscesses, Carbuncles
  Eczema
  Psoriasis
  Adult Acne
  Male Hair Loss
 Colloidal silver is believed to increase the effectiveness of Serenoa Repens.

  Dandruff

Uro-Genital
  Vaginitis/Vaginal Infection
 
 


KEY
May do some good
Likely to help
 
The Lord gave us two ends - one to sit on and the other to think with. Success depends on which one we use the most. Ann Landers






GLOSSARY

Acne:  A chronic skin disorder due to inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands (secretion glands in the skin).

Acute:  An illness or symptom of sudden onset, which generally has a short duration.

Allergic Rhinitis:  Also known as hay fever, this is an inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes that is caused by specific allergen(s). It is an allergy characterized by sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, coughing and a burning/scratchy sensation of the palate and throat.

Allergy:  Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen), resulting in an increased reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes with harmful immunologic consequences.

Anaerobic:  Of, relating to, or being activity in which the body incurs an oxygen debt (for example weight training or resistive exercises) and does not immediately burn off a lot of calories and fat.

Angina:  Angina pectoris. Severe, restricting chest pain with sensations of suffocation caused by temporary reduction of oxygen to the heart muscle through narrowed diseased coronary arteries.

Antimicrobial:  Tending to destroy microbes, hinder their multiplication or growth.

Arthritis:  Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis, the most common form, is characterized by a gradual loss of cartilage and often an overgrowth of bone at the joints.

Bacteria:  Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.

Cancer:  Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.

Candidiasis:  Infection of the skin or mucous membrane with any species of candida, usually Candida albicans. The infection is usually localized to the skin, nails, mouth, vagina, bronchi, or lungs, but may invade the bloodstream. It is a common inhabitant of the GI tract, only becoming a problem when it multiplies excessively and invades local tissues. Growth is encouraged by a weakened immune system, as in AIDS, or with the prolonged administration of antibiotics. Vaginal symptoms include itching in the genital area, pain when urinating, and a thick odorless vaginal discharge.

Canker Sores:  Also known as Aphthous Ulcers, these are small, painful ulcers that occur on the inside of the cheek, lip or underside of the tongue. Caused by an assortment of viruses, doctors call this condition aphthous stomatitis. Canker sores usually clear up by themselves within a week or so, but they often recur, sometimes in the form of multiple sores.

cc:  Cubic Centimeter. 29.6cc is 1 fl. oz; 1000cc is 1 liter; 3788cc is 1 gallon.

Chelation:  Chelation therapy uses EDTA or other supplements that carry heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic, as well as other foreign substances, from the body. In the process of chelation, a larger protein molecule surrounds or encloses a mineral atom. The purpose of chelation is to increase the flow of blood to the vital organs and tissues of the body by reducing calcium deposits in the arteries and blood vessels.

Chronic:  Usually Chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:  CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is a disorder of unknown cause that lasts for prolonged periods and causes extreme and debilitating exhaustion as well as a wide range of other symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache and joint pain, often resembling flu and other viral infections. Also known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus (CEBV), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), "Yuppy Flu" and other names, it is frequently misdiagnosed as hypochondria, psychosomatic illness, or depression, because routine medical tests do not detect any problems.

Colitis:  Inflammation of the colon.

Cornea:  Transparent structure forming the anterior part of the eye.

Cystitis:  Inflammation of the urinary bladder.

Dermatitis:  A general term used to refer to eruptions or rashes on the skin.

Diabetes Mellitus:  A disease with increased blood glucose levels due to lack or ineffectiveness of insulin. Diabetes is found in two forms; insulin-dependent diabetes (juvenile-onset) and non-insulin-dependent (adult-onset). Symptoms include increased thirst; increased urination; weight loss in spite of increased appetite; fatigue; nausea; vomiting; frequent infections including bladder, vaginal, and skin; blurred vision; impotence in men; bad breath; cessation of menses; diminished skin fullness. Other symptoms include bleeding gums; ear noise/buzzing; diarrhea; depression; confusion.

Diarrhea:  Excessive discharge of contents of bowel.

Dysentery:  An inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract, usually caused by a bacterial, parasitic, or protozoan infection and resulting in pain, fever, and severe diarrhea, often accompanied by the passage of blood and mucous.

Eczema:  Swelling of the outer skin of unknown cause. In the early stage it may be itchy, red, have small blisters, and be swollen, and weeping. Later it becomes crusted, scaly, and thickened.

EDTA:  (Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid): An organic molecule used in chelation therapy.

Enzymes:  Specific protein catalysts produced by the cells that are crucial in chemical reactions and in building up or synthesizing most compounds in the body. Each enzyme performs a specific function without itself being consumed. For example, the digestive enzyme amylase acts on carbohydrates in foods to break them down.

FDA:  The (American) Food and Drug Administration. It is the official government agency that is responsible for ensuring that what we put into our bodies - particularly food and drugs - is safe and effective.

Gastritis:  Inflammation of the stomach lining. White blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to some type of injury; this does not mean that there is an ulcer or cancer - it is simply inflammation, either acute or chronic. Symptoms depend on how acute it is and how long it has been present. In the acute phase, there may be pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. In the chronic phase, the pain may be dull and there may be loss of appetite with a feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food. Very often, there are no symptoms at all. If the pain is severe, there may be an ulcer as well as gastritis.

Gingivitis:  Inflammation of the fibrous tissues that surround the teeth.

Gonorrhea:  A sexually-transmitted disease that is often without symptoms. If there are symptoms in the female, they include frequent and painful urination, cloudy vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, inflammation of the pelvic area, and abnormal uterine bleeding. If the male has a purulent (pus-like) urethral discharge, he should assume he has gonorrhea until proven otherwise.

Hemorrhoids:  Varicose disorder causing painful swellings at the anus; piles.

Hepatitis:  Inflammation of the liver usually resulting in jaundice (yellowing of the skin), loss of appetite, stomach discomfort, abnormal liver function, clay-colored stools, and dark urine. May be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, parasitic infestation, alcohol, drugs, toxins or transfusion of incompatible blood. Can be life-threatening. Severe hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis and chronic liver dysfunction.

Homeopathy:  A system of medicine based on the belief that the cure of disease can be effected by minute doses of substances that, if given to a healthy person in large doses, would produce the same symptoms as are present in the disease being treated. Homeopathy employs natural substances in small doses to stimulate the body's reactive process to remove toxic waste and bring the body back into balance.

Metabolism:  The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body. Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important substances, and degradation of various compounds.

Microgram:  (mcg): 1/1,000 of a milligram in weight.

Milligram:  (mg): 1/1,000 of a gram by weight.

Over-The-Counter:  A drug or medication that can legally be bought without a doctor's prescription being required.

ppm:  Parts Per Million. A measure of the concentration of a substance, usually in air or water.

Prostate:  The prostate gland in men that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra and produces a secretion that liquefies coagulated semen.

Protein:  Compounds composed of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen present in the body and in foods that form complex combinations of amino acids. Protein is essential for life and is used for growth and repair. Foods that supply the body with protein include animal products, grains, legumes, and vegetables. Proteins from animal sources contain the essential amino acids. Proteins are changed to amino acids in the body.

Psoriasis:  An inherited skin disorder in which there are red patches with thick, dry silvery scales. It is caused by the body making too-many skin cells. Sores may be anywhere on the body but are more common on the arms, scalp, ears, and the pubic area. A swelling of small joints may go along with the skin disease.

Rheumatism:  General term applied to conditions of pain, or inability to articulate, various elements of the musculoskeletal system.

Rhinitis:  Inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane.

Seborrhea:  Skin disease characterized by dry or moist, greasy, yellow crusts or scales.

Shingles:  A severe infection caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV), affecting mainly adults. It causes painful skin blisters that follow the underlying route of brain or spinal nerves infected by the virus. Also know as herpes zoster.

Syphilis:  A sexually-transmitted disease, with symptoms in the early contagious stages being a sore on the genitalia, a rash, patches of flaking tissue, fever, a sore throat, and sores in the mouth or anus.

Teaspoon:  (tsp) Equivalent to 5cc (5ml).

Tuberculosis:  Also known as TB, Consumption or "The White Plague", tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually affecting the lungs but possibly also the brain, kidneys and bones. Patients may at first be symptom-free or experience a flu-like illness. In the secondary stage, there might be a slight fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue and various other symptoms, depending on the part of the body affected. Tuberculosis of the lung is usually associated with a dry cough that eventually leads to a productive cough with blood-stained sputum. There might also be chest pain and shortness of breath.

Ulcer:  Lesion on the skin or mucous membrane.

Virus:  Any of a vast group of minute structures composed of a protein coat and a core of DNA and/or RNA that reproduces in the cells of the infected host. Capable of infecting all animals and plants, causing devastating disease in immunocompromised individuals. Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, and are completely dependent upon the cells of the infected host for the ability to reproduce.

Yeast:  A single-cell organism that may cause infection in the mouth, vagina, gastrointestinal tract, and any or all bodily parts. Common yeast infections include candidiasis and thrush.