Post by Icarus on Feb 1, 2007 9:23:57 GMT -5
Originally posted by Jinsei***
How does colloidal silver work?
A: According to researchers, silver inhibits the growth of one-celled microorganisms by deactivating the organism’s oxygen metabolism enzymes. This action in turn, destroys the organism’s cell membranes, stopping the replication of the organism’s DNA. You may verify this information from Curad on our website at: www.utopiasilver.com/prod...index.htm.
There is some interesting research with silver prior to the advent of patented anti-biotics. A good example that is available on the Internet is "The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease" by Alfred B. Searle, the founder and owner of Searle Pharmaceuticals (now known as Monsanto). Although this book is dated in some respects, it demonstrates the research that had already been done as well as that which was ongoing in the area of colloidal silver before more lucrative patented concoctions (drugs) replaced it in the marketplace.
Evidence indicates that one-celled microorganisms do not have an intrinsic resistance to, nor can they through mutation or natural selection, acquire a resistance to silver's anti-microbial actions, as they are often able to do with patented anti-biotics. This is why silver has historically been one of man’s most effective tools in boosting the immune system against maladies caused by germs even before man knew what germs were.
Q: Is colloidal silver safe?
A: Advanced Colloidal Silver, taken according to our serving suggestions, contains less than one third the amount of silver referenced by the EPA in their drinking water standards. Utopia Silver Supplement's one-per day serving contains approximately 100 micrograms of silver. The Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum daily reference dose of silver is 350 micrograms. That equates to approximately three and one half teaspoons of our Advanced Colloidal Silver. To read the complete text, go to: www.utopiasilver.com/message.htm
Anything can be abused and misused. An aspirin or two may relieve a headache, but a bottle of aspirin taken at one time can cause death. Most over-the-counter pain medications cause thousands of deaths and thousands of damaged organs each year. Patented anti-biotics also cause thousands of deaths each year. Over consumption of drinking water in a short time span kills a number of people each year by diluting the electrolytes, …but should that fact define our use of water? No death that we are aware of has ever been attributed to, nor documented, as being caused by silver or gold supplements.
Q: Are colloidal silver and colloidal gold drugs or do they interact with drugs?
A: Colloidal silver and colloidal gold are mineral dietary supplements, not drugs. Supplementing your diet with colloidal silver or gold should be approached no differently than taking other vitamin and mineral supplements. We have seen no reports of, nor evidence of, any adverse silver or gold mineral interaction or reaction with patented "drugs", any other element, compound, or food.
A small number of people do have allergies to various metals and if you cannot wear silver or gold jewelry because of an allergy, it may be best not to supplement with them either.
Q: Which colloidal silver is most effective, ionic or non-ionic?
A: There is much debate within the colloidal silver community about ionic silver vs. non-ionic silver. We believe there are misconceptions on both sides of the issue: by some that only non-ionic “silver particles” are effective and by others that “ionic silver” is more effective. The truth is: ionic silver is still silver, but electrically charged, either negative or positive. Both seem to have their own distinct advantages in different environments. Generally, ionic silver loses its effectiveness in the hydrochloric acid of the stomach becoming silver chloride and passing harmlessly out of the system. Internally, non-ionic silver doesn’t have that limitation and is able to survive the digestive acids and be absorbed into the bloodstream where it can then act to boost the immune system.
Ionic silver may be more effective in environments where it isn’t doesn’t come in contact with hydrochloric acid. We believe that a product such as our “Advanced Colloidal Silver” gives you the best of both worlds with approx. 25% ionic silver and 75% non-ionic silver particles.
In research cited in Forbes Magazine, it was found that when water is energized with electric current, the H2O molecules are split apart into a positively charged hydrogen ion and a negatively charged hydroxide ion (oxygen attached to hydrogen). The ions, having lost their stabilizing electron, then begin to seek out electrons to acquire from other molecules. This higher concentrated ionic solution outside a one-celled organism is naturally compelled to rush inside the organism where there is a lower ion concentration, thus damaging the cells membrane and killing the organism.
Doctors utilizing this research demonstrated that such a solution kills spores, fungi, and bacteria and viruses. It eradicated bacillus bacteria in less than a minute compared with 15 minutes for alcohol, which doesn’t even kill spores.
We believe it that our Advanced Colloidal Silver process, not only puts nanometers sized particles of silver into a water suspension, but may at the same time electrically energize the distilled H2O resulting in the above described phenomenon. This may result in a highly oxidized water that has a lethal effect on microorganisms and when coupled with the natural anti-microbial effects of silver, becomes a supercharged microbe fighting solution.
Q: How important is silver particle size?
A: Silver of any size can be effective against microorganisms, such as the use of silver utensils and cups, putting a silver coin in water or milk, or even wearing silver jewelry, where silver is assimilated through the skin. There is no doubt that silver is only effective to the degree that it is able to come into contact with microbes and is therefore more effective if it has a particle size small enough to get down to the cellular level. Smaller size also enables the particles to travel more easily in the body's fluid environment, giving the silver easier access to all areas of the body and to microorganisms.
Although, we’re actually dealing with much smaller particles, microns compared to nanometers, the following analogy may give some perspective to size importance within certain parameters. Imagine a silver particle the size of a 55 gal. barrel with the outside of the barrel being the surface area that comes in contact with the surrounding environment; then compare that with the same barrel filled with silver particles the size of marbles or even BBs. There is many times more effective surface area to contact the surrounding environment with the smaller particles than with the large. Although size is important to a point, any debate about particle size can become mostly academic. If a product has a particle size in the 2-10 nanometer range, it will be able to travel anywhere in your body it is needed.
Q: Can Advanced Colloidal Silver cause flu like symptoms?
A: When first starting silver supplementation one may experience a "healing crisis", also known as a Herxheimer's reaction. When toxins accumulate in the blood stream from dying microorganisms, it may cause flu-like symptoms, along with some diarrhea. Initially, smaller servings may be a more comfortable way to pass through this temporary malaise. Also, higher water consumption away from your colloidal silver intake, may lessen the duration of these symptoms.
Q: Does colloidal silver kill only “bad” bacteria, leaving “good” flora unaffected?
A: Colloidal silver does not discriminate between “good” and “bad” bacteria. It destroys all bacteria it comes into contact with. That is why we recommend that anyone choosing to take more than our suggested servings of silver for extended periods of time, should supplement with acidophilus (www.utopiasilver.com/prod...hilus.htm) or live culture yogurt an hour or so afterwards to re-supply the digestive system with the “good” bacteria needed for optimum food digestion and nutrient absorption.
Q: Can Advanced Colloidal Silver cause Argyria?
A: The only negative association made to silver supplementation in the anti-silver propaganda is the condition Argyria, an extremely rare phenomenon where silver accumulates in the tissue under the skin causing a blue or grayish tint. Even then, its’ effect isn't life threatening, just cosmetically altering and unappealing. There are a few cases repeatedly cited in the anti-silver propaganda. The best known and most often cited case occurred in the 1950s when a lady, who was reportedly taking a commonly prescribed silver nitrate product, developed this condition. The consumption of silver nitrate or silver products made with salt water or protein or gelatinous bases (not the same as Advanced Colloidal Silver) may be conducive to eventually causing an accumulation in the skin tissue, resulting in Argyria.
Q: Can colloidal silver containing salts or proteins still be effective?
A: Yes, any product containing silver is probably effective, but if it is comprised of ingredients such as salts, nitrates, iodides, proteins or gelatinous bases, it may be conducive to causing the condition Argyria and in our opinion should be avoided. (See above.)
Q: Why is there an EPA Reference Dose, (RfD) for silver if it has no associated adverse effects ?
A: Although silver is not associated with any adverse health effects, the EPA establishes exposure limits for many materials based on various possible areas of concern. To our knowledge, silver is the only chemical or substance which has an RfD that is not based on an adverse health effect, but rather on a cosmetic effect called Argyria, an extremely rare phenomenon. While an RfD for silver still exists, in 1991 the EPA deleted the maximum contaminant level, or MCL for silver in drinking water (an enforceable value) and replaced it with a secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) goal (non-enforceable) of 0.1 ppm that is twice the previous level, an action that was probably driven by the recognized low toxicity associated with silver.
The EPA’s oral Reference Dose (RfD) for silver, which is "an estimate of a daily exposure to the human population that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime". The RfD is expressed in units of mg/kg-day, which relates to an individual's body weight. The RfD established for silver is .005mg/kg-day. This means that an individual who weighs 70 kilograms (160 pounds) could safely ingest 350 milligrams of silver per day for a lifetime. One 8 ounce bottle of Advanced Colloidal Silver contains 2.4 mg (or 2400 micrograms); one teaspoon (5 ml) of Advanced Colloidal Silver contains .1 mg or 100 micrograms of silver. The current EPA drinking water standards for silver state that in order to avoid possible skin discoloration, the maximum silver content in drinking water should not exceed .10 mg. per liter. This is equivalent to 100 micrograms of silver per liter.
Q: What is the FDA’s definition of “colloidal silver” and why are they concerned about it’s usage?
A: The FDA definition for colloidal silver found in one of their “Talk Papers” is: “a suspension of silver particles in a colloidal (gelatinous) base”. This can be found at: www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/AN...0971.html.
The FDA claims, and probably correctly, that the indiscriminate use of these kinds of solutions has resulted in cases of Argyria. This FDA Talk Paper also references silver ingredients and silver salts that include silver proteins, mild silver protein, strong silver protein, silver chloride, and silver iodide.
From www.utopiasilver.com/faq/index.htm
How does colloidal silver work?
A: According to researchers, silver inhibits the growth of one-celled microorganisms by deactivating the organism’s oxygen metabolism enzymes. This action in turn, destroys the organism’s cell membranes, stopping the replication of the organism’s DNA. You may verify this information from Curad on our website at: www.utopiasilver.com/prod...index.htm.
There is some interesting research with silver prior to the advent of patented anti-biotics. A good example that is available on the Internet is "The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease" by Alfred B. Searle, the founder and owner of Searle Pharmaceuticals (now known as Monsanto). Although this book is dated in some respects, it demonstrates the research that had already been done as well as that which was ongoing in the area of colloidal silver before more lucrative patented concoctions (drugs) replaced it in the marketplace.
Evidence indicates that one-celled microorganisms do not have an intrinsic resistance to, nor can they through mutation or natural selection, acquire a resistance to silver's anti-microbial actions, as they are often able to do with patented anti-biotics. This is why silver has historically been one of man’s most effective tools in boosting the immune system against maladies caused by germs even before man knew what germs were.
Q: Is colloidal silver safe?
A: Advanced Colloidal Silver, taken according to our serving suggestions, contains less than one third the amount of silver referenced by the EPA in their drinking water standards. Utopia Silver Supplement's one-per day serving contains approximately 100 micrograms of silver. The Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum daily reference dose of silver is 350 micrograms. That equates to approximately three and one half teaspoons of our Advanced Colloidal Silver. To read the complete text, go to: www.utopiasilver.com/message.htm
Anything can be abused and misused. An aspirin or two may relieve a headache, but a bottle of aspirin taken at one time can cause death. Most over-the-counter pain medications cause thousands of deaths and thousands of damaged organs each year. Patented anti-biotics also cause thousands of deaths each year. Over consumption of drinking water in a short time span kills a number of people each year by diluting the electrolytes, …but should that fact define our use of water? No death that we are aware of has ever been attributed to, nor documented, as being caused by silver or gold supplements.
Q: Are colloidal silver and colloidal gold drugs or do they interact with drugs?
A: Colloidal silver and colloidal gold are mineral dietary supplements, not drugs. Supplementing your diet with colloidal silver or gold should be approached no differently than taking other vitamin and mineral supplements. We have seen no reports of, nor evidence of, any adverse silver or gold mineral interaction or reaction with patented "drugs", any other element, compound, or food.
A small number of people do have allergies to various metals and if you cannot wear silver or gold jewelry because of an allergy, it may be best not to supplement with them either.
Q: Which colloidal silver is most effective, ionic or non-ionic?
A: There is much debate within the colloidal silver community about ionic silver vs. non-ionic silver. We believe there are misconceptions on both sides of the issue: by some that only non-ionic “silver particles” are effective and by others that “ionic silver” is more effective. The truth is: ionic silver is still silver, but electrically charged, either negative or positive. Both seem to have their own distinct advantages in different environments. Generally, ionic silver loses its effectiveness in the hydrochloric acid of the stomach becoming silver chloride and passing harmlessly out of the system. Internally, non-ionic silver doesn’t have that limitation and is able to survive the digestive acids and be absorbed into the bloodstream where it can then act to boost the immune system.
Ionic silver may be more effective in environments where it isn’t doesn’t come in contact with hydrochloric acid. We believe that a product such as our “Advanced Colloidal Silver” gives you the best of both worlds with approx. 25% ionic silver and 75% non-ionic silver particles.
In research cited in Forbes Magazine, it was found that when water is energized with electric current, the H2O molecules are split apart into a positively charged hydrogen ion and a negatively charged hydroxide ion (oxygen attached to hydrogen). The ions, having lost their stabilizing electron, then begin to seek out electrons to acquire from other molecules. This higher concentrated ionic solution outside a one-celled organism is naturally compelled to rush inside the organism where there is a lower ion concentration, thus damaging the cells membrane and killing the organism.
Doctors utilizing this research demonstrated that such a solution kills spores, fungi, and bacteria and viruses. It eradicated bacillus bacteria in less than a minute compared with 15 minutes for alcohol, which doesn’t even kill spores.
We believe it that our Advanced Colloidal Silver process, not only puts nanometers sized particles of silver into a water suspension, but may at the same time electrically energize the distilled H2O resulting in the above described phenomenon. This may result in a highly oxidized water that has a lethal effect on microorganisms and when coupled with the natural anti-microbial effects of silver, becomes a supercharged microbe fighting solution.
Q: How important is silver particle size?
A: Silver of any size can be effective against microorganisms, such as the use of silver utensils and cups, putting a silver coin in water or milk, or even wearing silver jewelry, where silver is assimilated through the skin. There is no doubt that silver is only effective to the degree that it is able to come into contact with microbes and is therefore more effective if it has a particle size small enough to get down to the cellular level. Smaller size also enables the particles to travel more easily in the body's fluid environment, giving the silver easier access to all areas of the body and to microorganisms.
Although, we’re actually dealing with much smaller particles, microns compared to nanometers, the following analogy may give some perspective to size importance within certain parameters. Imagine a silver particle the size of a 55 gal. barrel with the outside of the barrel being the surface area that comes in contact with the surrounding environment; then compare that with the same barrel filled with silver particles the size of marbles or even BBs. There is many times more effective surface area to contact the surrounding environment with the smaller particles than with the large. Although size is important to a point, any debate about particle size can become mostly academic. If a product has a particle size in the 2-10 nanometer range, it will be able to travel anywhere in your body it is needed.
Q: Can Advanced Colloidal Silver cause flu like symptoms?
A: When first starting silver supplementation one may experience a "healing crisis", also known as a Herxheimer's reaction. When toxins accumulate in the blood stream from dying microorganisms, it may cause flu-like symptoms, along with some diarrhea. Initially, smaller servings may be a more comfortable way to pass through this temporary malaise. Also, higher water consumption away from your colloidal silver intake, may lessen the duration of these symptoms.
Q: Does colloidal silver kill only “bad” bacteria, leaving “good” flora unaffected?
A: Colloidal silver does not discriminate between “good” and “bad” bacteria. It destroys all bacteria it comes into contact with. That is why we recommend that anyone choosing to take more than our suggested servings of silver for extended periods of time, should supplement with acidophilus (www.utopiasilver.com/prod...hilus.htm) or live culture yogurt an hour or so afterwards to re-supply the digestive system with the “good” bacteria needed for optimum food digestion and nutrient absorption.
Q: Can Advanced Colloidal Silver cause Argyria?
A: The only negative association made to silver supplementation in the anti-silver propaganda is the condition Argyria, an extremely rare phenomenon where silver accumulates in the tissue under the skin causing a blue or grayish tint. Even then, its’ effect isn't life threatening, just cosmetically altering and unappealing. There are a few cases repeatedly cited in the anti-silver propaganda. The best known and most often cited case occurred in the 1950s when a lady, who was reportedly taking a commonly prescribed silver nitrate product, developed this condition. The consumption of silver nitrate or silver products made with salt water or protein or gelatinous bases (not the same as Advanced Colloidal Silver) may be conducive to eventually causing an accumulation in the skin tissue, resulting in Argyria.
Q: Can colloidal silver containing salts or proteins still be effective?
A: Yes, any product containing silver is probably effective, but if it is comprised of ingredients such as salts, nitrates, iodides, proteins or gelatinous bases, it may be conducive to causing the condition Argyria and in our opinion should be avoided. (See above.)
Q: Why is there an EPA Reference Dose, (RfD) for silver if it has no associated adverse effects ?
A: Although silver is not associated with any adverse health effects, the EPA establishes exposure limits for many materials based on various possible areas of concern. To our knowledge, silver is the only chemical or substance which has an RfD that is not based on an adverse health effect, but rather on a cosmetic effect called Argyria, an extremely rare phenomenon. While an RfD for silver still exists, in 1991 the EPA deleted the maximum contaminant level, or MCL for silver in drinking water (an enforceable value) and replaced it with a secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) goal (non-enforceable) of 0.1 ppm that is twice the previous level, an action that was probably driven by the recognized low toxicity associated with silver.
The EPA’s oral Reference Dose (RfD) for silver, which is "an estimate of a daily exposure to the human population that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime". The RfD is expressed in units of mg/kg-day, which relates to an individual's body weight. The RfD established for silver is .005mg/kg-day. This means that an individual who weighs 70 kilograms (160 pounds) could safely ingest 350 milligrams of silver per day for a lifetime. One 8 ounce bottle of Advanced Colloidal Silver contains 2.4 mg (or 2400 micrograms); one teaspoon (5 ml) of Advanced Colloidal Silver contains .1 mg or 100 micrograms of silver. The current EPA drinking water standards for silver state that in order to avoid possible skin discoloration, the maximum silver content in drinking water should not exceed .10 mg. per liter. This is equivalent to 100 micrograms of silver per liter.
Q: What is the FDA’s definition of “colloidal silver” and why are they concerned about it’s usage?
A: The FDA definition for colloidal silver found in one of their “Talk Papers” is: “a suspension of silver particles in a colloidal (gelatinous) base”. This can be found at: www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/AN...0971.html.
The FDA claims, and probably correctly, that the indiscriminate use of these kinds of solutions has resulted in cases of Argyria. This FDA Talk Paper also references silver ingredients and silver salts that include silver proteins, mild silver protein, strong silver protein, silver chloride, and silver iodide.
From www.utopiasilver.com/faq/index.htm