Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Avoiding Argyria and Other Side Effects When Taking Colloidal Silver: The Simple Solution

Understanding proper dosage levels of colloidal silver can help you avoid problems with potential side effects such as argyria…

Some colloidal silver vendors claim colloidal silver is safe at any dosage.

But they have absolutely no credible evidence whatsoever with which to back up that claim.

All nutrients can cause serious side effects in the human body when ingested at excessive levels for prolonged periods of time. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Therefore, it is imperative for nutritional supplement users to understand the safe, sane and responsible usage of any nutritional supplement – including colloidal silver -- so obvious risks can be avoided while the full healthful benefits of the nutritional supplement are enjoyed.

It is now known, for example, that:

· Excessive intake of the mineral iron can, over time, result in cirrhosis of the liver and heart failure.

· Excessive intake of calcium can, over time, result in kidney malfunction, calcification of soft tissue within the body, cellular toxicity and impaired immune function.

· Excessive intake Vitamin A can, over time, result in muscle pain, fatigue, irritability, depression, schizophrenia, fever, liver damage and anemia.

I could go on and on, listing the potential and very real side effects of nutrient after nutrient, when used in excessive quantities over prolonged periods.

But I think you get the point.

What can we say, then, about the risk of side effects?

Do we stop using nutritional supplements altogether, simply because there are risks involved in taking excessive amounts for prolonged periods of time?

Of course not.

Obviously, considering the well-known healthful benefits of such nutrients to the human body, it is imperative to understand the proper dosage levels for enjoying their healthful benefits while avoiding the pitfalls of excessive ingestion.

This is as true for colloidal silver as it is for any nutritional supplement.

Argyria: The Rare But Very Real Side Effect
of Excessive Colloidal Silver Usage

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the risk of argyria (i.e., skin graying) the most well-known – albeit extremely rare –- risk of excessive colloidal silver usage.

Medical researchers Hill and Pillsbury stated back in 1939, “The ordinary clinical use of colloidal silver compounds practically never gives rise to any gross untoward effect other than argyria [i.e., skin graying –ED].”

In other words, according to these early researchers, except for the possibility of skin graying there are very few unwanted side effects from silver usage.

After studying silver in the water supply, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also concluded that risk of any kind of toxicity from silver intake is considered to be very low, and that argyria (skin graying) is the main potential risk of excessive ingestion of silver.

Here’s an excerpt from what EPA has stated in their document titled “Silver (CASRN 7440-22-4)”:

“The critical effect in humans ingesting silver is argyria, a medically benign but permanent bluish-gray discoloration of the skin.

Argyria results from the deposition of silver in the dermis and also from silver-induced production of melanin.

Although silver has been shown to be uniformly deposited in exposed and unexposed areas, the increased pigmentation becomes more pronounced in areas exposed to sunlight due to photoactivated reduction of the metal.

Although the deposition of silver is permanent, it is not associated with any adverse health effects. No pathologic changes or inflammatory reactions have been shown to result from silver deposition.

Silver compounds have been employed for medical uses for centuries. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, silver arsphenamine was used in the treatment of syphillis; more recently it has been used as an astringent in topical preparations.

While argyria occurred more commonly before the development of antibiotics, it is now a rare occurrence. Greene and Su (1987) have published a review of argyria.”

In other words, in those rare instances when silver is ingested in large enough quantities and for long enough time periods to cause argyria, the condition by itself is not associated with actual risks to human health.

The skin graying is considered to be strictly cosmetic.

In another EPA report on drinking water (report ECAO-CIN-026 revised Jan.1991- Section VI, pages VI-1), the EPA states, “There is no evidence that argyria alone is associated with any adverse effects other than the pigmentation.”

Again, the main risk of excessive silver consumption over prolonged periods of time is argyria (skin graying), and argyria is not associated with any other adverse health effects.

If you think about it, this makes silver one of the safest of all nutritional supplements from a toxicological point of view!

According to these experts, the main side effect of taking excessive amounts is strictly cosmetic, rather than detrimental to one’s health and well-being.

Silver Dosage and Risk of Argyria

Nevertheless, just as it’s important to determine the proper daily dosage of other nutrients in order to capitalize on their healthful benefits while avoiding side effects associated with their excessive usage –

-- so it is imperative to determine the proper daily dosage of colloidal silver necessary to enjoy its immune-boosting and infection-fighting benefits while avoiding the one potential side effect of excessive usage, argyria.

To that end, through its “Integrated Risk Information System” (IRIS), the EPA has conducted a complete and comprehensive analysis of silver toxicity in the body.

In this risk assessment document, they have referenced substantial published medical and scientific studies, and they’ve commented on the conclusions drawn from those studies, in relation to potential risks of toxicity from the ingestion of silver.

This EPA document establishes the minimum amount of silver required via ingestion for a person to be placed at risk for argyria. It also gives conservative users of oral silver products a definitive answer to the question: How much can be safely consumed?

Basically, the smallest amount of silver known to cause argyria in adults, from the use of any silver compound (including silver salts) is 900 mg of silver taken orally in one year.

According to the medical literature and anecdotal reports, other people have taken much more silver than that, orally or intravenously, and for longer periods of time, without contracting argyria.

But in calculating their official daily dietary exposure levels for silver, the EPA very conservatively chose to use the smallest known amount of silver that has ever caused argyria in an adult human being over a given period of time.

According to the book, Colloidal Silver: A Literature Review: Medical Uses, Toxicology & Manufacture by John Hill, D.C., in order to reach an intake level of 900 mg. of silver over a year, an individual would have to consume a whopping three hundred and eighty 8 oz. bottles of 10 PPM colloidal silver product during the course of the year.

That would be the equivalent of drinking two typical four ounce bottles of colloidal silver a day, from a health food store.

Since suggested adult daily dosage on most commercial colloidal silver products is about 1 teaspoon daily, this means that an individual would have to consume nearly 48 times the normal adult dosage, each and every day for a year to reach the lowest level of silver intake ever known to cause argyria in an adult.

Colloidal Silver Safe Dosage

Indeed, EPA standards for the amount of silver that can be safely consumed in drinking water is .005 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day (EPA RED document page 2, 4th paragraph).

According to some colloidal silver advocates, this means that a normal sized adult could safely consume approximately one ounce (6 tsp) of 10 ppm colloidal silver every day for a 72 year life span and still be within the safe limits as defined by the EPA.

In the EPA RED document, the EPA goes on to state (3rd page, 4th paragraph), “The EPA does not anticipate that dietary exposure to these low levels of silver will be associated with any significant degree of risk.”

However, experts have pointed out that the .005 milligrams per kilogram of body weight claimed in the EPA RED document to be a safe level of daily silver intake includes silver from all sources, including air, water and food.

In other words, if you had significant amounts of mineral silver in your local water supply, or in the foods you eat, or even in the air you breath (for example, if there were a silver smelting plant nearby) your daily colloidal silver dosage would have to be adjusted downward correspondingly.

Since it is nearly impossible to tell how much silver might be in your local water supply, food supply, or air, this has to be estimated.

Fortunately, a company called Invision International Health Solutions has analyzed the EPA's figures, and has determined that they can be further broken down into "drops per day" formula.

They’ve determined how to calculate the amount of colloidal silver you can take daily, based upon your body weight, using the EPA’s own figures.

And then they’ve adjusted those figures to take into account the average amount of mineral silver you might also be ingesting through sources like water, food and air.

By clicking here you can get a FREE “Colloidal Silver Safe Dosage Report” explaining these simple calculations that allow you to determine your maximum daily safe dosage rate for your specific body weight, based upon the EPA’s very conservative risk assessment standards, at this link:

Additional Helpful Links:

.999 Fine Pure Silver Wire for Making Colloidal Silver
Get Your FREE Colloidal Silver “Safe Dosage” Report
Join the Colloidal Silver Secrets Group on Facebook
The New Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator
Subscribe to the Colloidal Silver Secrets Ezine
Make Your Own Colloidal Silver Inexpensively
Real-Life Colloidal Silver Success Stories
Colloidal Silver Update (News & Views)
The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual
The Colloidal Silver Secrets Video
Colloidal Silver Kills Viruses
Colloidal Silver Cures MRSA
Colloidal Silver Secrets blog
Meet Steve Barwick


Important Note and Disclaimer: The contents of this Ezine have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Information conveyed herein is from sources deemed to be accurate and reliable, but no guarantee can be made in regards to the accuracy and reliability thereof. The author, Steve Barwick, is a natural health journalist with over 30 years of experience writing professionally about natural health topics. He is not a doctor. Therefore, nothing stated in this Ezine should be construed as prescriptive in nature, nor is any part of this Ezine meant to be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Nothing reported herein is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The author is simply reporting what he has learned during the past 17 years of journalistic research into colloidal silver and its usage. Therefore, the information and data presented should be considered for informational purposes only, and approached with caution. Readers should verify for themselves, and to their own satisfaction, from other knowledgeable sources such as their doctor, the accuracy and reliability of all reports, ideas, conclusions, comments and opinions stated herein. All important health care decisions should be made under the guidance and direction of a legitimate, knowledgeable and experienced health care professional. Readers are solely responsible for their choices. The author and publisher disclaim responsibility or liability for any loss or hardship that may be incurred as a result of the use or application of any information included in this Ezine.



Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Colloidal Silver Usage: “How To” Bits and Pieces

Here’s some interesting “bits and pieces” about making and using colloidal silver, designed to help make your experiences with this powerful natural infection-fighting substance more effective and productive.

If you’re not yet able to afford a high-quality home colloidal silver generator like the Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator from The Silver Edge…

…but you’d like to be able to produce colloidal silver in order to help protect yourself and your family during an extended emergency or crisis…

…I’ve posted a short article explaining how to make a crude but effective emergency colloidal silver generator out of a single 9-volt battery and two wooden popsicle sticks.

Yes, you read that correctly. It’s not difficult at all.

You just have to remember that colloidal silver produced this crudely should never be ingested internally on a regular daily basis.

It should only be ingested sparingly, and for emergency purposes, such as when there is a dire threat of infectious illness and no other means of combating it.

That’s because it’s been produced using unrestricted electrical current, therefore the silver particles made by this crude unit will be extremely large when compared to the colloidal silver produced by a high-quality colloidal silver generator such as the Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator from The Silver Edge.

Of course, the crude form of colloidal silver produced with the battery method described in the article at the link above can be used for just about any topical purposes, such as spraying it on cuts, burns and even insect bites to keep them from becoming infected.

And it can be used for household disinfectant purposes, too, wherever a natural disinfectant is desired such as in the bathroom or at the kitchen sink.

How to Make Gallon-Sized
Batches of Colloidal Silver!

Did you know I’ve posted a short YouTube video demonstrating how you can make larger, gallon-sized batches of colloidal silver using the Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator from The Silver Edge, rather than making only one quart at a time?

This is a great technique if you want to make large batches of colloidal silver at once.

You can make large batches for long-term storage…

…for use around the house (such as using colloidal silver when you mop and clean, do laundry, or when you need to spray it in mold-producing areas of the house such as kitchens, bathrooms and garages)…

…for outdoor use such as gardening…for spraying it around baseboards and cabinets to keep cockroaches away

…or simply for giving away colloidal silver to family members and friends who may be in need!

There are just a few simple guidelines to follow, and I reveal them in the video.

Short Video Tutorial for Using the New
Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator!

Also, if you don’t yet own a new Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator, and you’d like a quick video tutorial so you can see for yourself how easy it is to use…

…you can view this short 3-minute “how to” video on The Silver Edge web site.

It gives you a quick rundown demonstrating how truly simple it is to use the world’s most popular colloidal silver generator!

Other Effective Ways
To Use Colloidal Silver!

Would you like to learn some of the most interesting and effective ways to use colloidal silver to stop infection and disease?

Check out some of the following short “how to” articles from the “More Great Articles” page on The Silver Edge web site.

· Here’s an article that explains how to make your own colloidal silver liquid hand soap and colloidal silver gel.

· And here’s an article that explains how you can make a safe and effective fruit and vegetable wash using colloidal silver.

· Here’s an article explaining how to use colloidal silver in canning and food preservation.

· And here’s an article explaining how to make your own natural health and beauty products using colloidal silver.

· Here’s an article on how you can heal ear infections with colloidal silver.

· And here’s an article explaining how to use colloidal silver to heal eye infections.

· Here’s an article explaining how you can use colloidal silver to heal pesky sinus infections.

· And here’s an article explaining some of the many effective ways you can use colloidal silver every single day, to stay healthy and infection-free!

Colloidal Silver Success Stories!

You can learn TONS more effective ways to use colloidal silver simply by reading the real-life success stories posted by avid colloidal silver users at the Colloidal Silver Success Stories web site.

In these real-life success stories, the colloidal silver users explain exactly how they used colloidal silver, which specific illnesses and health conditions they used it for, how much they used, how long they used it, and much, much more!

Colloidal Silver Clinical Studies

And if you’d like to learn more about the science behind the incredible infection-fighting power of colloidal silver, be sure to visit the “Clinical Studies and Reports” page at The Silver Edge web site –

-- which has PDF files of some of the most important clinical studies ever conducted on colloidal silver and other silver-based antimicrobial products, including Dr. Robert O. Becker’s clinical studies on silver and wound healing.

Plus, you’ll find the famous 1978 Science Digest article that first alerted the world to the resurgence in the use of silver by the medical community.

Plus, the famous BYU study proving silver’s powerful infection-fighting qualities against antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, and even Dr. Altman’s study, “Colloidal Silver, Where Does It Go When You Drink It? How Long Does It Stay There?” which demonstrates the body’s remarkable ability to effectively excrete silver after ingestion.

Colloidal Silver:
What The Experts Say

Finally, if you want to know what the experts have to say about colloidal silver, be sure to visit the “Experts Quotes” page at this link, where you’ll find quotes about silver and healing from such medical luminaries and prestigious published sources as:

· The Wall Street Journal

· Alfred Searle, founder of Searle Pharmaceuticals

· Best-selling natural health author James F Balch MD

· Dartmouth University

· Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD

· Dr. Robert O. Becker, M.D.

· Kiplinger Letter for Business

· British Medical Journal

· Dr. Joseph Weissman, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California Medical School

· Dr. Joel D. Wallach

· Bestselling author Dr. Gary Null

· James A. South, MA

· Robert O. Young, PhD, bestselling author of The pH Miracle

· Health Sciences Institute

· Life Extension Foundation

· Dr. Stephen West, DL, PMD (son of Dr. C. Samuel West, DN, ND, renowned chemist and internationally recognized lymphologist)

· Kurt Grange, Ph.D., N.D., Nutritional Biophysiologist, author, lecturer

· Los Angeles Times

· Gabriel Cousens, M.D.

· Lancet

· Handbook of the Hospital Corps of the United States Navy

· Byron J. Richards, CCN

· Dr. Ron Leavitt, Microbiology Department, Brigham Young University

· Journal of the American Medical Association

· And literally dozens more!

Keep You Busy…

Well, that should keep you busy for quite some time, if you’re really interested in learning the many different ways colloidal silver can be used to keep yourself and your family healthy and infection-free.

And if you’re interested in a powerfully informative 60-minute crash course in colloidal silver usage, my inexpensive, full-color, studio-quality Colloidal Silver Secrets Video may be just what you’re looking for. You can learn more about it, here.

Helpful Links:



Important Note and Disclaimer: The contents of this blog have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Information conveyed herein is from sources deemed to be accurate and reliable, but no guarantee can be made in regards to the accuracy and reliability thereof. The author, Steve Barwick, is a natural health journalist with over 30 years of experience writing professionally about natural health topics. He is not a doctor. Therefore, nothing stated in this blog should be construed as prescriptive in nature, nor is any part of this blog meant to be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Nothing reported herein is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The author is simply reporting what he has learned during the past 17 years of journalistic research into colloidal silver and its usage. Therefore, the information and data presented should be considered for informational purposes only, and approached with caution. Readers should verify for themselves, and to their own satisfaction, from other knowledgeable sources such as their doctor, the accuracy and reliability of all reports, ideas, conclusions, comments and opinions stated herein. All important health care decisions should be made under the guidance and direction of a legitimate, knowledgeable and experienced health care professional. Readers are solely responsible for their choices. The author and publisher disclaim responsibility or liability for any loss or hardship that may be incurred as a result of the use or application of any information included in this blog.