Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Basic Information on Colloidal Silver and Its Many Healing Benefits

If you’re brand new to colloidal silver usage, or if you want to pass along some basic information about colloidal silver usage to friends and family members who might be new to the subject, I’ve got great news for you: 

There’s one website on the internet where you can find all of the information on colloidal silver you need to get started.  And directly below, I’m going to give you links to some of the most pertinent information on that website so you don’t have to hunt all over the place to find what you want!

Hi, Steve Barwick here, for TheSilverEdge.com

People often ask me where they can find basic information on colloidal silver and its many healing and infection-fighting benefits.

Well, that’s simple.  You can find pretty much all of the information you need on making and using colloidal silver, at TheSilverEdge.com.

For example, there’s a very brief primer on colloidal silver and its usage at this link

And there’s an article on the top 12 ways to use colloidal silver for healing, at this link.

You’ll find an article on the 20 top ways to use colloidal silver as a germ-busting disinfectant around the household, here:

And there’s an article on the 12 most unusual uses for colloidal silver, here

If you’d like to know what bona-fide clinical and medical experts have to say about colloidal silver, you’ll find literally hundreds of expert quotes on colloidal silver here.    

And you’ll find hundreds of interesting and informative testimonials and anecdotal accounts by experienced colloidal silver users here

You can also find nearly 100 clinical studies and white papers on colloidal silver and its many healing and infection-fighting benefits, at this link

Want something a little more popular?  Here’s an article about TV’s well-known Dr. Oz and world-famous heart surgeon Dr. Gerald Lemole, endorsing colloidal silver. 

And here’s another article on Dr. Oz and Oscar winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, both endorsing colloidal silver. 

If you’re concerned about using colloidal silver safely and responsibly, or even if you’re skeptical about its usage, here’s a great little article that addresses the issue of colloidal silver safety in-depth, and helps dispel some of the myths and misconceptions.    

What’s more, here’s a brief article explaining how to determine your maximum safe daily dosage level of colloidal silver, based on your body weight and the ppm (i.e., or concentration) of the colloidal silver you’re using.

And here’s where you can obtain a FREE 30-page “Colloidal Silver Safe Dosage Report,” and sign up to receive my weekly Colloidal Silver Secrets Ezine as well.

There are literally dozens of other FREE articles on colloidal silver and its usage, which you can read through at your leisure, here

And if you prefer videos, there are nearly 20 short instructional videos on making and using colloidal silver, here

Finally, here’s an article on the 7 most important reasons to make your own high-quality colloidal silver rather than buying it from a health food store – very important information, particularly if you like saving money and want to insure you’ll always have access to colloidal silver, even if it’s taken off the market due to pressure from Big Pharma.   

If you’d like to know even more about making and using colloidal silver with a home colloidal silver generator, just click the link in this sentence. 

And here’s an article on the most frequently asked questions and answers on making and using colloidal silver, so you won’t be in the dark when you get started.

And if you’d like to discuss colloidal silver usage with over 7,750 other experienced users, be sure to join the Colloidal Silver Secrets Community on Facebook, at this link.

Happy reading!  Meanwhile, I’ll be back next week with another great article on colloidal silver…

Yours for the safe, sane and responsible use of colloidal silver,


Helpful Links:
                                                                                                                                                 
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 in journalistic fashion 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 and/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. 

Copyright 2013 | Life & Health Research Group, LLC | PO Box 1239 | Peoria AZ 85380-1239 | All rights reserved.



Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Can Colloidal Silver Be Mixed With Other Substances?

You can mix colloidal silver with other natural substances in order to make a variety of helpful natural solutions such as a homemade fruit and vegetable wash…a home cure for stubborn athlete’s foot…

…natural health and beauty care products including homemade deodorant spray and homemade mouthwash…a homemade antimicrobial gel for stubborn boils and other topical infections…homemade antimicrobial soap…and much more! 

Here are just a few examples of the kinds of substances people mix with colloidal silver in order to make their own helpful natural products for a variety of uses…

Hi, Steve Barwick here, for TheSilverEdge.com

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is this:  “Can colloidal silver be mixed with other substances?”

And the answer, of course, in general, is “Yes!”

For example, people use vinegar and colloidal silver together as a very effective fruit and vegetable wash and disinfectant.  To learn how it’s done, read my article A Simple, Effective Colloidal Silver Fruit and Vegetable Wash at this link.   

Colloidal silver can also be used with apple cider vinegar as an effective athlete's foot cure.  For more specifics, see my article Colloidal Silver for Athlete’s Foot and Other Topical Fungal Infections at
this link.   

Colloidal silver can also be used with a variety of essential oils and other substances to make natural health and beauty care products, including a minty homemade mouthwash, a refreshing homemade aftershave, or even a homemade deodorant spray. 

Learn more by reading Angela Kaelin’s great article, Make Your Own Natural Health and Beauty Products Using Colloidal Silver at this link.

Even More Examples

Experienced colloidal silver users also use colloidal silver in combination with antimicrobial essential oils (i.e., such as Tea Tree oil) for topical use as a "double whammy" against stubborn topical infections such as boils or even MRSA.  Learn more by reading my article, An Unusual Colloidal Silver Remedy for Infected Boils in Inconvenient Places, at
this link.  

Some people even mix colloidal silver with liquid soap in a pump dispenser to give their favorite hand-soap powerful antimicrobial qualities.  See my short video, Make Your Own Colloidal Silver Gel and Colloidal Silver Soap, at this link

Finally, people mix colloidal silver with a variety of natural oils or gels, such as coconut oil, argan oil or aloe vera gel, to make all-natural germicidal topical products.  See my article, Germ-Busting Colloidal Silver Gels and Creams at this link, and scroll down to the section on “Making Your Own.”

General Rule-of-Thumb On Mixing

The general rule-of-thumb when mixing colloidal silver with other substances is to make up the combination fresh for each use whenever possible. 

Why? 

Because when colloidal silver is mixed with other substances, over the course of time it can begin to oxidize, or even bond with other constituents of the substance you’ve mixed it with, and lose potency as a result. 

Sometimes, there’s not enough potency loss to make a big difference.  But sometimes there is, depending upon the substance being mixed with the colloidal silver and whether or not specific constituents of that substance tend to interfere with the antimicrobial activity of the silver over time.

So, for example, when mixing colloidal silver with vinegar to create a natural, disinfectant fruit and vegetable wash, you should probably consider making up a fresh mixture each time since the acidity in vinegar tends to oxidize silver more quickly than other substances would.  

After all, it only takes a few seconds to mix a fresh batch of your colloidal silver and vinegar wash.  And you'll enjoy maximum potency and effectiveness from the silver by mixing the wash up fresh each time.  If you were to use the same batch you mixed a week earlier, it might not be nearly as potent as mixing a fresh batch. 

But when making things like a personal natural deodorant, a natural minty mouthwash or a refreshing natural aftershave by mixing colloidal silver with other substances (see earlier link to Angela Kaelin’s article), most users agree you can go as long as one week without having to mix up a fresh batch.

Some people prefer to make only three days’ worth at a time just to be sure they’re getting maximum antimicrobial potency from the silver. 

The bottom line, general speaking, is that the fresher-made the combination is, and the sooner it's used, the more potency and effectiveness the silver will maintain.

On the other hand, when mixing colloidal silver into liquid soaps and shampoos, the silver seems to maintain its potency very well over long periods of time.  Apparently, certain constituents of soap make for good carriers of silver, rather than acting as neutralizing agents. 

That’s why I never fail to add colloidal silver to my favorite shampoo, and to my favorite bathroom countertop liquid soap dispenser!

Controversy

There is some controversy over the idea that mixing colloidal silver with other substances can negate the effectiveness of the silver over time.

Indeed, in many cases there appears to be very little loss of silver’s potency at all, even over long periods of time.  And this appears to be borne out at least several clinical studies.

For example, one study has shown that when small amounts of silver is used as a disinfectant agent in "multiple dose products" such as cosmetics or pharmaceutical preparations, the silver continues to work over time, "even in the presence of strong interfering additives."  

In other words, the silver particles still demonstrate antimicrobial effectiveness in spite of the presence of ingredients that should interfere with it. 

Here's a quote from the study:

"The wide antimicrobial spectrum, the high microbicidal potency, the good water solubility and the safety of anodic silver, therefore, provide an encouraging background to the investigation of the use of this ion as a preservative in pharmaceutical or cosmetic formulations...

The high rate of kill of anodic silver is very useful to ensure a rapid reduction of microorganisms. However, the effectiveness of silver in keeping the number of surviving organisms at less than 0.01% of the starting inoculum after repeated inocula, even in the presence of strong interfering additives, appears the most interesting feature for its possible use as a preserving agent in multiple-dose products".

-- Scalzo, M., et al. 1996. Antimicrobial activity of electrochemical silver ions in nonionic surfactant solutions and in model dispersions. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 48, 60-63.

[From the "What the Experts Say About Colloidal Silver" page at www.TheSilverEdge.com]

What that basically says is that when manufacturers use ionic silver in cosmetics or in pharmaceutical products as a disinfectant and preservative to help prevent the product from becoming contaminated with bacteria, the silver is able to keep the number of surviving microbes down to less than 0.01% even after the product has been used repeatedly, and even if the product contains “strong interfering additives.”

So the good news is that if you make an all-natural mouthwash, for example, using colloidal silver and other natural ingredients, and you still have some left over after a week or so, it should still be good to use!

What to Watch For

Just be sure to watch for signs that the colloidal silver you’ve mixed with another substance isn’t being neutralized, oxidized or otherwise degenerated over the course of time. 

For example, if the solution you’ve made is turning gray, cloudy or murky looking, this is a sure sign the silver particles have lost their electrical charge and are oxidizing and falling out of suspension, or agglomerating with other constituents in the solution you’ve mixed.  That’s when it’s time to mix a new, fresh batch.  

As I’ve mentioned previously, to insure maximum potency of the silver, most experienced colloidal silver users agree that fresh batches of such homemade natural products should be made for each individual use.

The exceptions are in cases of mixing colloidal silver with liquid soaps or shampoos (in which cases silver seems to maintain potency indefinitely), some gels (such as Aloe Vera gel, in which colloidal silver seems to maintain potency indefinitely) or in making a natural mouthwash or underarm deodorant spray (in which case experienced users generally make no more than one week’s worth at a time).    

Just keep your eye on your homemade solutions to make sure there’s no discoloration in them that would indicate the silver particles are agglomerating or oxidizing and falling out of suspension and thereby losing their potency.

Make Your Own Colloidal Silver and Save!

Of course, store-bought colloidal silver can be awfully expensive.  Prices average $20 to $30 for a tiny, four-ounce bottle in most health food stores. 

That makes it very expensive to use colloidal silver in homemade vegetable washes, foot soaks, deodorants, mouthwashes, etc., considering that you might need to use several ounces or more of colloidal silver at a time in such mixtures. 

But if you make your own high-quality colloidal silver with a brand new Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator from The Silver Edge, you’ll never pay more than 36 cents a quart for colloidal silver.  (Learn more by clicking the link in this paragraph.)

That makes it unbelievably inexpensive to use colloidal silver any time you want to make a wide variety of highly beneficial, all-natural household products. 

For example, as mentioned last week in Jodi Todd’s guest article, Colloidal Silver: the Safe, Natural, Non-Toxic Home Disinfectant, you can even make a superb deodorizer for your carpets, drapes or other household items simply by filling a full-size plastic spray bottle with a 10 ppm solution of colloidal silver, and mixing in a few drops of Gardenia or Lavender essential oil. Spray it on carpets or drapes to disinfect them, and leave behind an intoxicating aroma.  

Or, as I reported in my article, 12 Most Unusual Uses for Colloidal Silver, some people make their own homemade spray starch for ironing clothing, by mixing one cup of distilled water with a tablespoon of colloidal silver and a teaspoonful of corn starch. 

The silver prevents the corn starch from going bad in the water.  The result?  Nice, crisply ironed clothing every time.  And you don’t have to pay through the nose for expensive store-bought spray starches!

In that same article, I pointed out that many people claim they can keep a bouquet of fresh cut flowers alive longer simply by mixing three tablespoons of sugar to the flower water, along with two tablespoons of 10 ppm colloidal silver. 

The sugar provides nutrients to help nourish the flowers and keep them alive longer, while the silver destroys bacteria that can invade the plant stems.  Cut flowers seem to absolutely thrive in this unusual solution!

As natural health writer Angela Kaelin points out in her great article, Colloidal Silver for Canning and Food Preservation, you can even mix colloidal silver into foods you plan on canning, pickling or preserving, to give them a longer shelf life by preventing bacterial contamination.  

Believe it or not, some people even mix a standard oral dosage of colloidal silver with equal parts of whisky, vodka or red wine when they have a viral infection.  Then they squeeze some fresh lemon or lime into the mix before drinking it.

Why would they do such a thing? 

As colloidal silver expert Anders Sultan explains, it’s because cold and flu viruses are lipid-coated viruses.  That means they have an outer fatty coating that’s difficult for silver to penetrate, and therefore makes them difficult to kill. 

But by adding a tiny bit of alcohol and citrus juice to a standard oral dose of colloidal silver before drinking it, that lipid-coating around the virus can be dissolved, and as a result the silver can more easily reach the virus and kill it! 

You can learn more about this nifty little flu-busting trick in my article, Beating the Winter Cold and Flu Season With Colloidal Silver.

The bottom line is that when you make your own high-quality colloidal silver with a brand new Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator from The Silver Edge, there’s literally no limit to the beneficial uses for colloidal silver you can find.  

Click on the link in the above paragraph to learn more about how easy it is to make your own colloidal silver for less than 36 cents a quart

Meanwhile, I’ll be back next week with another great article on colloidal silver…

Yours for the safe, sane and responsible use of colloidal silver,


Helpful Links:
                                                                                                                                                 
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 in journalistic fashion 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 and/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. 

Copyright 2013 | Life & Health Research Group, LLC | PO Box 1239 | Peoria AZ 85380-1239 | All rights reserved.


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Colloidal Silver Helps Heal Stubborn Dandruff Problems

Dandruff afflicts hundreds of millions of people around the world – in fact, by some estimates, half the adult human population suffer from the itching and flaking of the scalp that typifies this frustrating condition. 

Unfortunately, there’s no medical cure for the condition, because it involves a fungus that lives and thrives on the scalp as part of our normal human biota.  However, most mild cases of dandruff can be effectively treated with shampoos, as long as they’re used regularly. 

But as just about anyone who suffers from a stubborn case of dandruff will attest, over-the-counter dandruff shampoos are not always effective. And often, even shampoos containing anti-fungal drugs are not effective. 

Thankfully, many people suffering from stubborn dandruff are finding that colloidal silver is the perfect natural remedy, due to its powerful antifungal properties.  Here’s what you need to know now…

Hi, Steve Barwick here, for TheSilverEdge.com...

For over a decade now, I've been spraying 10 ppm homemade colloidal silver on my head (after showering) each morning, for dandruff. 

It almost immediately cleared up a stubborn and life-long dandruff problem I’d endured since childhood. 

And it’s never failed to keep the dandruff completely under control for me.

This means my wife no longer has to inspect the shoulders of my shirt or jacket as we get ready to enter a restaurant or other public place, and use her hands to brush the dandruff away, as she frequently had to do when we were first married nearly 20 years ago. (What would me do without wives, huh, guys?)

The Dandruff Shampoo Shuffle

In fact, I can remember when my bathroom shower had at least four different dandruff shampoo products on the shelf, because no single product ever seemed to be able to completely relieve the dandruff. 

One product would work for four or five weeks, and then stop working.  And I’d have to switch to another dandruff product for a month or so, before it too would stop working.  Then I could go back to the original, or try yet another. 

I had used the typical Selsum Blue, Head & Shoulders, Pantene Pro and even the prescription version of the antifungal Nizoral shampoo. 

But in every case, the dandruff kept coming back. 

I tried dietary changes, such as eliminating sugar and simple carbohydrates from my diet.  I tried reducing stress.  I tried washing my hair more often.  I tried washing it less frequently than usual. 

I tried products that were supposed to add oil to the scalp.  And I tried products that were supposed to help dry out the scalp. 

Nothing worked.  The dandruff prevailed.

Thank You, Dr. James Balch!

It wasn’t until 1997 or so, when I read an issue of Dr. James Balch’s newsletter on natural healing, Prescription for Healthy Living, that I finally understood why nothing I had tried was working. 

Dr. Balch explained that many stubborn cases of dandruff are actually caused by topical fungal infections in which the fungus either becomes overactive on the scalp, or over-populates the scalp, triggering larger than usual levels of dead skin cells to be shed from the scalp. 

Thankfully, I had been introduced to colloidal silver several years earlier.   And I’d been researching it ever since.  So I knew that numerous medical studies had demonstrated the simple fact that colloidal silver kills fungus, yeasts and molds with astonishing effectiveness. 

Of course, I’d been ingesting colloidal silver orally, at that time, and had found it to be a big help – in conjunction with other supplements -- for controlling the bouts of chronic fatigue syndrome I’d been plagued with for years previously. 

But armed with my newfound knowledge about fungus growing on the scalp and causing dandruff, I also began spraying it on my head each morning after showing, drying and combing my hair. 

And miraculously, the lifelong dandruff problem that could not be controlled by even the toughest of dandruff shampoos cleared up almost overnight!

Is There a Fungus Having Sex on Your Head?

If you’ve got dandruff, you’ve quite possibly got a fungus having sex on your head.  Let me explain…

According to the National Disease Research Interchange (see here), the cause of stubborn cases of dandruff has actually been suspected for over 100 years.

But it was not completely verified until 2007 when a team of scientists working for Procter & Gamble began to study the fungus now known as Malassezia globosa.

“A team at Procter & Gamble said they had sequenced the genome of Malassezia globosa, a fungus that grows on the skin of between 50 percent and 90 percent of the population. It causes dandruff and a range of other skin conditions.

Malassezia fungi have been the suspected cause of dandruff for more than a century. Previously referred to as Pityrosporum ovale, Pityrosporum orbiculare, or Malassezia, these fungi are now known to consist of at least seven Malassezia species.

…Malassezia lives on the scalps of most healthy adults without causing problems. But sometimes it grows out of control, feeding on the oils secreted by your hair follicles and causing irritation that leads to increased cell turnover.

The result is a large number of dead skin cells. As the cells fall off, they tend to clump together with oil from your hair and scalp, making them appear white, flaky and all too visible.”

In short, Malassezia globosa is a normal part of the micro-flora that lives on our skin.  But when it grows out of control on the scalp, the end result is more dead skin cells than normal, resulting in both flaking and itching.

Thomas Dawson, a scientist at Proctor & Gamble, led a team of researchers to study the Malassezia fungal organism.  They grew enough of the fungus to give dandruff to 10 million people. 

Then they sequenced the entire genome of the fungus.

One of the things they discovered is that the fungus is “capable of excreting more than 50 different enzymes that help digest and break down compounds in the hair and scalp.” 

These enzymes can trigger the scalp irritation that so frequently accompanies stubborn cases of dandruff.

Researchers say irritation to the scalp caused by excessive levels of the scalp-dwelling fungus and the enzymes they secrete seems to cause faster turnover of skin cells, meaning more dead skin cells than usual are being replaced by new skin cells.  

In people without dandruff, it takes about 30 days for a crop of new skin cells to mature, die and shed. In people with dandruff, it may take only 2-7 days, thanks to Malassezia globosa

Another thing the researchers discovered is that the Malassezia fungus has “mating-type genes,” indicating it is capable of sex. 

According to MicrobeWorld.com, fungi do not usually reproduce by sex.  Indeed, most fungi reproduce asexually, by budding (i.e., “buds” are grown, each of which develops into a new fungus), fragmenting (i.e., in which two or more fungal fragments grow into new individual fungi) or through fission (i.e., a single fungus splits into two). 

Researchers speculate that Malassezia’s apparent ability to reproduce sexually may well explain why it is so hard to eradicate once it gets established on the scalp. 

That’s because sexual reproduction of fungi helps ensure genetic recombination, increasing the likelihood that offspring will be better adapted to the environment they’re “born” on, and can withstand any adverse conditions which may exist.

In other words, the fungus is literally genetically predisposed to thrive on your scalp!

In With Colloidal Silver, Out With Dandruff Shampoos!

Popular dandruff shampoos that use the minerals zinc (i.e., Head & Shoulders) or selenium (i.e., Selsun Blue) as an active ingredient are generally effective against mild cases of dandruff, because these two metals are known to be at least moderately antifungal and antibacterial. 

Similarly, shampoos containing topical antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole (i.e., Nizoral) also work by inhibiting fungal growth.  

And shampoos that use Tea Tree oil or Neem as active ingredients can also work for mild cases of dandruff, simply because both Tea Tree oil and Neem are natural antifungal agents.

But in many cases the Malassezia globosa fungus can be too tough to eradicate for standard dandruff shampoos containing zinc, selenium, or essential oils like Tea Tree Oil or Neem, or even for shampoos containing drugs like ketoconazole.   

In fact, researchers say new anti-dandruff treatments are sorely needed since the existing compounds used in shampoos have never been very effective at preventing and treating stubborn cases of dandruff.

So it should come as no surprise, I suppose, that colloidal silver, being the world’s most powerful natural antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal agent, would work wonders against dandruff – even when shampoos containing selenium, zinc, Tea Tree oil, Neem oil or an antifungal drug like ketoconazole don’t.

After all, numerous clinical studies going back to the 1970’s have demonstrated the profound effectiveness of colloidal silver against a wide variety of fungal pathogens.  For example: 








Colloidal silver has also been demonstrated, anecdotally, to work against toenail fungus (see article here).

And it’s been demonstrated, anecdotally, to work against athlete’s foot fungus and other topical fungal infections, as well (see article here).  

What’s more, colloidal silver has even been demonstrated, anecdotally, to work against the potentially deadly fungus behind Valley Fever, known as Coccidioides, of which there are now an estimated 150,000 cases per year in the U.S. (see article here), costing billions of dollars in annual medical treatments.

So colloidal silver has long been known to have profound antifungal properties.

What the Experts Say About
Colloidal Silver and Fungal Infections

What’s more, experts agree that colloidal silver and other silver-based antimicrobials are often astonishingly effective against fungal pathogens.

Here are just a few quotes from medical studies and various medical and clinical experts attesting to the powerful healing qualities of colloidal silver against fungal pathogens:

"In addition to its antibacterial properties, silver is also being studied as an antifungal agent.

A study published in Mycoses in 2007 indicated that silver is effective against four fungi which cause major fungal infections in humans: Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans, Microsporum canis, and Aspergillus flavus."

-- S.M. Foran, Therapeutic Properties of Silver: an Historical and Technical Review

"Silver is taken up rapidly by fungus spores, so that germination can be completely inhibited after a contact time of 1 minute or less.

Only mercury( I) and (II), and to a lesser extent copper, offer serious competition."

-- Miller, Lawrence P., and McCallan, S.E.A. 1957. Toxic action of metal ions to fungus spores. Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 5(2), 116-122.

"Silver was similarly toxic to a range of [fungal] pathogens including Pythium aphanidermatum, Thielaviopsis basicola and Fusarium oxysporum f.spp.

Most zoospores of phytophthora spp were killed by Ag+ in the range 5-50 ppb, bursting at the higher concentrations...

Zoospore cysts and germlings showed the same sensitivity to silver. Oospores were mostly killed over the range 25-100 ppb...

…It is surprising that no silver-based fungicide has been developed."

-- Slade, S.J., and Pegg, G.F. 1993. The effect of silver and other metal ions on the in vitro growth of root-rotting Phytophthora and other fungal species. Annals of Applied Biology, 122, 233-251.

"Spherical silver nanoparticles (nano-Ag) were synthesized and their antifungal effects on fungal pathogens of the skin were investigated.

Nano-Ag showed potent activity against clinical isolates and ATCC strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida species (IC80, 1-7 microg/ml).

The activity of nano-Ag was comparable to that of amphotericin B, but superior to that of fluconazole (amphotericin B IC80, 1-5 microg/ml; fluconazole IC80, 10- 30 microg/ml).

Additionally, we investigated their effects on the dimorphism of Candida albicans. The results showed nano-Ag exerted activity on the mycelia.

Thus, the present study indicates nano-Ag may have considerable antifungal activity, deserving further investigation for clinical applications."

-- J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2008 Aug;18(8):1482-4., Kim KJ, Sung WS, Moon SK, Choi JS, Kim JG, Lee DG. Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Scienes, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea.

“…the antifungal activity and its mechanism of silver, Nano-Ag specifically, was investigated.

Nano-Ag, in an IC80 range of 1-25 µg/ml, showed significant antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes and Candida species.

Toward all fungal strains, Nano-Ag exhibited similar activity with amphotericin B, showing IC80 values of 1-5 µg/ml, but more potent activity than fluconazole, showing IC80 values of 10-30 µg/ml.

…Many studies have shown the antimicrobial effects of Nano-Ag (Klasen, 2000; Russell & Hugo, 1994; Silver, 2003), but the effects of Nano-Ag against fungal pathogens of the skin, including clinical isolates of T. mentagrophytes and Candida species are mostly unknown.

The primary significance of this study is the observation that Nano-Ag can inhibit the growth of dermatophytes, which cause superficial fungal infections (Kim et al., 2008).

Nano-Ag also exhibited potent antifungal effects, probably through destruction of membrane integrity (Kim et al., 2009).

To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to apply Nano-Ag successfully to dermatophytes and pathogenic fungal strains.

Secondly, the fact that preparation method of Nano-Ag described here is cost-effective is also of importance. Therefore, it can be expected that Nano-Ag may have potential as an anti-infective agent for human fungal diseases.”

-- The Silver Nanoparticle (Nano-Ag): a New Model for Antifungal Agents, Dong Gun Lee School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Republic of Korea

“The results of the current study demonstrate the excellent in vitro performance of silver, particularly the nanocrystalline form, against a variety of common fungal pathogens.

The most remarkable aspect of the fungicidal experiments is that nanocrystalline silver appears to be effective against the resistant spores produced by some of these organisms."

-- Wright, J.B., et al. 1999. Efficacy of topical silver against fungal burn wound pathogens. American Journal of Infection Control, 27(4), 344-349.

“The present study demonstrated that anodic silver (Ag+) at low direct currents had inhibitory and fungicidal properties.

Broth dilution susceptibility tests were made on several species of Candida and one species of Torulopsis.

Growth in all isolates was inhibited by concentrations of electrically generated silver ions between 0.5 and 4.7 mg/ml, and silver exhibited fungicidal properties at concentrations as low as 1.9 ,ug/ml.

The inhibitory and fungicidal concentrations of electrically generated silver ions are lower than those reported for other silver compounds.”

-- Antifungal Properties of Electrically Generated Metallic Ions, by Becker, Spadaro, Berger, Bierman, Chapin, published inAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Nov. 1976, p. 856-860

"Silver ions are bactericidal, antifungal, protozoicidal, and active against herpes simplex virus."

-- Russell, A.D., et al. 1994. Antimicrobial activity and action of silver. Progress in Medicinal Chemistry, 31, 351-370.

"Beginning in the 1970s, several independent researchers found that silver ions easily destroy Candida and other fungi.

But it wasn't until a pilot study during the mid- 1990s that included human patients suffering from terminal AIDS that medical researchers established solid evidence showing just how quick and effective silver ions can be in the treatment of Candida as well as HIV.

In this study, nine individuals who were near death were divided into two subgroups. One group suffered from HIV and a terrible Candida infection.

The other group suffered from both HIV and an extreme form of malnutrition (known as Wasting Syndrome).

The researchers found that in both groups the colloidal silver was capable of killing pathogens and purging the bloodstream of germ defenses in order to restore the immune system."

-- Dr. Jonathan Wright, M.D.

“I sincerely recommend that everyone have electrically generated colloidal silver in their home as an antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal agent."

-- Dr. Joseph Weissman, M.D. board certified immunologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California Medical School

“Ag-NP's have strong antifungal activity on Candida albicans, Candida globrato, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.”

-- Biometals, 24 September 2010, Antibiotic effect of silver nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureus

“Electrically generated silver has also proved adept at killing various yeast/fungus species at very low Silver concentrations, including Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis, Torulopsis glabrata and Aspergillus niger.”

-- James South, MA, Biochemist

Unfortunately, there have been no clinical studies conducted specifically on the effectiveness of colloidal silver against the dandruff-causing Malassezia globosa fungus.

However, the anecdotal evidence for colloidal silver’s effectiveness against dandruff is pretty darned convincing, as you’re about to see. 

What Colloidal Silver Users Say…

Here are just a few of the anecdotal accounts I’ve run across from people who have used colloidal silver to control their stubborn dandruff problems:

“I found out about the silver about a year ago, I am never without it.

I used it on my son’s dandruff also, which the Dermatologist gave him an Rx for 65.00 shampoo that did not work. Grrrrrrrrrr…nothing worked except the silver. That and Essential Fatty Acids!

Love this stuff and wish more people would be aware of it.”

-- Joanna S.

“You name it, and we've probably used colloidal silver for it!
My husband even sprays it on his hair in the mornings, for dandruff. And come to think of it, he hasn't had any dandruff to speak of in four or five years now!

Owning a colloidal silver generator from The Silver Edge has given us the luxury of being able to use high-quality micro-particle colloidal silver any time we need it, and we never have to worry about the costs.

The machine is very easy to use, and easy to store. And it is without a doubt the single-best money-saving appliance in my entire house!"

          -- K. Sullivan, NM

“I have got rid of my dandruff with Colloidal Silver.  And using it on burns is nothing short of astonishing. The relief is practically instant.

I cannot promote it enough. Thx Steve for all your dedication and hard work. It is very much appreciated."

          -- Peter A.

Here are some additional testimonials regarding colloidal silver and dandruff, from various websites:

“I had dandruff as long as I can remember and have used "Head and Shoulders" for at least 25 years.

One morning a few weeks ago, I ran out of shampoo and started using my wife's un-medicated kind.

I keep a bottle of colloidal silver on my bathroom counter to take a swig from each morning. It has a spray cap on it so I can use it as deodorant (works great!).

I sprayed it on my hair and let it dry. I noticed the next day, my hair was nice and soft. I did it the next day and used the un-medicated shampoo again.

Now, I use it every day and have soft hair and no itchy scalp or dandruff. What a blessing! Try it. It may work for you.”

          -- UtopiaSilver.com

“I have not used the colloidal silver a lot yet but I did use it on my daughter’s hair. She has hair like I did when I was younger it got greasy within one day and the dandruff was awful.

But I used the colloidal silver in her hair and there was no dandruff and it actually stayed soft and not greasy for at least 3 days after.

It’s the only thing that has kept her hair free of dandruff.”

          -- UtopiaSilver.com

“I've always had dandruff, and without washing every single day with dandruff shampoo, my scalp would get itchy and flaky, and my hair would get oily. And I'd be extra susceptible to bed head, hat head, and other such embarrassments.

Depending on who you ask, dandruff seems to be fungal or yeast-oriented condition. Colloidal silver is supposed to have anti-fungal properties, right?

Turns out, for me at least, it works better than the store-bought shampoo. Less itchy, less flaky, less oily. I'm calling this one Confirmed.”

 -- GreenBlueBrown.blogspot.com

In short, colloidal silver is a powerful anti-dandruff agent that, for many people, appears to be even more effective than traditional antifungal shampoos.

Getting Rid of Your Dandruff

Simply spraying some 10 ppm colloidal silver onto your head and working it into your scalp after showering and drying your hair each morning seems to do the trick for most people. 

Then simply comb your hair and go about your day, leaving the silver to air dry on the scalp.

However, in really stubborn cases, some people may need to do this three or four times a day, at first. 

But usually within a week most people report being able to use the colloidal silver only once per day directly after showering for complete relief of their dandruff.

Many people also pour a couple of ounces of 10 ppm (or stronger) colloidal silver into their favorite bottled liquid shampoo, and shake it up to evenly disperse the silver throughout the soap.   

In this manner, they create their own powerful homemade anti-dandruff shampoo, for added protection against dandruff. 

But simply spraying a 10 ppm solution of colloidal silver directly onto the head (and working it into the scalp, if you have thick hair) seems to work well for most people dealing with mild to moderate dandruff problems. 

The Bottom Line

Silver’s powerful antifungal properties have not only been known for decades but have repeatedly been verified by medical science. 

So frankly, it’s quite astonishing that colloidal silver has never been investigated as a remedy for dandruff. 

In part, that’s because, as I mentioned earlier, the specific fungal pathogen responsible for most stubborn cases of dandruff, while suspected for nearly 100 years, was never completely verified as the actual cause of the condition until 2007. 

And in part, it’s also because Big Pharma has had a love-hate relationship with silver ever since the advent of prescription antibiotic drugs back in the 1940’s, which displaced silver as the reigning antimicrobial treatment of the day.  

The medical establishment is therefore loathe to admit that nature’s miracle antibiotic – colloidal silver -- actually works better (and safer) in many cases, than their failing prescription antibiotic drugs.

But today we have medical researchers doing clinical research on the ability of silver to control fungal infections of the eyes and fungal infections of the mouth which prescription drugs are incapable of fully controlling.

So it probably won’t be long until you’ll hear of clinical studies being conducted to see whether or not silver can help control stubborn dandruff problems, as well. 

But you don’t have to wait for the studies. 

If you have a stubborn dandruff problem, you can find out if colloidal silver will work for you, right now.

How?  Simply by purchasing some at your local health food store (or by making your own colloidal silver at home) and trying it on your scalp as described earlier in this article. 

It’s relatively inexpensive.  And unless you have an allergy to silver, it’s perfectly safe.  What’s more, it’s completely natural.  And it’s generally very soothing to dry, itchy skin as well.

I’ll write more on this topic as additional information comes about.  And I’ll be back next week with another great article on colloidal silver.

Meanwhile, you can learn more about making and using colloidal silver by clicking the link in this sentence. 

Yours for the safe, sane and responsible use of colloidal silver,


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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 in journalistic fashion 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 and/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. 

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