Guest article
by R.D. Todd, former U.S. Army medic
Millions of
people worldwide have been using the ionic form of colloidal silver with great
success for at least six decades. But in
the late 1990’s several websites suddenly appeared marketing so-called “true
colloids” or “true colloidal silver,” which is a form of colloidal silver
composed largely of non-ionic metallic
silver particles, which are also referred to as nanosilver or silver
nanoparticles.
The purveyors
of so-called “true colloidal silver” routinely assert that when ionic forms of
colloidal silver are ingested, they convert to silver chloride in the stomach
due to the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCl), which in turn renders it useless.
And they
claim that silver in its metallic form will not
convert to silver chloride in the stomach.
Therefore, they claim, their metallic “true colloidal silver” is effective
in inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in the human body, whereas the ionic
form is largely ineffective.
Ignoring a multitude
of published studies to that prove the exact opposite – I’ve counted 158 of
them, so far -- these promoters began to claim that their metallic “true colloidal
silver” is the only truly effective form, while the ionic form of colloidal silver
is completely useless in the human body.
To this very day,
these marketers continue to disseminate misleading information about the nature
of colloidal silver to the general public in an apparent (albeit vain) effort
to corner the market on colloidal silver for themselves. The purpose of this article is to put an end
to this debate once and for all. Which
form of colloidal silver is the most effective against pathogens: the ionic form, or the metallic form? Here’s the answer:
The Laboratory Study that Ends the
Debate!
In December
of 2004, John W. Roberts, PhD of the Natural-Immunogenics Corporation conducted
an in-depth laboratory study
in which the so-called “true colloidal silver” (i.e., metallic silver, also
called nanosilver, or silver nanoparticles) was pitted against ionic silver.
Dr. Roberts
stated that the purpose of his study was to compare the antimicrobial effect of
'particulate' (i.e., metallic) versus (free) 'ionic' silver. Dr. Roberts certifies that his comparative
analysis study was conducted with full compliance to the standards established
by the Food and Drug Administrations Office of Regulatory Affairs including 21
CFR part 58 (Good Laboratory Practices) and 21 CFR part 211.
The
hypothesis of Dr. Roberts’ study is that, contrary to the claims made by the
purveyors of so-called “true colloidal silver,” it’s the silver ion that’s primarily responsible for silver's antimicrobial
efficacy and not the metallic silver
particles being touted as “true colloidal silver.”
The bacterial strains used in this study were identical concentrations and dilutions of Staphylococcus aureus (S-1 and S-2). These potent bacterial strains were allowed to culture (grow). This culture was then diluted to a standard 10:1 ratio using sterile purified lab water and placed on sterile plates.
Next, a solution of hydrochloric acid (HC1) was added to samples of both the ionic silver and the so-called “true colloidal silver” (i.e., metallic silver).
Lastly, the two treated samples of the silver product/ HCl mixture were added to the two bacterial strains samples. The mixtures were then agitated and allowed to react until spotted onto the plate.
The same tests were also conducted without the pre-treatment of the HCl mixture, to see how the two species of silver (ionic and metallic) performed without the hindrance of hydrochloric acid.
The results were astonishing! With or without the HCl mixture added, the Staphylococcus cultures (both S-1 and S-2) on the plates were virtually eradicated in just four minutes when treated with ionic silver!
But the culture plates treated with the so-called “true colloidal silver” showed only a very slight reduction in the bacterial count!
The principal conclusions from the study are as follows:
·
Before adding hydrochloric acid, the ionic form of silver achieves total kill
of the Staphylococcus aureus
pathogens in just four minutes.
·
The
so-called “true colloidal silver” could not match those results even when eight
minutes were given. The untreated ionic form
proved to be at least 100 times more potent against the pathogens than
untreated “true colloidal silver.”
·
When
hydrochloric acid was added, the so-called “true colloidal silver” (i.e.,
metallic silver) lost almost all its antibacterial potency.
·
Loss
of potency to the ionic silver due to the same treatment with hydrochloric acid
was comparatively negligible.
·
In
fact, after being treated with hydrochloric acid under the same experimental
conditions, the ionic-silver was shown to be a whopping 10,000 times more
potent than the so-called “true colloidal silver” in terms of its
antimicrobial effects against the two bacterial strains.
The
results of this study clearly show that ionic form of silver dramatically
outperformed the particulate/metallic “true colloidal silver” form, even in the
presence of hydrochloric acid (i.e., stomach acid). Ionic silver was demonstrated to be over 100
times more effective when tested head-to-head with the so-called “true
colloidal silver.” And when hydrochloric acid was added to both forms of
silver, the so-called “true colloidal silver” lost so much potency the ionic
silver then tested to be an astonishing 10,000
times more potent against the pathogens!
So it’s not even close! The facts are: The ionic form of colloidal silver killed all Staphylococcus aureus microorganisms with only a four minute exposure while the metallic, so-called “true colloidal silver” form was only marginally bactericidal at best, even at eight minutes.
While the purveyors of so-called "true colloidal silver" continue to make the claim that ionic silver gets tied-up in the gut and neutralized by hydrochloric acid, even more recent clinical research confirms that it's actually the metallic form of colloidal silver -- so-called “true colloidal silver,” or silver nanoparticles -- that gets tied-up in the gut and neutralized by hydrochloric acid.
In fact, according to the True Colloidal Silver Facts website, this has been demonstrated clinically, time and time again, most recently by researchers from the University of Nevada in cooperation with scientists from the EPA's Office of Research and Development.
In their clinical study, the researchers exposed metallic silver nanoparticles to synthetic human stomach fluid to see how ingested metallic silver nanoparticles could be altered by the stomach's very acidic environment. According to the researchers:
"A variety of analytical methods showed that nanoparticles formed large aggregates and produced silver chloride when exposed to stomach fluid. Changes in nanoparticle physical form and surface chemistry that occur in the stomach may affect how much silver will be absorbed across the gastrointestinal barrier."
In short, the researchers discovered that metallic silver nanoparticles (i.e., nanosilver, or so-called "true colloidal silver") formed large clumps and began converting to silver chloride when exposed to stomach acids. The researchers surmised that because of this, the human body would likely have significant trouble absorbing and utilizing metallic nanosilver particles.
Even the infamous Brown University clinical study on argyria, conducted in August 2012, found that metallic nanosilver was "not terribly likely to make it from the GI tract to the blood..." but that silver ions shed by the metal nanosilver in reaction to the acidic environment of the stomach were "easily absorbed into the bloodstream". Again, that's the exact opposite of what the purveyors of "true colloidal silver" claim. Indeed, the Brown University researchers found that:
"...nanosilver corrodes in stomach acid in much the same way it does in other acidic environments. Corrosion strips silver atoms of electrons, forming positively charged silver salt ions. Those ions can easily be taken into the bloodstream..."
So in light of these studies and others like them, it would appear that the purveyors of the metallic nanosilver products which they erroneously call "true colloidal silver" are either ignorant of the actual science, or not always completely honest with their customers.
The evidence speaks for itself!
In the ensuing controversy after the Natural-Immunogenics lab tests by were made public, the purveyors of the metallic so-called “true colloidal silver” desperately tried to find a way to rebuke the findings of this study -- even claiming that four minutes was not long enough! Here’s a direct quote from one of the purveyors of the so-called “true colloidal silver” with regards to the study results: “The narrow and unrealistically short time points do not reflect actual usage of either product.”
You don’t need to be a scientist to see how ridiculous this statement is! Ionic silver killed all of the bacterial cultures in just four minutes and the so-called “true colloidal silver” product didn’t even come close!
Are the purveyors of so-called “true colloidal silver” suggesting that this test should allow more time for their product to prove its worth as an antibacterial agent? In this study, the so-called “true colloidal silver” was given up to 8 minutes to perform and still it did little damage to either of the Staphylococcus cultures. How much time do they need?
The purveyors of the so-called “true colloidal silver” could have saved themselves a lot of humiliation and embarrassment if they had first read up on some of the many scientific studies that have already proven that it is indeed the ionic charge that is primarily responsible for silver's antimicrobial efficacy.
This includes studies like the ones conducted at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, which is home of the world renowned Army Burn Center operated by the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research. The
In other words, for silver to be effective against pathogens, it must be in the ionic form. If metallic silver (i.e., so-called “true colloidal silver”) is used, it is only effective to the extent that the metal shed silver ions in the presence of pathogens.
To learn more about the profound differences between the superior ionic form of colloidal silver, and the less-than-stellar metallic “true colloids” form, see the True Colloidal Silver Facts website.
There you’ll learn why millions of people worldwide have been using ionic forms of colloidal silver with great success for decades! Simply put, silver ions rule! They are the active, infection-fighting form of silver, as dozens of top colloidal silver researchers agree.
Case closed!!!
*See
details of the Natural-Immunogenics laboratory study "Comparative Bacteriology Analysis: Particulate vs. Ionic Silver, here.
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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2016 | Life & Health Research Group, LLC | PO Box 1239 | Peoria AZ
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