One Big Fat Lie About Colloidal Silver I’d Love to See Abolished

Colloidal silver is one of my favorite nutritional supplements of all times. 

In fact, I’ve used it successfully for over 20 years on infections and disease ranging from simple colds, infected boils, flu and sore throat (as well as for a stubborn, life-long dandruff condition), to more serious conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, pneumonia, food poisoning and much more. 

But there’s one big fat lie about colloidal silver that I’d love to see abolished for good. 

Unfortunately, that lie is often promulgated by well-meaning colloidal silver advocates.  And because of it, people are being put at risk of ending up with argyria, the unsightly skin condition resulting from excessive colloidal silver usage. 

Here’s what you need to know…

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

I've always stated that colloidal silver has one of the safest toxicological profiles of any nutritional supplement when used responsibly.

It’s also one of the most surprisingly effective of all nutritional supplements. 

And by “effective,” I mean you can clearly experience its healing and infection-fighting properties for yourself. 

There’s no wondering “Is it working?” 

After all, infections often clear up almost like magic.  Health and well-being is often restored, even after years of poor health.

Tens of millions of colloidal silver users worldwide have demonstrated its safety and effectiveness.  And this fact alone literally decimates the shrill cries of the colloidal silver naysayers who claim it is “toxic” and “ineffective.”

According to Dr. Kent Holtorf, M.D., of the Holtorf Medical Group, in his clinical review titled “Safety and Efficacy of Oligodynamic Silver”:  

“Hundreds of thousands of doses of oral colloidal silver and thousands of doses of intravenous colloidal silver are given every month in the United States.

This is usually done to treat acute and chronic infections including those associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM).

The effectiveness of the use of oral and intravenous colloidal silver in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia was presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine in October 2003.

The extremely low level of colloidal silver used at 23 parts per million (ppm) has been shown to have little or no potential for toxicity while having the significant potential for clinical benefit.”

Indeed, 110 years worth of historical experience demonstrates clearly that colloidal silver is not only safe when used at reasonable and responsible dosage levels, but its healing benefits are often absolutely astonishing. 

For example, at the Colloidal Silver Success Stories website, you’ll find literally hundreds upon hundreds of in-depth testimonials from experienced colloidal silver users who have documented their personal colloidal silver success stories in great detail.

The Big Lie

However, some people mistakenly believe that as long as colloidal silver is "properly made," it cannot cause any harm whatsoever, regardless of how much you ingest each day. 

In other words, they believe “properly made” colloidal silver cannot cause any harm to the human body even when ingested in large, daily quantities, for months or even years on end. 

In the course of doing research for my book, The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual, I’ve seen this spurious idea being promulgated on YouTube videos…in articles on natural health blogs…and on websites selling colloidal silver. 

And I've personally heard it being championed by enthusiastic (but ill-informed) colloidal silver users themselves.

Even some so-called colloidal silver “experts” seem to believe it.

Unfortunately, the idea that you can drink as much colloidal silver as you want as long as it’s “properly made” is blatantly untrue – in fact, it’s a great big lie. 

Like any other natural substance on the face of the earth, if you use colloidal silver abusively, by overdosing yourself on it, on a regular basis, for long periods of time, you're going to experience problems no matter how well-made your colloidal silver is. 

That's just plain, common sense. 

And it’s true whether you’re using electrically generated colloidal silver, or other forms of colloidal silver such as mild silver protein, nanoparticle silver, silver chloride, silver oxide, silver citrate or any other colloidal silver supplement on the face of the earth.

As I've repeatedly pointed out over the years, there’s no such thing as a natural supplement you can take at excessively large dosages for long periods of time without experiencing harm. 

For example:

·       The mineral iron, if used in excess on a regular daily basis, will cause your body’s tissues and organs to accumulate iron over time, causing untold damage to the body, including heart disease and even dementia.

·       The mineral selenium, if used in excess over long periods of time, will cause nervous system damage, and ultimately convulsions and even death.

·       Similarly, the mineral calcium, if used in excess over long periods of time, will cause calcification of soft tissue within the body, cellular toxicity and even heart disease.

·       Excessive use of vitamin A over long periods of time can cause liver damage, anemia and other problems.

I could go on and on, through each and every vitamin, mineral and nutritional supplement on the market, and each and every substance we use in our daily lives such as sugar and salt, both of which can ultimately cause disease and death if used in excess for long periods of time. 

But I think you get the picture.

If you take too much of any substance – whether natural or synthetic, and no matter how benign – and you continue to overdose yourself on it, there will ultimately be repercussions to your health and well-being. 

Colloidal silver is no different. 

There’s over 110 years worth of historical data on colloidal silver usage, demonstrating that it’s perfectly safe to use in small daily amounts, and that it’s astonishingly effective against infections and related diseases of all sorts.

But that very same historical data demonstrates that when people start taking colloidal silver irresponsibly – which is to say, in overly-large daily dosages – and they continue to do so for long periods of time, they end up overwhelming their body's very efficient mechanism for eliminating metallic minerals.

Argyria

As a result, the body begins storing the excess silver in the tissues and organs, eventually pushing it out to the skin where it "tarnishes" (i.e., oxidizes) under exposure to sunlight. 

This oxidation of silver particles in the skin results in skin-staining – i.e., the skin turns gray or blue from the inside out, in a process similar to making a photographic negative. 

That unsightly skin condition is known in the medical literature as argyria.  It’s a strictly cosmetic skin condition that most authorities – including the EPA – agree causes no additional harm to the human body. 

Unfortunately, it’s a permanent skin condition, except in very mild cases in which a special form of laser tattoo removal can be used to remove the gray or blue pigmentation from the skin.  (See “Colloidal Silver:  Harmful to the Human Body?” at this link.)

It’s All About the Dosage!

The point is this:  No matter how well-made your colloidal silver is, if you’re overdosing yourself on it daily, for months or years on end, you’re sooner or later going to end up with the potential for argyric skin. 

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

You’ll see people on the internet saying things like “I’ve been drinking eight ounces of colloidal silver a day for two years, and I’m not blue yet.”  Well, give it another two years, and you will be. 

Put simply, the human body becomes a repository for silver when it’s ingested in excessive quantities over long periods of time. 

The silver accumulates slowly and gradually in the body when so much of it is ingested that the normal processes of elimination (i.e., liver, kidneys and sweat) become overwhelmed.  And as it accumulates little by little, it eventually migrates out to the skin.

The body doesn't care if it’s poorly-made colloidal silver, or properly-made colloidal silver.

It doesn't care if it’s electrically-generated colloidal silver, or chemically-produced colloidal silver such as nanoparticle silver. 

And it doesn't care if it’s silver compounds such as silver nitrate, silver chloride, silver arsphenamine or others.

If you ingest too much silver of any kind, regularly, for long periods of time, you risk argyria.  Period.  Dot.  Exclamation point.

But used within reasonable amounts – usually between a teaspoonful and an ounce a day, depending upon body weight – it appears to be perfectly safe, based upon over 110 years worth of historical colloidal silver usage by literally tens of millions of people worldwide.

That’s because the human body has a built-in mechanism for transporting and eliminating silver from the human body. 

As the Dartmouth University Toxic Metals Research Program has concluded, silver is a normal part of the human diet, and the body is able to excrete it effectively under normal circumstances:

"Trace amounts of silver are in the bodies of all humans and animals. We normally take in between 70 and 88 micrograms of silver a day, half of that amount from our diet.

Humans have evolved with efficient methods of dealing with that intake, however. Over 99 percent is readily excreted from the body.

Is silver harmful to humans? Unlike other metals such as lead and mercury, silver is not toxic to humans and is not known to cause cancer, reproductive or neurological damage, or other chronic adverse effects."

People such as myself have taken colloidal silver in small daily amounts for over 20 years, with no negative effects whatsoever, and only positive health benefits. 

Indeed, except in rare cases in which people are allergic to silver, or have severe deficiencies of the antioxidant substances used by the human body to effectively process silver (such as Vitamin E, selenium and glutathione or cysteine), using colloidal silver in small daily dosages appears to be as safe as any nutritional supplement you can think of. 

Successful Uses for Colloidal Silver

So exactly how is colloidal silver used?  Here’s a short list of uses:

·       Colloidal silver has been used successfully to kill disease-causing viruses, pathogenic fungi and yeast, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (including MRSA).

·       It even kills deadly microbes like E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiela pneumonia

·       It helps cure cold and flu viruses with ease. 

·       What’s more, tooth and gum infections seem to be no match for colloidal silver, as well. 

·       And its usage is highly recommended by experts such as TV’s Dr. Oz and world-famous heart surgeon Dr. Gerald Lemole. 

·       Colloidal silver is even being studied by researchers as a safe, natural mouthwash.

·       Plus, it’s widely used as a safe, natural and non-toxic germ-busting household disinfectant.    

·       Colloidal silver even has 12 very unusual uses, including its ability to stop termite infestations, eliminate pet odors in carpets, get rid of aphids from rose bushes, keeping a bouquet of flowers fresh longer, and much more. 

The bottom line is that the more you look into colloidal silver usage, the more astonished you’ll become.  And the more you’ll want to learn.

Learn More…

To learn more about the safe, sane and responsible usage of colloidal silver, please consider reading the following short articles:

·       Is Colloidal Silver Safe To Use?

·       First Ever Colloidal Silver Human Ingestion Safety Study

·       What Real Medical, Scientific and Clinical Experts Have to Say About Colloidal Silver Usage

·       Safety and Efficacy of Colloidal Silver (Clinical Review)

·       Silver in health care: antimicrobial effects and safety in use (clinical review)

·       Study:  Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles Non-Toxic to Animals Even at 5,000 PPM

·       New Study:  Silver Nanoparticles Not Toxic

·       Study:  An in vitro toxicity study of a colloid silver health product

There's LOTS more good information out there regarding the safety and effectiveness of colloidal silver. 

But the above will have to suffice due to limited space.  So when you have a spare moment, scroll through the above articles and check out the data for yourself. 

You'll see that when used responsibly, within reason and common sense, colloidal silver is truly one of the safest and most effective of all nutritional supplements.

So let’s do away with the big fat lie that “properly made” colloidal silver is completely harmless at any dosage level.  It is not.

All colloidal silver – no matter how well-made it is, or who it’s manufactured by -- should always be taken at responsible dosage levels, such as those discussed in my article “How Much Colloidal Silver Can You Take Safely Each Day?”

110 years worth of historical usage of colloidal silver demonstrates that it’s generally harmless when used at reasonable and responsible, common-sense dosage levels. 

However, as with any other nutritional supplement, if you use it abusively, on a daily basis, for long periods of time, you’re likely going to pay a price for it.

Learn to Make Your Own Colloidal Silver

Making your own high-quality colloidal silver is quick and easy, particularly if you have a new Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator from The Silver Edge.

The new Micro-ParticleColloidal Silver Generator from The Silver Edge allows you to make all of the high-quality, electrically-generated colloidal silver you could ever need, any time you need it, for the rest of your life, and for less than 36 cents a quart (compared to exorbitant health food store prices of $7 to $10 per ounce).

You can learn 7 Good Reasons to Make Your Own Colloidal Silver Rather Than Purchasing Commercial Brands at this link. 

You can also learn How to Choose the Best Colloidal Silver Generator, at this link. 

And you can discover How Owning a Colloidal Silver Generator Benefits Your Entire Family, at this link.

Finally, you can read customer reviews of the new Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator at the link in this sentence.

And you can download my FREE 30-page Colloidal Silver Safe Dosage Report at the link in this sentence.

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,

Steve Barwick, author
The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual

Helpful Links:

FREE Colloidal Silver Safe Dosage Report

Colloidal Silver Secrets Group on Facebook

Make Your Own Colloidal Silver for Pennies

.999 Pure Silver Wire for Making Colloidal Silver

Subscribe to the Colloidal Silver Secrets Ezine

Videos on Making and Using Colloidal Silver

Real-Life Colloidal Silver Success Stories

Colloidal Silver Update (News & Views)

The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual

The Colloidal Silver Secrets Video

Colloidal Silver Cures MRSA

Colloidal Silver Kills Viruses

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 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 2014 | Life & Health Research Group, LLC | PO Box 1239 | Peoria AZ 85380-1239 | All rights reserved.

Clinical Studies Demonstrate the Safety and Effectiveness of Colloidal Silver

For years the naysayers have claimed there’s no modern clinical evidence for the safety or effectiveness of colloidal silver and other forms of antimicrobial silver.  Even the FDA makes this spurious claim. 

But the truth is, clinical studies on the safety and effectiveness of numerous forms of antimicrobial silver – including colloidal silver -- are abundant.  You just have to know where to look.  And thankfully, the internet makes it easy to find these supposedly non-existent studies, and share them with others.

Here’s the inside scoop on the myriad of studies demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of antimicrobial silver.   

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

Years ago, when I was very young man first starting out as a natural health journalist, I asked one of my editors how to handle it when skeptical readers wrote back claiming there’s no evidence for the safety or effectiveness of nutritional supplements.

My editor lowered his head slightly, looked me square in the eyes and said, “You stuff their throats with footnotes.” 

That sounded awfully crude at the time.  But it didn’t take me long to catch on.  What my editor was alluding to was the fact that there’s plenty of bona-fide clinical evidence available for nutritional supplements. 

And when skeptical readers balk at your claims, simply direct them to the evidence and let it speak for itself.

Colloidal Silver:

Clinical Studies and Reports

That’s one reason I’ve spent the last three years compiling clinical studies, white papers and reports on the safety and effectiveness of colloidal silver and other forms of antimicrobial silver. 

Now, when skeptics challenge me with questions like “Where’s the proof of silver’s safety and effectiveness?” I simply refer them to the Clinical Studies and Reports page on TheSilverEdge.com web site.

There, they’ll find over 60 clinical studies, white papers and reports on antimicrobial silver from top medical, research and scientific sources. 

Of course, I don’t think such a treasure trove of clinical studies and reports are going to change the minds of hardened skeptics. 

After all, most of them have an underlying agenda anyway. And the only thing served by “stuffing their throats with footnotes” is to send them packing with their little tails between their legs. 

But every once in a while a skeptic will get back to me and say something like “I really had no idea there was such a large body of clinical work on antimicrobial silver until I saw all of the studies on your web site.  Thank you for letting me know.”

And frankly, that makes it all worthwhile.  

7 New Clinical Studies and Reports

Below you’ll find seven of the latest clinical studies I’ve posted to the Clinical Studies and Reports page at TheSilverEdge.com over the past few weeks alone. 

If you want to read any of the actual studies, just click the link in the paragraph above, and you can scroll through the brief synopses of all 60-plus studies until you find the specific studies you’re most interested in, and then open up the PDF file. 

Or, click on any of the headlines directly below to read the specific study being discussed. 

Here, for example, is a study, demonstrating that a typical ionic colloidal silver product similar to those found in most health food stores is not in the least bit toxic to human cells: 

·       An In Vitro Toxicity Study of a Colloid Silver Health Product and Atomic Quantum Clusters of Silver and Gold (Ionosil Study)

Skeptics continuously claim colloidal silver and other forms of antimicrobial silver are toxic to human cells. 

In fact, hardly a week goes by that I don’t see this claim being made by medical doctors and their bureaucratic counterparts, or by environmentalists, so-called “quackbusters” and other notorious naysayers.

So in this in vitro clinical study conducted in June 2007 at The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen University, the researcher set out to discover whether or not a specific brand of colloidal silver known as Ionosil (i.e., Sweden's leading brand of colloidal silver) is toxic to human cells.

The researcher compared the effects of Ionosil to atomic gold and silver quantum clusters on human cells, looking for cytotoxicity (i.e. cell damage), inflammation and DNA damage.  

And guess what?  The colloidal silver demonstrated zero toxicity…zero DNA damage…and zero inflammation! 

Amazing, isn’t it? 

In short, the science demonstrates precisely what colloidal silver users have known for decades, i.e., colloidal silver has a superb toxicological safety profile. 

Which is to say, when used correctly it’s no more toxic than any other natural mineral supplement on the face of the earth! 

·       An Evaluation of Acute Toxicity of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles

Naysayers and skeptics also continuously claim that colloidal silver and other forms of antimicrobial silver are toxic to little critters in the environment.

In this study, researchers tested mice and guinea pigs using a staggering 5,000 ppm colloidal silver nanoparticles (i.e., extremely tiny particles of colloidal silver).

The researchers were looking to see if the colloidal silver caused acute oral toxicity, eye irritation, corrosion or dermal toxicity.

But after 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure to these super-high levels of antimicrobial silver, blood chemistry analysis and other tests showed no differences in any of the parameters examined.

In other words, there were no significant differences in the health and well-being of the mice and guinea pigs treated with 5,000 ppm colloidal silver, versus the mice and guinea pigs that were not treated with colloidal silver.

According to the researchers “There was neither any gross lesion nor histopathological change observed in various organs.” In other words, there was no significant organ or tissue damage from these wildly excessive levels of colloidal silver. 

The researchers also concluded that colloidal silver nanoparticles administered orally or topically to the little animals at a whopping 5,000 ppm appear to be relatively safe. 

When you consider that most people are considerably larger than mice and guinea pigs (at least, I am), but tend to use colloidal silver in comparatively very low concentrations of only 10 to 20 ppm, you can understand the significance of this very important new study!

·       Silver Colloidal Nanoparticles:  Antifungal Effect Against Adhered Cells and Biofilms of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata

In this 2011 study, researchers demonstrate that colloidal silver nanoparticles not only have a profound antifungal effect on two forms of Candida yeast, but are also effective in destroying the biofilms produced by these fungal pathogens.

Biofilms, of course, allow pathogens to adhere to cell walls inside the body and form colonies that are largely protected from the human immune system as well as from any natural predators such as your body’s beneficial bacteria.  You can think of a biofilms as a fortified castle for microbes.

Indeed, in many cases biofilms are what stymie modern prescription drug-based therapies from actually getting to the pathogen, because the drugs can’t penetrate the biofilm barrier.

Thankfully, colloidal silver nanoparticles seem to have no problem whatsoever busting through these protective fungal biofilms to get at the disease-causing pathogens!

·       Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antiviral Agents

Is antimicrobial silver effective against viruses? 

The above study is a clinical review from the science journal Molecules.  In it, researchers review a number of studies demonstrating the potent antiviral effects of silver nanoparticles. 

Indeed, as the review points out, a growing number of in vitro studies have found antimicrobial silver to be effective against HIV-1, hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus, respiratory syncytial virus and even monkey pox virus.  

The study concludes that silver and other metal nanoparticles “may provide opportunity to develop novel antiviral therapies with lower levels of resistance compared to conventional antiviral drugs.” 

Gee…ya think? 

·       Silver Nano - A Trove for Retinal Therapies

Eye disease can be debilitating.  But silver nanoparticles are being discovered to have profound therapeutic properties in certain diseases of the eyes that can result in visual impairment or even irreversible blindness.

This clinical study review shows that silver nanoparticles may play a successful role in reversing pathological retinal angiogenesis, one of the most feared complications among diseases of the retina.

According to the study authors, "Recent findings made by us on therapeutic applications of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against VEGF induced retinal endothelial cells, elucidates the effectual inhibitory activities of AgNPs over the downstream signaling pathways (Src and AKT/PI3K) leading to retinal angiogenesis."

In plain English, that means antimicrobial silver stops the progression of the eye disease dead in its tracks.  The researchers concluded that present clinical research "consequently affirms the futuristic application of silver nanoparticles as a boon to ocular therapies." 

Well, considering the fact that I’m getting to that age where my eyes don’t work quite as well as they used to, I certainly look forward to these new silver-based eye therapies! 

Meanwhile, I just spray a tiny bit of colloidal silver into my eyes each morning with a glass pump spray bottle with a fine mist head on it, and guess what?  No more itchy, scratchy eyes, and no more of those painful sties.  Sweet! 

·       Topical Delivery of Silver Nanoparticles Promotes Wound Healing

In this animal study using mice, the researchers investigated the wound-healing properties of silver nanoparticles and found that “rapid healing and improved cosmetic appearance occur in a dose-dependent manner.”

In other words, the wounded mice treated with silver nanoparticles not only healed more quickly than the controls, but the scarring was significantly improved also.  And the more silver nanoparticles used, the better the healing turned out!

The researchers stated, “…through quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry, and proteomic studies, we showed that silver nanoparticles exert positive effects through their antimicrobial properties, reduction in wound inflammation, and modulation of fibrogenic cytokines.”

In other words, the silver nanoparticles prevented infection in the wounds, and reduced inflammation by decreasing negative aspects of the healing process. 

The researchers conclude:  “These results have given insight into the actions of silver and have provided a novel therapeutic direction for wound treatment in clinical practice."

Well, that’s nice. Very nice. 

But of course, the wound healing properties of colloidal silver have been known all of the way back to the late 1800’s when medical practitioners found that surgical wounds closed up with sutures made of fine silver wire tended to heal much faster than normal sutures.  What’s more, the surgical wounds failed to become infected. 

So it’s good to see modern medical researchers finally catching up with the past!

·       Antifungal Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on Dermatophytes

Here's an interesting clinical study demonstrating the effectiveness of antimicrobial silver against the pathogen most commonly responsible for toenail fungus. According to the study authors:

"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."

Of course, for decades women have been using oral doses of colloidal silver to heal vaginal Candida yeast infections. 

And numerous colloidal silver users attest to the fact that colloidal silver obliterates topical yeast infections such as toenail fungus and athlete’s foot, as well. 

So, once again, it’s nice to see modern science catching up with the past!

Many More Studies

Of course, there are many more clinical studies, medical reports and White Papers available on the Clinical Studies and Reports page on The Silver Edge website – over five dozen, all told. 

And I have many more to post over the weeks and months directly ahead, so please stay tuned! Meanwhile, I urge you to check out the available studies for yourself by clicking the above link. 

And whenever someone tells you “There’s no proof for the safety or effectiveness of colloidal silver,” just smile politely, and email them the above link. 

Of course, you’ll probably never hear from them again, because by nature most skeptics can’t admit they’re wrong.  But hey, that’s okay.  At least you did your part and showed them the science (aka, “stuffed their throats with footnotes”).

Finally, if you’d like to learn more about the phenomenal infection-fighting, immune-boosting and wound healing benefits of colloidal silver, and see why an estimated 10 million people throughout North America now use colloidal silver regularly, just click the link!

I’ll be back next week with another great article.  In the meantime, I remain…

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

Steve Barwick, author
The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual

Helpful Links:

Join the Colloidal Silver Secrets Community on Facebook

Video: Learn How to Make Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver

Get Your FREE Colloidal Silver “Safe Dosage” Report

.999 Fine Pure Silver Wire for Making Colloidal Silver

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 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 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 2012 | Life & Health Research Group, LLC | PO Box 1239 | Peoria AZ 85380-1239 | All rights reserved

Nanosilver/Colloidal Silver – Nothing New, and Not Harmful to the Environment in Over 120 Years of Use!

Nanosilver, which is essentially colloidal silver, has been around for decades and has a remarkable history of both safety and effectiveness – indeed an impressive 120 year history!

Radical environmentalists however, claim that it’s a "new material" with potentially "unknown risks" and therefore in need of hyper-regulation by the environmental bureaucrats.

But a new study published in the trusted journal, Environmental Science & Technology, demonstrates that these claims are overblown and sensationalistic, and certainly don’t serve the public interest!

The following press release from EMPA, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technologies, explains more…

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

In light of recent attacks on colloidal silver, nanosilver and related products by radical anti-silver environmentalists, I thought you’d find the following press release from EMPA – the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technologies – quite interesting.

Here’s what they have to say about a new study on nanosilver, its safety, and its long history of usage, published in the well-known and trusted science journal, Environmental Science & Technology:

Nanosilver: New Name,

Long History of Safety and Effectiveness

Nanosilver is not a new discovery by nanotechnologists -- it has been used in various products for over a hundred years, as is shown by a new EMPA study.

The antimicrobial effects of minute silver particles, which were then known as "colloidal silver," were known from the earliest days of its use.

Numerous nanomaterials are currently at the focus of public attention. In particular silver nanoparticles are being investigated in detail, both by scientists as well as by the regulatory authorities.

The assumption behind all of this interest from researchers in nanosilver is that they are dealing with a completely new substance.

However, Empa researchers Bernd Nowack and Harald Krug, together with Murray Heights of the company HeiQ have shown in a paper recently published in the Journal Environmental Science & Technology that nanosilver is by no means a new discovery.

Nanosilver First Produced in 1899

Indeed, silver particles with diameters of seven to nine nm were mentioned as early as 1889.

They were used in medications or as biocides to prevent the growth of bacteria on surfaces, for example in antibacterial water filters or in algaecides for swimming pools.

The nanoparticles were known as "colloidal silver" in those days, but what was meant was the same then as now – extremely small particles of silver.

The only new aspect is the use today of the prefix "nano".

"However," according to Bernd Nowack, "nano does not mean something new, and nor does it mean something that is harmful."

On the Market Since the 1920’s

When "colloidal silver" became available on the market in large quantities in the 1920s it was the topic of numerous studies and subject to appropriate regulation by the authorities.

Even in those days the significance of the discovery of nanoparticles and how they worked was realized.

"That is not to say that the possible side-effects of nanoparticles on humans and the environment should be played down or ignored," adds Nowack.

On the contrary, it is important to characterize in exact detail the material properties of nanosilver and not just to believe unquestioningly the doubts and reservations surrounding the product.

What Is a “Nanoparticle”?

The term nanoparticle is understood to refer to particles whose dimensions are less than 100 nm.

Because of their minute size nanoparticles have different properties than those of larger particles of the same material.

For example, for a given volume nanoparticles have a much greater surface area, so they are frequently much more reactive than the bulk material.

In addition, even in small quantities nanosilver produces more silver ions than solid silver. These silver ions are toxic to bacteria.

Harmful to the Environment?

Whether or not nanosilver represents a risk to humans and the environment is currently the subject of a great deal of investigation.

Currently there are hundreds of products in circulation which contain silver nanoparticles. Examples include cosmetics, food packaging materials, disinfectants, cleaning agents and – not least – antibacterial socks and underwear.

Every year some 320 tonnes of nanosilver are used worldwide, some of which is released into wastewater, thus finding its way into natural water recirculation systems.

What effects silver particles have on rivers, soil and the organisms that live in them has not yet been clarified in detail.

But a commentary by Bernd Nowack in the scientific journal Science discusses the implications of the newest studies on nanosilver in sewage treatment plants.

According to Nowack, more than 90% of silver nanoparticles remains bound in the sewage sludge in the form of silver sulfide, a substance which is extremely insoluble and orders of magnitude less toxic than free silver ions.

It apparently does not matter what the original form of the silver in the wastewater was, whether as metallic nanoparticles, as silver ions in solution or as precipitated insoluble silver salts.

"As far as the environmental effects are concerned, it seems that nanosilver in consumer goods is no different than other forms of silver and represents only a minor problem for eco-systems," says Nowack.

– End –

The above press release from EMPA, and the related study from the journal Environmental Science & Technology offer truly good news.

Why? Because they represent some of the first good published scientific confirmation of what I’ve been saying all along, which is that…

…the environmentalist case against nanosilver in all of its forms, including colloidal silver, is based on little more than rank sensationalism and childish exaggeration.

The idea that a substance that’s been used safely and successfully for decades in public and private swimming pools, public fountains, cosmetics, medicines, wound care, disinfectant products, water filters, as a dietary supplement used by millions worldwide and even as an antimicrobial substance in manned space flights…

…but has now suddenly become “toxic” to the environment or harmful to human health…

…is just this side of ludicrous.

Indeed, the radical anti-silver environmentalists have painted themselves into a box on this one.

Their story is unraveling fast, particularly since new research has demonstrated that “mother earth” even makes her own silver nanoparticles naturally.

This makes a laughingstock of their claims of needing to “protect the environment” from potential harm from silver nanoparticles.

But don’t expect the radical anti-silver environmentalists to take this lying down.

Nosiree. I can guarantee you they’ll be back with even more unrealistic and overblown claims against nanosilver, colloidal silver and other forms of antimicrobial silver.

In the weeks and months ahead I’ll continue to report on this issue as more information becomes available. Until then, I remain…

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

Steve Barwick, authorThe Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual

Related Articles:

· Scare Tactics and Lies About Antimicrobial Nanosilver

· Antimicrobial Silver and Food Products

· In Defense of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles

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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 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 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.