Regarding Dr. Clayton's recent request: I have a webpage with -some- information & references (with references within them) on silver that may get Dr. Clayton started. (There's very little reference to commercial ad pages; only as necessary to provide data available at those pages.) http://www.connix.com/~berntsen/bb-lyme/c-silver.htm .
There's both pro & con info here, but unfortunately, a lack of recent scientific study, which is just the point Dr. Willy Burgerdorfer makes (see hyperlink to this reference on my page.) Also, a lot of people (including those in the medical community) have written biased abstracts based on an article by Fung, et.al. from the Journal of Toxocology. That's referenced there too. Weak colloidal silver is not addressed directly, and this article, a review of medical lit. on commercial silver products and silver toxicity actually raises points of interest and value to the self-medicator, such as refered daily dose of silver (acceptable intake) and use of antioxidants helping mice to be more tolerant of higher silver intake. I consider this a "must read" for silver users; it's as close to "informed consent" as it gets. There is very little available on colloidal silver products other than exposure of false advertising of certain brands of CS available over the counter. Some claim that colloidal silver is too weak to be of concern as far as side effects go. I have only found references to argyria and silver toxicity associated with highly concentrated pharmaceutical preps used over a long period of time, accidental overdosage, and due to industrial exposure; nothing due to low ppm colloidal silver in use today. It has been suggested that because of the relatively short shelf life of colloidal silver and the fact that it is not lucrative as a sales product, there is little interest on the part of researchers and the pharmaceutical industry to take colloidal silver seriously. But as the antibiotic crisis worsens (drug resistance), perhaps silver will start looking better! My own MD gave me info on colloidal silver, not condoning or condemning it but allowing me to decide for myself if I wanted to give it a try for Lyme disease. AFter 26 months of strong oral & IV antibiotics, it is the only treatment that cleared up the last of my neuro and musculo-skeletal symptoms. Unfortunately, I have relapsed recently after many months of being about 98% restored (on a low maintenance dose much of the time); I have concluded that my solution was too weak to fully rid me of the Lyme bacteria. My doctor did suggest that to me last spring, as I was only taking 3 TBS of 8 ppm bid, whereas other pt.s of his were taking 3 oz. of 45 ppm daily as a therapeutic dose. The lesser would be fine as a maintenance dose, but for me, only kept Lyme at bay; it did flare up again once I was totally off the CS for 2 months. Members, please see my "Dumb Question" about making CS. I need to make a stronger solution for myself and could use some tips. Sincerely, Nancy Berntsen
