http://members.tripod.com/colloidalsilver_aids/faq's.htm
Dr. Robert
Beck
FAQ's
What is colloidal silver?
Colloidal Silver is a solution of extremely fine submicroscopic particles
(.015
- .005 microns) of pure silver suspended in water by a positive electric
charge
on each particle. The particles remain suspended throughout the solution
because
these positive-charged particles repel each other with a greater force than
gravity can exert upon. A powerful germicidal, silver is an exceptional
metal in
that it is non-toxic to the human body, but lethal to over 650
disease-causing
bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and molds; while conventional
pharmaceutical antibiotics are typically effective against only 6 or 7 types
of bacteria. Some new strains of bacteria classified as MDR (Multiple Drug
Resistant) have proven to be resistant to all pharmaceutical antibiotics,
but
not to colloidal silver due to different germicidal mechanisms of
deactivation.
How does colloidal silver work?
Richard Davies and Samuel Etris of The Silver Institute, in a 1996 monograph
entitled The Development and Functions of Silver in Water Purification and
Disease Control, discuss three mechanisms of deactivation that silver
utilizes
to incapacitate disease-causing organisms. They are Catalytic Oxidation,
Reaction with Cell Membranes, and Binding with the DNA of disease organisms
to
prevent unwinding. Catalytic Oxidation: Silver, in its atomic state, has the
capacity to absorb oxygen and act as a catalyst to bring about oxidation.
Atomic(nascent) oxygen absorbed onto the surface of silver ions in solution
will readily react with the sulfhydryl (-S-H) groups surrounding the surface
of
bacteria or viruses to remove the hydrogen atoms (as water), causing the
sulfur
atoms to form an R-S-S-R bond; blocking respiration and causing the bacteria
to
expire. Employing a simple catalytic reduction/oxidation reaction, colloidal
silver will react with any negative charge presented by the organism's
transport
or membrane proteins and deactivate them. Reaction with Bacterial Cell
Membranes: There is evidence that silver ions attach to membrane surface
radicals of bacteria, impairing cell respiration and blocking its energy
transfer system. One explanation is based on the nature of enzyme
construction:
Specific enzymes are required for a given biochemical activity to take
place.
Enzyme molecules usually require a specific metallic atom as part of the
molecular matrix in order to function. A metal of higher valance can replace
a
metal of lower valance in the enzyme complex, preventing the enzyme from
functioning normally. Silver, with a valance of plus 2, can replace many
metals
with a lower, or equal valance that exhibit weaker atomic bonding
properties.
Binding with DNA: Studies by C.L. Fox and S.M. Modak with Pseudomonas
aeruginosa,
a tenacious bacteria that is difficult to treat, demonstrated that as much
as
12% of silver is taken up by the organism's DNA. While it remains unclear
exactly how the silver binds to the DNA without destroying the hydrogen
bonds
holding the lattice together, it nevertheless prevents the DNA from
unwinding,
an essential step for cellular replication to occur.
How should one use colloidal silver?
Colloidal Silver may be taken orally or topically; applied directly to the
skin.
It can be used vaginally, anally, atomized or inhaled into the nose or
lungs,
and dropped into eyes. Liquid silver as well as new gel formulations, may be
applied directly to the skin. A few drops on a Q-Tip or Band-Aid may be used
to
disinfect any wound or sore. Liquid silver can also be injected. Dosage: A
conservative approach would be to start with 1 or 2 teaspoons once or twice
a
day. Children could use proportionally smaller doses. For colds and flu
symptoms, one or two tablespoons 3-6 times daily frequently will speed
recovery.
For mouth infections, frequently rinse the affected area for at least 6
minutes
before swallowing. Overdosing should not be of concern, even if recommended
doses are exceeded. If, after a few days of use, one experiences a
de-toxification
effect in the form of feeling sluggish or mild aches, increase water
consumption
to speed the eliminations of toxins and taper back the silver dosage to
match
the rate of toxin elimination. It is safe for pregnant and nursing women and
is
known to aid the developing fetus in growth. It will not generate free
radicals
or interfere with enzyme activity. It has no reaction with other
medications.
Are there any dangers or side effects?
The Environmental Protection Agency's Poison Control Center reports no
toxicity
listing for Colloidal Silver. Regular ingestion of colloidal silver can act
as a
second immune system by assisting the body in the war against invading
micro-organisms. Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotic which destroy beneficial
enzymes, colloidal silver leaves these tissue-cell enzymes intact. Colloidal
Silver, if used sensibly, is completely non-toxic and will not harm the
immune
system in any way. Critics of colloidal silver will often warn that regular
consumption of colloidal silver might lead to Argyria, a bluish/ grey
discoloration of the skin. Dr. Bob Beck debunks this statement as a scare
tactic
by pro-pharmaceutical interests. Dr Beck has indicated that Argyria is
caused by
silver compounds, such as silver nitrate, silver sulfate, silver
sulfadiazine,
etc., and not micro-particles of pure elemental silver. Apparently, silver
colloids are mostly absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, since
colloidal silver does not seem to adversely affect friendly bacteria in the
lower intestines. Silver can be toxic to nerve cells in the brain and spinal
cord, but is normally prevented from entering those areas by the blood-brain
barrier. Silver has not demonstrated any evidence of carcinogenic activity.
The
body eliminates excess silver via the metallothiones. These ubiquitous
proteins,
first characterized in 1957, have the property of binding with heavy metals,
such as silver, into metal-thiolate-cluster structures which aid in
transportation, storage, and elimination of nonessential trace metals which
enter the body.
How much research has been done on colloidal silver?
Silver has been used as a germicide for thousands of years. Ancient texts,
including Pliny the Elder's great tome, Natural History, Book 23 (78 A.D.)
discusses the extraordinary wound healing capacity of silver slag as an
ingredient in plasters. The German obstetrician, Franz Crede, observed in
1884
that up to 79% of blind children in various orphanages and institutions were
born to mothers who, at the time of the child's birth, had venereal disease.
He
found that a 1% solution of silver nitrate dropped into the eyes of
newborns, reduced the incidence of VD-caused blindness to less than 0.2%.
More recently,
colloidal silver was tested at the UCLA Medical Labs. Its Report states that
" The silver solutions were antibacterial for concentrations of 1 million
organisms per ml of Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus (which in
now
resistant to Vancomycin, the strongest pharmaceutical antibiotic available,
Ed.)
, Neisseria gonorrhea, Gardnerella Vaginalis, Salmonella Typhi (responsible
for
salmonella food poisoning and Typhus, Ed.) , and other enteric pathogens;
and
fungicidal for Candida albicans (the common yeast infection, in vaginitis
and
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Ed.), Candida globata, and M. Furfur." Dr Robert
Becker, M.D., author of The Body Electric and Crosscurrents found that
silver
caused cells to dedifferentiate and re-differentiate in the process of
regenerative healing. " What we had actually done was rediscovered the fact
that silver killed bacteria, which had been known for centuries...when
antibiotics were discovered, clinical uses for silver as an antibiotic were
discarded" Becker said in a 1995 interview with Bio/Tech News. Extensive
research into the curative properties of silver has been conducted for many
years at the Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
under
the direction of Dr. Becker. The experiments concluded that silver works on
a
wide range of bacteria, without any known side-effects or damage to the
cells of
the body. Becker discovered that the silver was doing something more than
just
killing disease-causing organisms: It was also causing major growth
stimulation
of injured tissues. Dr. Becker concludes that the presence of the silver ion
may
help to regenerate tissue, eliminate old or cancerous cells, and any other
diseased or abnormal tissue condition. Dr. Henry Crooks (author, Use of
Colloids
in Health-Disease) found that silver in the colloidal state is highly
germicidal, quite harmless to humans and absolutely non-toxic. From his
bacteriological experiments with silver he concluded, "I know of no microbe
that is not killed in laboratory experiments in six minutes." Dr. Bjorn
Nordenstrom, of the Larolinska Institute, Sweden, has successfully used
silver
as a component in his cancer treatments for many years. Dr. Leonard Keene
Hirschberg, A. M., M. D. (John Hopkins) states, "Speaking generally, the
colloidal metals are especially remarkable for their beneficial action in
infective states." Dr. Richard L. Davies, executive director of the Silver
Institute, which monitors silver technology in 37 countries, reports: "In
four years we've described 87 important new medical uses for silver. We're
just
beginning to see to what extent silver can relieve suffering." Finally,
Peter Lindemann reports in his 1997 article, Colloidal Silver, A Closer Look
that a study conducted in part by the Institute of Microbiology in Rome,
Italy
and published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology (Dec. 1992), stated
that
"Pure electro-colloidal silver out- performed silver nitrate, silver
chloride, and silver sulfadiazine as a broad spectrum germicide. For all
classes
of bacteria, fungus, and mold samples tested, pure electro-colloidal silver
worked better, and at much lower concentrations. They concluded that any
additives reduced the effectiveness of the pure silver ion; the silver salts
being as much as 100 times less effective."
What is the FDA's standpoint on colloidal silver?
Since colloidal silver was in common use as an antibiotic prior to 1938 when
the
FDA was created, its use was grandfathered-in and not subject to FDA
approval.
Many promoters of colloidal silver had ballyhooed a 1991 letter authored by
the
FDA which they said (at the time) that they would not attempt to control
colloidal silver as long as its uses were confined to pre-1938 published
protocols. However, the growing popularity of colloidal since 1991, has
created
pressure from threatened pharmaceutical interests to get the FDA to regulate
the
availability of colloidal silver. As a result, today the FDA is attempting
to subvert the grandfather clause and is seeking to gain approval status
over the
use and production of colloidal silver on the outrageous premise that since
colloidal silver has proven to be such an effective broad spectrum germ
fighter
in its ability to cure new strains of bacteria (not in existence in 1938),
that
its use should be subject to their jurisdiction! It's clear to anyone who
examines the subject, that the FDA is a champion for the pharmaceutical
industry
and on their behalf attempts to suppress the use of cheap, non-patentable,
natural, alternative therapies at every opportunity. Silver, after all, is
merely a metal. It's a harmless element of Nature. What business does the
FDA
have in attempting to regulate its use?
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