Marshall said,
.. I am still somewhat at a loss here as to what
terminology to use to definitively separate a
molecular silver ion from a suspended silver crystal.
I still like the "molecular ion", but maybe another
good term would be a "disassociated ion".
Part of the confusion is also tied to the definition
of *colloidal*. Dr. Carey Reams (physicist,
biochemist) didnt limit the size of a colloidal
particle to something unable to passing through a cell
wall. He said that some colloids were so small they
could pass through glass. Also, the concept that
suspended silver particles are not utilized by the
body or that ionic silver particles are
argyria-causing to the body is irrelevant if silver
particles are changed by the body into *ionic* silver
by stomach acid, digestion, etc. But silversmiths who
were exposed to metallic silver powder and either
inhaled it or continually got it on their skin
acquired argyria. Either the silver particles did
cause argyria, or else the silver particles were made
ionic by some metabolic function (digestion, etc.),
which then caused argyria, or else more than one form
of silver can cause argyria. In any case, argyria does
not occur when silver particles (in any form) are
nanometer in size.
Dr. Robert Demling emphasized the point that, as
silver particles become smaller, they operate in
unique ways that larger particles do not. When you are
discussing nanosilver, all the rules and concerns are
different. Silver particles that are in a certain
range of sizes are considered suspended in water, and
we have called them *colloidal*. When they fall below
a certain size, they are considered to be dissolved,
and we have been calling them *ionic*. We arbitrarily
label the first group *particles*, though they are all
particles (using common scientific definitions), and
the second group *ions*, though they are also
particles, and both groups all have a charge (which is
the common definition of an ion). Including silver
nitrate into the group called *ionic* only muddies the
water even more, because we have (inappropriately)
been using that word to specify silver particles so
small that there is no concern for safety, they are
too small to be a problem. From a purely literal
standpoint, silver-nitrate IS ionic because it has a
charge (does it?), but that makes us need a vocabulary
that differentiates between *good ionic* and *bad
ionic*, and were already having trouble with *ionic*
and *colloidal*.
I have looked up the definitions of *dissolved*,
*solution* and *homogeneous* (a word that is part of
the definition of a solution). I have tried to find a
clear description of the properties that would make a
distinction between the two, but found it to be quite
unclear. If the particles are bigger than a certain
size, they are declared to be in suspension. If
smaller than that, they are labeled *in solution*. I
have repeatedly seen an (apparently) arbitrary
measurement of a particle in *suspension* of .001 to
0.1 nanometers, with the inference being that a
particle smaller than .001 nm is now in solution and
no longer in suspension. Where did that standard come
from? If a particle that is .001 nm is in suspension,
why is a particle that is .000999 nm in solution? What
is the difference between suspension and solution? To
say that the silver is now dissolved into the water is
a meaningless statement with out a clear definition of
*dissolve* and *solution*. The dictionary says that it
is *homogeneous*, another word with a vague
definition.
Argyria HAS been caused by metallic silver particles,
i.e., silver dust. This is best demonstrated by the
incidence of argyria among silversmiths, who are
exposed to silver dust on their skin and inhaled into
their lungs. This seems to me to rebut the idea that
only silver ions cause argyria. I have repeatedly seen
the silver-salt-sunlight-photo concept described as
the mechanism causing argyria, but I do not think it
is that simple. It would not, to me, explain
silversmith argyria adequately.
The evidence is strong that silver in ANY form is
lethal to pathogens. The vendors who claim that one
form or the other is not effective are either ignorant
of the widespread experience of many, many people, or
else they are being dishonest in order to promote
their products. Since we know that, the smaller the
silver particles, the safer they are (Demling), we
have wanted to differentiate between the safe and the
unsafe.
I personally am not concerned about ionic or colloidal
or particulate or whatever. If you dissolve/suspend
pure silver into pure, steam-distilled water using
electricity, and you dont brew it until its muddy,
you will find it to be beneficial to your body without
needing caution about using it.
As far as safety is concerned, I think the only real
consideration is particle size, although Demling also
says that the smaller the particle, the more effective
and stable it is. We have identified some of the
factors that affect particle size. Particles will be
bigger if the silver is joined to other substances
minerals, chemicals, proteins, etc. Particles will be
bigger if they aggregate to themselves (basically,
larger silver particles). The silver will break off
the anode in bigger chunks when the electricity has a
high amperage (whatever the voltage). The evidence
indicates that silver particles that are large because
of being joined to proteins or minerals (compounds)
are more likely to contribute to argyria than large
particles that are pure silver (up to a point). In
other words, I would rather drink pure yellow CS than
yellow silver nitrate. Of course, Id rather drink
crystal clear CS, but if there is nothing in it but
silver, water and its byproducts, I have no hesitation
in freely drinking yellow CS.
I submit that all that matters is particle size.
Specifying types of silver particles (colloidal,
ionic, particulate, atomic, etc.) is unimportant and
irrelevant to safety and effectiveness, until the size
is too big. How big is too big? Anything darker than
yellow (whether colloidal, ionic, particulate) is
suspect. It may be perfectly safe, but no one knows
for sure. Crystal clear CS/EIS is completely safe in
any quantity, because in order for it to be/stay
clear, it must have small particle size, in the
nanometer range. If we are making a point of brewing
nanosilver, we dont need to worry about argyria or
anything else.
Since clear CS/EIS is so easy to brew, our problem is
solved. For the newbies, it is simple: Use
steam-distilled water, .999 or better Fine silver,
dont brew until its brown (stop at clear, yellow or
gold). Drink freely, use it everywhere. Everything we
make has some ionic (I say its ALL ionic), some
colloidal (I say its ALL colloidal), some particulate
(I say its ALL particles). I do not believe anyone
can control the process to the point where he can make
NOTHING but nanometer-sized particles, it will always
have a range of sizes.
Terry Chamberlin
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