Twenty-first-century nanotechnology allows us to re-discover the biological properties of ionic silver, an antimicrobial and antiviral compound. It is a new perspective on nano-ionic silver as a powerful healing agent safe and gentle to plants, humans, or animals, ionic silver is brutal and deadly to bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
History of Silver
For thousands of years, silver has been used as a healing agent by civilizations throughout the world. Its medical, preservative and restorative powers can be traced as far back as the ancient Greek and Roman Empires. Long before the development of modern pharmaceuticals, silver was well known as the enemy of pathogens. [i]How did our civilization forget about this amazing ingredient and how does nanotechnology magnify the benefits of this age-old element?
Before the “golden” age of pharmaceutical (circa 1930) antibiotics, it was well known that disease-causing pathogens could not survive in the presence of silver. Consequently, silver was used in dishware, drinking, and eating utensils. In particular, the upper class stored and ate their food from silver accouterments to keep bacteria from growing.
Also, before the introduction of antibiotics here are some amazing facts that we’ve forgotten:
- 980 AD: First recorded by a Roman as a blood purifier[ii].
- Historically, the Greeks used silver vessels to keep water and other liquids fresh.
- The writings of Herodotus, the Greek philosopher, and historian, dated the use of silver to before the birth of Christ.
- The Roman Empire stored wine in silver urns to prevent spoilage.
- In the Middle Ages, silverware protected the wealthy from the full brunt of the plague.
- The Chinese emperors and their courts ate with silver chopsticks.
- Used as far back as the Druids, 4th century BC, left evidence of their use of silver.
- Settlers in the Australian outback suspend silverware in their water tanks to retard spoilage.
- Pioneers trekking across the American West found that if they placed silver or copper coins in their casks of drinking water, it kept the water safe from bacteria, algae, etc.
- All along the frontier, silver dollars were put in milk to keep it fresh. Some of us remember our grandparents doing the same.
- Silver leaf was used to combat infection in wounds sustained by troops during World War I.
- Colloidal Silver was used widely in hospitals and has been known as a bactericide for at least 1200 years
- In the early 1800s, doctors used silver sutures in surgical wounds with very successful results.
- In Ayurvedic medicine, silver is used in small amounts as a tonic, elixir, or rejuvenating agent for patients debilitated by age or disease.
- Silver sulphadiazine (Silvadene, Marion Laboratories) is now used in 70 percent of burn centers in America.
- Discovered by Dr. Charles Fox of Columbia University, sulphadiazine has also been successful in treating cholera, malaria, and syphilis. It also stops the herpes virus, which is responsible for cold sores, shingles, and worse.
The Forgotten Era
As synthetically manufactured drugs began to make their appearance. The increased profits became a powerful force in the marketplace. There was much excitement over these new ‘wonder drugs’ since that at that time, no antibiotic-resistant strains of disease organisms had surfaced. Without the ability to see into the future risks of antibiotic-resistant drugs silver quickly lost its status to modern antibiotics.
The Nanotech Age and Silver Ions
Twenty-first-century nanotechnology allows us to re-discover the biological properties of ancient antimicrobial and antiviral compounds. It is a new perspective on nano-ionic silver as a powerful healing agent.
While safe and gentle to plants, humans, or animals, ionic silver is brutal and deadly to bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Research in the United States at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri confirms studies that antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogenic microbes cannot develop with ionic silver the way that they will with antibiotics. The fact that silver is an effective agent against a very broad range of microorganisms is well established. Silver nanoparticles have antiviral capabilities against many viruses of today that are playing havoc with lives worldwide.
Extensive research and clinical trials need to be carried out to highlight the efficacy of this medical marvel towards the improvement of the health of the global population.
There is already substantial clinical research on its anti-cancerous properties in areas such as dentistry and as a potent antibacterial agent against multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria such as Salmonella and Staphylococcus. However, this is not likely to happen as the financial incentive are not there. The advent of nanotechnology has significantly advanced the efficacy of silver ions in water.
What is ionic silver?
Also called “Colloidal Silver” or “Smart Silver”, this solution consists of silver ions which are atoms with an empty valence electron. These ions facilitate the atom’s suspension into a water molecule which is then ready for use in other mediums such as a cream or other solution.
Nanoparticles have completely new or improved properties which are based on specific characteristics like size, shape, crystalline structure, and morphology. This field is emerging with discoveries every day, making an impact on all spheres of human life. The potential of nanoparticles is emerging rapidly.
In this new form, ionic silver – is emerging as the new antimicrobial wonder in dealing with bacterial, as well as viral and fungal conditions in medicine. Ionic silver is proving to be a remarkably effective health defense, not only against an enormous range of infectious diseases that are a very real part of our world today.
Pathogen Killer
Because of their small size, Silver Ions can penetrate viral, fungal & bacterial pathogens and kill them. Also, the particle size prevents the possibility of the silver ions from lodging in the skin (dermal platelets) and prevents the wide reporting of misinformation where photooxidation turns skin blue. Reports you may have seen are based on a lack of understanding of basic biology/physics which passes over this critical difference between ions and particles.
These atom-sized ions are thousands of times smaller than the (protein-sized) silver particles and they do not behave in the same manner as do silver particles that can lodge in dermal (skin) based platelets and have been known to cause a rare side effect that discolors the skin. No other adverse reactions are known. Just as you can overdose from water if you take too much. If you find clinical studies they generally show a lack of details about the specific nature (size) of the silver that was part of the studies. This fact is critical and must be disclosed to assess the efficacy of the study.
Potential Benefits
Colloidal Silver also treats and prevents sinus infections and allergy sufferers: A study published in the International Forum for Allergy and Rhinology in 2015 says that silver can help sinus infections. Studies also found that hidden infections by pathogens could be a cause of respiratory inflammation associated with common allergies and asthma. Silver destroys Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, which may be the reason why airborne allergy sufferers experience excellent results from using silver. Silver even kills the deadly, drug-resistant MRSA pathogen, now responsible for up to 94,000 life-threatening infections.
Pathogens Today
Viruses infect all cellular life forms. They are responsible for a substantial cause of disease and death in the world. Viruses can be classified into two basic categories, non-pathogenic and pathogenic. This classification can provide you with some insight into many pathogen-driven diseases and how they occur.
Many healthy organisms are hosts of non-pathogenic (organisms incapable of causing disease) that are harmless to other organisms. About 99% of all such bacteria are non-pathogenic. They are useful to man in manufacturing foods such as butter, cheese, alcohol, probiotics, and fermented products and assist with the decomposition of organic matter, etc. Some live on the surface of animals as normal flora. However, these pathogens (called commensals) are opportunistic and when the opportunity arises to invade inner tissues they can trigger an immune response.
Pathogenic viruses are those that can cause disease, generally called infections[iii]. Eventually, if the host’s immune system is in good shape, the virus-infected cell can be killed within the host, leading to an interruption of the virus cycle and a cure for the infection. However, this is not true for all viruses.
Viruses may also persist in the cell without damaging it and make a carrier cell. While the host may appear to be cured, however, its continued residency in a cell offers the opportunity for the infection to spread to others. In addition, the infection may reappear within the host after some period of latency.
For today’s most pressing viral pathogens, there is still no vaccine available. A large number of viruses are prevalent today such as HIV, Rhinovirus, Hepatitis C, influenza, etc. A horde of problems is associated with herpes viruses, shingles, genital herpes, chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis, herpes keratitis, neonatal disseminated infections, and viral encephalitis.
Across the globe, medical research institutions are vigorously investigating possible vaccines for such deadly diseases for many decades. The pharmaceutical mindset of drug research is very much a global paradigm. Contrary to this mindset, low-cost silver appears to be an amazing destroyer of viruses.
The application of colloidal silver using a fine mist or a nebulizer is a fast and effective channel that bypasses the digestive system and goes straight to the lungs and is absorbed into the bloodstream.[iv] It is by far, one of the most effective ways of healing the lungs naturally. One can also use the nebulizer when I happened to get a respiratory infection after getting sick, and my symptoms were nearly gone overnight.
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor or any kind of medical professional. This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not intend to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
[i] https://www.purestcolloids.com/history-silver.php
[ii] https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/125610
[iii] https://www.slideshare.net/SaajidaSultaana/classification-of-pathogenic-and-non-pathogenic-microorganismsmedical-microbiology
[iv] https://livelovefruit.com/how-to-nebulize-colloidal-silver/