Ionic/Colloidal Silver:

Ionic/colloidal silver has been known for centuries for it’s anti-infectious qualities. Prior to the development of antibiotics by the pharmaceutical industry, colloidal silver was used extensively within the medical community. Today silver is used for its antibacterial properties in compound form for severe burns, for drops in the eyes of newborn babies, for water filters, vehicle steering wheels and more. Two companies have developed ionic silver bandages that are used with great success to combat infection and speed healing within hospital and medical settings.

Research on the use of commercial mild silver protein products has been conducted at two universities. In The Micro Silver Bullet by M. Paul Farber Ph.D., the author describes tests at the University of Toronto on his mild silver protein product showing it was not toxic to animals even in larger quantities. Another company had their mild silver protein tested at a US university in 1999. This research proved the product was effective against a variety of virulent bacteria. (Note: The university has asked not to be named as it was independent research by a professor rather than university sponsored research.)

Making Your Own Ionic/Colloidal Silver:

In particle size small: the early 1990’s, Bob Beck came up with the idea of making ionic/colloidal silver using three 9-volt batteries. He wanted to make it possible for individuals to make their own colloidal silver. When made electrically using only distilled water and silver wires that are 99.99% pure, the silver produced is free of impurities. Both ionic and colloidal silver is produced to assure a small particle size. To keep particle size small it is best to limit the parts per million (PPM) of ionic/colloidal silver from 3 to 6 PPM. There are two other ways to keep the

1) Heating the water to increase conductivity and speed the process, or

2) Using a constant current unit. It is not necessary to heat the water with constant current.

Colloidal silver can also be made by adding a few drops of a dilute sea salt solution. This is a fast way to produce colloidal silver but the particle size will be larger because of the formation of silver chloride. For this reason we do not recommend the salt method be used if one is drinking colloidal silver on a longer-term basis.

Particle Size and Argyria:

A small particle size is important for the body to successfully use and handle ionic/colloidal silver. There is a risk of developing argyria if the particle size is too large. If the particle size is too large for the body to readily process the silver, the lymph system must handle these larger molecules. If the lymph system carries the molecules for excretion through the skin, argyria can develop. Argyria is a result of light hitting silver to turn it darker. Argyria can occur in all organs. It is not noticeable, however, until the silver molecules are forced out through the skin.

Please note that with thousands of people drinking colloidal silver for nearly 10 years, there has been only one reported cases of argyria in several decades. A candidate for the US Congress in 2002, Argyria was reported to have a blue tinge. We interviewed him to discover he had been drinking silver salts or a solution with larger particle sizes rather than ionic/colloidal silver for several years.

There is some need for caution. The British Columbia Ministry of Environment in a water quality document (August 7, 2001) outlining the toxicity of silver to freshwater microbes and marine microbes, states with regards to humans: “Populations that are unusually susceptible to toxic effects from silver are those with dietary deficiencies of vitamin E or selenium, or those with genetically-based deficiencies in the metabolism of these essential nutrients. Those populations with damaged livers and those exposed to very high selenium levels in their diet are also at higher risk. Some people may exhibit an allergic response to silver.”

The document was prepared because of the discharge from photo-processing labs and solid state electronics. The report also states: “For human, laboratory animal, wildlife and livestock drinking water, and for food processing industries where water is incorporated into the product, no silver criterion appears to be necessary. … Silver is a disinfectant for non-spore forming bacteria at concentrations about 1000 times lower than the levels at which it is toxic to mammalian life.”

A Canadian government report of September 1986 on silver states that: “The quantity of silver causing argyria in man is not precisely known, but Hill and Pillsbury noted that the injection of 1000 mg of silver as silver arsphenamine produced this condition.” Note the injection was not ionic silver but rather a silver compound. Compounds have larger molecular sizes.

A hair analysis will determine whether you are low or high in selenium. It would be wise to consult a natural health practitioner to individualize a mineral supplement program. Of course, it’s a good idea to change your supplement program from time to time.

We offer three sources for information about Ionic/colloidal silver:

1)      Our free newsletter series has three articles about ionic/colloidal silver.

2)      The Beck Protocol Handbook package includes a section on ionic/colloidal silver.

3)      The video: How to Use The Beck Protocol.

See Recommended Products for a unit to make ionic/colloidal silver.

 How to Make Ionic/Colloidal Silver for recipe instructions. See 'Instructions' in the download section for procedures to make ionic/colloidal silver.

Argyria:

Stan Jones, Montana Libertarian Congressional Candidate’s  Experience

With Colloidal Silver and Argyria

I talked with Stan Jones after his picture with bluish skin made the major media circuit early in October 2002. In fact, he returned my call as he’s keen to let others know the mistakes he made in making colloidal silver over a period of about five years. While living in Seattle, he immersed silver wires in a paper cup with tap water. Then he used a 27-Volt generator to make the colloidal silver. In Seattle the tap water contained very few minerals and conductivity of the water was very low. To improve the conductivity, Jones was advised to add about four drops of a salt solution. He generated the silver solution for eight minutes in eight ounces of room temperature water and consumed it each day.

When Stan moved to Montana in 1999, he discovered the tap water there contained a lot of minerals so the drops of salt were no longer necessary to get a good current. He decided to make a stronger solution of the silver and added it to his drinking water. He let the generator operate for 1–1½ hours. This would produce a high PPM concentrate with silver compounds as a result of the minerals in the water. He then added this milky solution to two gallons of drinking water. This was his main source of drinking water throughout the day. Stan estimates he drank about 4 to 6 glasses of this silver solution each day.

Stan first noticed a blue color under his fingernails. He wasn’t concerned at the time because he hadn’t heard of argyria and felt in good health. Early this past summer, however, others started to comment on a gray or bluish tinge to his face. He now notices a slight bluish tinge under his eyes and around his nose. Stan says his face is certainly not as blue as the picture that was in the media. “Photography,” he says, “can do things with color that is totally dependent on the light conditions. Some of my family and friends notice a difference in my skin tone but some don’t notice any difference.”      

Stan’s experience is a good reminder for all of us to remember to:

1)      Use only distilled water,

2)      Make ionic/colloidal silver in the 3–5 PPM range,

3)      Use either the heat method to increase conductivity or a constant current unit. In the  past we have suggested using the salt method when traveling or on an emergency basis when it wasn’t convenient to heat the water. With the availability of constant current units, the salt method is no longer necessary even for travel. Both the heat method and a constant current unit ensure the particle size stays small.

There are no reported cases of argyria when ionic/colloidal silver is made as above and consumed in moderation. Keep in mind that we also suggest taking a break occasionally from drinking ionic/colloidal silver or from any nutritional supplement.

Carole Punt

A Handy Guide for Ionic/Colloidal Silver:

For household use, tap water can be used to make ionic/colloidal silver. Distilled water or de–ionized water should be used for internal and personal use.

For faster entry into the blood stream, one health practitioner passed along that he recommends dropping or spraying colloidal silver up the nose. Some customers have reported they use a small atomizer.

You can also hold ionic/colloidal silver under the tongue for quicker absorption before swallowing.