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Gloom and Doom
The news media seems to be captivated by the possibility of a new age viral epidemic. The proposed culprit is HN51, or the avian flu. The possibilities are frightening, given the recent, and hushed up, events in China regarding this deadly virus, and the not quite so recent reports on the Ebola virus. Both of these viruses jumped species, were never before seen in humans, and produce a conservative fatality rate of 20%. That level of virulence puts the possible outcome expectations at about the level of the last great plague, which wiped out millions of people. Also of some concern, it seems that a great plague hits civilization every hundred years or so, and we’re already overdo. As if all this weren’t bad enough, modern medicine has yet to prove itself able to deal with virtually any new viral disorder.

As we continue to “stir the winds” from a media perspective over this new threat, a possible solution resides in the shadows, un-patentable, and therefore drawing no interest from the medical/pharmaceutical powers that be. That solution may be a blessing to all of us that are aware of it if a viral plague should arrive on wings from the west, as is expected. Let’s talk about colloidal silver.

A Little History
Colloidal silver was a commonly used anti-microbial 100 years ago. Modern antibiotics became popular, in spite of their limited anti-bacterial activity, and because they were patentable, and huge profits possible, they were promoted to the forefront of infectious care. However, with the cavalier prescribing of these antibiotics, antibiotic resistant super germs have taken over many hospitals and present an ever present risk.

Effects and Side Effects
Colloidal silver, to the contrary, is cheap, gentle, and functions as an antibiotic, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. It is being researched in depth by a number of medical equipment companies and pharmaceutical companies who are trying to come up with ways to patent its superior anti-microbial action.

Colloidal silver is considered to be non toxic at reasonable dosage. At over dose levels, the silver can accumulate in the skin and cause a permanent discoloration called argyria, and this was common decades ago before antibiotics, when people took huge amounts of colloidal silver, thousands of times stronger than anything available today. Nevertheless, when thinking of colloidal silver, one must always be respectful and aware of the fact that this is a potent, though gentle, antimicrobial. At recommended dosage levels colloidal silver has been proven to be perfectly safe. In my practice, I prefer to treat it as carefully as I would a patented antibiotic when recommending it to my patients, and when used internally I strongly recommend it be taken in conjunction with an effective pro-biotic to replace gut bacteria.

It can be taken internally to combat colds and conditions like Candida (gut yeast overgrowth) as well as other bacterial, viral, and fungal conditions, and at even double and triple recommended dosage it is unusually safe. I like it because it seldom creates any side effects (upset stomach for example), and is gentle enough to be used in a child’s eyes to treat pink eye, or ears to treat an earache. In these cases, one or two drops a couple of times a day is usually sufficient. On skin, for fungal infections, it often produces positive responses when everything else has failed.

Research and Industrial Utilization
Research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has shown that some resistant strains of bacteria can’t develop with ionic silver the way they do with antibiotics. Reports of any pathogens developing resistance to ionic silver are rare, and more reports keep reaching the literature that indicate that it is effective even against drug resistant strains of super bugs. In a recent report published in Chemical & Engineering News, Nexxion, a company producing silver ion coated catheters, IV needles, and other medical devices stated that, “To date, no pathogens have been able to survive contact with silver.” You read correctly, they said NO PATHOGENS WERE ABLE TO SURVIVE.
Another manufacturer, Covalon, has introduced a silver ion releasing collagen based sheet dressing for wound care. The president of the company is quoted as saying, “In the wound dressing market, silver dressings growth outperforms all others in the category.”

Curad and Johnson & Johnson now have ionic silver impregnated gauze bandages available to the public, and another company, AgION, has stated that today, high tech powder coated finishes are being used in hospitals and doctors offices on walls and counters and other germ-gathering surfaces.

Not Just An Anti-Bacterial
It is important to make the distinction that unlike anti-bacterials, colloidal silver is an anti-microbial. This is important because many diseases that affect us are not bacterial, but viral and fungal, avian flu is but one example.

The FDA and Silver
Don’t expect to hear great things from the FDA on silver. Regulations prohibit disease claims unless the product has been approved as a drug, and no drug company will do the necessary work to get approval for an un-patentable item. Nevertheless, when it comes to intelligent utilization, if you go to magazines like Acres USA, the foremost eco-agricultural magazine in the country, you’ll find many sources for the home manufacture of colloidal silver because organically oriented dairy farmers use it to keep infections down in their herds and cut the cost of expensive antibiotics.

Preventics Coloidal Silver
Our Colloidal Silver comes in a 4 oz. bottle, contains 8 ppm pure colloidal silver powder with 1/2 ounce of Echinacea purpura extract and 3.5 oz of distilled water. The Echinacea helps keep the silver in solution and acts as a soothing vehicle when taken internally. I keep mine refrigerated.

Dosage
I usually recommend one or two drops in infected eyes (for pink eye, etc.) or ears (for ear aches), two or three times a day. It is gentle and will not harm the delicate tissues. I often recommend more than the 1/2 teaspoon recommended on the bottle for internal use. I consider a 1/2 teaspoon three times a day to be well within safety limits, and can be used for Candida control, as well as general infection. I usually suggest putting it in a little water and gargling when taken for colds or flu. Always remember that Colloidal Silver is an antimicrobial and will kill good bacteria as well as bad, and therefore should be taken in conjunction with a good probiotic like i-Flora. For skin fungal problems, a dressing moistened in Colloidal Silver applied to the infected area usually produces excellent results. Additionally dressings that are silver ion impregnated are available at your local pharmacy.