Updated March 20, 2003

A deadly respiratory infection, provisionally called "severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)," is spreading quickly around the world. Reports have come in from Canada, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, prompting the World Health Organization to issue a global alert for the first time in more than a decade

Extract from an article by James South M.A. - April 1999
"Perhaps the scariest scenario that may present a need for a powerful, broad-spectrum antimicrobial such as Silver (Ag) is the late 1990's threat of 'bioterrorism.' It is now widely expected by biowarfare and terrorism experts that, whether due to small groups of terrorists, or as a form of warfare by 'rogue'/totalitarian nations, it is only a matter of time before 'germ warfare' is unleashed in Europe or America (10). And if the super-germs released have been produced in sophisticated biowarfare labs, they will probably have been genetically altered to make them resistant to the antibiotics normally used to treat that species of germ - e.g. tetracycline/doxycycline normally used to treat Anthrax (the number 1 favorite of 'biowarfare warriors' world-wide) (10). It is interesting to note that silver - both in liquid solution and as an airborne-aerosol - has been known since 1887 to be extremely toxic to Anthrax spores (1,10,11,12). And it is widely reported in the medical literature on Ag that various forms of Ag, often at surprisingly low concentrations, routinely kills germs that are known to be antibiotic-resistant (11,13,19,20)."

"Most antibiotics have an optimal effectiveness against only a few different disease germs; even broad-spectrum antibiotics may kill only 10-20 different types of bacteria. Also, most antibiotics that kill bacteria will not kill fungus/yeasts, protozoal parasites or viruses; antifungal antibiotics will not kill bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc. And virtually all known viruses are immune to virtually all known antibiotics."

(silver=Ag)

"Ag is unique among antimicrobial agents in its broad spectrum of action. It has been claimed to kill some 650 different disease organisms (13). And unlike antibiotics, Ag is an 'equal opportunity destroyer' - it doesn't discriminate, but effectively kills germs of all major types: gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, spore-forming bacteria, fungus/yeasts, viruses and protozoal parasites. Ag sulfadiazine is used almost universally in hospitals to prevent serious burn infections (11), but it kills dozens of different bacteria (11,14,16); it also kills 95% of 72 strains of herpesvirus (15), as well as the protozoal parasite Plasmodium berghei (malaria) (17). It also kills various yeasts, including several Aspergillus varieties, Mucor pusillus, Rhizopus nigricans and 50 different clinical isolates of Candida albicans (18)."

References:

Dear Concerned Reader:

Do you know why do some people fall victim to serious life-threatening infectious illnesses, while others around them remain disease free? In Europe where the horrible brain-wasting infection called Mad Cow Disease is now reaching epidemic proportions, it has been noted that some family members succumb to the disease, while other family members who have eaten the very same contaminated meat remain in perfect health. Why? The answer is quite simple...

The Immunity Factor

Medical experts agree that all victims of life-threatening infectious illness have one thing in common: a weakened immune system. The weaker your immune system, the more apt you are to contract serious infectious illness and disease when exposed to it.

You see, particularly as you age, your immune system begins to falter and sputter like an airplane running low on fuel. All too often, this happens because your daily diet is deficient in the nutrients needed to fuel a healthy immune response in the presence of infectious microorganisms.

Therefore, as you age, it becomes absolutely vital to keep your immune system properly fueled so that it always functions at the highest levels it is capable of. The simple undisputed fact is this: the stronger your immune system, the more likely you are to remain disease-free when exposed to even the most virulent of infectious microorganisms! This remains true whether you are exposed through the foods you eat, the water you drink, or the people you come into contact with.

"A colloid is a very small particle which remains suspended in water without actually forming an ionic solution. A colloid of silver is a very small particle of metallic silver suspended in water. The atomic micro-clusters of silver atoms found in colloidal silver range in size between approximately 0.001 and 0.01 microns." (Note: How small is this? Approximately 1 billion of these particles could fit into a cube 4/100th's of an inch in size! One micron is 1/1,000,000th of a meter!) "The small size means a very large surface area of silver per unit volume of silver. This small size with its large surface area to volume ratio enables the surface chemistry of silver and dramatically increases the reactivity of silver with the substances that it comes in contact with. These particles are smaller than the individual cells of bacteria and some of the particles are smaller than even viruses. It is therefore possible for the bacteria to 'engulf' or 'swallow' the silver particles." "An 'ionic' silver compound, by contrast, is one which will dissolve in water. Being soluble, its chemical reactivity is even higher than that of a colloidal suspension."

In other words, a colloidal suspension of elemental silver requires particles so very small (that is, microscopic) that they remain suspended in water (by nature of the positive electrical charge of the particles and the property that particles with the same charge repel each other.) Larger particles, or clumps of particles, (by definition, non-colloidal) will not remain suspended and will settle due to gravity. If the particles can be made even smaller, the particles actually dissolve in the water, which produces a solution of silver ions.

The ability of silver to prevent infections and help healing has been known for centuries. Until recently, there was no way of producing Silver in a non-toxic "food" form which could be ingested to work on Viral, Fungal, Parasite & Bacterial infections from within the body.

" Electrically Produced Colloidal Silver Has Now Made This Possible"

The term "colloidal silver" refers to a liquid containing suspended microscopic particles of pure silver. The concentration of the silver is usually expressed in parts per million, or ppm. One milligram of silver per 1000ml of liquid would equal 1 ppm. This 1 ppm could be represented by one piece of silver weighing 1mg, or by hundreds of thousands of silver particles that in total weigh 1mg. The smaller the individual particles, the more total particles that will be contained in the same weight of silver and the more total surface area which is created. This distinction is critically important, and will be discussed in depth in Section 9, Quality Control.

The article published by the Silver Institute, "Silver, The Healthful Metal", has this explanation of colloidal silver's biological action:

"The mechanism by which silver inactivates bacteria and some viruses is not clear. Primarily, silver reacts with the bacterium's cell wall. The cell wall of bacteria is a structure of proteins connected by amino acids to provide it with mechanical strength and stability. The structural proteins are called peptidoglycans. Silver reacts with the exposed peptidoglycans, blocking their ability to transfer oxygen (energy) into the cell thus inactivating the bacteria, which results in expiration. If the silver ions are removed from the cell immediately, the function of the bacteria may be restored."

In the article entitled, "Inside Information on Important Innovations in Colloidal Silver Technology" we find the following explanation of silver's mechanism of activity and the need for alternative treatments:

"The April 1994 editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine called for urgent action, including surveillance for early signs of drug resistance and more disciplined use of antibiotics. Some specialists are now willing to admit that, as infections become harder to successfully treat with drugs, our only real alternative may be more natural methods."

"Since 1938, silver has been standing in the wings, waiting to make a big comeback. Not for its monetary value, but for properties inherent in it that make it worth more than its weight in gold: silver is a unique healing agent."

"No known disease-causing organism can live in the presence of even minute traces of the chemical element of metalic silver. [This includes destructive bacteria, viruses, and fungi which, when compared to antibiotics, is one of the things which makes silver unique: antibiotics are specific to bacteria and, in some cases, fungi, but never viruses-Ed.] From his bacteriological experiments with silver, Dr. Henry Crooks has concluded, 'I know of no microbe that is not killed in laboratory experiments in six minutes.'" (Cross referenced: Health Consciousness, Vol 15, No. 4, "Report: Colloidal Silver" Ref. 1, p. 34. This report also states that all microbes were killed "with a dilution of as little as five parts per million, though there are no side effects whatsoever from higher concentrations.")

"Today colloidal silver is being acknowledged by some to be the most universal antibiotic natural substance. Many forms of bacteria, viruses, and fungi utilize a specific enzyme for their metabolism. Silver acts as a catalyst, effectively disabling the enzyme. It has proven toxic to all species tested of fungi, bacteria, protozoa, parasites and many viruses."

The same article has this amazing reference:

"In view of the rising concern about germ warfare and the likely use of biologicals in terrorist attacks, we find the following quote to be of more than passing interest:

'There is little defense against this kind of attack, and what few antidotes exist are withheld from the public as military secrets. One of the best examples of this is Movidyn, a substance the Soviets discovered in their satelite state of Czechoslovakia way back in the 1950's. Movidyn is a form of colloidal silver. One part per billion of powdered Movidyn in water has a germicidal effect. In a study of infected wells, it completely destroyed typhus, malaria, cholera, and amoebic dysentery. To the astonishment of the Soviet military, Movidyn also disinfected every germ warfar bacteria in the Soviet arsenal, even their newest designer poisons.' [Source: Mark Aarons, The Secret War Against The Jews, Copywrite 1994, St. Martin's Press, New York]"

This article continues:

"Colloidal silver has been successfully tested for decades at numerous laboratories in the U.S. and abroad. It has been found to effective on microbiological organisms because it bears an electrical charge opposite to that of the pathogens. One researcher, Alfred Searle, in describing the effects of silver, states that for internal administration, either orally or hypodermically, silver has the advantage of being 'rapidly fatal to parasites, both bacterial and otherwise, without any toxic action on the host.' N.R. Thompson of the Runcorn Health Laboratory in Cheshire, England states, 'To primitive life forms, silver is as toxic as the most powerful chemical disinfectants.'"

From www.healthnews.com we quote the following from the article entitled,
"Colloidal Silver Fabulous Facts"

"The presence of colloidal silver near a virus, fungus, bacterium or any single celled pathogen disables its oxygen metabolism enzyme, its chemical lung, so to say. Within a few minutes, the pathogen suffocates and dies and is cleared out of the body by the immune, lymphatic and elimination systems."

"Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics which destroy beneficial enzymes, Colloidal Silver leaves these tissue-cell enzymes intact as they are radically different from the enzymes of primitive single-celled life. Thus Colloidal Silver is absolutely safe for humans, reptiles, plants, and all multi-celled living matter."

"Colloidal Silver is the result of an electro-magnetic process that pulls microscopic particles from a larger piece of silver into a liquid such as water. These microscopic particles can more easily penetrate and travel throughout the body. Colloidal Silver works as a catalyst, disabling the enzyme that all one celled bacteria, fungi, and viruses use for their oxygen metabolism. In short, the bad guys suffocate."

This same article continues, "Colloidal Silver is painless on burns, cuts, abrasions, in open wounds, in the nostrils for a stuffy nose, and even in the eyes because, unlike antiseptics, it does not destroy tissue cells."

"Inside the body, silver forms no toxic compounds nor reacts with anything other than a germ's oxygen metabolization. Colloidal Silver is truly a safe, natural remedy for many of mankind's ills. It would appear highly unlikely that even germ warfare agents could survive an encounter with Colloidal Silver, since viruses like Ebola and Hunta, or even the dreaded 'flesh-eating bacteria' are in the end merely hapless viruses and bacteria. To top it off, Colloidal Silver is non-toxic, making it safe for both children and adults, as well as pets. In short, anything bigger than a one-celled animal seems to like it."

Dhyana Coburn is the coauthor of "The Wonders of Colloidal Silver". In a separate article entitled "Colloidal Silver - A Healthy Silver Lining" she adds more information as to the mechanism by which colloidal silver interacts only with harmful microbes:

"Colloidal silver kills invading microbes by dissolving an enzyme that metabolizes oxygen of primitive organisms. The process is an electrochemical reaction. The cell can't breathe, then suffocates and dies. That's why it works on all types of germs, including the super-germs. Metallic and chelated minerals carry a negative charge, but colloidal bioelectric minerals carry a positive charge. Therefore, another way colloidal silver inhibits germ growth is that the positive charge on the colloidal silver (particles) binds up with the negative charge on the pathogen. This causes an interuption of the biological function of the organism, which then cannot reproduce."

The article continues, "Former teacher of physics and chemistry, Howard Mitchell of Virginia, recently conducted a series of experiments with colloidal silver. He found that CS has no effects on acidophilus, the 'good bacteria' found in the stomach. Mitchell used concentrations forty times higher than what might be expected to destroy other forms of bacteria. It shows that even in large dosages, the intestinal flora will flourish. In fact, there is speculation that the silver ions may be advantageous in stimulating a vigorous growth of beneficial bacteria, helping to boost the immune system."

How is silver used today in medical applications?

From Colloidal Silver: Medical Uses, Toxicology, & Manufacturing, Chapter 1, "Brief History of Silver and Silver Colloids in Medicine": "Recently, with the development of antibiotic resistance in many diseases and the increase in the new strains of bacteria and viruses worldwide, there is renewed interest in silver. Large companies are developing and introducing new compounds for a variety of anti-microbial applications, including protection against the spread of the AIDS virus." MORE

What about toxicity? Can colloidal silver be harmful?

CLICK HERE

From the above information it is clear that low concentrations (such as 10 part per million) of a true colloidal silver solution (that is, a clear solution containing suspended, sub-microscopic particles) is a safe product. Literally GALLONS of such a solution would need to be consumed to create a toxic condition, and then only if the rate of intake overloaded the body's natural elimination processes. So the next question is how much colloidal silver is recommended to achieve a health benefit?

Laboratory Tests Show
Colloidal Silver Is Effective Against Infective Agents
Colloidal Silver cannot be sold as anything but a food supplement and therefore cannot be sold as a treatment for any medical conditions, but this does not mean that you cannot be given an example of the sort of infective agents that lab tests reveal cannot survive in the presence of Colloidal Silver.

E. coli. - Salmonella - Staphylococcus - Streptococcus
Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for eye infections, skin infections eg. boils, impetigo, cellulitis, post-operative wound infections. Meningitis, food poisoning, osteomyelitis......
Enterobacter cloacae which causes urinary tract infections, bacteremia, and meningitis.
Anthrax has also shown to be vulnerable to silver in lab tests, but takes several hours to kill where most take several minutes.

Streptococcus pyogenes - strep throat infections, skin infections, etc.
Streptococcus faecalis, urinary tract infections and endocarditis.
Streptococcus mutans, tooth decay and gordonii, tooth decay & heart valve damage.

From Flu to Ear infections & From Tuberculosis to the HIV virus.
From Herpes to Hospital infections, The list is endless!!!

Many people carry infections for years that simply make them feel down & "below par". These are often so unspecific that they go undiagnosed.
Taking Colloidal Silver daily as a food supplement could prevent this.

"Build up your immune system NOW"

Silver is effective against yeasts including S. cerevisiae Yeast, Montrachet Yeast.
A background dose of Colloidal Silver taken daily as a food supplement could conceivably prevent the growth of yeast indefinitely.

DISCLAIMER

Altered States does not make any recommendation as to the use or effectiveness for any purpose of colloidal silver. AS Colloidal Silver generators are solely for use as a "dietary supplement". This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
It must be first re-emphasized that colloidal silver generators available from AS are intended for use solely as dietary or nutritional supplements. The promotion of colloidal silver as a treatment for a specific medical condition is not possible because the extensive (and astronomically expensive) FDA approval processes for a new drug application have not been completed.

That being said, there are many references to supplemental doses that have been published. One such reference is found in an article entitled, "Using Colloidal Silver - Usage Philosophies". This article reiterates: "It should be noted that while colloidal silver use is quite widespread, there are no standardized formulas due to the fact that no conclusive research has been conducted that demonstrates an ideal (or effective) dose for any condition."

This article continues with several possible supplemental usage possibilities. The first is the "Mineral Supplement Ideology". "Many people believe that mineral depletion in the world's farming soils has seriously reduced the amount of natural minerals in the average diet necessary to maintain a state of good health. Those who use colloidal silver as a mineral supplement generally take about one tablespoon of colloidal silver daily (about 75 micrograms of silver.) Taking colloidal silver in these small amounts on a daily basis is generally felt to be an illness preventative with no associated risks." Note: One tablespoon equals 15ml, so 75mcg of silver intake would result if the solution was at a concentration of 5 ppm. A similar dose would result from the consumption of 1/2 a tablespoon of a 10 ppm solution. From the prior EPA guidelines we see that a balanced diet would normally yield 90mcg of silver, assuming the fresh foods were grown on non-depleted soils. A diet deficient in fresh fruits and vegetables would theoretically also be deficient in both silver and most other trace minerals.

The next dosage ideology discussed in this article is "Therapeutic Doses (internal). Many people use colloidal silver on a need only basis. Generally, one ounce is a common therapetic dose taken at the onset of symptoms, taken daily until symptoms subside. Another preferred method is to consume multiple doses spread throughout the day. Those who practice multiple doses usually take one ounce twice to four times daily, feeling that this produces a sustained and cumulative effect throughout the usage period. Once symptoms subside, users generally stop taking colloidal silver." Note: Once again the reference is to ounces of a 5 ppm solution. One ounce (30ml) at 5 ppm is equal to 1/2 ounce (15ml) at 10 ppm. In this example, one ounce at 5 ppm would equal 150mcg of silver, and four ounces would equal 600mcg, or 0.6mg. Even at the higher dosage, this consumption is still well below the EPA Critical Dose (the maximum daily approved consumption) of 1.09mg per day.

Similar supplement levels are found in an article "Colloidal Silver - The Rediscovery of a Super Antibiotic?" found at www.all-natural.com/silver. "One teaspoon of 5 ppm colloidal silver equals about 25 micrograms (mcg) of silver. 1-4 teaspoons per day (25 - 100mcg) is generally considered to be a 'nutritional amount' and is reported to be safe to use for extended periods of time. Amounts higher than this are generally considered 'therapeutic amounts' and should only be used periodically."

"In cases of illness, natural health practitioners have often recommended taking double or triple the 'nutritional amount' for 30 to 45 days, then dropping down to a smaller maintenance dose. Amounts from 1 - 32 ounces per day have reportedly been used in acute conditions."

This article continues with an important warning about the detoxifying effects of consuming a colloidal silver supplement: "If your body is extremely ill or toxic, do not be in a hurry to clear up everything at once. If pathogens are killed off too quickly, the body's five eliminatory channels (liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, and bowel) may be temporarily overloaded, causing flu-like conditions, headache, extreme fatigue, dizziness, nausea or aching muscles. Ease off on the colloidal silver to a smaller amount and increase your distilled water intake. Regular bowel movements are a must in order to relieve the discomforts of detoxification."