History of Silver

History of Silver

Silver has been used as medicine and a preservative by many cultures throughout history. Ancient Greeks used silver vessels for water purification. Pioneers trekking across the American west used to keep their water safe and prevent dysentery, colds, and flu: they actually put silver dollars in their milk containers and wooden water casks to retard spoilage. Settlers in the Australian outback also suspended silverware in their water tanks to retard spoilage. People in India still wrap some food and candies in a thin silver foil to prevent spoilage, which is then literally consumed along with the food.

Medical silver compounds were developed in the late 1800’s and there was widespread use of silver compounds and colloids ( small particles dispersed in water) prior to 1930. By 1940 there were approximately 498 different silver compounds marketed and used to treat virtually every infectious disease. These were available in oral, injectable, and topical forms. They carried such names as: Albargin, Novargan, Proganol and Silvol.

Since 1973 silver has been shown to have topical activity against 22 bacterial species (643 isolates), including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Ongoing research into the effect and properties of silver continues around the world. Currently, silver water purification filters are used by organizations that include international airlines and NASA. Increasing numbers of Americans use silver in their fabrics, appliances, and home water filters. Electrical ionization units are being used in swimming pool water to help sanitize the water without the harsh effects of chlorine. Silver is also found in many applications within our hospitals, from needles to bandages to disinfectants for newborn babies’ eyes.

Burns and wound healing make up a multi-billion-dollar industry. One of the foremost treatments is silver, which is used topically as a gel, liquid, spray, bandage, and antimicrobial to enhance wound healing. Because silver destroys bacteria, viruses, and yeast it will help any wound or burn by preventing infection and stimulating stem cells. Wounds heal faster and with less scarring when bacteria, viruses and yeast cannot contaminate the wound. Burn victims report a deduction in pain when silver liquid or gel is applied to the wound. Because silver can be applied in an open wound it can assist in disinfection and help stimulate the healing factors of the immune system. This is true for vaginal infections and internal bleeding in the uterus or cervix as well.

New advances with silver continues to be made in the pursuit of maximum effectiveness and safety. In just the past two or three years, brand new ways of structuring silver molecules into water have been developed that show significantly improved results when compared to earlier silver products. This is an emerging field in terms of public familiarity

Structured Silver that we use in our products is new. It outperforms last decade’s products. Our Silver is more effective and safer. Compared to other silver our structured silver shows significantly improved performance against pathogens and reduced healing times as high as 40% faster.

Ionic Silver

Consists of chemical energy that is mostly electric and can be measured by its charge. The problem is that it bonds to the fats and is the primary cause of Argyria.

Colloidal Silver

Consists of electric currents driving silver ions into water. Some colloids are nothing more than tiny particles of silver dusting the water that contains them. If the wrong electric current is used to manufacture the colloid the silver will fall out of solution and can become predominantly ionic.

Structured Silver

Is an advanced second-generation colloidal silver that is magnetically and electrically structured, producing atomic bonding of water and silver inn a way that forms crystalline structures of silver and water. The structured silver bonds permanently to the water so it forms a solution of silver hydrosol, which has alkaline properties. The magnetic and electric frequencies used during manufacturing are combined with a structured water that results in alkaline, magnetic, electric silver in structured form. It is significantly more effective at destroying pathogens than the colloids and ionics of the past. The reason is that the structured silver holds an ultraviolet antimicrobial frequency, capable of working with the immune system because it is alkaline.

References are found in the book” New fighting chance” by Dr. Gordon Pedersen. It is for sale on this website.

 

Structured Silver vs Colloidal Silver

 

Are you comparing the benefits of structured silver with older forms of silver? While several forms of silver can be useful health tools, it is important to understand the many differences that distinguish the good from the great.
Older Colloidal or Ionic Silver Silver Hydrosol Structured Silver
Date of Development Late 1800’s Mid 1990’s Early 2010’s
Performance Mixed Good Best
Safety Mixed Safe Safe
Nature of Compound Silver Suspension Silver Solution Structured Silver Solution
pH Acidic Acidic Mild Alkaline
Parts Per Million (ppm) 5 – 300,000 ppm 10 – 30 ppm 10 – 30 ppm
Bio-Availability 15-65% Exceeds 99% Exceeds 99%
Can Cause Argyria Yes No Known Cases Exceeds 99%
Color Brown, Yellow or Silver Colorless Colorless
Taste Brown, Yellow or Silver Faint Metallic Aftertaste Faint Metallic Aftertaste
Odor Distinct Odorless Odorless

Silver Performance in Side-by-Side Tests

The efficacy of today’s structured silver is well ahead of the older silvers.

To see research and a full explanation of how this is possible, visit this Silver Health Institute page.

For an explanation of how these different forms of silver can behave so differently despite having the same ingredients, see this video:

“Structured silver is far better than just a single silver or an ionic silver or a colloidal or even the hydrosols of the past. This is new and improved silver.” – Gordon Pedersen

Silver Terminology

If you are confused about the terms used for silver’s different forms, here are some definitions

Colloid

A colloid is a particle between 1 and 0.001 micrometers in diameter that is evenly dispersed throughout another substance. A colloidal system may be liquid, solid, or gaseous. Examples of colloidal substances include whipped cream, styrofoam, fog, milk, smoke, and blood.

Colloidal silver

A colloidal system with small particles (colloids) of silver evenly dispersed within a liquid, typically water. Colloidal silver has been produced in a wide variety of forms for several hundreds of years, with variations in concentration, purity, stability, colloid size, molecular structure, etc. These variations result in vastly different substances that are commonly referred to under the general term “colloidal silver.”

The limitation of this generalized term is exemplified by examining a similar generalized term: “car.” If one uses the word “car” in conversation, is one referring to a sedan, a sports coupe, a large luxury car, or a tiny hatchback? Does it refer to a car from 1920, 1957, 1975, or 2016? A Ford, Datsun, Toyota, Tata, or Maserati? Thus, as a general term, “car” is quite effective in everyday use, but more specific terms are needed (eg. “2014 Lexus GS 350 F Sport RWD”) in other contexts. Similarly, “colloidal silver” is a useful term in some contexts, but limiting in situations where the differences between older and newer technologies are important.

Ion

An atom or molecule with an unequal number of electrons and protons. As a result, an ion has a net positive or negative charge. If the ion has a negative charge (it has more electrons than protons), it is called an anion. If the ion has a positive charge (it has fewer electrons than protons), it is called a cation.

Ionic silver

The state of silver in an ionic form, ionic silver is commonly found within creams and liquids. Prior to the advent of digital photography, ionic silver was in widespread use as one of the chemicals employed to process film.

Sol (re: colloid)

A sol is substance where particles of a solid material are evenly mixed within a liquid and these particles are very small (1 to 0.001 micrometers in diameter.) A sol is a colloidal system.

If the liquid in this system is water, the sol may also be called a hydrosol or aquasol. Some silver products marketed as silver hydrosol or silver aquasol are named after their colloidal system, which contains a sol (silver) dispersed within a liquid (water.)

Structured silver water

A unique combination of silver and water with benefits, characteristics, and a manufacturing method unlike any other silver product.

Excerpt from A New Fighting Chance

In written form, here is another explanation of the different forms of silver in a side-by-side comparison:

This brings us to a critical point: structured silver is not the same as other silver products.  Even other products that contain silver and water are not the same as structured silver.
 
1000 years ago, people used primitive forms of silver and received mild antimicrobial benefits. 
 
100 years ago, people used primitive colloidal and ionic silver products and received good antimicrobial benefits, but also suffered side effects like Argyria.  Argyria is not life-threatening and is rare, but it is an undesirable discoloration of the skin towards a bluish-grey.  Argyria can occur with concentrated silvers (very high ppm, such as 50,000 ppm) and impure silver compounds (eg.  silver salts) that precipitate within the body.  Argyria cannot happen with new structured silvers, when taken as suggested.
 
10 years ago, people used more advanced silver solutions and gels and received excellent antimicrobial benefits and vastly improved safety standards.
 
Today, people have access to structured silver products that even outperform last decade’s products.  The new silvers are safer and more effective.  When compared with last decade’s top products at top U.S.  laboratories and in clinical usage, today’s structured silver shows significantly improved performance against pathogens and reduced healing times as high as 40% faster.
 
In short, our ability to access silver’s benefits has moved from primitive to good over the centuries, with new levels of excellence available now that are even better than last decade’s best.  Just as computers have developed at a rapid pace, so have silvers.  A computer from 25 or 10 years ago was a good tool at the time, but how many people choose an old computer when faced with a design, communication, programming, or entertainment need?  10 years old may be good, but it is no longer the best.  As it is with computers, cameras, and smartphones, so it is with silvers.
 
When choosing your silver products, be mindful of what you seek.  You might not be able to see the differences with the naked eye, but they are real and can impact your health. 
 
If you were five or six nanometers tall, the differences between silver products would be as obvious as the differences between a horse and a cow.  Yet, since you are likely closer to five or six feet tall, the differences between a pH-balanced (alkaline) structured silver and other substances are invisible without closer inspection.
 
In short, you do not need to use your grandma’s silver.  Just as horses and cows are similar yet critically different, old-fashioned silver products and pH-balanced structured silver are similar but critically different from one another.
 
With clarity on this point, a new health vector emerges.  Without clarity, today’s new silver products are incorrectly called”snake oil” or worse due to confusion with older technologies.