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The Silver Lining?

26/11/2014

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I started doing a little more research on colloidal silver and I came up with more than enough of a debate about it.

Again, a product that has been used for thousands of years as an antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic. The ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and others also were recorded to have used silver in one form or another to preserve food and water, and this was practiced and recorded from B.C.E. through World War II. The application of silver plates to achieve better wound healing was used by the Macedonians, perhaps the first attempt to treat and prevent surgical infection. Hippocrates used silver preparations for the treatment of ulcers and to promote wound healing.(1)

Prior to patentable and more profitable antibiotics, medicines containing silver were the most widely prescribed infection fighters by mainstream allopathic physicians and there were no fewer than 34 different approved prescription and over the counter medications which contained silver. Now, after the elimination of most large particle and silver nitrate products and after improved technology has made nano-sized particles that require far less parts per million, colloidal silver proponents claim that it is safer and more effective than ever. At the same time, however, it has become the subject of increasing attacks by mainstream medicine, which labels colloidal silver as a scam, as quackery and as a dangerous substance with no proven value.

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When it is pointed out that colloidal and nano-silver are used by NASA(2), Potters for Peace(3), the Hong Kong Subway System(4), Cure-Aid, and major hospital burn units, the opponents often concede that perhaps it works externally; however, they maintain that when it is taken internally it causes dangerous toxicity due to silver build-up. In a familiar refrain when it comes to silver and other alternatives to mainstream drugs, it is also claimed that colloidal silver taken internally has no “scientifically” proven benefits. When we are reminded that scientifically proven benefits are only substantiated by double blind, placebo controlled sudies, which in the alternative health field is hard to quantify in that exact testing manner because holistic health regards the whole, and not the reductionist approach.

One of the most widely publicized warnings is that colloidal silver causes people to turn blue due to a skin condition known as argyria. Argyria is a discolouration of the skin, generally characterized by a bluing of the skin’s pigment. This rare, biologically benign condition proves the old adage that quality is much more important than quantity. Argyria occurs in response to the overconsumption or impure colloidal silver particles. With any substance, too much is not a good thing.. Tylenol, vitamin C, water... all can bring harm when over doing it.

Taking colloidal silver as directed has extremely low risk to it unlike conventional antibiotics. Bacteria and viruses are also less likely to become resistant to it if used properly and can used in instances where an antibiotic resistant bacterium is present. (5)

There is a dark side of silver to see in the shadow of the light. Nanotechnologies have advanced silver into smaller and smaller particles which allow it to be better absorbed into tissues of the body and lower amounts may be spread throughout the body as an antibiotic/antiseptic agent. Industry have developed nanotechnologies as a widespread application that moves out of the small batches used sparingly by people fighting acute bacterial infection, and into the broad multinational introduction of antimicrobial products. Food containers, hospital applications, cloth, laundry soaps, counter tops, cutting boards, socks, bedsheets, and a huge part of consumers textiles are now introduced with antimicrobial silver particles..

My concern is not with the amounts that people personally use as an antiseptic/antibiotic, it is the tons of nano particles used in everyday items that gives rise for concern. Bacteria is more likely to adapt and become resistant if it has the opportunity to adapt and mutate. From research done from Ian Chopra, writing for the Oxford Journals, the clinical incidence of silver resistance remains low, and emergence of resistance can be minimized if the level of silver ions released from products is high and the bactericidal activity rapid. (6)


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As a standard antibiotic eventually get filtered out of the body, so does silver. Most estimates are that it is flushed out they way other heavy metals would be and as mainstream antibiotics are flushed out and down, they end up in our streams and ground water at an alarming rate ( mostly from animal farming). This is degrading our fresh water and has been tested across North America to be a potential hazard. The same effects of flushed silver may end up in the environment, and may disrupt the natural balance of microbes and bacteria that are needed for environmental homeostasis.

With the evolution of technologies and industry we have created a much greater potential threat to health and environment. Baby blankets, stroller trays, towels... things that all end up at one point in baby's mouth! Not something I find re-assuring, as our most at risk demographic with a developing immune system, are in direct susceptibility of overconsuption of these nanoparticles because we are placing them in everything that is a potential teething ring!

The environmental effect may have not been accounted for as microbes and silver have coexisted for billions of years with no know resistance to silvers antimicrobial effects. Then again, we have never had nanotechnologies and it's effect on the silver particle in conjunction with it's widespread use of everyday products. (7)This may in fact give rise to silver resistant bacterium.

One of the most important aspects of health is balance, ours and the environment. If we are to keep silver as a health application we can not apply it to the regular industrial and consumer products but keep it as it should be... in reserve to use in acute situations and not as in broad spectrum use. Much the way mainstream antibiotics have come and gone, over use and over consumption can degrade the effectiveness of silver, as a
whole.

References;
  1. Hill WR, Pillsbury DM. Argyria–The Pharmacology of Silver. Baltimore. Williams & Wilkins, 1939

  2. Disinfection ofSpacecraft Potable Water Systems by Passivation with Ionic Silver
    Michele N. Birmele' Engineering Services Contract. Team QNA, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. 32899
    http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110014435.pdf

  3. Submitted to Jubilee House Community December 21, 2001
    Daniele S. Lantagne ,Alethia Environmental
    Investigation of the Potters for Peace Colloidal Silver Impregnated Ceramic Filter
    http://web.mit.edu/watsan/Docs/Other%20Documents/ceramicpot/PFP-Report1-Daniele%20Lantagne,%2012-01.pdf

  4. October 23, 2006 by: Jessica Fraser, Natural News, Colloidal silver antibacterial liquid sprayed on Hong Kong subways as public health measure
    http://www.naturalnews.com/020851_colloidal_silver_disease_prevention.html

  5. March 28 2012, M.K. Rai, S.D. Deshmukh, A.P. Ingle and A.K. Gade
    Journal of Applied Microbiology;
    Silver nanoparticles: the powerful nanoweapon against multidrug-resistant bacteria
    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05253.x/pdf

  6. Ian Chopra, Oxford Journals, The increasing use of silver-based products as antimicrobials: a useful development or a cause for concern?
         http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/59/4/587.full
 
  1. July 2013, Nate Seltenrich, Environment Health Prospectives; Nanosilver: Weighing the Risks and Benefits                 http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/121-a220/


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-15 Chills

12/11/2014

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So I over did it these past few weeks and ran my self down, staying up until 2 am most nights, a little more stress than what I was comfortable with, and a drastic temperature change from +10 to -15 in the span of 24hrs. I felt it coming on one Saturday morning but I pushed through anyways, thinking 'I'm healthy, I'll get over it with a good night sleep'. I usually would, but it seems I pushed a little hard for a little too long and woke up with a soar throat and cough. Doesn't help working with people and sharing a phone...

Superfoods and oil of oregano to the rescue!!! number 1 super food in my mind...Garlic!!

with antibacterial, anti viral properties, eating garlic everyday assists the immune system with its never ending scavenger hunt for foreign bacteria and viruses. This is due to the amount of allicin in raw, crushed garlic.

Allicin is an organosulfur compound obtained from garlic a species in the family Alliceae. It was first isolated and studied in the laboratory by Chester J. Cavallito and John Hays Bailey in 1944. (1)When fresh garlic is chopped or crushed, the enzyme alliinas converts alliin into allicin, which gives it it's distinct aroma.

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In the past, garlic has been utilized as a remedy during the various epidemics such as typhus, dysentery, cholera, influenza, or used for pests, burns, cuts, and fevers.Whenever an epidemic has emerged, garlic has been the first preventive and curative remedy.

Now it's one of the most studied food remedies in science literature and has been shown to inhibit bacteria that has adapted to standard antibiotic use, or more commonly referred to as antibiotic resistant bacteria (2)

I love to cook with the sulfurous smelly delicious garlic but studies show that cooked garlic may inactivate the enzyme that turns on the allicin and it is not as effective as freshly chopped or crushed cloves.

The best way utilize this amazing plant for its medicinal properties; crush a clove or two with the flat edge or a knife or the heal of your hands, wait 5-10 mins, then add to any food or drink. Sounds gross? I love to add it to my veggie noodle soup, or Thai coconut curry, or mixed with coconut butter over roasted veggies, in salad dressings, rubbed on whole bread dipped in soups ... Adds a bit of flavor without having to go to measures of juicing it (which I will if I have to) but I'm not a huge fan of the garlic orange juice combo. 

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Not all garlic is the same, when purchasing fresh garlic, look for local organic wherever possible. Garlic can be whitened by using chlorine or with a mixture of sulphur and wood ash. Whitening garlic helps to make it look healthier and more attractive to consumers. In fact this obsession with white foods has lead to the bleaching of many food products (flour, salt, sugar) using chlorine dioxide or benzoyl peroxide.

Growth inhibitors are used to stop garlic from sprouting and can be made from hormones or chemicals. When garlic begins to sprout, the garlic clove loses much of its potency. Growth inhibitors together with gamma irradiation extend the shelf life of garlic.

There's thousands of reasons to buy organic, these are just two..

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Another amazingly healthy herb that I love is ginger! The warm, spicy but soothing feeling of lemon ginger tea is physically and moreover emotionally soothing. A herb that has also been used for thousands of years for nausea and upset stomach remedies.

I personally feel I would much rather use a herb that has been effectively used in human studies for thousands of years, than a drug that has come to market in less than 18 month( average time a new drug takes to get commercially licenced) (4) These are personal choices I make and that that every human/animal should have the right to choose for themselves.

Many people enjoy ginger tea on a regular basis, and this is one of the simplest ways to use it. Simply chop off a couple of inches of ginger root and let it steep in hot water for fresh ginger tea. You can also peel the root using a paring knife and then slice it thinly (or grate it or mince it) to add to tea or cooked dishes. You can't go wrong by adding ginger to stir fries or even your favourite homemade soups. It is a much better mix with fresh juices like carrot and apple, then the beloved garlic.  

When left unpeeled, fresh ginger can be stored in your refrigerator for at least three weeks or in your freezer for six months or longer, making it incredibly easy to keep on hand. Try experimenting by adding fresh ginger and other warming spices, like cinnamon, to a cup of tea in the morning, evening, or after a meal… and see if you notice any of the health benefits I've just described. You can even try mixing a teaspoon of organic powdered ginger into a kombucha drink for health potential.

Ginger is commonly used for nausea and the nausea of pregnancy and travel sickness. For gas, colic and irritable bowel. Chills, cold, flu and poor circulation. Menstrual cramps. Dyspepsia (bloating, heartburn, flatulence). Indigestion. Improves circulation. Gastrointestinal problems such as gas or stomach cramps. Lowers cholesterol.

The active ingredient in ginger are called ginerols and are now being extensively studied for their health benefits. To read more about the current research follow the link. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/
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Again, not all ginger is a superfood, look for local organic, or try growing it yourself.

http://chinadailymail.com/2012/05/18/toxic-pesticides-used-to-keep-ginger-fresh/

Other foods and herbs I use on a daily or at least weekly basis are things like Turmeric, used for thousands of years as a blood tonic and anti inflammatory, which comes in handy if you are stuck with inflammation of throat, nasal, bronchial, or intestinal tissue during a cold or flu.

Chillis add heat that help the immune system naturally fight infection. A great circulation booster.

Mushrooms like Changa, and Maitaki have immune boosting properties. The latest study shows that Maitake is an efficient and potent activator of macrophages, key immune cells needed for a healthy immune response. (5)

Drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice or tea helps to restore the body's pH balance. An imbalance of alkalinity creates a condition favourable to the growth of bacteria, yeast and unwanted organisms which thrive in a more acidic environment. This means stay away from added or refind sugars, this also creates an acidic pH!! 

When I do feel like I need a little immune boost I increase the amount of these things that are regularly in my diet. I also add oil of oregano, known for it's antibacterial properties. Oregano oil is a powerful antimicrobial, because it contains an essential compound called carvacol. (6)

A whole food diet may not always save the day, unless you think about your whole self, and lifestyle.. Are you getting enough sleep? Too much stress? Not enough movement? All of these attribute to optimal or poor health. One can not be considered without the others. The very same for nutrients, one can not be sufficient for health without the synergistic components of the others. 

So eat well, sleep well, think happy and be healthy!


References;
1)2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allicin

2)April 27, 2012 PubMed PMCID:PMC3418209
Inhibitory effect of Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale extracts on clinically important drug resistant pathogenic bacteria
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3418209/

3)July 2005, Jane Higdon, Ph.D. Oregon State University; Linus Pauling Institute.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/garlic/

4)2014 Health Canada wesite; How drugs are reviewed in Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodpharma/activit/fs-fi/reviewfs_examenfd-eng.php

5)April 2012, Soluble β-glucan from Grifola frondosa induces proliferation and Dectin-1/Syk signaling in resident macrophages via the GM-CSF autocrine pathway.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22028332


6) Nov 1 2010, PubMed; Treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in primary care: a randomized study using aromatic herbs.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2967840/










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    Rebecca L. Thornton

    I wanted a venue to share my thoughts on what I have learned and lived  in life. 

Wild Seed Holistic Health respectfully acknowledges that we work, live & play in the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.