Making and Self-medicating with Electro- Colloidal Silver for Lyme Disease

This article is not to be construed as medical advice. It is simply an account of my experience self-medicating with low ppm (parts per million) electro-colloidal silver followed by some references (both positive and negative) about colloidal silver and other silver products and research.

Introduction

Relapse!

Updates on Relapse
(Feb. 5, 1998-Oct., 2002)

Research and References

Silver Web Links

Conclusion

Lyme disease (Borreliosis) for more information on the disease itself and links to excellent web resources by physicians and others.)

Making Your Own Generator & Your Own Colloidal Silver

OIKOURGOS

Introduction

I had been sick for years before my illness was properly diagnosed.  I had a whole gamut of symptoms from headaches to rashes, insomnia, tinnitis, TMJ, backaches, arthritis, hair loss, night sweats, word choice confusion, memory loss, frequent sinus infections, frozen shoulder, locking joints, vague pain, bone aches, toothaches (without dental problems), Parkinson type tremors, depression and more.  I experienced remarkable improvement on oral & IV meds for Lyme disease (borreliosis) for 26 months but plateaued at about 90% recovery.

I needed a break from prescription drugs and wanted some independence in choosing my next treatment. I spent a few weeks praying and asking others for prayer regarding the next step. It seems God was listening and directing my path as my doctor suggested I look into colloidal silver as a possible self-medication.
 
At that point, I stopped taking abx (antibiotics) and began self-medicating ("at my own risk") low doses of store-bought 5ppm colloidal silver.  That caused mild Jarisch Herxheimer symptoms (rash, fever, headache, etc. due to effects of toxins from dead bacteria) indicating that the Lyme bacteria was indeed being killed off.  I began to improve further with stubborn neuro symptoms and joint aches previously unresponsive to antibiotics subsiding at last.

At Christmas, 1996, my brother-in-law said, "Whatever you're doin', Nance, keep it up!" I was like a different person, feeling better and more active than I had been in about 15 years!  I'm now about 98% better, a very significant gain over what the antibiotics had done for me.  (Not to mention what they did to me!)   I also benefited from added protection against common infections: colds, viruses and sinus infections for instance.  My allergist is amazed that I have not had one sinus infection over the past year+ after routinely having had 3-4 a year (requiring antibiotics) since the late 1980's.  (He does not know about my secret!  Maybe next year I'll tell him!)

I started making my own with an affordable homemade generator my husband put together after about 2 mo. of using the store-bought stuff that was $20 for 4 oz.  Now I'm making it for pennies. I used it pretty steadily for about 10 months, attaining about 95-98% restored health.  Oct. 97 was my 1 year anniversary off antibiotics for Lyme disease.  I decided I would only take CS when I feel a little achy or "off."  I feel better within a few days.

Relapse!

I did slack off on the silver for about 2 months (Aug. through Oct., 1997) since I was feeling terrific and wanted to see what would happen.  Not surprisingly, considering the stubborn nature of the Lyme bacteria and it's incredible ability to endure deep within body tissue with poor circulation, I ended up with a genuine relapse in November, just before Thanksgiving.  This was the first distinct relapse I had experienced since February, 1997.  I revisited bone & muscle pain, buzzing ears, blurred vision & cognitive difficulties, and irritability, all common later stage Lyme symptoms.   I'm happy to say that after a few short days on a therapeutic dose of homemade silver, I'm back to 98% health.  (For the skeptics, I will update my condition after a good 2 months of evaluation.)

I'm hoping to continue self medicating in order to stay off antibiotics for Lyme indefinitely, Lord willing.  Sure, the ideal would be to not need any medication, but as of yet, there is no known cure for late stage Lyme disease.  This is as good as it gets!  And I'm not complaining!

I have not had any side effects from CS other than the mild "herxes" and occasional candida flare ups, although some claim CS keeps candida in check. It didn't for me, but that's just another indicator that it really does kill bacteria (in this case, normal flora, though!)!

_{(Update, 12/2/97)}

 Although colloidal silver has not as of yet cured me of borreliosis (Lyme disease), it has enabled me to stay off of antibiotics for over a year already, with no observable side effects to date, sustaining 98% improvement, beyond what 26 months' continual potent oral and IV antibiotics had done.  Also, while improving, I did not suffer undesirable side effects associated with conventional antibiotics.

(Updated February 5, 1998)
Since I resumed colloidal silver in November, 1997, I have gotten back to that sweet 98% recovery stage.  The only aches I've had lately are from working too much at the computer, setting up new pages!  I can only thank the Lord for leading me to electro colloidal silver, enabling me to stay off antibiotics for Lyme since October, 1996!  And still, no recurring sinus infections like the ones I used to know!

Update May, 2002

I'm still going strong! I only use colloidal silver to ward off colds, etc. now. Still free of sinusitis and no recurrence of bacterial Lyme disease symptoms, thanks be to God!

Update October, 2002
_{OK. This update is LONG overdue! May's update was too brief. I think I did update it at one time but lost the pages somehow. Within a couple years of taking CS for Lyme, I was finally convinced that I am cured of chronic bacterial Lyme infection. In other words, I think that the bacteria has either been completely eradictated from my system, or else it has fallen into submission of my own body's defense mechanisms to the point that I no longer have any trace of symptoms or relapses or need any medication. It took me two years to evaluate any/all symptoms I had and whether or not they were Lyme-related. My neuro Lyme symptoms are clearly gone. I had a predisposition to benign familial tremor and I've got it. Maybe Lyme triggered to to show up early, but never-the-less, it runs in the family and I've got it. (At least it's not Parkinson's, which is sometimes a mis-diagnosis of Lyme disease too.)}

_{I don't get headaches, foot aches, hand aches, recurring shoulder encapsulitis, ringing or buzzing of the ears, loud, obnoxious palpitations, phantom "toothache" type pain in bones or muscles. No TMJ. I do get occasional tingling in the face or "gas peddle" leg (on long car rides.) These aren't necessarily even residual effects of Lyme. They often coincide with allergy season though my allergies are far better than they ever have been. The only apparent residual effect I have is mild, occasional weather-dependent arthritis in my knees and arms, mostly my arms. I'm not even sure about this pain in my arms being due to Lyme damage as I've caused enough damage myself... I broke both elbows roller-skating in 1999 at the age of (never mind!) as I performed an unplanned triple-klutz (a three point landing on my wrists and butt)! I gave up roller-skating, needless to say.}

_{Life couldn't be better now. My whole family is Lyme free! Just a reminder, I am not against traditional, conservative treatment for Lyme disease as described by Joseph Burrascano, MD. Were it not for him and my family doctor adhering to his protocol of diagnosis and treatment, I would not have gotten to the point where I was comfortable ending conventional treatment and trying colloidal silver for the last stubborn symptoms.}

Research and References

I found no studies specific to colloidal silver that are deemed "proof" of it's safety,  effectiveness or proven danger. Were that to be the case, it'd likely need FDA approval as a prescription medication only used for certain diseases as approved by FDA.  I much prefer my freedom to sensibly self-medicate with this mineral found naturally in mushrooms, water and other things we consume.   If someone's concerned about getting too many free radicals, you may as well stop breathing, too.   (The oxygen we breathe is a free radical!)   What I do is take vitamin E, and I drink plenty of fluids to help eliminate silver, although it is largely excreted through the GI tract.

I also advise reading full articles, not just vague, misleading internet abstracts on colloidal silver and other silver products.  All of the "scare" articles pertain to other silver solutions, not colloidal silver, which has been around for years.   Studies on silver proteins (of much greater particle concentration) and silver salts (i.e., silver nitrate, silver sulfate) do not accurately depict true nature of electro-colloidal silver.  Both have much more silver in them and are much more concentrated than the solution I use.  They also have a much larger particle size, requiring the stronger concentrations in order for a beneficial amount to be used.  Those products though effective, are the ones associated with argyria, or blue-gray staining of the skin and organs due to excessive use and accumulation of such high-dosed solutions, especially when used over a long period of time.

Remember: you are already getting some silver in foods and drinks you use.  The concentration of silver in a weak electro-colloidal solution is similar to that:  3-10 parts per million!  Please get and read the Fung article below and you will find that at this dilution, the amount of silver one would get taking reasonable amounts of weak CS falls within the acceptable range for daily intake (referred daily dose).  This is a good article as well as copies of web info sited below would be to discuss with your physician.*

Bear in mind, even the confirmed cases of argyria (due to highly concentrated silver salts and silver proteins) are rare. A very good review of studies on silver salts and silver proteins to help get things in perspective is: *"Silver Product for Medical Indications: Risk-Benefit Assessment." (Man C. Fung, MD; Debra L. Bowen, MD, Clinical Toxicology, 34,(1), 119-126, 1996.  Now don't just settle for an abstract; get the whole article and read it carefully. (A good place to call would be your local hospital library or a college or university library that has a medical program).  There's actually some useful implications in it for CS users, regarding "referenced daily dose" and potential usefulness of antioxidants among other points of interest that you can glean from this "scientific" review of literature on silver salts and proteins.

LINKS:

New! Colloids: Scientific Information, Free Booklet (http://www.silver-colloids.com/index.html)   Added 5/2002

A handy little booklet on CS is: Colloidal Silver, the Natural Antibiotic Alternative, by Zane Baranowski, CN. [To view excerpts online, click here: http://www.elixa.com/silver/zaneuse.htm (Uses) and
http://www.elixa.com/silver/zanesize.htm (particle size).]  There are many references at the end, too, demonstrating the historical use of colloidal silver as an antibacterial. I've seen this offered online ($3.50) ( http://www.ameriflex-inc.com/botap.html) in doing a search of "Zane Baranowski" and I got a copy from a local health products store.

To subscribe to the silver-list (free emails by it's various participants with no advertisements), mailto:silver-list-request@eskimo.com and put "Subscribe" in the subject area of your e-mail form.

There's no need to spend a lot of money to try colloidal silver out. I've purchased 4 oz. of 5 ppm for $15-20 through a food coop. But after a few weeks of trying that out (2-4 tsp./day), I started making my own at an initial cost of about $30 for parts, and a 3 lab tests at $20 each to determine purity and ppm.  (Mine tested at 8.38 ppm processed one hour with a drop of baking soda solution and 350 ml distilled water, using the homemade device and a 24 volt ac to dc converter rather than 3 nine-volt batteries.)

Web Links:
_{(New: Update, 12/2/97)}
Below are a few of many websites on colloidal silver.  Some are commercial sites but they are listed here because of useful information offered.  I do not publicly endorse any product or protocol whatsoever.

New: Colloidal Silver Medicine Web Site Comprehensive, scientific and objective information about ionic silver, argyria, making your own generator, etc. (added 7/30/2003)

SOTA Instruments Inc. - "A Closer Look At Colloidal Silver" by Peter A. Lind

Colloidal Silver: A Closer Look

Colloidal Silver Information Page.

COLLOIDAL SILVER

Alpha Robey Colloidal Silver Generators and Colloidal Silver News

New Information on Silver Treatment for Lyme Disease

Lawrence Nowell's Personal Lyme/Silver Testimony

Lyme Disease and AIDS Treatment Protocol

Bodyweight and Dosage of CS

Colloidal Silver: Risk Without Benefit a doctor's comments on some misleading colloidal silver ads and Silver Product for Medical Indications: Risk-Benefit Assessment. This is a partial review of the article, not the article itself, pointing to warnings implied in the article which are based on studies of pharmaceutical preparations of large particle, highly concentrated silver salts and accidental exposure to high concentrations of silver.  A quote from that review provides another reference: