Does Colloidal Silver Help with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
A handful of anecdotal accounts, and several clinical studies indicate that antimicrobial silver might, in fact, be helpful for victims of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
When you read the information below you’ll see that it’s obvious more clinical research needs to be conducted into this potentially rewarding avenue of natural treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis, particularly so proper dosages and treatment protocols utilizing silver can be established.
But while we wait patiently on the Big Pharma, the medical profession and clinical researchers to finally get around to doing this, here’s what we know so far…
Hi, Steve Barwick here, for The Silver Edge…
Several years ago I received this interesting and very detailed account from a rheumatoid arthritis sufferer who had recently tried colloidal silver. He wrote:
“Hi Steve,
I have suffered with Rheumatoid arthritis for approximately 7 years now. My symptoms were swollen inflamed joints, getting tired quickly, nodules forming in and around my joints.
My wrists were the worst always. They were hot to the touch and I couldn’t do a lot of things that I used to be able to do, without having to adapt or change the method somehow so that I could.
My wrists were basically numbed with pain if I tried to do some repetitive work and I just had to stop for a while until the throbbing went away.
Then I discovered the colloidal silver phenomenon. So six weeks ago I decided to purchase a colloidal silver generator, some silver rods and a book about the subject. Since then I have been preparing it at around the 10 ppm mark and I ingest (drink) around 30-40 mls (about one or one and a half ounces) first thing in the morning.
The first thing I noticed after a week of taking it was that my asthma symptoms (I got the asthma 2 yrs ago following a flu shot-which I will never take again!) were getting better. The phlegm associated with it was actually loosening up and moving.
Then on the second week I started realizing that my badly swollen wrists were getting better. By better I mean the swelling had decreased, I still felt like I had very little mobility but the swelling and heat were better.
By the third week I noticed that my tendons, ligaments and veins were starting to become more apparent (rather than hiding in a mass of inflammation).
I am now on my fifth week and I can actually press my fingertips into my wrists (synovial area) without much pain. I can also reach out further and lift heavier objects.
I can also twist my wrist a lot more. The mobility is far from what it used to be but much better (I probably have some damage in there that restricts full movement).
The asthma is also diminishing. Other benefits I have noticed since taking the colloidal silver are: Good bowel movements, much better sleeping pattern, very clear mind and memory, way more energy and stamina.
As well as the colloidal silver I am also taking the following (which I believe are enhancing it): I drink around 150 mls of cranberry juice just after taking the colloidal silver. I also take six 1000 mg fish oil per day and Glucosamine 1500 mg tablets (one per day).
I also take these natural supplements called Osteo-Trace and they provide a host of the B-vitamins and Boron and other trace elements. My Mum sends me these from the UK (bless her heart).
I am a big drinker of pure green tea – of which I drink a lot every day and I eat very healthy (no processed foods). I believe healing has to involve all these things and not just some magic pill.
I am sadly still on the DMARD’s (Sulfasalzine) which are immuno-suppressant drugs. But in the light of the recent improvements with colloidal silver, I am hopeful that someday I can come off them and let my immune system do the rest. I am studying more and more into that.
Please feel free to post my story anywhere you might think it can help another Rheumatoid arthritis sufferer. And thanks for the advice you share – it is priceless.
4 days ago I was stood by my mirror crying with happiness and joy at my wrists that are getting better.
Keep up the good work my friend. I will keep you posted about how things turn out in the future as well. Keep in touch.
Yours sincerely, T.W.”
The reason I bring this up is that some people have told me they’ve had dramatic success in reducing their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms by taking colloidal silver orally.
Colloidal silver, of course, is a natural infection-fighting agent. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t recommend colloidal silver for Rheumatoid arthritis. All I can do is report on it.
According to some researchers and commentators, they believe silver is simply killing the underlying “stealth pathogens” (i.e., hidden pathogenic infections of the joints) long thought by cutting edge researchers to be responsible for triggering Rheumatoid arthritis.
Others apparently believe that silver’s anti-inflammatory benefits (i.e., its ability to modulate inflammatory cytokines) are responsible for its beneficial effects for those with RA.
I’ve also had more than a few readers with Rheumatoid arthritis tell me they went from a virtually invalid state to being back on their feet again, driving, gardening, etc., after starting oral daily colloidal silver usage.
In fact, one lady afflicted with Rheumatoid arthritis told me her entire life centered around sitting in her over-stuffed chair in her front room to avoid the pain of movement, getting up from that soft chair only to go to the bathroom or the kitchen and back.
Then she started using colloidal silver at a rate of just an ounce or two a day of 10 ppm strength. She stated that within a month she was gardening outside, driving her car again, and much more, all of which would have been impossible for her previously due to the crippling effects of the Rheumatoid arthritis.
My own preliminary belief at this point, based on the research described below, is that silver does both, i.e., it helps kill underlying infections that might be causing or triggering Rheumatoid arthritis and it helps reduce the painful and debilitating inflammation that’s inherent in RA.
Is Rheumatoid arthritis Caused or Triggered by Stealth Pathogens?
Colloidal silver, of course, has long been known to be a natural antibiotic.
I find it quite interesting that Dr. Garth Nicolson, M.D. of the Institute for Molecular Medicine in Newport Beach, California reports that he’s used a sophisticated diagnostic technique called DNA-PCR testing to demonstrate that Rheumatoid arthritis victims often have hidden mycoplasmas infections.
Mycoplasmas are tiny, cell wall-deficient pathogens known to be responsible for a host of medical conditions, either as “triggers” for the conditions, or as direct causative agents.
They’re often referred to as “stealth pathogens” because they’re difficult to test for and to find in the human body without the use of highly specialized medical equipment such as DNA-PCR testing.
I find it equally intriguing that Dr. Joseph Mercola, DO, the famous online natural health guru, recommends antibiotic drugs for Rheumatoid arthritis (see here), and mentions that mycoplasmas infections could be a causative factor, stating:
“In 1939, Dr. Sabin, the discoverer of the polio vaccine, first reported chronic arthritis in mice caused by a mycoplasma. He suggested this agent might cause human rheumatoid arthritis.”
Dr. Mercola (Mercola.com) has written extensively about tetracycline-class antibiotic drugs such as Minocin proving to be extremely helpful in remediating symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis for as many as 3,000 of his patients.
I find his online articles on treating Rheumatoid arthritis with antibiotic drugs fascinating, because the information he provides essentially means that, at least in many cases, Rheumatoid arthritis can indeed be caused or at least triggered by hidden, underlying bacterial infections.
As a matter of fact, he says some 200 studies now conclude that the tetracycline-class antibiotic drug Minocin does indeed help heal Rheumatoid arthritis or at least dramatically reduce symptoms over time for many people. Many Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have apparently achieved complete remissions.
Since mycoplasmas infections are one of the suspected bacterial causes of Rheumatoid arthritis, here’s an interesting article you might want to read about using colloidal silver instead of antibiotic drugs for mycoplasmas infections:
In that article you’ll discover the evidence for colloidal silver’s often profound effectiveness against the mycoplasma pathogen.
This includes the fact that if you call a laboratory to be tested for mycoplasmas infection, one of the first things they’ll tell you is that they won’t do the test unless you’ve refrained from taking even small amounts of colloidal silver for at least six weeks.
In other words, the testing labs know that colloidal silver is so effective against the mycoplasma pathogen it quite literally can’t be detected in your system at all if you’re using colloidal silver!
A Clinical Study on Silver and Rheumatoid arthritis
According to an article on the GlobalHealingCenter.com website, there was apparently a small Australian clinical study demonstrating that silver nanoparticles (very small silver particles) were helpful against the ravages of Rheumatoid arthritis caused by an unnamed bacterium. They wrote:
“An Australian study tested silver nanoparticles against bacteria known to worsen Rheumatoid arthritis.
The study used a silver preparation in a human subject suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
The researchers found it was potent and offered long-lasting protection against irritation associated with the bacteria.”
Since the above information was a little bit sketchy regarding which specific bacteria the silver was being tested against, and what its relationship to Rheumatoid arthritis might be, I searched for the study and found an abstract for it on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website.
It turns out the Australian clinical study was published in the journal Inflammopharmacology in April 2014, and was titled “Efficacy of Some Colloidal Silver Preparations and Silver Salts Against Proteus Bacteria, One Possible Cause Of Rheumatoid Arthritis.”
In other words, the clinical researchers behind this study believe Proteus species pathogens (such as Proteus mirabilis) can potentially cause Rheumatoid arthritis. They wrote:
“We examined the in vitro antibacterial effects of ten different silver preparations which were either ionic silver solutions or nanoparticulate silver suspensions against ATCC and two wild (clinical) strains of Proteus.
…In a pilot study, a potent nanoparticle silver preparation ex vivo showed long-lasting anti-Proteus activity in a normal human volunteer.”
To put that into simpler English, the researchers, who believed that Proteus-species bacteria can be a contributing factor in the onset of Rheumatoid arthritis, tested ten different silver preparations against four different Proteus species bacteria.
In their pilot study they found that nanoparticle silver provided long-lasting activity against the Proteus bacteria in a human volunteer, concluding, essentially that silver might therefore be helpful in humans against Rheumatoid arthritis.
In another clinical study, published in 2013 in the Journal of Physical Chemistry & Biophysics, titled “Colloidal Nano Silver – It’s Production Method, Properties, Standards and its Bio-Efficacy as an Inorganic Antibiotic,” the researchers tell an interesting short story that I believe impacts on the Australian study mentioned above.
The researchers wrote:
“…unbeknownst to us a sample [of colloidal silver] was deliberately ingested and later we learned that a particular type of Proteus bacterial strain that can cause Rheumatoid arthritis had been completely eliminated from the gut.
This happened almost a year ago and so far as we know, there have been no signs of any ill effect.”
In other words, a sample of colloidal silver was ingested by an individual who apparently had a known Proteus bacterial infection. When that individual was later examined, there was no trace left of the Proteus bacteria, and no ill effect from the silver treatment.
What ties all of this information together regarding silver, Rheumatoid arthritis and the Proteus-species bacteria? Well, another clinical study published in Scandinavia in 2014 was titled, “Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Caused by a Proteus Urinary Tract Infection.”
That study, re-published online by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, concluded that Rheumatoid arthritis can indeed be caused or at least triggered by “an upper urinary tract infection by the microbe, Proteus mirabilis.”
So there you have it. At least one more pathogen that can cause Rheumatoid arthritis is Proteus mirabilis. And silver kills that pathogen quite handily, according to the research I’ve quoted above.
Inflammation: Another Reason Silver Might Be Helpful for Rheumatoid arthritis
But there might be another reason altogether that silver seems to help some victims of Rheumatoid arthritis:
It’s long been known that nanosilver (very small silver particles) helps put a damper on inflammation by modulating (reducing) the expression of inflammatory cytokines (see here, for example).
And of course painful inflammation of the joints is one of the chief and most debilitating symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis(Rheumatoid arthritis).
Indeed, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rheumatoid arthritis is “characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory cells into the synovium, and the resulting destruction of the joints.”
What’s more, levels of inflammatory cytokines have been found to be highly elevated in Rheumatoid arthritis patients, compared with healthy controls. (See this clinical study.)
But here’s the good news:
Researchers who conducted a clinical study published in the journal International Immunopharmacology in December 2007 found that nanosilver reduced cytokine-induced inflammation to such a degree, they recommended studying it as a treatment against chronic inflammation.
The authors of the study concluded that:
“These experimental data suggest that nano-silver could be used to treat immunologic and inflammatory diseases.”
Of course, Rheumatoid arthritis is both an immunologic and an inflammatory disease. Here’s an excerpt from an online article about that particular clinical study:
“Kenneth Wong and others at the University of Hong Kong recently investigated the wound-healing properties of silver nanoparticles, and have shown that they do more than simply kill bacteria.
The new research…indicates that silver goes further than this and modifies cytokines – the enzymes involved in cell growth and movement – leading to reduced inflammation and an increased rate of healing.”
Finally, in a clinical study published in the Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology in 2015, researchers synthesized silver nanoparticles using a black pepper extract with the goal of evaluating its anti-inflammatory activity.
They tested the silver nanoparticles against the activity of three common inflammatory cytokines, i.e., Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα), Interleukins-1β and 6 (IL-1β and IL-6).
They found that silver nanoparticles “exhibited an enhanced anti-inflammatory activity” and “inhibition of all three cytokines at concentrations ranging from 10-20 μg/ml.”
In short, they found that a 10 to 20 ppm concentration of nanosilver significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines.
That indicates the painful inflammation caused by Rheumatoid arthritis might indeed be remediated by silver. But has silver ever been tested on the inflammation caused by Rheumatoid arthritis?
A Clinical Study on Silver Taming Rheumatoid Arthritis Inflammation
Yes, at least one clinical study has been conducted using silver nanoparticles against Rheumatoid Arthritis inflammation. It was an animal study conducted on rats in which Rheumatoid arthritis was induced using “CFA,” which stands for Complete Freund’s Adjuvant.
That’s fascinating to me, because Complete Freund’s Adjuvant consists of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which are injected into the joints of the lab animals, resulting in the onset of Rheumatoid arthritis!
The study was titled “Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Disease Treatment with Rutin Stabilized Nanoparticles” (see the study abstract here).
In other words, the researchers stabilized silver nanoparticles with a bioflavanoid known as Rutin (i.e., a plant pigment found in certain vegetables and fruits) and then gave the silver concoction to the lab animals that had purposely been afflicted with Rheumatoid arthritis using an inoculation of killed tuberculosis pathogens.
According to the study authors, they were able to demonstrate that the inflammation caused by Rheumatoid arthritis was dramatically alleviated when silver nanoparticles are used, resulting in greater mobility and lowered pain.
The study authors wrote:
“Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease characterizes by stiff, painful, and inflamed joints occur in many parts of the body.
… Recent findings of my research team reveals that Rutin stabilized silver nanoparticles exhibited an increased level of anti-inflammatory activity in chronic inflammation by significant inhibition of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines…
These results concluded that Rutin stabilized silver nanoparticles can be used for Rheumatoid arthritis disease patients free of side effects.”
The bottom line of the study is that when Rheumatoid arthritis was induced in lab animals by killed bacteria (clearly insinuating that bacteria can indeed be a cause or trigger for the dread disease), use of silver nanoparticles alleviated the debilitating symptoms of inflammation by taming the resulting excessive cytokine expression.
As the Dermatology News website has noted:
“For several decades, noble metals including silver have been known to exert anti-inflammatory activity. In the case of silver, its anti-inflammatory properties appear to be mediated by its influence on the cytokine system.
Silver nanoparticles inhibit the activity of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-12, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).
This impact on the cytokine system is responsible for the impact of silver in demonstrably alleviating symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis.”
Wow. That’s astonishing news. And it’s a crying shame Big Pharma has yet to do more clinical research into this phenomenon which could be of substantial help to victims of Rheumatoid arthritis.
Clearly, more clinical work needs to be conducted in order to determine proper dosages of nanosilver for Rheumatoid arthritis patients, as well as a systematic treatment protocol.
I don’t count on that happening anytime soon, as Big Pharma is making way too much money selling their over-priced Rheumatoid arthritis drugs which simply manage symptoms – often poorly.
Again, I’m not a doctor. So I can’t “prescribe” or do anything more than report.
But it would be fascinating to see if anyone else benefited from the simple, all-natural protocol described anecdotally at the very beginning of this article, which included daily doses of colloidal silver as well as several other natural anti-inflammatory substances such as fish oil, cranberry juice and green tea.
So What Have We Learned?
In summary, we’ve learned that many cases of Rheumatoid arthritis appear to be caused by underlying infections of pathogens such as mycoplasmas, Proteus-species bacteria and perhaps even certain mycobacteria such as those that cause tuberculosis.
(Science has recently identified additional pathogens as potential triggers for Rheumatoid arthritis; see here, here, here, here and here for example.)
And we’ve learned through some of the preliminary research documented above that antimicrobial silver appears to kill pathogens thought to be involved in Rheumatoid arthritis, as well as remediate the painful inflammatory response, potentially resulting in increased healing and well-being.
We’ve also learned that while preliminary research serves to indicate the above conclusions, more clinical research desperately needs to be conducted in order to confirm the above findings and establish treatment protocols and proper dosages of antimicrobial silver.
Finally, we’ve learned anecdotally that some people with Rheumatoid arthritis have used safe, natural colloidal silver – a nutritional supplement available in health food stores – to help their body begin healing from the devastating effects of the Rheumatoid arthritis disease.
There are no known “correct dosages” of colloidal silver for Rheumatoid arthritis, for the simple reason the research has yet to be done, and the FDA has ruled that colloidal silver cannot be sold as a treatment for any disease.
But the anecdotal account at the beginning of this article, as well as other anecdotal accounts I’ve been privy to, indicate that about an ounce a half of a 10 ppm concentration of colloidal silver per day might be enough to start the healing process, along with other natural supplements (re-read the testimonial at the beginning of this article if you need to).
I have to emphasize that I’m not a doctor. And I’m certainly not “prescribing” the use of colloidal silver for Rheumatoid arthritis or any other condition. I’m simply reporting on the factual and anecdotal data I’ve come across.
A smart individual, therefore, would obtain the help of a good, local, licensed and experienced natural health care doctor to help determine a correct dosage of colloidal silver based on health factors the doctor can ascertain, and to help monitor one’s condition so dosages can be adjusted on an as needed basis.
Learn to Make Your Own
Colloidal Silver for Pennies…
Colloidal silver can be purchased at just about any local health food store, or through a number of online sources including Amazon.com.
However, it’s quite literally one of the most expensive and heavily marked-up natural supplements in existence.
Health food store owners, for example, often charge as much as $20-$30 for a tiny four-ounce bottle. Yet the cost to manufacture four ounces of colloidal silver is about 12 cents. Yes, I said twelve cents.
Of course, people are willing to pay through the nose for colloidal silver, since it’s safe and natural, and works so well against infections and related diseases.
But thankfully, there’s no need to pay such exorbitant prices for colloidal silver, when you can make your own, quickly and easily, in the comfort and privacy of your own home, for about 36 cents a quart.
Yes, you can make it yourself for its actual cost, and altogether skip the sky-high mark-ups charged by health food stores!
If you’re interested in learning how to make your own high-quality colloidal silver at home, for about 36 cents a quart, here are some additional short articles you might want to take a look at:
Meanwhile, I’ll be back next week with another insightful article on colloidal silver….
Yours for the safe, sane and responsible use of colloidal silver,
Steve Barwick, author
The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual
Helpful Links:
FREE Colloidal Silver Safe Dosage Report
Colloidal Silver Secrets Group on Facebook
Make Your Own Colloidal Silver for Pennies
.9999 Pure Silver Wire for Making Colloidal Silver
Important Note and Disclaimer: The contents of this Ezine have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Information conveyed herein is from sources deemed to be accurate and reliable, but no guarantee can be made in regards to the accuracy and reliability thereof. The author, Steve Barwick, is a natural health journalist with over 30 years of experience writing professionally about natural health topics. He is not a doctor. Therefore, nothing stated in this Ezine should be construed as prescriptive in nature, nor is any part of this Ezine meant to be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Nothing reported herein is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The author is simply reporting in journalistic fashion what he has learned during the past 17 years of journalistic research into colloidal silver and its usage. Therefore, the information and data presented should be considered for informational purposes only and approached with caution. Readers should verify for themselves, and to their own satisfaction, from other knowledgeable sources such as their doctor, the accuracy and reliability of all reports, ideas, conclusions, comments, and opinions stated herein. All-important health care decisions should be made under the guidance and direction of a legitimate, knowledgeable and experienced health care professional. Readers are solely responsible for their choices. The author and publisher disclaim responsibility and/or liability for any loss or hardship that may be incurred as a result of the use or application of any information included in this Ezine.
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