It is believed that the silver in Precious Waters supports the immune system by being introduced to the body essentially in nonionic form and then is converted by the body.  Dilution in the body and the concentration and treatment in the G.I. tract converts the silver to a true ionic form, which acts as the effective microbiocide.  Because the ionic silver is not present when the product is added to the body but becomes available after introduction to the stomach, silver chloride and other unwanted salts do not precipitate locally.

In another 2006 report regarding the safety of the engineered silver nano-particle solution to Precious Waters’ manufacturer, Dr. Leavitt of Brigham Young summarized his comparison of the silver solution to five classes of antibiotics commenting that “The data suggest that with the low toxicity associated with [NanoSil™-10], and its broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, this preparation may be effectively used as an alternative to antibiotics.”  He particularly singled out the narrow organism targeting, the side effects, and the drug resistance aspect of most antibiotics making them generally less desirable to the engineered silver solution’s lack of side effects and lasting lethality to disease causing organisms. 

 Specifically he noted its benefits to long term treatment of Malaria noting the silver solution “is a broad spectrum antimicrobial. Further, it has been used to treat both complicated and uncomplicated malaria and has effectively put all cases into remission, even after the failure of traditional anti-malarial drugs, including ACT’s (Artemisinio-based combination therapies).  [NanoSil™-10] produces no negative side effects, while ACT’s cause side effects in up to 40% of patients, such as dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.  Due to the adverse side effects caused by ACT’s, taking them as prophylactic measure for the prevention of malaria would be contraindicated. However, taking [the silver] solution daily as a long-term prophylactic measure against malaria causes no adverse side effects.”

 Dr. Leavitt concludes his report stating the “engineered silver nano-particle solution provides another alternative for the cost effective treatment of malaria….it has a long shelf life, and has a very broad spectrum.  It has no known side effects and thus far has been well tolerated even in the critically ill, very young and elderly.”

Silver History and Myth

 The ability of silver to interfere and stop the growth of disease causing microbes without harm to the human body has been observed since ancient times and has led to long standing traditions of use and applications.  Earliest applications surround the purification of water by containment in silver vessels and this application continues to present times with various filters and other devices including water cleansing on the Space Shuttle.  The founder of Precious Waters, raised in a rural coal mining town of Pennsylvania, remembers his grandfather putting a silver dollar in the milk pitcher to keep the still warm milk of the cow from spoiling.  Such traditional practices were handed down from generation to generation long before modern production and packaging methods all but relegated silver’s beneficial uses to lost memory.

 Medicinal use of silver, even before the existence of disease causing organisms was scientifically understood, was in vogue long before modern times.  The nobility and the rich in general lived longer and healthy lives than peasants for many reasons but in part it was likely furthered because silver utensils and vessels were very much a part of their everyday lives.  Many old adages such as ‘Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth’ and the tradition of giving a new born a silver spoon are likely descendant practices woven into our history because of generation after generation of observed common wisdom regarding silver.  In the 1800s up until the early 1950s colloidal silver compounds and other forms of silver were used regularly because of silver’s natural antimicrobial powers.  Silver based compounds, particularly topical antiseptics, probably reached their peak in use and availability in the 1940s.  While silver in various forms has continued to be used in homeopathic practices and by individuals, widespread acceptance/prescription or even understanding and interest by today’s medical professionals is limited in part due to the complexity, expense, and regulatory environment of the industry.

 A common concern often brought up by those first exposed to use of a silver solution is the myth that one will turn blue or will be subject to toxic build-up with extended use.  Many may recall the Oprah Winfrey show in which a guest had permanently discolored his skin a grey/blue by self inducing a condition known as Argyria.  While the condition has no known side effects accept the skin discoloration, it is caused by the excessive consumption of silver salts.  Some silver products produced in the 1970s had as much as 530% silver [50,000 to 300,000 ppm] and in most cases were salts containing large particles which the body cannot easily excrete and thus build up in the skin.  Some marketers of silver compounds continue today to tout large concentrations of silver, possibly in the ‘more is better’ theory but this is not true and confuses the potential user and beneficiary of silver’s dietary value.  Precious Waters’ solution has been shown to kill bacteria at levels of between 2.5 and 5 ppm because of its better and proprietary manufacturing technology that produces more useful (bacteria lethal) product.  Precious Waters’ 8 nm average particle size is easily used by the body and can pass in and out of cells.  The manufacturer for Precious Waters has had 5 independent toxicity tests on its products.  NanoSil™ was tested in animals at as much as 200 times normal adult dosage, the equivalent of consuming 32 full ounces (4 bottles) of the 10 ppm solution at one time.  The independent medical testing laboratory stated that the solution was found to be completely non-toxic to the test animals.