Colloidal Silver, Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Disease

In the excerpts below from a medical study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2008: 101: S51–S52. DOI 10.1258/jrsm.2008.s18012)we see some very strong evidence indicating that colloidal silver may turn out to be a successful treatment for the debilitating chronic lung infections associated with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

In this particular case, a young boy was first diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at age two, and over the ensuing nine years grew worse and worse in spite of intensive medical treatment.

By the time he was 11, physical exertion left him struggling for breath due to the severity of his lung infection and his condition had deteriorated to the point that his doctors referred him for heart/lung transplant assessment.

Because doctors had documented serious infections in the boy’s lungs, and because aggressive IV antibiotic therapy administered by the boy’s doctors had proven to be futile, his parents began to look into alternative remedies for the infection.

Small Daily Amounts of Colloidal Silver Eliminated His Lung Infections and Restored His Life

On the internet, his parents found information about colloidal silver and began treating their son with small daily amounts, approximately 1/2 teaspoonful, twice a day.

According to the study authors below, “Over the next three months the patient achieved a sustained improvement in symptoms, which persisted following weaning from oral steroids, nebulized antibiotics and regular asthma medications. “

In other words, thanks to the success of the colloidal silver usage, the boy’s parents were able to start weaning their child off of the harsh prescription antibiotic drugs.

The boy enjoyed what his doctors called “a sustained improvement in symptoms,” and was able to enjoy a skiing holiday, full participation in school rugby matches and even “significant improvements in his golf handicap.”

In other words, the boy went from being barely able to breathe, to returning to an almost normal, active boyhood life!

The child apparently had one further relapse after experiencing a “temporary interruption of colloidal silver [usage] for a month.” Then, according to the doctors, “He has remained well for a further six months after resuming colloidal silver, with no other changes in his routine care.”

Doctors Cautious About Recommending Colloidal Silver for Cystic Fibrosis in Spite of the Evidence

The doctors, of course, are duly cautious about recommending colloidal silver usage for Cystic Fibrosis patients, even though it was they who documented the child’s startling recovery from the severe symptoms of the disease.

Nevertheless, the case represents another pointed example of what colloidal silver users have been saying for decades, i.e., Colloidal silver kills many serious infections better than prescription antibiotic drugs.

Medical Monopoly Continues to Shun Colloidal Silver

The medical monopoly nevertheless continues to shun colloidal silver usage in favor of their own orthodox treatments and prescription drugs. Some news reports even claim that there is no medical evidence for the effectiveness of colloidal silver against infections and disease, in spite of all of the published studies which prove such a ludicrous assertion to be untrue. The truth is, medical study after medical study continues to confirm the amazing infection-fighting power of this safe and highly-effective all-natural substance.

Excerpts from “Colloidal silver for lung disease in cystic fibrosis”

Here then are some excerpts from the study “Colloidal silver for lung disease in cystic fibrosis,” published in the prestigious Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine in 2008 (J R Soc Med 2008: 101: S51–S52. DOI 10.1258/jrsm.2008.s18012):

"Cystic Fibrosis (CF) families commonly consider alternative or complimentary therapies of questionable value. We report the case of a 12-year-old boy with severe CF lung complications who was treated by his family with colloidal silver.

The child was diagnosed aged two (homozygous _F508) following investigations for faltering growth. He had extensive left lower lobe bronchiectasis and positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures at diagnosis. This organism persisted despite aggressive IV antibiotics, long term nebulized colomycin, bronchoscopy and a prolonged in-patient stay.

Aged three he developed pseudomembranous colitis requiring prolonged intensive care. Aged six he developed severe, steroiddependent, relapsing allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and right mid-zone bronchiectasis. Atopic asthma also proved increasingly problematic, with evidence of sensitization and wheezing in relation to several aeroallergens, including house dust mite and cat. He had a significant step up in FEV1 after a trial of rhDNase (pulmozyme) and this drug was added to his treatment regime.

Spirometry plateaued around 60%, with frequent deteriorations caused by wheezing episodes and infective exacerbations. Aged 10 his FEV1 deteriorated to 40% predicted with severe episodic wheeze. A Brompton referral was made to consider monthly IVIG therapy (not given) and regular IV antibiotics and aggressive ABPA treatment were recommended.

Aged 11, the patient isolated Burkholderia multivorans and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Pulmonary status deteriorated to an FEV1 of 24%.

In March 2006, he was treated with prolonged IV and oral antibiotics, steroids and antifungals. Lung function recovered to around 40% but he remained markedly symptomatic, with persistent cough, breathlessness and wheeze after physical activity. Because of these complications he was referred for heart–lung transplant assessment.

Colloidal Silver

At the same time, the family discovered websites promoting colloidal silver for CF and purchased the product from their local health food shop. They independently commenced 2.5 mL b.i.d. of the solution in July 2006.

Over the next three months the patient achieved a sustained improvement in symptoms, which persisted following weaning from oral steroids, nebulized antibiotics and regular asthma medications.

He has continued rhDNase treatment. FEV1 peaked at 60% (Figure 1). The family declined transplant assessment.

He remained well for a year, enjoying a skiing holiday, full participation in school rugby matches and significant improvements in his golf handicap. He required only one further course of IV antibiotics until a recent deterioration coinciding with temporary interruption of colloidal silver for a month.

Whereas sputum samples had consistently isolated B. multivorans before receiving silver, there had only been one further positive isolate during the year when he received it. He has remained well for a further six months after resuming colloidal sliver, with no other changes in his routine care.

…In our case we have documented significant improvements in well-being that were temporally associated with the use of the drug [i.e., colloidal silver –ED]. However, this is a single anecdote and caution should be used in interpreting the significance of these observations.

If there was a direct clinical effect of the silver we speculate that this might have been as a result of a bactericidal action on CF pathogens, as suggested by the decreased occurrence of B. multivorans on sputum cultures. Researchers in Denmark have shown that silver is highly effective as a bactericidal agent against biofilm and planktonic models of Gram-negative organisms, including P. aeruginosa.

Currently there is no evidence to support the use of silver products in CF but their potential benefits might be worthy of further exploration. An American study has shown benefits for silver in the treatment of Burkholderia dolosa infection in a murine model of severe lung sepsis.

Further in vitro studies of the effects of silver on the organisms within CF sputa and a better understanding of safe dosaging are essential first steps in exploring the potential for this use of this treatment option.