COLLOIDAL SILVER - The Universal Antibiotic
Colloidal silver is making a comeback
and this is hardly surprising because this amazingly versatile and safe
substance is considered to be the strongest broad-spectrum antibiotic
currently known. It can be very easily made with the right equipment at
a very low cost and in a very short space of time. Again, it is hardly
surprising that many small companies are manufacturing the stuff to
sell at a profit. Nowadays, many more are also offering colloidal
silver generators so you can make your own in the comfort of your own
home. In this chapter I'll be having a look at what it is all about.
Before
1938 colloidal silver was one of the main forms of antibiotic treatment
and was prescribed for an incredibly long list of ailments. It was used
for cases of acne, arthritis, athlete's foot, bladder complaints,
burns, blepharitis, colitis, cystitis, diphtheria, dermatitis,
diabetes, dysentery, ear-ache, Eustachian tube problems, eczema,
fibrositis, furunculosis, genital herpes, gonorrhoea, impetigo,
influenza, intestinal trouble, keratitis, leprosy, lupus, lymphagitis,
malaria, Menier's disease, meningitis, neurasthenia, ophthalmic
disorders, canine parvo virus, pneumonia, pleurisy, prostate disease,
pruritis ani, quinsy, rheumatism, ringworm, rhinitis, scarletina,
seborrhoea, septic ulcers, sepsis, septicemia, skin cancer, shingles,
soft sores, spruce, staphylococcus infections, streptococcus
infections, subdies inflammation, tuberculosis, tonsilitis, toxemia,
typhoid, trench foot, ulcers, warts, whooping cough and yeast
infections.
If that is not impressive enough, in 1994 in a
lecture entitled Electro-Colloidal Silver: the Amazing Anti-Microbial
given at the Natural Products Expo West in Arnheim, James South stated
that in micro-concentrations of 3-5 ppm (parts per million) it has been
proven to be effective in combating over 650 different infectious
conditions.2 The use of traditional antibiotics, which are used to
treat only six or seven types of infection, hardly compares well
against these figures.
E. M. Crooks stated in Metals and Enzyme
Activity that colloidal silver kills pathogenic organisms in three or
four minutes after contact and that there is no known microbe that is
not killed in six minutes or less. Further, that there are no
side-effects whatsoever from the highest concentration of it.
Echoing
this, A. B Searle in The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease also
pointed out that an important advantage of using colloidal silver is
that it has no recorded side-effects.4 It is nearly tasteless,
completely odourless and non-toxic.
The evidence from laboratory
tests shows that destructive bacteria, virus, protozoan and fungal
organisms are all killed within minutes of contact and that there is no
known disease-causing organism that can survive in the presence of even
minute traces of the chemical element of metallic silver. This is
because these micro-organisms use a specific enzyme in their metabolism
which the silver, acting as a catalyst, effectively disables.
So,
if it can do all that then why have we not heard about it before? Some
people feel that knowledge of its properties, although known, have been
deliberately withheld from the public so that vested interests can make
huge profits from antibiotics they manufacture and sell. It is
significant to note that it was in the 1940s that antibiotics were
first being aggressively marketed by the pharmaceutical companies
around the time that public knowledge and use of colloidal silver was
on the wane. However, a far less conspiratorial reason for its lack of
widespread use until recently again could well be the very high cost of
production on a commercial scale. Retail price has ranged from $100 to
$200 an ounce.
The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
stated in a letter of September 13th, 1991 from Consumer Safety
Officer, Harold Davies that because it is a pre- 1938 drug (by over 50
years) that it may now be marketed. The FDA has no jurisdiction over it
because it is a pure mineral element in any case.6
Whatever the
truth of the matter is, colloidal silver is back and easy enough to
make at a very cheap price. Part of its comeback can be traced to the
1970s, when the late Dr. Carl Moyer, chairman of Washington
University's Department of Surgery, obtained a grant to research a
better treatment for burn victims and began working with a Dr. Harry
Margraf, a biochemist, on discovering a strong but safe antiseptic to
treat large areas of the body. Dr Margraf is reported to have claimed
that " Silver is the best all around germ-fighter we have."7 From this
research, and that of other scientists, hundreds of new uses for silver
colloids were found. Nowadays, people are finding new uses for it all
the time. Some examples of its versatility are that it can be used as a
gargle or mouthwash, as a deodorant, as a sterilising solution and
disinfectant for cleaning purposes, it can be made into a spray for
plant-care or used to rinse fruit and vegetables. A few drops can even
be added to milk to help delay it spoiling.
So what exactly is a
colloid and how is it made? A colloid is the smallest particle a pure
element can exist in before being diminished even further down to
atomic size. A colloidal particle can be suspended in a carrier liquid
like water. The colloid still keeps its individual properties and,
because it is so small it means that it can far extend its range of
potential contact when in this form. A lump of silver has a small
surface area but broken down into countless microscopic colloids it can
obviously go very much further indeed. Taking its healing properties
with it the silver in this state can reach all areas of the human body,
which it would have been unable to have made contact with if it had
stayed as a metallic lump. Colloidal silver is made by the basic
process of the electrolysis of water using pure electrodes of silver
(.999 fine). It is vitally important that the silver is that pure
because impurities might be toxic even though colloids are reported to
have a zero toxicity due to their minute size. Sterling silver is no
use because it contains traces of nickel and copper and we are seeking
to make colloidal silver not colloidal nickel or copper and silver mix!
Mark
Metcalf writing in an article for Perceptions, tells of an experiment
he conducted on himself by preparing and drinking a 16 ounce solution
of well over 250ppm and repeating this for another four days so that he
had a daily intake of five 16 ounce glasses of a 5ppm solution. Besides
testing its toxicity he was also seeing if it harmed beneficial
bacteria and intestinal flora and so he deliberately took no
precautions of eating live yogurt or taking cultured acidophilus. The
only side-effect he noticed was that he felt better than before he
started. This confirms what pharmacist Ron Barnes, R.Ph. (Capitol
Drugs, Los Angeles) says for he claims that " Many strains of
pathogenic microbes-viruses, fungi, bacteria or any other single-celled
pathogen-resistant to other antibiotics are killed on contact by
colloidal silver and are unable to mutate. However, it does not harm
tissue-cell enzymes or friendly bacteria." 8
In fact colloidal
silver is the only form of the metal that can be used safely as a
health supplement. This is because it gets absorbed into the bodily
tissues at a slow enough rate, which does not inflame them in any way
unlike silver nitrate, which is damaging due to its caustic nature.9
Getting
back to the manufacturing process by electrolysis: a positive electrode
of pure silver and a negative electrode of the same material are placed
so that they reach down into a glass vessel containing distilled water.
It is important that they do not touch which would short circuit the
process. A small electrical current is sent through water and the
silver colloidal particles break away from the positive electrode or
anode. This causes a visible cloud of plumes like smoke to appear
around the electrode and to quite rapidly start to fill the vessel as
the particles move away from their source. These particles are 1.26
angstroms or .00001 microns (a micron is 1/1000 of an inch) in size and
this is the only size they can be despite claims by some advertisers
who may say that their colloidal silver contains " the finest particle
size, etc." The strength of the suspension, measured by how
concentrated it is, is dependent on the quantity of water and the
length of time the process is allowed. Ideally the procedure should be
conducted in a darkened room because light can spoil the colloidal
silver by oxidising it and causing it to blacken. A black deposit of
silver oxide often forms on one of the electrodes too and this should
always be wiped clean. The problem is that the silver is light
sensitive but, fortunately, nowhere near as sensitive as the silver
nitrate that enables camera film to be developed. It does. however,
mean that colloidal silver should always be kept in a thoroughly opaque
or tinted container after making it.
As stated earlier on, there are
many firms selling colloidal silver generators at a variety of prices
from around £50 and upwards. These are ideal for their purpose and
represent a considerable saving in the long run because a small bottle
of colloidal silver sells between £10-£20 and most of this liquid is
water! The only thing about the generators is that if you buy one you
may well be disappointed when you discover what it actually consists
of. A workable generator can be easily put together at a fraction of
the usual selling price and you don't need to be a skilled electrician
either! According to Dr. Robert C. Beck's instructions his design is
"idiot proof!" This is how you go about constructing one for yourself:
Get
three 9v regular transistor radio batteries, three battery snap-on lead
connectors, two insulated alligator clips, either one 'grain-of-wheat'
24v 40mA miniature incandescent bulb or a sturdier 12v 60mA bulb, about
a foot of 3/32" heat-shrink insulation tubing, about 10 inches of pure
silver wire and another foot of 2-conductor stranded insulated wire to
go on the clip-leads. Most of these components should be readily
available from shops that sell electrical spare parts and tools. Pure
silver wire is available from electro-plating firms, foundries,
precious metal dealers, etc. but always insist on its purity. You may
wish to mount and house your generator in a plastic container or some
form of box and this can either be bought or constructed to your own
design. Most commercially available generator models come in solid
plastic boxes.
Take the three snap-on connector clips for the
batteries and solder them in series (red to black) to provide 27 volts.
Then connect the miniature lamp in series with either (positive or
negative) output lead. Solder a red alligator clip to the anode
(positive) and a black insulated clip to the cathode (negative)
connector lead wires and then, using a heat-gun or match shrink
insulation over the soldered connections. Assemble this in your choice
of container and you are ready to make your first batch of colloidal
silver.
Fill a glass with about 8 oz (half pint) of distilled water
(for best quality colloidal silver for internal consumption) or bottled
or tap water for all other purposes, and then take two pure silver
wires about 5" long and bend the top inch over so it will rest securely
over the rim of the glass. This should leave you with 4" which can be
submerged in the liquid. With distilled water it is best to stir in a
very small amount (no more than a drop) of dissolved sea-salt solution,
available from health stores. This will lower the resistance of the
water for better results. Make sure you never use table salt, however,
as this contains impurities such as aluminium, iodine and silica. There
is no critical spacing between the electrodes but if they touch it will
short circuit and waste your batteries. As soon as you connect both
wires to alligator clips the lamp should glow and show you that it is
working. Leave it for about three minutes and at a temperature of about
72F it will produce colloidal silver of around 3ppm strength. You
should see a cloud, like smoke under water, forming around the one
electrode and this will increase to colour the water in the glass. If
you increase the temperature of the water, each additional 10%F will
double the ppm for a given time. After the three minutes disconnect the
silver wires and stir the liquid with a plastic non-conductive
fast-food knife, fork or spoon. Store your colloidal silver in a brown
glass or plastic container. Never make or store colloidal silver in
metal containers. Clean the blackish silver oxide deposit from the
anode with scouring pad and wipe with a paper tissue so you are ready
for next time.
The batteries will make hundreds of batches of
colloidal silver but when the bulb is glowing only very slightly and
hardly any colloidal smoke can be seen in the water then is the time to
replace them with new ones.
The suggested adult dosage is one to
several 8oz of colloidal silver stock solution straight or diluted in
another 6 to 8oz of water and taken no more than three times in twenty
four hours. An 8oz glass can be ingested directly with no harmful
side-effects.10
Many manufacturers are advertising 'golden colloidal
silver,' but the only advantage this has is a longer shelf life. It is
harder to make and has an unpleasant bitter taste but if you wish to
produce this use a tall, narrow glass for the 6 to 8 oz of distilled
water but add no saline solution at all. Because the water will not
gain conductivity, as it does with added salt, a much longer time is
required and the process will take about 45 minutes. This should make a
concentration of about 10ppm colloidal silver. Keep an eye on it
though, or if left too long it will turn a murky brownish colour and
then go black.11 If this happens throw it away and start again and
remember that the process is best conducted in a darkened or low-light
room.
So, there you have all the basic details of colloidal silver
and how to make it. Further research and literature you may wish to
consult are appended below.
SOURCES:
1 H.E.L.P.ful News Vol.9,
No.12 pp 1-3, 2 South, James, Electro-Colloidal Silver: The Amazing
Anti-microbial, lecture given at Natural Products Expo West, Anaheim,
13 / 10 / 94, 3 Crooks, E. M. Metals and Enzyme Activity, Cambridge at
The University Press: MA,1958, pp 15-18, 4 Searle, A. B. The Use of
Colloids in Health and Disease, E.P. Dutton & Company: New York,
1919 p 75, 5 South, James, op. cit. 6 H.E.L.P.ful News,Vol.9, No.12
pp1-3 op. cit. 7 Powell, Jim, Science Digest article, "Our Mightiest
Germ-fighter," March 1978, 8 Metcalf, Mark in Perceptions article-
HEALING SPIRAL-Banishing Disease with 3 9-volt Batteries, May / June
1996, 9 Hartman, R.J. Colloidal Chemistry, Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston
1939 p359, 10 Beck, Robert C. D. Sc. Currently Preferred Silver Colloid
Making Apparatus, Means and Methods, ( Revised 10 / 10 / 96), 11
Metcalf, Mark, op. cit.
© Steve Andrews
If you don't wish to make your own equipment and you've money to burn then try the Colloidal Silver page at www.justmagnotherapy.com.
We have all been brought up to believe and
accept that cancer is a killer and that no definite cure exists,
although scientists are doing their utmost to find one. Millions are
collected by charities and invested in research, which means more
brutal and pointless vivisection experiments. Every week brings reports
of deaths caused by it and there are few people, who do not know
someone who has it, and are receiving treatment, or who had the disease
and are now sadly deceased.
It strikes down rich and poor, the
famous and the unknown, but what many people don't realise is that
several alternative and natural remedies, which really work already
exist. The magazine racks, these days, are becoming increasingly filled
with publications devoted to conspiracy theories, New-age material,
alternative culture and 'Fortean' phenomena and information and adverts
for these remedies and therapies can often be found in these. NEXUS-
New Times magazine is probably the best example of one of these. Books
on the subject also exist with a growing body of evidence and personal
testimonials backing up the claims for the effective nature of these
cancer treatments. One of these reported 'cures,' attracting much
attention in these circles is commonly known as 'Essiac,' the Canadian
Indian herbal remedy, named after its 'discoverer,' Rene Caisse, by
spelling her surname in reverse.
The story goes that Rene came
across it while working at a hospital, where she met a patient who had
been cured of cancer when she had been given a herbal potion by an
Ojibwa medicine man. She left the hospital in 1922, aged 33, and moved
to Bracebridge, Ontario, where she began giving 'Essiac' to all who
came to her. Many of these arrived with letters from doctors testifying
that the patient had incurable and untreatable terminal forms of
cancer.1
She started to make the remedy in her kitchen, after
collecting the necessary plants she needed and word soon spread like
wildfire about her marvellous cure. The amazing thing is that the herbs
are all very common in Canada and North America and are equally
widespread in Europe and other areas of the world. I'll explain what
they are and about the recipe for the treatment a bit later on.
Many
people were cured, others with severe damage to vital organs lived much
longer than was predicted by the medical authorities and lived
virtually pain-free lives while receiving the remedy. Still others,
without such damage, lived another 30 or 40 years and some are still
alive today!
In the early 1960's the clinic run by Dr. Charles A.
Brusch worked with Rene and this doctor treated thousands of cancer
patients. He also worked with the Presidential Cancer Commission, the
American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. After ten
years of research he concluded that "Essiac is a cure for cancer,
period. All studies done at laboratories in the United States and
Canada support this conclusion." Gary Glum says that the federal
government silenced Dr. Brusch with threats of prison and we have heard
no more from him since.2
Rene, herself, believed that the world
would welcome her discovery with open arms and cancer sufferers, indeed
did, but many authorities with vested interests in research funds and
the pharmaceutical industry went the other way and soon she was in
legal trouble.
"Cancer is the second largest revenue producing
business in the world," according to Dr. Gary Glum, who happens to be
the author of Calling of an Angel,3 which is the full story of Rene and
'Essiac.'
Unfortunately, money equals power and power is often used
to suppress the truth. The Canadian Ministry of Health and Welfare and
the Parliament of the nation became involved. A panel of six physicians
were appointed as members of the Royal Cancer Commission in August,
1938, to investigate alternative and unorthodox cancer treatments and
in particular, they focused on Rene and her remedy.
55,000
signatures from former patients were collected and presented to the
Canadian official authorities for Rene to be allowed to continue to
administer it to anyone asking for it without threats or intimidation.
It came within three votes in 1937 of being made a legal remedy by the
government of Ontario as a treatment for terminal sufferers.4
The
final outcome was that she was allowed to carry on as long as she
stayed within certain criteria. She could only treat people who had
been officially given up on and a pathologist was needed to certify
this. The remaining criterion was that she was not to charge for the
treatments. So, Rene administered 'Essiac' for a period of 40 years,
however, when she died in 1978, all her documented evidence and case
reports were burned and destroyed.5
Dr. Glum, himself, had terrible
trouble finding a publisher for the book he had written due to fear of
wrongful death suits that might result if a family member of someone
deceased, or a lawyer for such a person, should decide that death
resulted from past use of the remedy, which does not have the official
blessing of the AMA or the FDA. He decided to self-publish but after he
had done so the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) slapped a half million
dollars tax demand on him, which, he says, they admitted was not to do
with tax but with cancer. Pallets full of books were taken from his
offices. Thousands of copies were also confiscated by Canadian customs
officials and never returned.6
So, what are the wonder herbs that
have generated all this fuss? The herbal ingredient reported to destroy
the malignant cells is the common Sheep's Sorrel, a weed of fields,
lawns and pastures. According to a published interview with Dr. Glum,
the Canadian government, in their wisdom, have banned it from
distribution and sale.6 The other herbs, which are all blood purifiers
are Burdock (Arctium lappa), Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) and Turkish
Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum). The Turkish Rhubarb was added by Rene to the
recipe, thereby altering it, but you can also substitute ordinary
Rhubarb, which is grown in gardens and allotments.7 The Burdock can
also stimulate sweating, has diuretic properties and contains
antibiotic substances.8 All the necessary herbs are readily available
without too much difficulty. Sheep's Sorrel and Burdock are found
growing wild and the Rhubarb and Slippery Elm are easy to obtain from
herbal suppliers and some good health stores that stock loose herbs in
bulk.
An article published by the Canadian Journal of Herbalism,
entitled 'Old Ontario Remedies' states that "Essiac is not a hoax or a
fraud. To hear experiences described by the patients themselves cannot
help but convince observers that dramatic and beneficial changes
definitely took place in many but not all of those who received the
remedy. Although the focus on Essiac has been as a cancer treatment, it
alleviated and sometimes cured many chronic degenerative conditions
because it cleanses the blood as well as the liver and strengthens the
immune system." 9
Gary Glum, echoing this, reports that Rene found
that it healed stomach ulcers in three or four weeks. It was also found
that it helped regulate the function of the pancreas and that diabetics
with diabetes mellitus became insulin-free when treated with Essiac.
Dr. Glum states that since he has been taking it himself he has
experienced " almost perfect health," coupled with "all sorts of
energy, and no sickness, not even a common cold or flu." Essiac, it is
further stated, elevates the enzyme system and gives all cancer
patients and all AIDS patients the enzymes that have been destroyed….It
elevates the hormone system, which elevates the immune system , so the
body can cure its own disease.10
Dr. Glum, continuing to expound
its virtues claims that "Even its worst enemy could never lay claim
that Essiac had any deleterious effects whatever. You can take Essiac
safely, through all the clinical trials that have been done, up to six
ounces a day. That's two ounces in the evening, two in the morning and
two around noontime. That's a high dosage. Rene had the correct herbs
and she used as little as one ounce a week." 11
All that being
said, a word of caution is needed because there is ongoing debate about
its safety for people with gout, arthritis and impaired kidney
conditions. This is due to the high oxalic acid levels produced by the
Sheep's Sorrel and anyone suffering these ailments should not take it
without first consulting the advice of a professional herbal
practitioner.
Also, Gary Glum tells us that some businesses are
substituting Curly Dock for the Sheep's Sorrel so people are receiving
the wrong ingredients in some cases.12
Besides these problems there
is a continuing war of dis-information and other tactics between
opponents that have concerns in the use and distribution of this herbal
remedy. Dr. Glum states that before his controversial book was
published the public had no access to the formula save for a few
articles that had been written. However, the Resperin Corporation from
Toronto, supposedly a private institution, who bought the formula from
Rene for one dollar13 have researched Essiac since 1978 and went on to
market it claiming that only they have the correct formula. Gary Glum
says that Rene thought that she would be leading their research team
and that the Corporation would get Essiac into the public sector
without compromising her values of an honest non-profit making venture.
He states that they told her they had no further use for her after they
had got the formula and that they actually were working hand in glove
with the Canadian Ministry of Health and Welfare who work directly with
the American Food and Drug Administration.14 Whatever, the truth of the
matter is it appears that the Resperin Corporation have taken steps to
actually copyright the term 'Essiac,' which, as I said is merely the
reversal of Rene' surname, and are now aggressively campaigning against
anyone using this name to market the herbs.15 It seems very sad that
all this fighting and bickering is going on over something which has
been shown to save lives. Dr. Glum distributes the preparation
instructions away for free whilst the Corporation stand to make vast
sums of money. As to what you decide about all this it is up to you.
The following is the details of preparation and formula as published by
the Truth Campaign in liaison with Gary Glum:
ESSIAC PREPARATION
Supplies Needed
5 gallon stainless steel pot, with lid.
3 gallon stainless steel pot.
Stainless steel fine-mesh double strainer.
Stainless steel funnel.
Stainless steel spatula.
12 or more 16-ounce amber glass bottles with airtight caps (not childproof caps).
2 gallons sodium-free distilled water.
Measuring cup.
Kitchen scale with ounce measurements.
Essiac Formula
6.5 cups of Burdock root-cut (Arctium Lappa)
16 0z. Sheep's Sorrel Herb- powdered. (Rumex Acetocella)
1oz. Turkey Rhubarb Root-powdered. (Rheum Palmatum)
4 oz. Slippery Elm Bark- powdered. (Ulmus Fulva)
Preparation
1. Mix Essiac formula thoroughly.
2. Bring sodium-free distilled water to a rolling boil in 5 gallon pot with lid on. (Approximately 30 minutes at sea level)
3. Stir in 1 cup of Essiac formula. Replace lid and continue boiling for 10 minutes.
4. Turn off stove. Scrape down sides of pot with spatula and stir mixture thoroughly. Replace lid.
5. Allow pot to remain closed for 12 hours; then turn stove to full heat for 20 minutes.
6.
Turn off stove. Strain off liquid into 3 gallon pot, and clean 5 gallon
pot and strainer. Then strain filtered liquid back into 5 gallon pot.
7.
Use funnel to pour hot liquid into bottles immediately, taking care to
tighten caps. Allow bottles to cool and tighten caps again.
8. Refrigerate. Essiac contains no preservative agents. If mould should develop in bottle, discard immediately.
CAUTION:
All bottles and caps must be sterilised after use if you plan to re-use
them for Essiac. Bottle caps must be washed and rinsed thoroughly, and
may be cleaned with a 3% solution of food grade hydrogen peroxide in
water.
Directions For Use
Heat 4 tablespoons (2oz) sodium-free
distilled water in a stainless steel pot. Add 4 tablespoons of Essiac
(shake the bottle first). Mix and drink.
Take at bedtime on an empty stomach at least 2 hours after eating.
Questions regarding recipe should be directed to the author:
Dr. Gary L. Glum, Silent Walker Publishing, POB 92856, LOS ANGELES, CA 90009, USA.
(Information extracted from Nexus Magazine Dec-Jan and Feb-March 1993)15
For
information on how to purchase the herbs as a liquid or cream
preparation or the dry herbs see the Essiac Info.org by clicking on the
banner below.
SOURCES:
1 Robinson, Elizabeth
interviewing Dr. Gary L. Glum for Wildfire Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2-7
Op. Cit., 8 Launert,Edmund, The Hamlyn Guide to Edible and Medicinal
Plants of Britain and Northern Europe, published by Hamlyn, London,
1981, 9 Dr. Glum, Op. Cit., 10-14 Op. Cit., 15 Fraser, Ivan, Article,
'Essiac- Nature's Cure For Cancer, The Truth Campaign Newsletter, Issue
1, June, 1996.
© Steve Andrews
Clouds Trust is a secular charitable
organisation based in Hampshire, UK that continues reserach into
complementary medicine, especially in relation to cancer
treatment. Mali Klein, the founder of the trust, along with
Shelia Snow, have written a book entitled 'Essiac Essentials'. Sheila
actually worked alongside Renee for 3 years and learned much valuable
information. http://www.cloudstrust.org for further info.
Fancy a cuppa char? Make mine a Kombucha!
These
days, a lot of people are praying for a miracle. Well, one already is
reported to exist in the form of Kombucha (pronounced kom-BOO-cha), the
'fungus' tea that is currently receiving the highest of praise in
alternative health circles.
It's brownish, slimy and looks like
something from a Sci-fi B-movie, an extraterrestrial invader maybe, and
not at all appetising! But, be that as it may, the Kombucha fungus
needs a bit of care and attention to do well. Once you've got it
growing you usually end up with much more than you actually need and
there's always plenty you can pass on to others. A healthy Kombucha
culture, when given fresh tea and sugar solution, will produce a layer
of gradually thickening jelly on top of the original 'mother.' This is
often referred to as the 'baby.'
The fungus culture feeds on the
simple diet of sugar and tea and the general idea is to let it brew a
nourishing elixir, which it does by fermenting the ingredients and
turning them into health-giving nutrients.
Kombucha has many
exotic-sounding names such as Kargasok Tea, Manchurian Mushroom tea,
Fungus Japonicas, Fungojapon, Pichia fermentans, Combuchu, Tschambucco,
Mo-gu, Cembuya orientalis, Kvass(Russia), Tea Kvas, Teakwass, Kwassan,
Volga Spring, Russian Mother, Manchurian Elixir and Champignon de
longue vie (France) but in scientific terms it is known as Medusomyces
Gisevii Lindau. It is not really a fungus at all, nor is it a lichen,
which it has also been called. It is a symbiotic culture of many
species of yeasts and bacteria all living together as a communal
organism. The main yeast is Schizosaccharomyces Pombe, which is
certainly a bit of a mouthful and most of its common names are a lot
easier!
It's first recorded use was in the Chinese Tsin dynasty
back in 212 BC but how all these bacteria and yeasts originally came
together no one seems to know. Whatever the case may be, the history of
its use in many parts of the world is very extensive and impressive
indeed.
It was known as 'The Divine Tsche' or 'The Remedy for
Immortality,' and in 414 BC a 'Dr. Kombu' is reported to have brought
it into Japan to present as a treatment for the ailing Emperor Inkyo.
From there, it was spread by traders and travellers, via Russia and
India, to many other parts of the world along the trading routes. Many
years later it re-surfaced once again in Japan between the Wars when a
Japanese visitor to the Russian area of Kargasok discovered very many
incredibly healthy and youthful people there even though many of them
were over a hundred years old. The visitor was told that the Kargasoks
drank an elixir on a daily basis, which gave them their good health and
kept them younger than their years. A culture of Kombucha was given to
this visitor, who, naturally impressed took it back home to Japan where
friends who received it were soon to report great benefits too. Its use
became widespread and it was a regular beverage consumed by the Samurai
warriors of the oriental land.
The benefits to users are so many
that an entire book could easily be devoted to detailing them all and,
indeed, many books and web-sites on the Internet already exist on the
subject. Probably the best-known book about it is 'Kombucha- Miracle
Fungus' by Harold Tietze and published by Gateway Books of Bath.
It
has been reported to be a remedy for migraine, skin diseases,
allergies, anxiety, insomnia, bowel problems, impotence, respiratory
disorders such as bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, kidney and bladder
problems, gout and arthritis, impotence, constipation, menstrual and
menopausal problems, cataracts and floaters in the eye and aids weight
loss by regulating the appetite. The fungus is reported to have reduced
alcoholic cravings for drink and also to have lessened the effects of
hangovers. Kombucha has helped in cases of severe illness too including
AIDS, ME, MS and cancer.
President Reagan, apparently, was said to
have drunk it daily in the high dosage of 1 litre a day, when he had
been diagnosed with cancer and it is reported that it enabled him to
finish his term in office. American doctors remembered that Alexander
Solzenhitzyn, who was living in the USA at the time, had described
Kombucha as the cure used for cancer when at the Soviet labour camps.
Solzenhitsyn was interviewed about it and a culture was obtained from
Japan and flown to America.
Kombucha is also known to have cured
alopecia, eliminated grey hair and reduced baldness, although I cannot
say that it has made much difference to my own follicular challenge!
The
health-giving powers of the fungus are attributed to the range of
organic acids and B-vitamins that it produces in the fermented brew.
When correctly brewed for an adequate length of time and thoroughly
fermented it contains in varying amounts the following nutrients:
Vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, and B15, Acetic acid, Folic acid,
Gluconic acid, Glucoronic acid, Usnic acid, Lactic acid and several
beneficial enzymes and essential amino acids. It helps boost the body's
immune system and brings about a general purification and
detoxification process. The Vitamin C assists healing and is an
anti-oxidant and the B Vitamins are used in carbohydrate conversion by
the body as well as being needed by the nervous system. Gluconic acid
is a food preservative and aids the breakdown of glucose. Glucoronic
acid is needed to bind toxins that can then be expelled and Usnic acid
is reported to have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
There
is also the theory that Kombucha somehow seeks out and targets the
areas of an individual body that needs the most attention and remedies
them first. Some people have the rather attractive notion that it is a
gift from the Mother Earth for us, her children, in these times of
great pollution.
It should, however, be noted that it could have
a few side-effects as well as all its beneficial properties. The tea
can contain too much lactic acid, which consumed over a long period may
lead to joint pains, dizziness and sinus problems.
However, that
being said, it is also reported that cancer patients have too little
L-Lactic acid (+) in their connective tissues and Gunter Frank states
that 'So long as it (L-Lactic acid +) is predominantly present in
tissue, cancer cannot develop. When there is a deficiency, the cellular
respiration starts to fail and this leads to a build up of DL-Lactic
acid (-) in the tissues. Kombucha can be regarded as uniquely able to
re-balance the blood pH and, in so doing, prevent disease conditions
from occurring.
If too much is drunk and detoxification is started
too soon then headaches, fatigue, skin rashes and digestive disorders
can result. It is very important to work up slowly, increasing the
daily intake from a small 60ml glass to a greater volume, three such
glasses spread over the day, for example.
Some people find that it
works well if they take a break from their Kombucha routine and may
prefer three weeks on and a break of a week off, before resuming their
normal intake. It is also advisable to drink plenty of water to aid the
ongoing purification and to counteract any unpleasant symptoms that
might be experienced. The increased water will help flush out toxins
from the system and is good for the body in any case. The tea has some
blood-thinning properties if over consumed over a long time period so
haemophiliacs should not drink it at all. Many Westerners drink more
than is necessary and can run into problems stemming from its
anti-coagulant effects, so, if you prick yourself and bleed far too
freely then you are probably drinking too much Kombucha and need to cut
it down. Fast free-flowing blood would not help much in an accident or
if undergoing surgery! Because the fermentation produces a small
amount of alcohol- up to 1%- Kombucha is not drunk in Germany during
pregnancy, although in Brazil it is recommended " to avoid poisons
forming in the cells." Due to its anti-coagulant effects it is best
avoided in the first, second and third trimesters or seek advice from
professionals. When breast-feeding it would be sensible to take only
small quantities, if at all, to avoid colic in the infant. In the
majority of cases though, no such problems are encountered and people
start to feel the benefits after about a month of use, sometimes much
sooner.
Like ordinary tea or coffee it can be brewed to personal
taste. Some like it strong, some like a weak brew and while many go for
a sweet tea, others prefer their Kombucha dry. It really is a matter of
the time it is left brewing and how much sugar was originally added.
Different types of tea, of course, also produce different flavours. The
whole process leaves plenty of room for experimentation and the
individual and personal touch. Some people like to try brewing Kombucha
with mixes of black or green tea with some of the many herbal
varieties. It is worth remembering that volatile oils in herbs like
sage, chamomile, mint, thyme and St. John's wort can adversely effect
the brew and culture and should be used sparingly. There are many
recipes and more being added all the time. One individual who has done
a lot of pioneering research on Kombucha brewing recipes and set up a
successful business from his work is Rob Lewis of Lewtress Millenium
Kombucha Elixirs. Rob, a specialist in natural medicines, gives his
Kombucha a very long brewing time under the strictest of conditions and
using the finest quality ingredients. So far, he has seven different
elixirs available containing such things as Rose-hips, Japanese green
tea, Echinacea herb and Elderflower. Like I said, there is plenty of
room for experimentation and further research on the subject.
The
longer the Kombucha is left to ferment the more acidic the brew becomes
and if left too long it can often end up more like vinegar. When it is
like this it can nevertheless be used to sprinkle on foods to give them
that acidic tang many of us enjoy. Christopher Hobbs, in his book,
'Kombucha, the Essential Guide,' states that 'Vinegar was mentioned in
the writings of the Assyrians, Greeks and Romans as an important
medicine in its own right.' However, most people like it best when it
is slightly fizzy like a shandy or cider.
To make a brew of Kombucha
you need a culture and some of its own liquid, water, tea bags
(preferably Green Tea or Bancha), white sugar and a good sized china,
glass or enamelled glazed terracotta pot, jar or dish with a wide
mouth. Food grade acid-resistant plastic containers of material such as
polypropylene have been used (and German commercially brewed Kombucha
is made in such containers) but polyvinyls, polystyrenes and other
cheap plastics can leak into the brew and cause a chemical reaction so
are best avoided. First of all measure to find out how much your
container will hold in litres. Then pour water into a stainless steel
pan, adding 6-7 tablespoons of sugar for each litre and bring to the
boil. Turn it off and add tea bags at a rate of 1-2 per litre. Allow
these to brew for about 10-15 minutes and then remove the tea bags.
Next let it all cool down to luke-warm and pour it into your brewing
vessel. Add the culture and cover with an open-weave cloth, securing it
with a rubber band or string to prevent insects or dust contamination.
Leave it all at room temperature in a quiet and shaded spot to ferment
for one to two weeks. You should then be ready to remove the culture
and bottle and sample your first batch of Kombucha tea. If you can't
wait that long and wish to have a look beforehand, you should find that
after several days the culture has started to form a translucent skin
across the surface and should have a few visible bubbles too. The skin
is the new 'baby' and eventually this will form a thickened layer on
top of the original 'mother.' It is possible to store these 'babies' in
jars in a refrigerator for further use later on or for passing on to
friends.
Sometimes a culture will die for no apparent reason or a
layer of mould will develop on the surface. This is when spare cultures
come in handy so you can start again. Often a mouldy culture can be
saved by throwing the top layer away and rinsing the original 'mother'
under running water. It's worth a try. Various reasons have been put
forward for mould and sudden death of cultures including tobacco smoke
in the air. Personally, I cannot verify the stated reason as I know a
woman who grows Kombucha well and she is a chain-smoker! The only times
it has happened to me is when I have experimented with herbs containing
volatile oils and in the winter. I feel that Kombucha likes a steady
temperature and fluctuations may not do it much good.
There is an
ever-growing network of people who cultivate and consume Kombucha and a
piece is readily available by mail. Good luck with your brewing. Cheers!
