Historically, silver has long been used for the preservation of food and water. Before there were other means of preservation, silver was used for the same reasons colloidal silver is used now as a mineral supplement. Food and drink vessels, as well as eating utensils have been made with silver since mankinds earliest years. The following anecdote from the writings of the Greek philosopher, Herodotus, before the birth of Christ, references this fact. The Greek historian Herodotus, called the "Father of History", is one of our prime sources for information known about the fall of Babylon. Herodotus lived a century after the time of Daniel and traveled widely in the East. In his "Histories", we learn of the campaign of Persia's King Cyrus against Babylon. The details include the fact that no Persian king, including Cyrus, would drink the water of any stream other than the Choaspes, a river that flowed past the Persian capital of Susa. Wherever the king went, a long train of four-wheeled mule wagons followed him transporting silver jars filled with the river's water. The water in silver jars would keep fresh for years during the long campaigns.

The Greeks were not the only civilization to take advantage of silvers health-encouraging properties. The Phoenicians, Romans, Egyptians and most people around the world used silver in one form or another to preserve food and water. For example, during the Dark Ages in Europe, silver utensils, cups and bowls were used to help protect the wealthy from the full impact of the widespread pandemics. A common expression, used to this day, "born with a silver spoon in their mouth" comes from these Dark Ages and refers to the advantages of silver. In these days when diseases ran rampant, the wealthy gave their children silver spoons to suck on to ward off diseases. Also, in the days of the settling of the American frontier, pioneers commonly used silver coins to slow down the spoilage of milk and water.

Although it is not widely known, todays mainstream medicine has utilized silver for its health benefits to an extent. For instance, a silver coated nylon material was patented as "Silvalon" and licensed by FDA as an anti-microbial bandage. Also, a silver-based salve product called "Silvadine has been used for some time now for the treatment of burns and is in virtually every burn ward in America to protect burn victims against infection. Another example is the use of dilute silver nitrate in newborn babies' eyes to protect from infection. Even before people knew the causes of most illnesses, silver served as one of mans most reliable aids in supporting the immune system against those illnesses. In addition, to this day, silver is also being used in food cutting boards, swimming pool and drinking water filters, and water filters for NASA. There is clearly an undeniable history behind the use of silver for health reasons.

There is one common link between all of these different uses for silver. This common link to all of the previously discussed uses is based on the fact that in all of them something is needed to prevent the growth and prosperity of disease and infection causing bacteria and germs. Scientific research and evidence indicates that single-celled organisms cannot survive in the presence of silver. According to researchers, silver inhibits the growth of one-celled organisms by deactivating the organisms oxygen metabolism enzymes. As a result, the organisms cell membranes are destroyed and the replication of the organisms DNA is stopped. All of this happens through a completely natural reaction to the silver by the organisms. There is no chemical manipulation by man.

There is also some interesting research with silver prior to the advent of patented anti-biotics. A good example that is available on the Internet is "The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease" by Alfred B. Searle, the founder of Searle Pharmaceuticals (now known as Monsanto). Although this book is dated in some respects, it demonstrates the research that had already been done as well as that which was ongoing in the area of colloidal silver before more lucrative patented drugs replaced it in the marketplace. This book cites research done by numerous scientists and documents their findings demonstrating the germicidal properties of silver.

One of the most widely publicized concerns today relating to biological warfare and terrorism is the fact that microbes have mutated and become resistant so that patented antibiotics may often be rendered ineffective. On the other hand, research and evidence indicates that one-celled organisms do not have a natural resistance to, nor can they through mutation or natural selection, obtain a resistance to silver's anti-microbial actions, as they are often able to do with patented products. Again, this is why silver has historically been one of mans most reliable tools in supporting the immune system against various maladies.