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A colloidal formulation of silica
would appear to be the answer to our prayers (well, mine anyway).
Who doesn’t desire healthy hair, skin and nails? In addition
to achieving these admirable aims, it benefits other parts
of the body too, aiding digestion and improving the elasticity
and firmness of our blood vessels.
But where does this wondrous supplement come from and how
does it do what it says it does? Why is silica so important
and necessary to our bodies that it will benefit such a wide
range of conditions?
In the quest to answer these questions, I started a journey
of discovery which begins in 1917 with the compound silicon
dioxide.
Silica and silicon dioxide are one and the same. In 1917,
a scientist called Kobert carried out a number of experiments
on silica. He and his students established that silica was
present in almost all human and animal tissues but that the
silica content of embryonic tissue was substantially higher
than that of older tissue. Research carried out since then
has shown that, when we are young, silica exists in our bodies
in a finely dispersed colloidal form, contributing to our
‘bounce’ and flexibility and, as we get older, it
exists mainly in its inactive form, in our hair and nails.
In order to understand silica better, I went back even further,
to the element silicon, from which silica is derived. Silicon
is the second most abundant element on earth, after oxygen,
and has been with us since the beginning of time. In our bodies,
it is an essential trace element existing mainly, as Kobert
discovered, in the form of silica.
Dr Edith Carlisle has carried out most of the recent research
conducted on silica. She found that silica stimulates cell
metabolism and cell formation, inhibits the ageing process
and improves the structure and function of connective tissue,
giving us firm scaffolding around which to build our bodies.
It also improves the elasticity and firmness of blood vessels
and stimulates the immune system. Through further research
it also became apparent that healthy people have higher levels
in their blood vessels and other tissues than those suffering
from degenerative diseases do, and that we can obtain silica
from our diets, mainly from herbs such as knotgrass and vegetables
such as beetroot.
This research certainly confirms the importance of silica
as an essential element. But if it already exists in our bodies,
and we can get more from our diet, why do we need a supplement?
Well, 10 to 40mg of silica are lost from our bodies each
day through excretion, skin shedding, hair cutting and nail
clipping. Although silica is available in our diets, our daily
intake is not enough to meet the loss. As we get older, we
lose the ability to absorb and utilise silica effectively,
thus depriving our bodies of a prime building material and
beautifying agent. In addition to this, the element silicon
is very hard to absorb in the form of silicon dioxide. However,
a colloidal formulation of the elemet is easily utilised in
our bodies.
Colloids are suspensions of one substance in another. The
suspension of tiny particles of silica in water allows the
body to absorb and benefit from this vital trace element in
a way that is not possible with other forms of silica.
The chemical make up of colloidal silica means that not only
is it easy for the body to use, but it is also eager to make
itself useful once taken internally or applied externally.
It has the ability to bind to unwanted elements such as viruses,
bacteria and inflammatory pathogens, rendering them null and
void! This makes it suitable for wound healing, soothing sunburn
and insect bites and stings, as well as acne and other inflammatory
conditions. By binding to, and aiding the removal of, unwanted
bugs, it helps with digestive problems from stomach acidity
and indigestion to bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. Its
soothing and detoxifying effects are manifold. This is one
of the reasons why it is all the rage in Germany, where the
internal workings of the average alimentary canal is obviously
on a par with the average British gut: could do better! The
amount of suffering caused by burning and belching digestive
tracts is truly appalling, and here is a remedy that not only
removes the troublesome inflammatory particles, but also soothes
and helps heal the traumatised gut.
The great binding ability of colloidal silica certainly makes
it an exciting possibility in the treatment of a whole range
of conditions but perhaps its most exciting and innovative
use will be its ability to improve the strength and elasticity
of the skin. It can improve the appearance of the skin, hair
and nails by its action on connective tissue.
Intake of nutrients and removal of waste products takes place
in connective tissue. For this to happen effectively, connective
tissue must be kept in ‘good health’. As we get
older, our connective tissue begins to lose water and we can
see this as wrinkles begin to form. As a consequence, the
removal of waste substances from our bodies is compromised,
dulling the tone of our skin. The skin is the largest organ
in the body and, along with hair and nails, forms the living
cover that shows on the outside how well we are within. The
presence of silica in our bodies can maintain the lustre in
our hair, the strength in our nails and the tone of our skin.
Silica loss occurs simultaneously with changes in our connective
tissue and, because connective tissue changes are prominent
with ageing, it is not surprising to find a relationship between
silica and the ageing of certain tissues like skin. By maintaining
substantial levels of silica in our tissues, we can hold back
the process of ageing. This may appeal to the natural urge
to look our best, but, just for once, it also makes sense
in terms of our health.
Silica is present in the connective tissue in bone, to which
calcium binds. Many of us are rightly concerned that our bones
should retain their density as we grow older, but shovelling
calcium into our bodies will be relatively unproductive if
the silica is not present for it to bind to. A supplement
that not only does you good on the inside but protects your
bones and makes you glow on the outside: surely it’s
too good to be true? What’s the catch?
There is none! Colloidal silica has been used in Germany
for over 50 years with no recorded side effects and because
it only contains water and silicic acid, two substances that
occur naturally in the body, it cannot cause allergic reactions.
Silica’s safety and wide range of applications make it
an exciting ‘All in One’/‘One treats All’
alternative.
I’m convinced…Are you?
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