Tetrasil
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==What is it?== | ==What is it?== | ||
| − | Tetrasil is a silver oxide, Ag<sub>4</sub>O<sub>4</sub> (other names include silver(I,III) oxide, TST, Silver (II) Oxide, and silver peroxide).<ref>[http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed085p863 Silver(II) Oxide or Silver(I,III) Oxide?], David Tudela.</ref><ref name=epa>http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/1997/July/Day-09/silver.pdf</ref> Products containing TST are promoted using [[Holistic health|holistic]] buzzwords, though in what way TST is supposed to be more natural and holistic than pharmaceuticals is unclear. TST also has some non-medical uses that could be used very effectively for [[Chemophobia|chemophobic]] [[fear-mongering]]: | + | Tetrasil is a silver oxide, Ag<sub>4</sub>O<sub>4</sub> (other names include silver(I,III) oxide, TST, Silver (II) Oxide, and silver peroxide).<ref>[http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed085p863 Silver(II) Oxide or Silver(I,III) Oxide?], David Tudela.</ref><ref name=epa>http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/1997/July/Day-09/silver.pdf</ref> Products containing TST are promoted using [[Holistic health|holistic]] buzzwords, though in what way TST is supposed to be more natural and holistic than pharmaceuticals is unclear, given that the chemical is a pure active ingredient. TST also has some non-medical uses that could be used very effectively for [[Chemophobia|chemophobic]] [[fear-mongering]]: |
*TST is a pesticide used to disinfect swimming pool water.<ref name=epa/> | *TST is a pesticide used to disinfect swimming pool water.<ref name=epa/> | ||
*TST is highly toxic to aquatic species.<ref name=epa/> | *TST is highly toxic to aquatic species.<ref name=epa/> | ||
Revision as of 18:07, 28 April 2013
| Against allopathy |
| Alternative articles |
Tetrasil is a substance used as an alternative treatment for bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Some Tetrasil brand names include Imusil, Genisil, Aviralex, OXi-MED, Beta-mannan, Micronutrient, Qina and SlicPlus.[1] Tetrasil is also claimed to be a cure for AIDS[2] and cancer,[3] though there is no convincing evidence that it is effective for these conditions (which is why it's alternative).
Some conspiracy theorists allege that that the medical establishment is trying to suppress its use for these diseases.[4] One of them also claims AIDS is man-made.[4]
What is it?
Tetrasil is a silver oxide, Ag4O4 (other names include silver(I,III) oxide, TST, Silver (II) Oxide, and silver peroxide).[5][6] Products containing TST are promoted using holistic buzzwords, though in what way TST is supposed to be more natural and holistic than pharmaceuticals is unclear, given that the chemical is a pure active ingredient. TST also has some non-medical uses that could be used very effectively for chemophobic fear-mongering:
- TST is a pesticide used to disinfect swimming pool water.[6]
- TST is highly toxic to aquatic species.[6]
Typical Material Safety Data Sheets[7] identify silver oxide as a Category 2 Oxidizing Solid. OSHA standards define an "oxidizing solid" as "a solid which, while in itself not necessarily combustible, may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause, or contribute to, the combustion of other material. ..."[8]
Tetrasil cream used to be sold by Aidance Skincare, until the FDA sent them a warning that they were selling an unapproved new drug.[9] The company now sells Terrasil, whose "extra-strong" and over-the-counter wound drug versions include a silver oxide[10][11] (though the silver oxide in the wound ointment is listed as an inactive ingredient).[12][11]
One wonders why nature-inclined people buy this stuff in the first place, since, by alternative medicine standards, "tetrasilver tetroxide" should be a horrible, synthetic chemical; Tetrasil doesn't come from plants or animals, and it's certainly not natural. The popularity of Tetrasil among alternative medicine users is probably due to the earthy, back-to-nature marketing scheme used by companies selling it. It may also have something to do with the fact that Tetrasil creams usually include things such as jojoba and essential oils (which is somewhat like adding green tea to cortisone, but whatever).
Evidence
Studies done on the compound suggest silver oxide is good for wounds and ulcers.[13][14] Silver oxide nanoparticles may have antimicrobial properties, but are also toxic.[15]
One page hosted by extremely paranoid conspiracy site Rex Research promotes Tetrasil as a cancer treatment and lists many patents held by a Tetrasil company, though if there's a patent for it, that doesn't necessarily mean it must be good.
This is what part of the site has to say:
| In October 1977, the United States patented a "method for curing AIDS', US Patent # 5,676,977.[16] [Actually, the patent was filed in the 1990s.] The product is called TETRASIL/IMUSIL and is a one-time injection/infusion that eliminates bacterial pathogens in the blood system of an individual. It is this cheap and effective cure for AIDS that is the subject of my presentation.
As a 29-month recipient of this one time injection, I further submit that we have an effective and cheap remedy for AIDS that is ready now. Our goal in bringing this information to the international community is to serve as aconduit [sic] for the necessary global "double blind" efficacy clinical trials of this U.S. patented CURE for AIDS. [...] Recent clinical studies commissioned[17] by Marantech and conducted by Exetec Labs in Honduras, indicate that topically applied Tetrasil can lead to dramatic improvements in such infection-caused skin conditions as acne, cold sores, herpes lesions, conjunctivitis, chickenpox, shingles, dermal tuberculosis and ringworm.[3] |
Here is the text of one of the studies:[17]
|
The full 5-page article is available through Dr Antelman or Compassion Response Network. AIDS-Non Terminal Patients: "Clinical testing was performed at Exetec Lab, SA in Honduras under the supervision of Dr. L Roland Valenzuela. Thirty patients were selected from three etiological AIDS groups, 10 for each group namely, Candidiasis, Wasting Syndrome and p. carinii pneumonia. Each patient was given an intravenous infusion of Imusil administered over a three hour period. All patients experienced temperature elevation within 48 hours of administering the Imusil, which was indicative that the immune system was now functioning along with the fact that all patients also started to have dramatic increases in their white blood cell counts. At the end of 30 days of observation, all patients were cured of AIDS. All patients presenting Wasting Syndrome were completely cured of the Syndrome; the average patient gaining approximately one half pound per day. Three patients were completely cured of their pneumonia. Because the protocol was changed from direct injection to slow i.v. infusion of the Imusil, there were no side effects of hepatomegaly." |
From this publicly available excerpt (whether it's the entire study or not isn't clear), it appears there is no placebo control group. In addition, as far as can be gleaned from PubMed and the quote above, the study apparently has not been published in any journals. Even if it has, the findings need to be independently replicated by other researchers.
Footnotes
- ↑ Foreign Product Alert, Health Canada.
- ↑ Tetrasil/Imusil
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 TetraSilver-TetraOxide vs. Cancer, Marvin S. ANTELMAN.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The website of Boyd Graves.
- ↑ Silver(II) Oxide or Silver(I,III) Oxide?, David Tudela.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/1997/July/Day-09/silver.pdf
- ↑ E.g. [1]
- ↑ OSHA standard
- ↑ Aidance Skincare & Topical Solutions, LLC 03-Mar-08
- ↑ AIDANCE TERRASIL MAX. MAXIMUM STRENGTH TERRASIL WITH ELECTRON ACTIVE SILVER OXIDE. 44g Jar, Amazon.co.uk.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 TERRASIL WOUND CARE (allantoin 0.5%, benzethonium chloride 0.5%) ointment, DailyMed.
- ↑ TERRASIL WOUND CARE OTC, Drugs.com.
- ↑ Silver oxide ointment wound dressing in venous ulcerations: home, self-management, Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Errichi BM, Ricci A, Antelman P, Dugall M, Pellegrini L, Ledda A, Viscardi G, Panminerva Med. 2011 Sep;53(3 Suppl 1):29-33.
- ↑ Venous and diabetic ulcerations: management with topical multivalent silver oxide ointment, Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Errichi BM, Ricci A, Dugall M, Pellegrini L, Ledda A, Grossi MG, Panminerva Med. 2010 Jun;52(2 Suppl 1):37-42.
- ↑ Antimicrobial effects of TiO(2) and Ag(2)O nanoparticles against drug-resistant bacteria and leishmania parasites, Allahverdiyev AM, Abamor ES, Bagirova M, Rafailovich M, Future Microbiol. 2011 Aug;6(8):933-40. doi: 10.2217/FMB.11.78.
- ↑ It's talking about Method of curing AIDS with tetrasilver tetroxide molecular crystal devices.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Study