Copper’s Virus-Killing Powers Were Known Even to the Ancients

Smithsonian Magazine ^ | 04/14/2020 | Jim Morrison

[BenLurkin]

The first recorded use of copper as an infection-killing agent comes from Smith's Papyrus, the oldest-known medical document in history. The information therein has been ascribed to an Egyptian doctor circa 1700 B.C. but is based on information that dates back as far as 3200 B.C. Egyptians designated the ankh symbol, representing eternal life, to denote copper in hieroglyphs.

As far back as 1,600 B.C., the Chinese used copper coins as medication to treat heart and stomach pain as well as bladder diseases. The sea-faring Phoenicians inserted shavings from their bronze swords into battle wounds to prevent infection. For thousands of years, women have known that their children didn't get diarrhea as frequently when they drank from copper vessels and passed on this knowledge to subsequent generations.

And copper’s power lasts. Keevil’s team checked the old railings at New York City’s Grand Central Terminal a few years ago. "The copper is still working just like it did the day it was put in over 100 years ago," he says. "This stuff is durable and the anti-microbial effect doesn't go away."

Copper has a free electron in its outer orbital shell of electrons that easily takes part in oxidation-reduction reactions (which also makes the metal a good conductor). As a result...it becomes a “molecular oxygen grenade.” Silver and gold don’t have the free electron, so they are less reactive.

Copper kills in other ways as well... When a microbe lands on copper, ions blast the pathogen like an onslaught of missiles, preventing cell respiration and punching holes in the cell membrane or viral coating and creating free radicals that accelerate the kill, especially on dry surfaces. Most importantly, the ions seek and destroy the DNA and RNA inside a bacteria or virus, preventing the mutations that create drug-resistant superbugs.

[DiogenesLamp]

Modern pennies are made of mostly Zinc with a copper coating. I'm not sure you should be swallowing metallic Zinc.

[DiogenesLamp]

Pretty sure I read on FR that the Wuhan virus can survive 9 hrs on copper.

What I have read is that the virus can float on the air for up to three hours, live on a surface of stainless steel or plastic for about 30 hours, but survives only 30 minutes on copper surfaces.

[DiogenesLamp]

I’ve heard of beneficial effects of copper and silver, but what does gold do? It’s fairly nonreactive.

[Long Jon No Silver]

You could be right. The article posted some time ago mentioned the different longevities of the Chinola virus on different surfaces

[Carriage Hill]

Better Call Roto-Rooter!

[Carriage Hill]

So does brass/lead...

[Revel]

I own swallow the Indian Heads.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin.

The first recorded use of copper as an infection-killing agent comes from Smith's Papyrus, the oldest-known medical document in history. The information therein has been ascribed to an Egyptian doctor circa 1700 B.C. but is based on information that dates back as far as 3200 B.C. Egyptians designated the ankh symbol, representing eternal life, to denote copper in hieroglyphs.

That's weird, I didn't know Smith was a name common in ancient Egypt. Maestro?

/frenchhorns /rimshot

[Bob Ireland]

***That's weird, I didn't know Smith was a name common in ancient Egypt***

You may be confused because it was sometimes spelled 'Smythe'. :^D

{How tragic that Smith Bros cough drops has gone the way of all flesh!}

[Truthoverpower]

Silver is excellent. As is gold and platinum

[trebb]

Linoleum is antibacterial...

[SunkenCiv]

:^) They're still made I think, but it's owned by another company.

[Bob Ireland]

***They're still made I think, but it's owned by another company***

I have not found them on the web or in stores, nor any directions to similar. If you know of a substitute let me know. Ludens makes the licorice, but it doesn't seem quite the same; I still buy it, tho... not bad. Pine Bros is right out!