The Captivating Qualities of Copper
Gail Forrer
As a child I wondered what older people thought was so good about wearing a plain old copper wristband. These days, answers are not far away as awareness around the therapeutic and health benefits of this reddish-brown mineral emerge, evolve and expand.
Importantly, in these days of COVID, its antimicrobial properties are fast gaining recognition and means of utilisation are being developed through practical concepts. In this case, I’m speaking about beautiful, handcrafted copper water bottles, designed to give you all the benefits that scientific researchers have credited to copper.
For instance, Shivashankar (2014) wrote that “storing water in copper and silver pots for purification finds mention in ancient texts of Ayurveda. He writes that: “The storage process is known to kill micro-organisms that include virus and bacteria, making it perfectly fit for drinking’. Furthermore, he reveals this ancient concept is backed up by research which states that when: ‘groundwater, with a slightly alkaline pH and contaminated with 500 colony forming units (CFU)/mL of bacteria, was stored in copper pots for 16 hours at room temperature, all bacteria were killed. It is reported to destroy diarrhea causing bacteria, such as Vibrio cholerae, enteropathogenic E. lifecoli, Salmonella. It is also effective against many other disease-causing bacteria such as, Shigella Flexneri and Salmonella Paratyphi.”
Yet, before this article in 2012, scientific research was put into practise by then executive director of Ronald McDonald House of Charleston, USA, Barbara Bond, On learning of copper’s proven antimicrobial properties, she supervised a retrofit of bacteria-killing copper throughout the facility to protect the health of their vulnerable children and families.
Copper’s anti-microbial properties were also once used to coat the bottoms of ships because of its property of inhibiting the growth of bacteria, barnacles, and other life forms. However, contemporary use sees it: “woven into fabrics used for making anti-microbial products such as socks for fighting foot fungus and is also used in the medical field. For instance, hospitals are using it to cover frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, bed rails, and call buttons to check the spread of hospital-acquired infections” (Chemical Industry Digest, 2019).
It seems even the ancient Egyptians way back in 2400Bc utilised the metal to sterilise water and wounds. In fact, it is recorded that by 1550BC, they were using it to alleviate burns and itching.
You see, copper along with gold, ranks as the oldest metal know to civilisation. The actual name of copper comes from the Latin word Cyprum which comes from the Island of Cyprus, the place where Romans mined huge copper resources.
However, today, thousands of years later, we can ensure the purity of our everyday drinking water through a simple, beautifully designed, copper water bottle. By storing your water in a copper bottle you can enjoy all of copper’s anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. These elegant water bottles, made in India, are created by skilled artisans and produced from 99.6% pure food-grade copper. Additionally, and I’m sure you will agree, their natural aesthetic is one of raw beauty and sophistication. Check out this wonder product at Ground Sourced.
PS: A copper bracelet as a remedy for arthritis has been popular in folklore for thousands of years. In this vein it is claimed that tiny amounts of copper rub off the bracelet onto the skin, which absorbs it into the body and helps relieve pain.
References:
"Copper - The Element We Can Count on." Chemical Industry Digest (Mumbai) (2019): Chemical Industry Digest (Mumbai), 2019-09-30. Web.
S Shivashankar. "Copper's Gift of Health." India Currents Magazine 28.4 (2014): 102. Web.
"Ronald McDonald House Unveils Shiny, Bacteria-Killing Renovation." Health & Medicine Week, 9 Mar. 2012, p. 5539. Gale Academic neFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A284097947/AONE?u=cqu&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=645f866a. Accessed 17 Aug. 2021.