What you are about to read is not "new science". The information has been with us since before the dawn of civilization. The ancient Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans all knew the powers of silver. But how can this metal help you with your feet? You are about to re-discover the ancient mysteries of silver. All of the information is backed by centuries of data, testing, and practical use. You will learn why silver is truly a "precious metal".

WHAT IS SILVER?

Silver is a chemical element on the periodic table that has the symbol Ag (from the traditional abbreviation from the Latin, Argentum). It is a soft, white lustrous transition metal; silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

HISTORY OF SILVER
Silver has been known longer than recorded history. It is believed Silver first came about in the region that is now Turkey. This was mastered around 3000 BC. Here it is found in the royal tombs of ancient Ur where it was extracted from a lead ore, known as falena, through a process known as smelting. Its discovery was probably by accident, since these ancient people of Asia Minor used lead in many of their household items and tools.

The use of silver for its medical and therapeutic benefits dates back several thousand years. The Persian emperor Cyrus the Great,in the 5th Century BC, is best known for his creating the Persian empire from the tribes of people which is now known as Iran. His armies were vast and he conquered due to advancing technologies or war and medicine. One of these advancements that made Cyrus "great" was that he would only let his troops go to war if they carried water in silver vessels-something he knew would keep the water supply clean and safe. This same tactic was later used in the American Old West, when pioneers, traveling along the Oregon Trail, would toss silver coins into barrels to keep their water supplies fresh.

The Romans are the first to mention the use of silver in a book known as Pharmacoponeia, which was written in 69 BC. This book was a collaboration of healing materials that were found throughout the emire of Rome. A century later in his book Natural History (Latin: Naturalis Historia, 77AD), Pliny the Elder talks about silver as a "powerful bactericide" long known for its health-giving properties. He has the use of silver mixed in plasters and then wrapped around wounds. It was considered "extremely effective" in the closing of wounds. Roman intuition proved to be correct. Modern Western medicine recognizes silver as the most effective anti-microbial agent, natural or otherwise. During the 19th century, silver was first applied beyond home remedies and utilized in practical medicine. Silver was used in the treatment of skin ulcers and eye treatment. In fact, the use of silver as an anti-microbial was used extensively until after WWII when manufactured antibiotics started to become widespread.

MODERN USES OF SILVER
Today, silver is still used for its anti-microbial properties in healthcare products ranging from bandages to burn care treatments— almost any product where infection control is critical. The majority of Americans are first exposed to silver at birth, when silver nitrate eye drops are used to prevent infection. One of the new uses for silver is in the footwear industry. Most notably is silver’s use to destroy embarrassing foot odor.

X-Static^®, the Silver Fiber is the brand name of silver used in all Acor^® footwear. X-Static^® has a layer of silver permanently bonded to the surface of the fiber. This fiber then sewn into the lining of Acor footwear and is collectively known as Sole Defense^®. Our footwear offers all benefits inherent in pure silver. Below is a summary of how Acor footwear can benefit you and your foot care needs.

ADVANTAGES OF SILVER

Our feet and shoes harbor millions of organisms and bacteria which can be harmful to us. On average, our feet sweat a cup of moisture per day, and the heat and moisture that build up in our shoes create a breeding ground for these bacteria and fungi to grow. This is why people experience such maladies as Athlete’s Foot (tinea pedis). The antimicrobial performance of our Sole Defense^® footwear with X-Static^® has proven to have distinct performance advantages:

Speed: Sole Defense^® footwear eliminates 99.9% of bacteria on the material in less than one hour of exposure.

Effectiveness: Silver kills bacteria and fungi faster as the temperature in your footwear rises due to activity..

Safe and Natural: X-Static^® is made with pure silver, a naturally occurring element. There are no chemicals or fear of toxicity to the consumer.

Permanent: The silver in Sole Defense^® footwear becomes a physical part of the fiber. The performance of the product will not diminish over time.

A common misconception is that antimicrobial is synonymous with anti-odor. Sole Defense^® offers both antimicrobial and anti-odor benefits. Bacteria are only one cause of body odor. Ammonia and denatured proteins are also significant contributors to odor in footwear. Incredibly, both ammonia and denatured proteins bind most readily with silver. Because silver is on the outside of the fiber, X-Static^® allows for immediate binding with these odor causing agents –resulting in instant odor reduction!

The biophysics of footwear has become an area of significant interest in recent years. It is now possible to use the existing energy of the body and the environment to actively regulate temperature through heat transfer.

Cold Weather Solution: Sole Defense^® footwear enhances the natural movement of moisture through evaporation. With Sole Defense^® footwear, the X-Static^® material accelerates the evaporation of moisture. As a result, Sole Defense^® footwear transports moisture away from the body faster, allowing for a more comfortable environment and less potential for convective heat loss.

Warm Weather Solution: In warm weather, Sole Defense^® footwear with
X-Static^® addresses evaporation by dissipating the amount of moisture in contact with your feet. What’s more, because heat and moisture are being dispersed over the entire surface of the shoe or orthotic, hot spots and blisters are greatly reduced!