The cleansing properties of copper have been well documented over the centuries. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used powder of copper oxide and copper sulphate on open wounds and mentioned it as a cure for leg ulcers.

Despite the fact that bacteria were not discovered until the 19th century, copper vessels were often used in Egypt to help with the sterilisation of drinking water, while the Aztecs would gargle with copper mixtures to cure sore throats.