Colloidal silver has been marketed as something akin to a magic potion by organizations that specialize in the field of alternative medicine. They see it as an effective antibacterial supplement which is superior to modern day antibiotics. The one problem supporters of colloidal silver face is the fact that medical evidence does not support their lofty claims. Of course, accusations have been thrown around by those in favour of colloidal silver including suggestions that medical evidence which dismisses it was collected by those who have a vested interest in antibiotics.
It has even been suggested that the amount of profit made by companies who manufacture synthetic drugs and doctors who prescribe them is a good enough motive to ignore alternative medicine. Companies who sell colloidal silver suggest that their product is easy to digest and is able to fight bacteria in a way synthetic drugs cannot.
Explaining Silver
There are dozens of different dietary supplements containing silver. It can be confusing to a consumer because there is colloidal silver, ionic silver and silver proteins amongst other forms of the metal within these supplements. This can make it difficult for customers to figure out what their supplement does for them.
Yet silver is quite easy to understand. It has positively or negatively charged ions with three different positive charges. Only the singly charged ion is stable in the majority of solutions. Colloidal silver normally comes in the form of uncharged silver particles combined with positively charged ions which are suspended in solutions such as ionized water or saline. Most companies use vague labels which do not distinguish between the different forms of silver. Labelling a product “silver proteins” helps no one because it could be any combination of silver ions. Consumption of colloidal silver leads to silver ions being released in the body but no one knows at what rate this occurs.
Good or Bad Bacteria?
Companies that market colloidal silver suggest that its main benefits include fighting bad bacteria. Various experiments have found that silver particles enter the body and become attached to bacteria cells. The silver also stops bacteria from creating new protection which makes them even more open to attack from antimicrobial agents. Effectively, bacteria are unable to resist colloidal silver and become stronger which happens when synthetic drugs are used too often on a patient.
However, a large hole appears in the colloidal silver theory. There is no evidence to suggest that the silver particles only attack harmful forms of bacteria. This means colloidal silver is capable of killing good bacteria just as easily as harmful strains. As this news damages the claims of colloidal silver companies, they skip the issue entirely or come up with vague solutions such as consuming live culture yoghurt one hour after taking colloidal silver. Apparently, this should create good bacteria in your system once more.
The Side Effects of Colloidal Silver
An extremely rare condition known as Argyria is caused by overexposure to silver. It would appear that an extreme overdose of colloidal silver is required for this to happen however. It has also been suggested that high quality silver is excreted from the body thus avoiding excess amounts of silver remaining in the body. These silver deposits are what cause Argyria and the resultant grey skin colouring. Laboratory tests on rats have also revealed that reduced liver function is another effect of colloidal silver if too much is consumed.
It would seem that colloidal silver is more toxic than magic and should be avoided until clearer scientific evidence is found. Certainly, sensational claims relating to colloidal silver including its ability to cure cancer need to be ignored. All available research suggests that colloidal silver may have antibacterial properties but there is no way of knowing how effective it is. There is also the possibility that it will kill good bacteria which will quickly lead to ill health.
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Colloidal silver has enjoyed an upsurge in popularity in the last twenty years with all sorts of claims being made regarding its health benefits. It is suggested that colloidal silver is superior to synthetic drugs because bacteria are unable to build up an immunity to it unlike manmade medications which have inadvertently increased the strength of certain bacterial strains. Yet amidst all the hyperbole about this product, extensive research seems to suggest that it is not the all-healing elixir it is commonly portrayed as.
Silver Exposure
We are all exposed to trace amounts of silver in the course of our everyday lives. Food, drinking water and air often contain miniscule amounts of silver which is not an essential mineral. It was used by ancient civilizations as a disinfectant and this process was carried on through to the 20th century. The advent of modern antibiotics spelled the end for colloidal silver as a chief means of fighting bacteria but various companies have been trying to suggest that it is superior to antibiotics since the 1990s in extensive marketing drives.
False Claims
Claims that colloidal silver can kill one hundred times more bacteria than synthetic drugs have been dismissed out of hand by the world’s health authorities. Most countries do not consider colloidal silver as being a safe way to treat illnesses. In fact, the American Food and Drug Administration has taken legal action against companies that advertise colloidal silver as a better way of defeating bacteria than antibiotics. Cynics and proponents of colloidal silver suggest that this is simply a way of governments to make extra money from antibiotics that do not work. Yet detailed scientific research has shown that colloidal silver is not the wonder cure it is claimed to be.
Argyria
In fact, there are numerous side effects attributed to excessive use of colloidal silver, the most serious of which is Argyria. Claims that it is impossible to overdose on silver appear to be false. As silver does not have a metabolic function, the minimal amounts that get into our body are removed through excretion. However, excessive intake can cause Argyria which occurs when silver gets caught and stored in the body’s internal organs. This causes the skin to turn grey. Argyria was common in the era prior to antibiotics when doctors routinely recommended nose drops which contained silver to patients. Discovery of Argyria soon caused physicians to cease prescribing this form of medication.
It is extremely difficult to treat this condition, though laser therapy is available to those seeking restoration of their skin to its normal colour. However, there have been numerous cases where Argyria has become a permanent condition. Argyria is caused when colloidal silver becomes mixed with proteins. It is not known how much colloidal silver needs to be consumed in order for Argyria to occur but it has been concluded that the alleged benefits of the product are far outweighed by its side effects.
Other Side Effects
Arteriosclerosis is another negative effect of colloidal silver. This condition involves the arteries hardening to an extent where a heart attack could ensue. Contrary to the claim that colloidal silver benefits the immune system, excessive use could actually destroy it as the silver deposits on inner organs causing illness. It has also been discovered that colloidal silver reacts badly with drugs such as thyroxine and tetracyclines.
Therefore, it appears that colloidal silver causes more harm than good with its positive effects seemingly exaggerated. There is no real medical evidence to back up claims of its potency against hundreds of different bacteria forms. However, plenty of research suggests that excessive use is extremely harmful. What’s worse is that companies marketing the product suggest that it is impossible to overdose on colloidal silver when this is clearly not the case.
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Colloidal silver has seen a revival in its use after over half a century of being ignored in favour of modern antibiotics. Its usage is possible thanks to colloidal chemistry which converts metals and minerals into sub-microscopic particles that can be used by the human body’s cells. Particles which are suspended without dissolving are called colloids. Colloidal silver works by attracting dead and sick cells into the bloodstream. The body then destroys these harmful and useless cells, improving the body’s immune system. Those who market colloidal silver also suggest that these silver particles nourish the body.
Colloidal Silver and Bacteria
The use of silver to fight bacteria is a process which is thousands of years old. Its use became popularized in the 19th century when it became apparent that silver was effective when dealing with certain infectious diseases. Electricity allowed scientists to convert silver into colloids which could then be entered into the human body. It is claimed that silver ions act as enzyme inhibitors and stop micro-organisms from oxidizing.
Pathogens like fungi and viruses are also destroyed which improves the immune system’s ability to remove waste from the body. While opponents of colloidal silver suggest that its ability to kill bacteria is overstated, proponents claim to have conducted research which shows that this form of silver can kill more than 600 pathogens in comparison to the handful that normal antibiotics can defeat.
Colloidal Silver vs. Synthetic Drugs
Synthetic antibiotics replaced colloidal silver as a means of fighting bacteria. For decades, these laboratory made drugs have been prescribed by doctors to ward off infections. However, overuse of synthetic antibiotics can adversely affect the human body because bacteria has the ability to resist such treatments over time.
A report from Atlanta’s Centre for Disease Control in 2000 showed that more than 70,000 people had died in the United States because synthetic drugs were ineffective when treating patient’s infections. This was solely due to the fact that the bacteria had successfully built up an immunity to these types of antibiotics. Such manmade drugs are now held responsible for the advent of super bugs such as MRSA. Colloidal silver is alleged to have the ability to kill bacteria that synthetic drugs cannot because the bacteria is unable to form an immunity.
Silver Sensationalism
It should be noted that some of the more sensational claims about the properties of colloidal silver should be discounted. Suggestions that it can fight serious and life threatening illnesses such as cancer are not accompanied by scientific evidence. Another thing to note is that silver does not constitute one of the body’s essential minerals. Therefore, adverts which claim that it is important to use colloidal silver to avoid silver deficiency are wide of the mark.
External Uses
It is also said that colloidal silver is useful when applied externally. For example, men can apply it to their face after shaving in order to heal cuts and ease the pain of razor burn. Colloidal silver is also deemed to have positive effects on the skin when applied. Everyone’s face has numerous impurities which may be eliminated by the silver. Colloidal silver is often used to treat acne and it can also be used to stop the skin from peeling after experiencing sunburn.
Dosage
Colloidal silver can be purchased in strengths of 50ppm (parts per million) and 500ppm. The 50ppm dosage should be used when using it externally against eye infections or when putting it on the skin to treat acne and small cuts. The 500ppm dosage should only be used when combating internal infections. The silver should be kept in a cool, dark place and kept in a dark, glass bottle. It is suggested that four doses a day should be taken for the greatest benefit.
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