What Is Colloidal Silver?

What is colloidal silver? Silver is a naturally occurring mineral. Its particles suspended in liquid is what is known as colloidal silver.

Silver has no recognized purpose in the body and is not a needed mineral supplement, despite what its proponents say. Over-the-counter medicinal medicines containing colloidal silver were formerly available.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States concluded in 1999 that colloidal silver products were neither safe nor effective. Without FDA clearance as a new medicine, colloidal silver items advertised for medicinal reasons or pushed for untested applications are now considered “misbranded” under the law.

There are presently no FDA-approved silver-containing over-the-counter or prescription medications that may be taken by mouth. However, colloidal silver is still available as a homeopathic remedy and a food supplement.

There are several advertisements on the Internet seeking parts for a colloidal silver generator that may be used at home. People who make colloidal silver at home are unlikely to be able to test the purity or strength of their output. There are several alternatives to colloidal silver that are considerably safer and more effective.

Despite these safety and efficacy issues, individuals continue to buy colloidal silver as a dietary supplement and utilize it for a variety of maladies.
People use colloidal silver to treat infections, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and a variety of other ailments, but there is no scientific proof to back up these claims. Colloidal silver can potentially be dangerous.

How does it work?

Colloidal silver can kill certain germs by binding to and destroying proteins.
The mechanism by which silver works is not well known. However, research shows that once ingested, the silver particles release silver irons, which attach to the proteins present on the bacteria’s cell wall, causing damage to the cell membrane.

Silver irons also penetrate the cells, damaging their DNA and disrupting the bacteria’s metabolic processes leading to cell death.

Silver’s ability to effectively fight infection depends on the size of the silver partials and their concentration within the solution.

Benefits of Silver

So what are the benefits of the silver for the body?

1. Antibacterial

Silver had a vital role in combating infections until the 1940s when new antibiotics arrived.

Silver has also been demonstrated to defend against a wide spectrum of germs in lab experiments. It also has the ability to manage microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics. In the United States, this is a prevalent cause of re-infection. According to studies, drug-resistant superbugs infect about 2 million individuals each year, killing roughly 23,000 of them.

Penicillin resistance is a typical antibiotic-bacterial resistance; nonetheless, superbugs can resist even other drug variants. Antibiotic-resistant organisms are prevalent pathogens that cause pneumonia, TB, and gonorrhea.

According to a study published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine, silver nanoparticles obstruct viral interaction within the cell, decreasing viral infectivity.

Silver, unlike traditional antibiotics, does not provide immunity to the organisms it is designed to kill.

Silver is also commonly utilized in medical equipment and wound dressing products due to its ability to entirely remove a wide spectrum of bacteria.

2. Antiviral drugs

Silver may be used as an antiviral treatment for a variety of ailments, including herpes, pneumonia, warts, and shingles. It has also been demonstrated to aid AIDs patients to weaken HIV viral activity.

The silver nanoparticles impede viral contact within the cell, lowering viral infectivity, according to research published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine.

3. Promotes skin health and wound healing

Silver treatments can successfully cure a variety of ailments, including burns, periodontitis, and thrush, according to research.

Historically, topical silver was originally used to treat burns, but that practice was discontinued after antibiotics were developed.

Ringworms (tinea capitis), a fungal illness caused by a fungus that dwells on the top layer of the skin, may be treated with topical silver, which is a potent antifungal.

It may also help with eczema and psoriasis, among other skin diseases.

4. Anti-inflammatory

Silver is a powerful anti-inflammatory that has been proved to decrease swelling, speed up recovery, and aid in healing.

In one research, colloidal silver treatment resulted in normal skin in initially inflamed pigs’ skin after 72 hours of therapy, whereas other groups not treated with silver stayed the same. These findings are encouraging and suggest that further human trials should be done.

5. Best for treating sinusitis

Colloidal silver can be used as a nasal spray to help with sinus problems.

Furthermore, research published in Frontiers in Microbiology indicated that using colloidal silver nasal rinses twice a day for 10 days can help with chronic sinusitis.

Patients were given either colloidal silver nasal rinses or oral antibiotics with saline rinses in the research, and both groups saw equivalent improvements in their symptoms at the conclusion.

6. Fights cold and flu

Flu and the common cold are at their peak during the winter months, and taking a coated colloidal silver supplement will help you keep on top of them. Its capacity to combat infections, minimize inflammation, and stimulate the immune system contributes to this.

7. Promotes pneumonia treatment

With so much antibiotic resistance and a variety of causative agents, colloidal silver may be your best bet for treating pneumonia, particularly if it’s caused by a virus.

Colloidal silver can be consumed or utilized in inhalation therapies, bringing it into close touch with germs in the lungs.

What Is Colloidal Silver Used For?

Manufacturers of colloidal silver claim their products can stimulate the immune system and help the body heal itself. Supporters believe the supplement can help:

Heal wounds
Improve skin disorders
Prevent or treat disorder like flu, pneumonia, herpes, eye infections, shingles, cancer, andAids

A couple of these statements are supported by test-tube experiments. They reveal that colloidal silver possesses antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities. What isn’t shown in the research is what happens outside of the test tube.Colloidal silver, when ingested, has the potential to be poisonous.

It can potentially result in death in extreme circumstances. Furthermore, there is minimal evidence that silver possesses antibacterial capabilities inside the body.

In the end, the human body does not require silver. It isn’t a necessary mineral, and it serves no biological purpose.

Silver poisoning is uncommon, although it may accumulate in the body over months and years. This can result in severe deformity as well as toxic deposits in the liver, spleen, kidney, muscle, and brain.

That isn’t to suggest that silver isn’t good for you. Colloidal silver, when applied topically (to the skin), can aid with wound healing and infection prevention.

Only test-tube experiments have proved that colloidal silver has any advantages, however, it is unnecessary for individuals to ingest it, and it may even be hazardous.

Wound Healing

Several studies looked at the use of silver-containing dressings on skin ulcers and wounds. They found that the silver particles had antibacterial properties that help treat:

Diabetic ulcers
Skin grafts
Bed sores
Necrotizing fasciitis (also known as flesh-eating bacteria)
Other serious skin injuries.

The effects of a skin cream containing silver nanoparticles (tiny particles) and ordinary skin cream were examined in a 2018 study. They came to the conclusion that the silver-based cream decreased skin irritation during healing and aided skin regeneration more quickly than the standard cream.This shows that applying silver-containing items to the skin for a short period of time might help heal skin infections and ulcers.

Possible Side Effects

People who take colloidal silver may not experience any immediate side effects. The concerns are related more to the long-term effects of colloidal silver use.

That’s because particles accumulate in the body over time. They embed themselves in organs and tissues, especially the skin. Over time, this can lead to a permanent, disfiguring condition called argyria.

Argyria causes tissues to turn bluish-gray in color. It affects the gums first, followed by the skin, eyes, nails, and deeper tissue layers. Headache, fatigue, and myoclonic seizures (sudden muscle contractions) may also occur.

It’s unclear how toxic silver is to internal organs. But animal studies show that unusually high levels can:

Interfere with kidney and liver function
Damage to the central nervous system
Cause bones to release calcium

Research by the National Toxicology Program suggests that silver doesn’t cause cancer. It’s not known how silver affects reproduction or pregnancy. Several deaths are linked with colloidal silver use, including a case report published in Neurology. In this case, a 71-year-old man died after he took a daily dose of colloidal silver for four months.

Long-term usage of colloidal silver can cause your tissues to become bluish-gray, which is a dangerous condition. It may also have an impact on organ function and possibly cause death.

Drug Interactions

Several drugs can interact with colloidal silver. As your body metabolizes the medicine, it may make it less effective, raise adverse effects, or damage liver function.

Possible interactions include:

Antiarrhythmic drugs like Cordarone (amiodarone)
Antifungals like Diflucan (fluconazole) and Sporanox (itraconazole)
Levothyroxine, used to treat thyroid problems
Methotrexate, used to treat autoimmune disorders
Penicillamine, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
Quinolone antibiotics, including Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Penetrex (enoxacin)
Statin drugs like Pravachol (pravastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin)
Tetracycline antibiotics, including Achromycin (tetracycline) and Minocin (minocycline)
Tylenol (acetaminophen)Other drug interactions are possible. Tell your healthcare provider if you’re taking colloidal silver, even for short-term use.

Dosage and Preparation

There is no such thing as a safe dosage of colloidal silver. Furthermore, it is unknown when silver becomes poisonous.

The fact that the concentration of silver particles varies from one brand to the next is part of the problem. Some brands include as low as 15 parts per million (ppm), while others have over 500 ppm. Your age, weight, and health state might all influence your decision.

Despite the FDA’s finding that colloidal silver products are unsafe, they are nevertheless accessible as dietary supplements. The majority of them are in liquid form.

Colloidal silver is also available as:

Soaps
Mouthwash
Eye drops
Body lotions
Cough drops
Nasal sprays

Colloidal silver does not have a suggested effective dose. The maximum dose that is considered safe is likewise unclear. Colloidal silver comes in a variety of forms, including nutritional supplements, lotions, cough drops, and nasal sprays.

What to Look For

Supplements are not subjected to the same level of study or testing as prescription or over-the-counter medications. As a result, quality varies greatly from one maker to the next.
Few colloidal silver products are approved by a third-party certifying organization such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), ConsumerLab, or NSF International. As a result, it’s difficult to determine what’s in a product or how safe it is.

If you opt to purchase colloidal silver, look for a product that clearly displays the silver concentration in parts per million (ppm) on the label. Keep in mind that little is more. Conclusion
A solution of silver suspended in a liquid is known as colloidal silver. It’s said to provide a slew of health advantages, but most of them are unproven.

When applied to the skin, colloidal silver has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, making it useful for treating skin infections and ulcers. Silver products, on the other hand, are neither safe nor effective, according to the FDA.

Don’t be fooled by health claims that aren’t backed up by evidence. Finally, whether colloidal silver is swallowed, injected, or breathed, there is no recognized benefit. And it’s possible that it’ll do more harm than good.

References:

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Colloidal silver.
Dakal TC, Kumar A, Majumdar RS, Yadav V. Mechanistic basis of antimicrobial actionsof silver nanoparticles. Front Microbiol. 2016;7:1831. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01831
Lansdown AB. A pharmacological and toxicological profile of silver as an antimicrobial agent in medical devices. Adv Pharmacol Sci. 2010;2010:910686.doi:10.1155/2010/910686
Gianino E, Miller C, Gilmore J. Smart wound dressings for diabetic chronic wounds.Bioengineering (Basel). 2018;5(3). doi:10.3390/bioengineering5030051
Oryan A, Alemzadeh E, Tashkhourian J, Nami Ana SF. Topical delivery of chitosan-capped silver nanoparticles speeds up healing in burn wounds: a preclinicalstudy. Carbohydr Polym. 2018;200:82-92. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.07.077
Lencastre A, Lobo M, João A. Argyria—case report. An Bras Dermatol.2013;88(3):413-416. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20131864
NIH National Toxicology Program. Testing status of silver acetate M000073.
Mirsattari SM, Hammond RR, Sharpe MD, Leung FY, Young GB. Myoclonic statusepilepticus following repeated oral ingestion of colloidal silver. Neurology. 2004;62(8):1408-1410. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000120671.73335.ec
Chang S-Y, Huang K-Y, Chao T-L, et al. Nanoparticle composite TPNT1 is effective against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8692. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-87254-3