Countless celebrities and alleged health aficionados have touted the supposed benefits of colloidal silver. However, if you dig deep into these alleged benefits of it, you won’t like what you find. Colloidal silver manufacturers’ claims about this product’s seemingly miraculous effects on the human body should not be blindly accepted. Plenty of research shows colloidal silver is ineffective and in some situations, unsafe.
What is Colloidal Silver?
Colloidal silver products are created with diminutive particles of silver suspended within de-mineralized water that allegedly destroys viruses and bacteria. These silver particles are commonly used in dental fillings, jewelry, silverware and an array of other consumer goods. Colloidal silver manufacturers claim these products are highly effective dietary supplements taken in an oral manner. A handful of colloidal silver products are applicable by way of injection or direct application to the skin.
The Truth about Colloidal Silver
Those who have taken the time to research colloidal silver have found it has no known purpose for the human body. It is not an essential mineral. This is not a cure-all like many of its manufacturers claim. It does not bolster the immune system. Nor does it combat viruses, bacteria, HIV/AIDS, cancer, shingles, prostatis, eye ailments or herpes. There are no reputable scientific studies to support such health claims.
Though some scientific studies outline the alleged benefits of colloidal silver, they are not considered to be sound. Nor have such studies been published in legitimate medical journals. Making matters worse for colloidal silver proponents is the fact that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against several colloidal silver product manufacturers for making over reaching health claims.
Colloidal Silver’s Potential for Harm
Consume too much colloidal silver and it can harm your body. In fact, some of those who swear by colloidal silver have taken too much of the product, resulting in an abundance of silver salt deposits that turned their skin a blue or grey hue. This hue can even extend to the eyes, gums, nails and internal organs. This phenomenon is referred to as argyria.
Though argyria is not a major health problem, it is certainly a cosmetic concern as it lasts beyond the period in which one ceases use of colloidal silver products. In extreme scenarios, especially large doses of colloidal silver can spur serious health issues that might prove irreversible. Examples of such health problems include neurological health problems like seizures and even kidney damage.
It is also possible for colloidal silver products to interact with medications like thyroxine, tetracycline, penicillamine and quinolone antibiotics. It is quite telling that the official drug guidebooks (National Formulary and United States Pharmacopeia) have refused to list colloidal silver products since the mid-1970s.
Colloidal Silver Case Reports and Studies
Take a look at the colloidal silver case reports and studies performed by the FDA and other respected groups and you will find a number of common themes emerge. Those who have studied colloidal silver products in-depth have found they are often contaminated with microorganisms. The amount of actual silver within the base solution significantly differed from one product to the next. In fact, several studies found the amount of colloidal silver in the base solution decreased as time progressed. Few colloidal silver products show significant antibacterial activity in lab tests.
The FDA’s Take on Colloidal Silver
FDA lab studies have determined the level of silver within product samples ranged from 15.2 percent all the way up to 124 percent. The FDA proposed a ban of colloidal silver in over-the-counter products in October of 1996. An official rule banning the use of colloidal silver in such products was issued in August of 1999. The rule is applicable to nonprescription colloidal silver and silver salt products that are allegedly effective in treating or preventing disease.
However, colloidal silver products are still sold under the guise of “dietary supplements” as long as health claims are not made. It is also worth noting that in 2000, the FDA issued nearly two dozen warnings to companies with websites that made illegal therapeutic claims regarding colloidal silver products.
Don’t Waste Your Money on Colloidal Silver
Peruse local health stores and online merchants for colloidal silver and you will find it is extremely expensive. It is not worth the money. The FDA has determined the risk of using colloidal silver products exceeds the possible but wholly unsubstantiated benefits. So don’t follow the lead of Hollywood celebrities on this one. Colloidal silver certainly has its fair share of supporters yet the truth of the matter is that it is ineffective and potentially harmful.
~ Health Scams Exposed
