by Jack Croes

Created on: March 16, 2010

The Dangers of Colloidal Silver

The use of silver in medicine is ancient. And because it was widely used skin color changed to a silver hue on countless human beings. And because it was at best marginally effective against some bacteria the remedies had some merit. Silver nitrate is a remedy for eye infection even today. It is dropped into the eyes of new-born to prevent eye infection This application is demanded in many states in the United States. Before the use of the sulfa drugs and penicillin, colloidal silver was a part of medical armament but after 1975 it was dropped form the National formulary.

Many good old remedies have been forgotten and are unused in medical practice today. Colloidal silver was the best available in those early days. And like many other discontinued medicines, alternative medicine has revived the use of many of these "obsolete" cures. Much of the gain in alternative medicine as opposed to general medical practice is due to this reintroduction. Unfortunately colloidal silver is one of those whose late introduction is much questioned.

As stated above, one of the side effects of utilizing colloidal silver is that human skin assumes the silver hue. This can happen in a short time. Stan Jones, a candidate for the US Senate from Montana, developed this condition in 1999 after short time use. A 16 year old boy developed the hue over his entire body after taking the solution for the prevention of bacterial infections. His use was less than a year long.

However negative this side effect of skin color is, the important fact is that, in whatever dose, it is as best marginal in killing bacteria as stated above. As many infections have become immune to the use of antibiotics, the pressure to use the silver product increases. Much of the product that now appears on health food shelves has been found inaccurately listed and the list of claims for antibacterial properties misleading and untrue. There have even been claims that the silver is an essential nutritive for human use which simply not true.

The most important of the contraindications of colloidal silver is that its use does not serve well to kill bacteria as claimed. As bacteria gain immunity to antibiotics, the use of the wrong medication can prove more debilitating or even lethal.   In hospitals across our country the fear of these potent bacterial become more feared daily.   The search for cures intensify.  Wise choice of alternatives  become of prime importance.  Colloidal silver is not wise antibacterial selection for wide use.

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