Why is colloidal silver good for you

Small amounts of silver oxide dissolve in water and the silver ions in solution can indeed disrupt the metabolism of bacterial cells. Some water filters today contain small amounts of silver oxide to prevent bacterial contamination within the filter and silver nitrate is sometimes used in eye drops administered to new born babies to prevent conjunctivitis, an infection that can be acquired by passage through the birth canal.

But these applications are a long way from curing AIDS or cancer. There is no evidence that taking colloidal silver orally has the claimed beneficial effects. There is evidence that it can cause harm. Before antibiotics, silver nitrate nose drops were commonly used in the battle against infection. But not for long. They were afflicted by a condition known as argyria in which silver compounds deposit in the skin. This can happen with colloidal silver as well.

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We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. Those who use colloidal silver take it as a dietary supplement or apply it directly to their skin. Colloidal silver is a suspension of silver particles in a liquid. Colloidal silver is said to have broad antibacterial and antiseptic effects when taken orally or placed on a wound. However, research suggests that it attaches to proteins on the cell walls of bacteria, damaging their cell membranes 2 , 3 , 4.

A large number of small particles has a greater surface area than a lower number of large particles. As a result, a solution that contains more silver nanoparticles, which have a smaller particle size, may release more silver ions.

Silver ions are released from the silver particles when they come into contact with moisture, such as body fluids. Commercially available colloidal solutions can vary widely in the way that they are produced, as well as the number and size of the silver particles they contain. The exact way colloidal silver works is not fully understood. Test-tube studies have shown that colloidal silver can kill a wide range of bacteria 8 , 9 , This has translated to its use in some healthcare products like wound creams, wound dressings and medical equipment 7 , However, due to the risks associated with ingesting colloidal silver, the effects of doing so have not been tested as an antibacterial treatment in humans Some studies have suggested that different types of silver nanoparticles may help kill viral compounds However, the amount of nanoparticles in a colloid solution can vary, and a recent study found colloidal silver to be ineffective at killing viruses, even in test-tube conditions 9.

No studies have investigated the effects of ingesting colloidal silver on viruses in people, so it lacks evidence to support its use in this way. One test-tube study showed it may stop the growth of some strains of fungi This is why some manufacturers use silver in their bandages. Silver can kill microorganisms by binding to their cells, without necessarily damaging human cells.

However, there is no evidence that colloidal silver has beneficial antimicrobial effects when ingested by mouth. Very little evidence supports claims about the health benefits of colloidal silver. Taking large doses may carry significant risks. Until researchers have conducted more tests, a person should take other medications, ensuring that they are backed by substantial evidence.

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