Is Colloidal Silver Safe ???

My sister ask me about colloidal Silver. She found several articles saying it is safe.

from Brent A. Bauer, M.D.

Colloidal silver isn't considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Silver has no known purpose in the body. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim.

Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid Colloidal silver products are usually marketed as dietary supplements that are taken by mouth. Colloidal silver products also come in forms to be injected or applied to the skin.

Manufacturers of colloidal silver products often claim that they are cure-alls, boosting your immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, and treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, shingles, herpes, eye ailments and prostatitis. However, no sound scientific studies to evaluate these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals.

The Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has taken action against some manufacturers of colloidal silver products for making unproven health claims. Because it is being sold as a supplement rather than a medicine the FDA can not shut down its use as a supplement.

It's not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums from head to foot. While this doesn't pose a serious health problem, it can be a cosmetic concern because it doesn't go away when you stop taking silver products.

Rarely, excessive doses of colloidal silver can cause possibly irreversible serious health problems, including kidney damage and neurological problems such as seizures. Colloidal silver products may also interact with medications, including penicillamine, quinolone, tetracycline and thyroxine medications.

A silver ion in large enough quantities will kill bacteria. The Romans made water pitchers out of silver to protect them from bacterial diseases. Even today silver is used as a coating on some medical devices. Silver is also contained in some creams used to disinfect wounds.

But besides the danger of looking like papa smurf there is no good reason to kill all the trillions bacteria that help your immune system, that provide you with vitamin K and that help you digest foods.

Remember when anyone claims  a supplement cures cancer, HIV, TB, and a dozen other things they are lying.

Note If you have a question about a health problem like my sister  just write in the comment system. I will try to get you an answer.

Picture from Wikipedia