Colloidal silver

Jump to navigation Jump to search

WikiDoc Resources for Colloidal silver

Articles

Most recent articles on Colloidal silver

Most cited articles on Colloidal silver

Review articles on Colloidal silver

Articles on Colloidal silver in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Colloidal silver

Images of Colloidal silver

Photos of Colloidal silver

Podcasts & MP3s on Colloidal silver

Videos on Colloidal silver

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Colloidal silver

Bandolier on Colloidal silver

TRIP on Colloidal silver

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Colloidal silver at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Colloidal silver

Clinical Trials on Colloidal silver at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Colloidal silver

NICE Guidance on Colloidal silver

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Colloidal silver

CDC on Colloidal silver

Books

Books on Colloidal silver

News

Colloidal silver in the news

Be alerted to news on Colloidal silver

News trends on Colloidal silver

Commentary

Blogs on Colloidal silver

Definitions

Definitions of Colloidal silver

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Colloidal silver

Discussion groups on Colloidal silver

Patient Handouts on Colloidal silver

Directions to Hospitals Treating Colloidal silver

Risk calculators and risk factors for Colloidal silver

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Colloidal silver

Causes & Risk Factors for Colloidal silver

Diagnostic studies for Colloidal silver

Treatment of Colloidal silver

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Colloidal silver

International

Colloidal silver en Espanol

Colloidal silver en Francais

Business

Colloidal silver in the Marketplace

Patents on Colloidal silver

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Colloidal silver


Colloidal silver is a liquid suspension of microscopic particles of silver. A colloid is technically defined as particles which remain suspended without forming an ionic, or dissolved solution. The broader commercial definition of "colloidal silver" includes products that contain various concentrations of ionic silver, silver colloids, ionic silver compounds or silver proteins in purified water. Colloidal silver with concentrations of 30 parts per million (ppm) or less are typically manufactured using an electrolysis process, whereas colloidal silver with higher concentrations of 50 ppm or more are usually either silver compounds such as silver chloride and silver iodide or are solutions that have been bound with a protein to disperse the particles.

History and Applications

Concentrations of colloidal silver at 5 parts per million or higher have been found to kill numerous infectious bacteria.[1] Prior to 1938, colloidal silver was widely used by physicians as a mainstream antibiotic.[2] It was produced by pharmaceutical companies under various names, including Protargol and Argyrol. But the material was costly and the pharmaceutical industry developed fast-acting, less-expensive sulfa drugs and penicillin. Colloidal silver has been approved by the EPA as a disinfectant for hospitals and medical centers.[3]

Compounds of silver also have a long history in medicine. Silver nitrate solutions were introduced by Credé in 1880 to protect newborn infants' eyes from infection,[4] but have largely been replaced by antibiotic ointments since 1978.[5][6] (Silver nitrate solutions are not the same thing as a suspension of colloidal silver.) Silver-containing cremes such as silver sulfadiazine have been used in burn centers for more than 100 years.[7]

Method of Action

Colloidal silver is reported to kill bacteria via the oligodynamic effect by inhibiting the expression of enzymes and other proteins essential to ATP production. [8]

Toxicities

Argyria

Long-term intake of silver products may result in a condition known as argyria, one symptom of which is a blue or gray discoloration of the skin.[9] It occurs when sunlight interacts with silver deposited in the skin, in the same way that silver particles in photographic film darken when exposed to sunlight. It can occur both via ingestion of silver, or through topical application of silver to the skin.[citation needed] While generally considered permanent,[10] some have claimed to have reversed it.[11] Death of a 71 year old man has been reported following four months use of oral colloidal silver.[12]

Many scientific articles report cases of argyria after ingestion of colloidal silver.[13][14][15][16][17][18]

Government reactions

In August 1999 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a ruling banning colloidal silver sellers from claiming any therapeutic value for the product. Unless a drug has undergone the rigorous safety and efficacy testing required of pharmaceuticals no medical benefits can be claimed. Such testing has not been conducted with colloidal silver, so the product now has the status of a dietary supplement in the US (dietary supplements cannot claim to cure diseases, only that they "support healthy functioning").[19] The FDA has issued warnings to Internet sites selling or promoting colloidal silver as an antibiotic or for other medical purposes.[20] If no medical benefits are claimed, colloidal silver is sold as a supplement, and as long as the products comply with all other FDA regulations, its sale is considered legal.[21] In 2002, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration ruled that colloidal silver-containing products were no longer exempted from therapeutic goods legislation and had to meet the requirements of other products covered by this law. A TGA investigation found that "there are no current legitimate uses of colloidal silver and that the Surveillance Section of the TGA be requested to investigate the illegal availability of colloidal silver products because of concerns about their significant toxicity. The reasons for the recommendation were that:

"There is little evidence to support therapeutic claims made for colloidal silver products; the risk to consumers of silver toxicity outweighs the value of trying an unsubstantiated treatment, and bacterial resistance to silver can occur; and efforts should be made to curb the illegal availability of colloidal silver products, which is a significant public health issue." .[22]

References

  1. BYU Study
  2. Journal of American Science, 3(3), 2007, Ma Hongbao, Horng Dengnan, Cherng Shen, Colloidal Silver [1]
  3. Interview with Keith Moeller of American Biotech Labs on the disinfectant powers of colloidal silver
  4. AccessMedicine - Williams Obstetrics: Preventive Care
  5. neonatal gonoccal prophylaxis [2]
  6. Neonatal Conjuctivitis [3]
  7. Complementary Medicine - Information about complementary & alternative medical therapies, Cedars-Sinai Health System
  8. http://aem.asm.org/cgi/reprint/71/11/7589.pdf
  9. Skin dicoloration following the administration of colloidal silver in cystic fibrosis PMID 18025945
  10. Believe it or not- silver still poisons PMID 18025945
  11. Argyria-Reversal Claim
  12. Myoclonic status epilepticus following repeated oral ingestion of colloidal silver PMID 15111684
  13. Kalouche H, Watson A, Routley D , Blue lunulae: argyria and hypercopprecaemia , Australas J Dermatol. 2007 Aug;48(3):182-4
  14. Baker CD, Federico MJ, Accurso FJ, Case report: skin discoloration following administration of colloidal silver in cystic fibrosis, Curr Opin Pediatr. 2007 Dec;19(6):733-735 PMID 18025945
  15. Chang AL, Khosravi V, Egbert B, A case of argyria after colloidal silver ingestion, J Cutan Pathol. 2006 Dec;33(12):809-11 PMID 17177941
  16. Wadhera A, Fung M, Systemic argyria associated with ingestion of colloidal silver, Dermatol Online J. 2005 Mar 1;11(1):12 online: [4]
  17. Brandt D, Park B, Hoang M, Jacobe HT., Argyria secondary to ingestion of homemade silver solution, J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Aug;53(2 Suppl 1):S105-7
  18. McKenna JK, Hull CM, Zone JJ, Argyria associated with colloidal silver supplementation, Int J Dermatol. 2003 Jul;42(7):549
  19. COLLOIDAL SILVER NOT APPROVED FDA reports "Use of colloidal silver ingredients in food-producing animals constitutes a potentially serious public health concern", Wednesday, February 12, 1997
  20. FDA warning healthymagnets
  21. FDA ISSUES FINAL RULE ON OTC DRUG PRODUCTS CONTAINING COLLOIDAL SILVER FDA, 1999-08-17
  22. TGA. Regulation of colloidal silver and related products Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Goods) Order No. 1 of 2005 [5] revoked Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Goods) Order No. 1 of 2004. 9 November 2005 update

See also

External links

  • Wadhera, Akhil (2005). "Systemic argyria associated with ingestion of colloidal silver". Dermatology Online Journal. 11 (1): 12. Retrieved 2006-02-25. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help) A report on one case of argyria caused by colloidal silver.
  • Rosemary's Story-Argyria using unknown silver compound & concentrations as prescription nasal spray over 40 years ago as a child.
  • Worth more than its weight in silver for burns - Mass. firm taps growing market for dressings infused with the metal, Ross Kerber, The Boston Globe, 2005-05-10

de:Kolloidales Silber he:מי כסף hu:Ezüst-kolloid nl:Colloïdaal zilver sl:koloidno srebro

Template:WS