Colloidal Silver - Uses and Effectiveness

Colloidal silver is a suspension of silver particles in a liquid base. It has been used historically for its antimicrobial properties.
Category
Supplement
Where to get
Available in health stores and online retailers.
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Colloidal Silver FAQ


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What are colloidal silver products?

Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver bits that float in a liquid. This is the same type of precious metal used in jewelry, dental fillings and silverware. Colloidal silver products are often marketed as dietary supplements to take by mouth. These products also come in forms to use on the skin.

Is colloidal silver a mineral?

Colloidal silver is a mineral. Colloidal silver products were once available as OTC drug products, but in 1999 the FDA ruled that they aren't safe. Colloidal silver can kill certain germs by destroying proteins, which is why it was previously used in wound dressings. But silver has no known function in the body and is not an essential mineral.

How does colloidal silver work?

It’s unknown exactly how colloidal silver works. However, research suggests that it attaches to proteins on the cell walls of bacteria, damaging their cell membranes ( 8, 9, 10 ). This allows silver ions to pass into bacterial cells, where they interfere with metabolic processes and damage DNA, leading to the cell’s death ( 8, 9, 10 ).

Is colloidal silver a dietary supplement?

Colloidal silver consists of tiny silver particles in a liquid. It is sometimes promoted on the internet as a dietary supplement; however, evidence supporting health-related claims is lacking. Is colloidal silver safe?

What is colloidal silver?

Colloidal silver is a solution that contains very small pieces of silver. Silver has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years. Today, colloidal silver is used as an alternative medicine to ward off bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Its proponents claim that it treats various diseases, such as cancer, HIV, Lyme disease, and diabetes.

Is colloid a mineral?

A colloid is a mixture of two substances. One part of the blend is split into tiny pieces and mixed into the other part. Colloidal silver is made up of tiny particles of silver in water. The bits of silver are so small they stay afloat in the liquid. Your body doesn’t need silver. It isn’t an essential mineral.

How much colloidal silver does a product contain?

How much colloidal silver each product contains depends on the manufacturer. Most range from 10 to 30 parts per million (ppm) of silver. But even this concentration may be too much. That’s because it would be easy to exceed the unsafe dose limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Colloidal Silver References

If you want to know more about Colloidal Silver, consider exploring links below:

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