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What you should know about colloidal silver products

The use of colloidal silver as a remedy for health is that has been around for as long as. Yet, scientists of the present challenge the legitimacy of silver bullets. Internal medicine specialist Melissa Young, MD, suggests that people be careful when deciding whether to utilize it.

“You should not consume it internally, swallowed as an over-the-counter supplementat any time,” says Dr. Young.

So how safe is colloidal silver under any condition? Doctor. Young talks about colloidal silver’s advantages, its uses, and potential negative side effectswhich range that range from turning your skin blue to damaging organs inside your body.

Colloidal silver is made up made of silver-like particles that are suspended in liquid bases. It’s also the same type of silver that is used in the manufacture of metalwhich you can find within the periodic table or in your jewelry collection. Instead of creating jewelry and rings, a lot of firms sell colloidal silver as a vital diet supplement or alternative treatment.

Labels on products promise the elimination of poisons, toxins and the fungi. More than just eliminating toxins the manufacturers promise that colloidal silver spray will provide an increase in your immune system. Some even say it’s a successful treatment for diabetes, cancer, HIV and Lyme disease.

The use of colloidal silver as a treatment for health goes all the way to the 1500 B.C. China. The ancient civilizations used silver for treating a range of ailments because of it’s antimicrobial capabilities. However, once antibiotics that worked onto the market and colloidal silver was discarded, it fell out of use until the last few years.

Nowadays, people primarily utilize it as a home cure for respiratory and cold-related illnesses According to Doctor. Young. You can either inhale or gargle with the liquid, or take it in through the Nebulizer (a Medical device which transforms the liquid into a mist that is breathable).

Is colloidal silver FDA-approved?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that colloidal silver can be more like a snake oil rather than a magic bullet. The FDA has taken steps against businesses selling the product as a miracle cure.

They made a splash in 1999 and made this declaration: “Over-the-counter drug products containing colloidal silver or silver salts for use in internal or external use aren’t generally regarded as safe and efficient, and they are misleadingly labeled … items that contain colloidal silver components or salts are marketed to treat many serious illnesses and FDA is unaware of any scientifically-substantial evidence which supports the use of non-prescription colloidal silver, ingredients or silver salts to treat these diseases.”

How does colloidal Silver work inside your body?

Scientists aren’t sure how colloidal silver is used inside the body. However, the secret to its status as a killer of microbes begins with the mix itself. When it comes into contact with humidity, that moisture initiates an ensuing chain reaction that culminates in the silver particles emitting silver ions. Researchers believe that the silver ions kill bacteria by damaging proteins that are on their cell membranes or their outer wall.

Cell membranes act as barriers to safeguard the cell’s interior. When they’re healthy they block out anything that comes into the cell that it isn’t meant to. Damaged proteins make it more easy for silver ions to move into the cell’s membrane to the inside of the bacteria. When they get inside the bacteria, silver can cause enough destruction to cause the bacteria to cease to exist. The shape, size and the amount of silver particles present in the solution determines the effectiveness of this process. Some studies have shown that bacteria may develop resist to silver.

One issue with using silver’s ability to kill bacteria is that silver ions do not distinguish between bacteria. Cells are is a cell, and healthy human cells could be at risk of damage also.

“There’s risk of harm from the usage of silver colloidal” Dr. Young. “The silver can get into the healthy cells in your body which could cause death, much the way bacteria cause them to die. However, some studies say colloidal silver may benefit minor skin wounds or burns.”

What should you be aware of about products made of colloidal silver

Manufacturers sell colloidal silver either as in liquid or spray. Names of the product differ, but you’ll often find these names on the shelves of stores:

Nebulizer made of colloidal silver.
Silver spray with colloidal particles.
Silver hydrosol.
Silver sol.
Silver water.

The amount of colloidal silver in the product has is dependent on the manufacturer. Most are between 10 and 30 parts of million (ppm) of silver. However, even this level of silver could be excessive. This is because it’s easy to overstep the dangerous dose limits established in the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

There are limits to the amount of silver in your body. WHO and EPA set these limits based on the development of severe adverse effects from colloidal silver such as skin discoloration. They do not consider the dose at which it is most likely to cause injury. Even in a situation where you do not exceed the “unsafe dose limits” it is still possible to be a risk to yourself although you’ll be able to avoid the most serious adverse negative effects.

Is colloidal silver effective?

The bottom line is: Don’t consume colloidal silver internally because it’s not proved to be safe or effective. However, if you do want to apply it to your skin, make sure you seek the advice of your doctor. Certain doctors make use of silver-containing medications to combat diseases, like conjunctivitis. Manufacturers also include silver in various dressings and bandages to speed up healing.

“Colloidal silver’s benefits could be extended to minor irritations, infections and burns if applied to the face,” says Dr. Young. “Silver’s antimicrobial properties may help in preventing or treating an inflammation. However, if you notice the affected area turning red or inflamed following the use of colloidal silver, you should stop using it immediately and seek medical attention.”