Colloidal Silver Side Effects

Colloidal silver is silver suspended in droplet form in distilled water. It is called a liquid suspension of silver particles in a liquid medium. It is used as a herbicide which effectively eliminates bacteria as well as viruses. This article is about colloidal silver side effects in humans. Colloidal silver is extensively used in alternative medicine therapies. The element Silver does not have a large metabolic role in the human body. Therefore, excess consumption causes a lot of colloidal silver side effects. Let us discuss the medicinal applications and side effects of colloidal silver in detail. We will also discuss colloidal silver benefits and appropriate colloidal silver dosage.

There is very less documented and proven evidence of the benefits and side effects of colloidal silver used in alternative medicine. There has been no comprehensive testing for colloidal silver side effects. The results of some tests on colloidal sliver effects are mixed. That is the effectiveness of the colloidal silver based alternative medicines have been both positive and negative.

The Food and Drug administration has banned companies from advertising colloidal silver based medicines for the treatment of any illnesses. It is currently marketed surprisingly as a dietary supplement based on dubious claims of structure enhancement!

Colloidal Silver Benefits

Colloidal silver benefits are not widely documented. It was used as an ingredient in oral and eye drops, as an effective deterrent to microbes like bacteria and viruses. However, after some harmful side effects were seen, their use in allopathic medicines was stopped. Colloidal silver water is claimed to be the most effective germicide. Colloidal silver has been used as an ingredient in a lot of alternative medicines. It is extensively used in Ayurveda system of alternative medicine in subtle amounts.

Claims of colloidal silver being a less harmful alternative to antibiotics are unsubstantiated. Medical companies that manufacture colloidal silver based medicines promise all sorts of benefits from anti-aging effects, cancer cure to enhancement of tissue growth. However, all these claims too are without any evidence of proven clinical tests. So as far as I know, colloidal silver benefits for the humans are hearsay and therefore as good as unknown. People who go for these colloidal silver based alternative medicines are warned that they can consume them at their own risk.

Colloidal silver dosage in dietary supplements should be strictly taken as per instructions provided by the manufacturers.

Colloidal Silver Side Effects

Colloidal silver intake in excess amounts leads to a disease called Argyria. Silver has very minimal metabolic function and is normally excreted out of the body, if consumed in excess. However, sometimes excess silver starts getting deposited in the tissues of inner organs of the body causing Argyria. This happens because the excess is beyond the capacity of the body to excrete it. Argyria causes a permanent skin color change to blue or bluish grey. There are two classified types of Argyria. One is generalized Argyria and other is localized Argyria.

Cosmetic laser therapy has been effective in removing the gray skin coloration. Otherwise, it was a permanent and irreversible condition. Argyria has been mainly reported to be caused by colloidal silver combined with proteins. There is no evidence of Argyria being caused by protein free colloidal silver intake.

Excess colloidal silver intake can also cause arteriosclerosis, that is the hardening of arteries, that may eventually lead to a heart attack. Silver deposition on inner organs causes permanent damage and also compromises the immune system. Some neurological problems like seizures as well as gastric problems have also been reported as side effects of colloidal silver.

Colloidal silver in reaction with drugs like quinolones, thyroxine, penacillamine, and tetracyclines can cause harmful side effects. So pregnant women and people in general should avoid taking colloidal silver based products as the chances of silver toxicity is high!

Hope this article has adequately warned you about colloidal silver side effects. Think before you fall for the tall promises of alternative medicine product companies. Garner as much information as you can about such alternative treatments before you go for them!