Colloidal silver

Coloidal silver is the term used to describe silver particles that are contained in a liquid composition. Due to their small size, they cannot be removed even by the filtration process. The size of silver particles that are contained in colloidal silver can vary, but many of them can also be known as "nanoparticles", which refers to their size which is below the threshold of 100nm and of course, cannot be visible with the naked eye.

The use of silver – from history to present

Silver was one of the few antimicrobial treatments available before the discovery of antibiotics. Until the 1800s, silver nitrate was used to treat wounds and skin ulcers. In 1852 it was discovered that the use of fine silver threads for sewing, helps to heal open wounds on the skin and repairs the area in a beneficial way.

It is known that thousands of years ago, the richest used to use glasses, cups, cutlery and silverware due to the therapeutic properties for which it was known. In the Old American West, silver coins were thrown into drinking water barrels for protection against the diseases it transmitted. During the Civil War, silver was used to treat syphilis. Later, in the 1880s, the use of silver nitrate for newborns was introduced in order to prevent postpartum infections. Colloidal silver was first discovered in the 1890s.

Thus, until the 1930s, colloidal silver was the preferred choice of physicians for strengthening the immune system and supporting the body's healing process. Silver was used to treat infections on the battlefields of World War I, but the medicinal use of silver declined with the advent of antibiotics shortly thereafter.

Before the development of modern antibiotics, colloidal silver was used as a universal remedy for various infections and diseases. Recently, it has seen a revival in popularity - some people claim that it can replace antibiotics or other medical therapies to treat bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Colloidal silver is used for infections, fever, skin problems and many other ailments, and in recent decades laboratory studies have been conducted to provide concrete scientific evidence to support its uses.

Those who use colloidal silver take it as a dietary supplement or apply it directly on their skin. The solution can be found in various concentrations, depending on the amount of silver it contains.

A good example of an effective concentration would be from 10 parts / million to 80 parts / million as an watery solution with positively charged silver microparticles. Considered one of the most powerful natural antibiotics, it has an effect against over 650 pathogens. Numerous laboratory tests have resulted in colloidal silver having the property of killing most bacteria, fungi, guards and viruses within 2-6 minutes of contact.

Electrolysis and vacuum concentration are the latest technologies that generate quality colloidal silver that can be found in pharmacies or Plafar. It can be used in a variety of forms - from mouthwash to sore throat sprays, wound dressings or creams with beneficial results.

Types of colloidal silver

Almost a hundred years ago, colloidal silver was not a means accessible to all to treat various ailments. With the passage of time and the development of the pharmaceutical industry, it has gradually become a fairly common way of treatment for people who know the benefits of silver. Thus, nowadays there are four different types of colloidal silver or its derivatives on the market:

• Electro - colloidal silver - 3-5 parts / million -> up to 100 (authentic shape);
• Light protein silver - 20-40 parts / million (concentration of molecules and fine particles, microscopic silver);
• Silver powder - 100-500 parts / million (found in creams);
• Silver salts - 50-500 parts / million (water soluble).

How to administer colloidal silver

Colloidal silver can be administered in two ways: internal and external. If you want to administer it internally, you will simply have to drink it, being a liquid solution. For the external mode of administration, you have two options, namely: either to spray it (if you choose colloidal silver spray), or to anoint the affected areas (if you massage creams or ointments).

Recommended dose of colloidal silver for administration

Silver is not a vitamin or mineral that occurs naturally in the body. So, before administration, you need to make sure which is the right dose of colloidal silver for you. In addition, it is recommended that you take the necessary steps to find out whether or not it is appropriate to expose your body to its consumption.

A dosage reference chart created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that your daily exposure to colloidal silver should not exceed 5 micrograms for every kilogram you weigh.

The proper dose of colloidal silver depends on several factors, such as the user's age, health status and a few other conditions. There is currently insufficient scientific information to determine an appropriate dose range for colloidal silver. Keep in mind that natural products are not always safe and dosages can be important. You must follow the specific instructions on the product labels and make sure that you consult your pharmacist, doctor or other healthcare professional before using colloidal silver. Read the package leaflet carefully before administration, and if various side effects occur, seek the help of a specialist and stop taking it immediately.

There may be cases in which people administering colloidal silver do not notice immediate side effects. The interest of the majority is directed at the long-term consequences of using colloidal silver. Its particles accumulate gradually and are incorporated into organs and tissues, but especially into the skin. But everything will happen in time!

Over time, this can lead to a permanent condition, called argyria, in which the tissues turn bluish-gray. The gums are usually affected first, followed by the skin, eyes, nails and deeper layers of tissue. Headaches, acute fatigue and severe myoclonic seizures are also likely to occur.

Recognized benefits of colloidal silver

Those who produce colloidal silver promote it to users as suitable to stimulate the immune system and at the same time help the body to heal somewhat on its own. They also believe that this supplement helps to heal wounds, improve skin conditions and prevent or treat diseases such as flu, pneumonia, herpes, eye infections, shingles, cancer and AIDS.

Many of these claims have been supported by laboratory studies and tests, which have shown that colloidal silver exerts strong antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects.

Many people claim that colloidal silver can help treat bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Thus, the existence of scientific experiments attests to the fact that it can be effective when it comes to treating various diseases.

Antibacterial

Before the discovery of antibiotics, colloidal silver was a popular antibacterial treatment. Laboratory studies have shown that colloidal silver can kill a wide range of bacteria. This has led to its use in some medical products, such as sprays for the mouth and throat, wound creams, wound bandage and medical equipment.

Antiviral

Those who use colloidal silver also claim that it can have antiviral effects in the human body. Some studies have suggested that different types of silver nanoparticles can help destroy viral compounds. However, the amount of nanoparticles in a colloidal solution may vary, which may lead to its inefficiency when administered in low concentrations.

Antifungal

It is also said that colloidal silver is able to treat fungal infections. A laboratory study showed that it can stop the growth of some fungal strains.

However, bandages and solutions that include colloidal silver in their composition can treat fungal infections in humans by stopping their development and healing the existing wounds that have such strains.

A number of studies have investigated the use of bandages that contain silver on ulcers and skin wounds. Many of them have found that silver particles have antibacterial properties that help treat diabetic ulcers, localized skin burns, severe open wounds and other serious skin lesions.

This suggests that short-term local use of silver-containing products can be considered a beneficial treatment.

Interaction of colloidal silver with other drugs

In addition to the potential health hazards, it is also known that colloidal silver interacts with a number of drugs, either by reducing their effectiveness or by increasing side effects or by gradually affecting liver function.

Quinolone antibiotics interact with colloidal silver

Colloidal silver can reduce the amount of antibiotic the body absorbs. Co-administration of colloidal silver with antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of some antibiotics. Some antibiotics that may interact with colloidal silver include ciprofloxacin, oxacillin, norfloxacin, sparfloxacin, trovafloxacin and grepafloxacin.

Tetracycline antibiotics interact with colloidal silver

Colloidal silver can reduce the amount of tetracycline antibiotics the body can absorb. The administration of colloidal silver with tetracycline antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics containing this substance. To avoid the interaction between the two, it is recommended to take colloidal silver at least two hours before or four hours after taking tetracycline.

Some tetracyclines include demeclocycline, minocycline and tetracycline.

Levothyroxine interacts with colloidal silver

Colloidal silver can reduce the amount of levothyroxine the body absorbs. Co-administration of levothyroxine with colloidal silver may reduce the efficacy of thyroxine.

Penicillamine interacts with colloidal silver

Penicillamine is used for Wilson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Colloidal silver can decrease the amount of penicillamine that the body absorbs and decrease the effectiveness of penicillamine.

In conclusion, administered in a correct and proper way, colloidal silver can have many benefits on the body, being a highly used solution especially in recent years. The healing effects of silver have long been known in ancient times. Precisely for this reason, it continues to be often used today as the equivalent of antibiotics or even medicines used for many ailments.

Did you know that…?

• Silver has been known and used for its medicinal properties since antiquity.
• The 1890s were the ones that brought to light the benefits and remedies with silver and in this way they named it “colloidal silver”.
• Colloidal silver used for remedies is the same type of metal used to process jewelry and other works.
• The term “colloidal” refers to the fact that silver particles are so small that they do not settle out of the solution. Fine silver particles cannot be removed after the filtration process.