Silver in therapeutics
Silver has been utilized in therapeutics for centuries, particularly noted for its antimicrobial properties. Traditionally employed in wound care, silver is recognized for its ability to kill a variety of microbes upon contact, leading to its formulation in products like silver sulfadiazine, a cream for preventing infections in severe burns. While colloidal silver gained popularity in holistic health practices for purported health benefits, it is important to note that scientific evidence does not support these claims, and ingesting it can lead to serious side effects, including argyria, a permanent skin discoloration.
Despite the lack of efficacy as an antibiotic, topical applications of silver continue to show promise, particularly in treating wounds, burns, and ulcers, as well as in water purification systems to inhibit bacterial growth. However, its internal use remains contentious, with health authorities like the US Food and Drug Administration advising caution due to potential health risks. Overall, while silver can serve beneficial roles in specific therapeutic contexts, caution is warranted regarding its oral use, as it may lead to adverse effects and does not replace conventional antibiotics.
Silver in therapeutics
DEFINITION: Natural mineral substance used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: Not recommended but traditionally used in wound care and as an antimicrobial
Overview
Silver has a long history of use in Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India. Silver is toxic to many microbes, and on this basis, a suspension of finely ground silver granules called colloidal silver was once popular among physicians in the United States as an antiseptic. It is now used medically as silver sulfadiazine, a cream used to prevent infection in persons with severe burns. In addition, silver is used in some water purifiers to stop the growth of bacteria.
Oral colloidal silver is widely promoted on the Internet and elsewhere as a treatment for hundreds of conditions. It has grown immensely in popularity in holistic health circles in the twenty-first century. However, there is no evidence that this form of silver provides any medical benefits whatsoever, and it can lead to an unsightly and permanent skin discoloration called argyria.
Requirements and Sources
Silver is not an essential nutrient.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical recommended dose of colloidal silver is 1 to 4 teaspoons a day, providing 25 to 100 micrograms of silver.
Therapeutic Uses
Colloidal silver kills microbes on contact so that it can be properly described as an antiseptic. Despite widespread claims, however, it is not an antibiotic. The term “antibiotic,” as most commonly used, indicates a substance absorbed after administration and kills germs (such as bacteria) throughout the body. Colloidal silver does not have this property. When taken by mouth, it may destroy bacteria, fungi, and other organisms in the mouth and digestive tract, but it is not absorbed in sufficient concentrations to kill germs anywhere else. Colloidal silver is, thus, more analogous to bleach than to penicillin. Although both bleach and silver kill the germs that cause sinus infections, an individual cannot treat a sinus infection by drinking either bleach or silver.
Confusion about the difference between an antibiotic and an antiseptic has led to an enormous number of false claims regarding silver’s benefits. There is no reliable evidence that colloidal silver benefits any health condition. The US Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health have repeatedly issued statements about the dangers of ingesting colloidal silver and the long-term health risks associated with its oral use. However, it remains popular in the holistic health community.
Still, when applied topically as a dressing, silver can prevent infection and treat various skin conditions, including wounds, burns, and ulcers. Silver coatings are often applied to medical devices to prevent infection. Silver is often used in water purification systems. While silver applied externally continues to show health benefits, colloidal silver taken internally should be avoided.
Safety Issues
While oral use of silver is not believed to be toxic, it can cause a serious cosmetic problem known as argyria: gray-black silver deposits that stain the skin and mucous membranes. The effect is unattractive and, to make matters worse, permanent; once it occurs, the discoloration never goes away. A growing number of cases of argyria have been reported in the United States as a result of the widespread marketing of colloidal silver products. Safety of the use of silver in young children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established. Further, ingesting silver may interfere with the efficacy of other prescription drugs.
Bibliography
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