Colloidal Silver

[DrS]

Have friends visiting at the moment who are full of praise for Colloidal Silver's ability to cure and ward off any number of ailments. Sounds and looks like real woo to me, but can only find THIS on UKS ... on top of everything it turns you blue!!

I've tried a few sites selling the stuff, and am immediately struck by disclaimers such as "The contents of this site are for informational purposes only and not intended to advise, treat, diagnose or cure. Always consult a suitably qualified healthcare/medical practitioner first and before changing or aborting a prescribed medicinal regimen." on THIS site, for example, which confirms my suspicion that it's woo with knobs on.

Does anyone know anything about it?

[bindeweede]

DrS

I found this.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01Quackery.../silverad.html

[Fiona]

I do not know about this but I found this abstract

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1016/S0168-6445(03)00047-0

It seems that there is some evidence that it is useful for killing some bacteria but that there are some which are developing resistance. At least that is what I think it says. What I do not understand is how it could possible distinguish between harmful and helpful single cell entities. Your original article says this is because it is absorbed before it reaches the gut but this seems a little vague to me. Perhaps others can explain it better than the link you posted?

ETA. Was reading while BW posted so I did not see his link till after I put this up. It seems it is useful outside the body and this accounts for the burns application.

[DrS]

Thankyou both very much indeed. I have now bookmarked Quackwatch ... clearly I should have done so already!

[JJM]

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/20..._man_group.php

I believe one response is from a nutcase who says his colloid generator does not cause harm.

[DrS]

Thankyou very much too. Now to explain to our visiting friends .........

[Mojo]

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/pictures/...154830,00.html

[hunter]

One of my mothers friends went grey from having a glass of colloidial silver every day for about 8 weeks. He also suffered lethargy, it took almost twelve months for him to fully recover. Apparently it should not be used as a prevention, only as a cure in the way you would other anti biotics. I used it to nip a chest infection in the bud once but wouldn't rule out the placebo effect. It is advised to have acidophilus while using col. silver as it will kill the digestive bacteria aswell.
Not science, just my experience

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

I don't fancy looking like a smurf, so I think I'll avoid it.

[brodski]

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/pictures/...154830,00.html

I never knew John Major was a libertarian…. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2297471.stm

[charliedw]

Hi All

I know I am entering this conversation late, but I think I can shed some light. Firstly, not all colloidal silvers are equal. You would not drink a glass of sea water and say that ALL water is bad.

The condition where people turn grey or blue is called argyria. It is caused by relatively large silver particles being trapped under the skin, which react with sunlight and change colour. Modern colloidal silvers use tiny nano particles which pass through the body without becoming stuck, so argyria is prevented. Although it can be quite dramatic in appearence, argyria is rare and usually associated with home made colloidal silver using a generator and methods rejected by reputable manufacturers.

The anti bacterial properties of silver have been known since ancient Greek and Roman times when they found that fluids (like milk and wine) would not turn sour as quickly if stored in a silver urn. Many modern studies have backed this up, so it is undisputable scientific fact.

That said, quality of manufacturing varies and some manufacturers will make generic quotes like "silver can kill over 600 pathogens". Some colloidal silvers can, but they don't say that THEIR colloidal silver can kill 600 pathogens, so you need to research.

The silver has an ionic charge which rips electrons from the pathogen cell membrane, thus rupturing and killing it. Friendly bacteria tend to have thicker membranes which are electrically nuetral, so their membranes are not affected by this ionic action, hence pathogens are more readilly targeted by the silver than friendly bacteria.

If you are interested in using colloidal silver then do your homework. Don't use a home generater, find one that uses nano particles and one that offers specific studies for its own product rather than generic "silver can . . . " quotes.

I can't add URL's yet, so to find out more, Google "advanced silver solution".

Charlie

[JJM]

Hi All {snip}

Charlie

You are seriously misinformed.

All colloidal silver is harmful (if ingested) http://rosemaryjacobs.com/ and it has no place in human pharmacy.

You wrote "The silver has an ionic charge which rips electrons from the pathogen cell membrane, thus rupturing and killing it. Friendly bacteria tend to have thicker membranes which are electrically nuetral, so their membranes are not affected by this ionic action, hence pathogens are more readilly targeted by the silver than friendly bacteria."

That is thoroughgoing nonsense. After you have studied a few years at University, perhaps you can understand. As a retired chemistry professor and medicinal chemist, I advise you that Rosemary Jacobs is an internationally respected authority on the topic.

I don't know whether you are selling it (colloidal silver), or just ignorant. Don't give health-care advice unless you have a medical license.

[Graham Lappin]

The anti bacterial properties of silver have been known since ancient Greek and Roman times when they found that fluids (like milk and wine) would not turn sour as quickly if stored in a silver urn. Many modern studies have backed this up, so it is undisputable scientific fact.

You are an idiot! Lead, cadmium and arsenic would have the same effect. The point is to kill the bacteria without killing the one infected. I would also point out that the Greeks and Romans were around long before germ theory and therefore are not authorities on modern medicine.

The silver has an ionic charge which rips electrons from the pathogen cell membrane, thus rupturing and killing it. Friendly bacteria tend to have thicker membranes which are electrically nuetral, so their membranes are not affected by this ionic action, hence pathogens are more readilly targeted by the silver than friendly bacteria.

This is total tosh. It is typical of those who try to steal scientific language to bolster dangerous and unethical pseudoscientific nonsense. You should be ashamed of yourself and understand that you could be doing serious harm spouting this rubbish. It is utterly despicable.

[Graham Lappin]

I don't know whether you are selling it (colloidal silver), or just ignorant. Don't give health-care advice unless you have a medical license.

I have tracked charliedw from this:

http://www.propeller.com/story/2008/...loidal-silver/

to this:

http://blog.advancedsilversolution.c...otocol-part-3/

to this:

http://www.AdvancedSilverSolution.com/

So the answer is yes. Charliedw is making money out of a dangerous CAM. And surprise, surprise - he can cure cancer.

An example of one of the worst types of charlatans.

[SimonC]

I have tracked charliedw from this:

http://www.propeller.com/story/2008/...loidal-silver/

to this:

http://blog.advancedsilversolution.c...otocol-part-3/

to this:

http://www.AdvancedSilverSolution.com/

So the answer is yes. Charliedw is making money out of a dangerous CAM. And surprise, surprise - he can cure cancer.

An example of one of the worst types of charlatans.

Thank you for that research, Bunny.

Looking at the blog, it seems that he is also a HIV denier.