Before the advent of antibiotics, colloidal silver was widely used in the treatment of various infections, both externally and internally. After the arrival of penicillin and other drugs with antibiotic action, however, it became obsolete and fell into disuse. In recent times, however, this product has acquired a new reputation, considered as a real natural antibacterial. of the world of alternative medicines. However, if on the one hand its supporters consider it almost as a remedy against all evil, on the other hand many doctors and researchers do not agree either on the amazing efficacy attributed to it, or on the actual safety of "use.
Please Note
Despite what some manufacturers want you to believe, colloidal silver has no known functions within the body and is not an essential mineral supplement.
or natural remedies for topical use. However, there are also products based on colloidal silver classified as medical devices (generally, these are products for the skin, for the ears or for the nose, therefore for external use).
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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of silver-based drugs in 1999 due to their unproven safety in use.
In Italy, some silver-based drugs are commercially available. However, within them the metal is not found in the form of a colloid, but is bound to other molecules (as is the case, for example, in the case of silver sulfadiazine). Furthermore, the medicinal specialties in question are not formulated for oral administration, but only for external use and for application on the skin (for example, Connettivina Plus®, Sofargen®). In other words, these are real drugs that have nothing to do with colloidal silver, since within them the metal in question is present in a form linked to other molecules and therefore constitutes a completely different compound. whose efficacy and safety of use have been studied and demonstrated and whose use has been officially approved by AIFA.
, viral or fungal.
Those who support the effectiveness of colloidal silver recommend the use of the product to prevent and / or treat various types of ailments, including:
- Colds or flu
- Gum disease;
- Eye infections;
- Ear infections;
- Sinus infections
- Infections of the bronchi and airways;
- Sore throat caused by infections.
Please Note
The efficacy and safety of use of colloidal silver in the treatment of the aforementioned disorders and diseases is not supported by sufficient and adequate scientific studies conducted on the subject.
The information given is for illustrative purposes only. For any doubts and in case of appearance of the above mentioned disorders, it is advisable to consult your doctor before resorting to the use of products based on colloidal silver.
How to use
Depending on the disorder that you intend to treat, the product in question is used both internally and externally and can be:
- Ingested directly, or left under the tongue for a few minutes and then swallowed;
- Used to gargle and then spat out;
- Used as nasal drops to be applied topically;
- Used as a spray on the mucous membranes (for example, in the throat);
- Applied on the skin in the presence of wounds, both in the form of drops and through the use of spray dispensers.
Dosage
As for the posology, it is normally reported on / in the product packaging. In any case, given the potential risk of developing side effects following the intake of colloidal silver products, it is again important to ask for the advice of your doctor before purchasing this substance and before using it through any way. be it internal or external.
Please Note
The avid supporters of the properties of colloidal silver claim that it is also useful for treating cancer. This statement is completely without scientific basis and, indeed, can prove potentially dangerous for those patients who, desperate, decide to abandon traditional treatments. to devote oneself to alternative approaches of dubious utility and safety. Therefore, anticancer treatments - whether chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgical - must NOT be interrupted to undertake unlikely colloidal silver-based therapies. If you have any doubts, you should contact your doctor or to your trusted oncologist.
, colloidal silver could interfere with the activity of:
- Antibiotic drugs, such as tetracyclines and quinolones: the intake of colloidal silver decreases its absorption by the body, consequently reducing its effectiveness.
- Penicillamine: it is a derivative of penicillin which, however, does not have antibiotic activity, but is used in the treatment of Wilson's disease. The intake of colloidal silver reduces its absorption.
- Levothyroxine: also in this case, the intake of colloidal silver reduces the absorption of levothyroxine, thus decreasing its therapeutic efficacy.
Argyria is irreversible and usually only affects skin coloration; however, in isolated cases triggered by oral intake of colloidal silver, serious hepatic, renal and neurological complications have been reported.
Finally, following oral intake or after applying colloidal silver to the skin and mucous membranes, there is also the risk of irritation and / or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
?The use of colloidal silver - both internal and external - is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In fact, this metal is able to cross the placenta and it has been shown that an increase in its levels in the pregnant woman's body can cause extremely negative repercussions on the fetus, such as abnormalities in the development of the ear, face and neck.
Therefore, expectant mothers and breastfeeding women should not take and use colloidal silver in any of its forms.
