Colloidal Silver

What is it?

Colloidal silver is a suspension of silver particles in a liquid base, typically water. It has been used for various medicinal purposes.

How does it work for medicinal purposes?

Colloidal silver is believed to work by interfering with the metabolism of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, ultimately leading to their destruction. It has antimicrobial properties and may help in wound healing and immune support.

Active Ingredients:

The active ingredient in colloidal silver is elemental silver, typically in nanoparticle form.

Forms:

Colloidal silver is available in liquid form, often as a dietary supplement or topical solution.

Imbalance or Deficiency:

There is no recognized deficiency of colloidal silver in the body. Excessive use of colloidal silver can lead to argyria, a condition where the skin turns blue-gray due to silver accumulation.

First Medicinal Use:

Colloidal silver has a long history of medicinal use, dating back to ancient times.

What does Colloidal Silver help with?

Colloidal silver is tiny bits of silver metal held in water. People put it on the skin, spray it in the nose, and sometimes drink it. Its use goes back to Western medicine before antibiotics, in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

• Cuts, scrapes and wounds that get infected
  Good evidence — hospital use and trials of silver wound dressings, not of colloidal silver liquid. Silver dressings are used in hospitals for burns and slow-healing wounds. In that work, silver lowered the germ load in broken skin and kept the wound area clean. This is the strongest and most accepted evidence for silver, but the dressings are not the same product as colloidal silver liquid.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T1
• Minor burns
  Good evidence — silver sulfadiazine cream is standard care in burn units. Silver sulfadiazine cream is a silver drug used as standard care for serious burns in clinics. Home colloidal silver gels are used in the same spirit on small burns, to keep the skin clean and cut bacteria. No trial of those home gels is on file here.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T1
• Athlete's foot, ringworm and other skin fungus
  Early evidence — small studies and case reports of silver put on the skin. Some small studies and case reports looked at colloidal silver on the skin for ringworm and athlete's foot, with some good reports. In lab work, silver ions broke apart the outer wall of fungal cells, much as they do with bacteria. Antifungal medicines are still more reliable when the problem keeps coming back.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T1
• Blocked sinuses and sinus infection
  Early evidence — a small number of clinical studies of colloidal silver nasal spray. A small number of clinical studies have tested colloidal silver nasal spray. The results were mildly encouraging. The evidence is limited, and ear, nose and throat doctors do not back it as a first-line treatment.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T1
• Mild outer ear infection
  Not yet tested in people — practitioner use only; little formal study on file. Some practitioners suggest watered-down colloidal silver ear drops for mild outer ear infection, known as otitis externa. The idea is that silver lowers bacteria or fungus in the ear canal. This is an off-label use with little formal study, so see a doctor for any ear pain or fever.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Pinkeye and other eye infections
  Not yet tested in people — historical silver eye drops in newborns; no study of colloidal silver drops on file. Silver-based eye drops have a long history. Some countries still use them in newborns to guard against eye infection, but that is a medical product, not colloidal silver. Home colloidal silver drops for pinkeye are not medically backed, and they can irritate the eye or carry germs if made without care.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Acne and red, irritated skin
  Not yet tested in people — user reports only; lab work on skin bacteria. Reports for acne come from users, not from trials. In lab work, silver acted against Cutibacterium acnes, the bug linked with acne, so the idea is at least plausible. Whether a topical gel changes real acne has not been tested.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1

What Colloidal Silver has not been shown to do

• No well-designed human trial on file shows that colloidal silver taken by mouth improves immune function.
• It has not been shown to stop or shorten a cold.
• No human trial on file shows that drinking it clears an infection inside the body.
• It has not been shown to match antifungal medicines for skin fungus that keeps coming back.
• Ear, nose and throat doctors do not back it as a main treatment for sinus infection.
• Colloidal silver drops for pinkeye are not medically backed.
• Long-term use by mouth has not been shown to be safe, and safety here is a real concern.

How to read this:

Each use gets its own grade, based only on the studies behind that use. A means steady results from randomised human trials. B means at least one good human trial. C means small or mixed human studies. D means weak or clashing human evidence. Insufficient means no human study on file, only lab work, history or habit. This page reports what studies found. It is not medical advice, and it is not a claim that colloidal silver treats anything. Talk with a clinician before you use it, above all by mouth or in the eyes.

Conditions and Symptoms Prevented:

• Infections from wounds or burns
• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Dental infections
• Eye infections
• Skin infections
• Ear infections
• Sinus infections
• Allergic rhinitis
• Cold and flu viruses

Foods Rich In Colloidal Silver:

There are no foods that are naturally rich in colloidal silver.

Side Effects:

Possible side effects of colloidal silver include:

• Argyria (blue-gray discoloration of the skin)
• Kidney damage
• Neurological problems
• Gastrointestinal upset

Recommended Daily Dose:

The recommended daily dose varies depending on the manufacturer and concentration of colloidal silver. Generally, it is advised to take small amounts as directed on the product label.

Time to Work:

The time it takes for colloidal silver to work depends on the condition being treated. Improvement may be seen within a few days for minor infections, while chronic conditions may require longer treatment.

Best Time to Take:

Colloidal silver can be taken at any time of day. However, it is typically recommended to spread doses evenly throughout the day for optimal absorption.

With or Without Food:

Colloidal silver can be taken with or without food, but it's generally advised to avoid taking it with meals to prevent potential interactions with other nutrients.

Possible side effects of colloidal silver include:

• Argyria (blue-gray discoloration of the skin)
• Kidney damage
• Neurological problems
• Gastrointestinal upset

Recommended Daily Dose:

The recommended daily dose varies depending on the manufacturer and concentration of colloidal silver. Generally, it is advised to take small amounts as directed on the product label.

Time to Work:

The time it takes for colloidal silver to work depends on the condition being treated. Improvement may be seen within a few days for minor infections, while chronic conditions may require longer treatment.

Best Time to Take:

Colloidal silver can be taken at any time of day. However, it is typically recommended to spread doses evenly throughout the day for optimal absorption.

With or Without Food:

Colloidal silver can be taken with or without food, but it's generally advised to avoid taking it with meals to prevent potential interactions with other nutrients.