Buzz
For thousands of years, colloidal silver has been touted for its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. Even today, many people swear by its ability to heal, believing this purified water, infused with floating silver particles, holds immense medicinal power. On the other hand, critics argue that it’s no more than a placebo, and could even be dangerous. With the recent global health crisis, colloidal silver has resurfaced as a potential remedy, sparking debates online. As always, the truth is somewhere in between. Let’s dive into ten essential facts about colloidal silver.
10. It's Not Exactly Colloidal
The term “Colloidal Silver” often refers to silver particles suspended in a liquid base. Colloidal itself means that one substance is dispersed within another. However, the definition of a true colloid requires that the substances cannot be separated by filtration.
A researcher from Queensland pointed this out and humorously suggested that a more precise term would be 'Pico or Nano meter-sized atomic silver clusters, suspended in water by a repelling force.' While this may seem like an overly technical point, when it comes to something you might ingest for health benefits, the scientific details are crucial.
9. You Could Turn Blue
Paul Karason became infamous for his striking bluish-silver appearance, which earned him comparisons to Papa Smurf. His images, which have circulated since 2008, show his condition, Argyria, caused by excessive use of colloidal silver. The story gained attention after Karason was interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today Show.
Karason explained that he started using colloidal silver to address various health concerns, such as skin problems, digestive issues, and arthritis. He consumed about 10 ounces daily—around 30 times the recommended amount. It wasn’t until months later, when a friend noticed the change in his complexion, that he realized the dramatic shift. Still, he continued the regimen, pleased with the results. Karason passed away in 2013 from unrelated causes and is remembered fondly by a small community of 'blue' individuals worldwide.
8. It May Interfere With Medications
When you introduce any substance into your body, it’s crucial to consider how it might interact with everything else inside. This becomes even more important as you age, with your body sometimes feeling like it’s held together by little more than tape and glue, packed with a personal blend of medications to help you keep going just one more day.
The problem with colloidal silver is that it’s not classified as a drug, yet it still has the potential to interact with medications. While silver occasionally appears in medical treatments, like in certain bandages, it’s not used in any oral pharmaceuticals. Unlike metals such as gold or iron, silver doesn’t serve a specific function in the body. This lack of purpose has led to limited research on how colloidal silver might affect other drugs, but the existing studies aren’t encouraging.
Some studies have shown that colloidal silver can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb antibiotics, as well as affect certain hormone therapies. This means that individuals who think they are helping their medication could actually be hindering it, creating additional complications for healthcare professionals when determining the best course of treatment. With so many alternative remedies circulating, simply asking if a patient is on 'any other medication' might not be enough.
7. Potential Side-Effects
Colloidal silver sellers often claim that the substance has 'no known side effects.' While this might sound reassuring, it's far from the truth. This claim plays on the fact that colloidal silver is not a major focus of scientific research. It’s easy to assert that there are no 'known' side effects when the substance has not been adequately studied.
Despite what some product blogs might claim, there are indeed side effects to consuming colloidal silver. Harvard released a statement warning that oral ingestion of colloidal silver can result in a buildup of the metal in the body, leading to headaches, digestive issues, and kidney damage. In rare cases, it can cause nerve or brain damage, which may increase the risk of seizures.
6. It’s All Natural
A common marketing technique used to position colloidal silver as a miracle health product is by emphasizing everything it doesn’t contain. This strategy plays on the fact that consumers often feel more comfortable buying something free from ingredients they don’t fully understand, implying that they may unknowingly consume unhealthy substances with other products.
Colloidal silver takes pride in its list of 'free-from' claims: no gluten, no soy, no dairy, no GMOs, and no added sugars (though I added that last one for fun, but it’s true). It’s also a suitable choice for vegans and vegetarians, has not been tested on animals, and can be safely used on animals. To top it off, colloidal silver is WADA certified, which may sound reassuring, even if you aren’t familiar with WADA. The World Anti-Doping Agency has tested colloidal silver and confirmed it contains no steroids, giving it the seal of approval.
5. It’s Not All Nonsense
While it’s easy to dismiss colloidal silver as pure pseudoscience, there are real, proven benefits to it. Though silver doesn’t have a natural role in the human body, it can still be helpful. For instance, many bandages use ionic silver, which has been shown to aid in the healing of external wounds. Silver is also applied in various forms to treat burns.
Although the medical uses of silver still requires a lot of scientific research, some studies have shown that it could have even more benefits, particularly in fighting bacteria. It has also been shown to reduce inflammation, and inhibit the spread of viruses. However, many of the silver studies were carried out on cells in petri dishes, meaning we do not have an accurate idea of how silver could be used in the body.
4. It’s Not All the Same
When making a product with just two ingredients, water and silver, you might think that there are only so many ways to combine them: you put the silver in the water and… well, that’s pretty much it really. Unfortunately, if you are interested in colloidal silver, it’s not that simple.
Even within the colloidal community, there are those who say that true colloidal silver should appear yellow, while others argue that the clearer the water, the better. The size and purity of the silver particles can vary, as can the purity of the water used. There are also different forms of silver that can be used, with bio-active (silver with positively charged ions) being the preferred choice. There are no standards or mandatory regulations for colloidal silver, although the FDA has taken certain products off the shelves for their lack of purity, so if you are in the market, shop carefully.
3. It Cures Coronavirus . . . Or Does It?
Because colloidal silver is said to enhance your immune system, and COVID-19 is especially dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems, it's no surprise that some have claimed colloidal silver could cure the virus.
In reality, we simply don’t know whether colloidal silver has any effectiveness in treating COVID-19. It may have some potential, but more research is necessary. When a virus has paralyzed the entire world, with governments frantically seeking a solution, it’s wise to be cautious of those who claim to have a cure without collaborating with the WHO. This same unregulated substance has been previously marketed as a cure for AIDS and cancer, both of which remain incurable. Colloidal silver may have some value, but this likely isn’t it.
2. It Harms the Environment
Recently, many countries have banned microbeads—tiny plastic particles used in beauty products like facial scrubs. The issue arises when these particles are washed off and enter the oceans. In 2017, it was estimated that 808 trillion beads were washed down U.S. pipes every day. These beads are consumed by small fish, which are eaten by larger fish or birds, endangering wildlife and potentially contaminating the food chain.
Although microbeads are now banned in many places, there are growing concerns about the environmental impact of colloidal silver. Like toothpaste, which also uses silver nanoparticles, colloidal silver contributes to the increase of these particles in the environment. Unlike microbeads, silver nanoparticles don’t just end up in the oceans; they also accumulate on land. Plants and animals are more sensitive to these pollutants and may suffer toxic effects. If we continue to release these tiny particles into the environment, they could eventually enter our food chain.
1. It Can Be Hazardous
Despite all the claims about being vegan-friendly and non-GMO, colloidal silver can actually pose significant health risks. One of the most common misconceptions is that a higher dose equals better results. Anyone can understand that overdoing anything can be harmful, and colloidal silver is no exception. Taking too much of it could potentially cause toxic shock.
The unregulated status of colloidal silver only adds to the potential dangers. Research on its effectiveness is inconclusive, largely because the quality of different brands can vary dramatically. This lack of oversight may also explain why some brands have been found to contain harmful bacteria, which could be especially dangerous for those using it in the hopes of improving their health.
