Every Silver Lining Has a Touch of Gray…
November 30th, 2007
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“Colloidal silver” is a term which refers to solutions containing silver or basic silver compounds suspending in a fluid, usually water. Such preparations were once considered a valid treatment by mainstream medicine (most commonly in nosedrops), and indeed they may have some antibiotic properties. However, since the development of antibiotics like penicillin and other more effective methods of controlling infectious disease, silver-based remedies have been discarded by modern science and medicine. Silver nitrate based solutions are still occasionally used for disinfection purposes, but never as an oral medication.
However, that does not stop “alternative” medicine quacks from continuing to sell colloidal silver-based supplements and remedies. Some tout these products as being a “super antibiotic rediscovery” or claim that modern societies have a “silver deficiency” which causes health issues ranging from infectious disease to cancer. It has even been touted as a cure for AIDS. This despite the fact that colloidal silver products have never been shown to have any real benefit and they do carry a very real risk.
Silver toxicity can become a problem for those who use such products repeatedly, and in some cases a condition known as argyria may develop. Argyria is caused by the buildup of silver compounds in the tissues of individuals who have been exposed to silver compounds for long periods of time, such as those who have relied on silver-based supplements. It’s not considered fatal, but it’s most prominent symptom can be quite difficult to live with: it has a very noticable effect on the color of skin. Sufferers of Argynia get a gray to blue-gray discoloration of the skin which is literally caused by the suspension of tiny silver particles in the outer tissues of the body. It is not reversible, although dermabrision may somewhat reduce it. It is difficult to cover with makeup and can be very noticable. Though not painful, sufferers are sometimes compared to looking like “The walking dead.” It is a lifelong condition.
Another related danger is Argyrosis, which is caused by silver buildup in the eyes of those who have been exposed to silver compounds. This condition too is not reversible and it can cause vision problems. Such conditions were once far more common then they are today. At one time, when silver-based solutions were used as nose drops or as major ingredients in patent medicines, the condition was not uncommon. After it was established that the condition is indeed caused by the ingestion of silver solutions, the preparations were withdrawn from mainstream use, but the danger remained for those who used the “alternative” supplements which still contained high levels of silver. The actual concentrations of such products vary widely but they can be high enough to cause the condition with repeated use, even within the constraints of the “directions” for use of the product.
Eleven cases of argyria have been reported to the FDA in the US and linked definitively with silver-based “suppliment” products. However, it’s very likely that there are many more which either have not been reported or which are mild enough to not be reported. The individuals may not realize that they have the condition and simply think that they have “A very bad complexion.” The FDA banned colloidal silver in over the counter products in 1996, although many products still exist due to the lax control over “natural” or “supplement” products.
This website is especially shameful with the lies being perpetuated about the safety and effectiveness of these products. In the past few years, the FTC and FDA have cracked down on colloidal silver products and prosecuted companies which claimed that they could cure cancer or any number of infectious diseases. The website however states that:
This widely circulated fable about the condition, Argyria, is simply a weapon formed against colloidal silver by those who are set out to stop its use among the people.
This of course is a common tactic and the next assertion is that the evil “pharmaceutical companies” have worked against natural and effective products because they cannot be patented and could cut into the bottom line of their products for treating the illnesses. This is the sort of claim which is all to common in quackery.
More info on these products can be found from our friends at Quackwatch. Additional information can be found on the website of one sufferer of the condition. It should be a warning to anyone who might consider falling for these scams. Another page gives additional information on these scams.
Despite the efforts to educate the public and crackdown on the scams and fraud of the quacks who push this stuff, it can still be found on many websites. A simple search on Google products reveals many pushers of silver supplements.
This entry was posted on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 10:07 am and is filed under Bad Science, Quackery. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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February 17th, 2009 at 10:30 am
and what do u think about silver NANOPARTICLES ???
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September 19th, 2009 at 12:53 am
This is a problem of the past! “his despite the fact that colloidal silver products have never been shown to have any real benefit and they do carry a very real risk.” My favorite check out http://www.supernaturalsilver.com and how they can cure malaria in 3-4 which is also in the Patent 7135195
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,135,195.PN.&OS=PN/7,135,195&RS=PN/7,135,195
CDC also listed Silver Sol as able to kill the flu virus! Also did we mention that the Surgeon General of the Airforce said quote of section 14 of the 2005 congressional testimony “That it will kill anthrax, sars, and the bubonic plaque and that the US government should put it in”
Doesn’t appear like you have your facts straight!
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September 19th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Chase said:
I highly doubt it cures malaria. The danger of developing argynia from it doesn’t really exist if it is used a few times, but there are people who take this stuff on a regular basis and for them, it can cause this life long condition. In any case, it’s never recommended to take something that has no proven benefits, even if the risk from a small number of doses is relatively small.
Chase said:
I don’t doubt that solutions with a high concentration of free silver ions do have antimicrobial properties. Although it’s not as powerful a general purpose antiseptic as iodine or bleach, it does have some effectiveness in this capacity. Copper does the same thing. There have been some applications where silver ions are used to suppress microbial growth. It’s a fairly narrow set of circumstances where this is of value, of course.
But look… being a descent antiseptic does not make something useful as a medication. It’s a lower concentration in the body and the body is a more complex system.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ethyl alcohol is a fairly effective antiseptic. Most bacteria that are not in the endospore phase are killed by alcohol without any problem. This does not mean you can cure infectious disease by getting drunk!
Colloidal silver is just as much of a fallacy as thinking a handle of vodka will cure infectious disease.
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September 20th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Ill take a shot of silversol over the vodka thanks “Doc”.
The SilverSol Classified as a Disinfectant by the EPA
The SilverSol has also been filed with the EPA for use as a disinfectant and has already passed all the required tests. Three different EPA approvals.
http://www.supernaturalsilver.com to see for yourself!
FDA approval on Silver Sol gel. An extra-strength version just FDA approved.
Dr Rustum Roy one of the USA’s most eminent physical scientists. reported”. . . when used alongside a traditional antibiotic, the Silver Solution has a synergistic effect, thereby extending the life of the efficacy of several antibiotics tenfold”.
Over 160 independent Studies and Test Series.
50 Studies from independent universities, Hospitals, Government And Private Labs.
59 Independent Antimicrobial Experiments
14 Independent Anti Viral Studies
13 Independent Pathogenic Mold, Yeast, and Fungus studies.
12 Independent Safety and toxicity studies.
Impressive Human Studies
Four Hospitals and Clinics in Africa 129 patients -18 Ailments
Malaria -54 Cases, Congressional Testimony
Dental 308 cases, Canada Oral Surgery- No Infections
Radiation Burns- Six Years Summit Medical Center – A Thousand Patients +/-
Resolved Wound Cases 286 Currently Being Evaluated
Radiation Burns- East Valley Regional Cancer Center
Numerous tests at major universities , governmental, and commercial labs like National Institute of Health, Illinois Institute of Technology, Nelson Laboratories, Central Utah Water, CRA laboratories, American Bio Tech laboratories, Viridis Biopharma, Pennsylvania State University, University California Davis, Kansas State, University of Utah, Utah State University, Brigham Young University,University of Wisconsin (NASA) have proven the effectiveness of the product.
The creators of SilverSol clearly understand the dynamics of the lymphatic fluids in our bodies your dilution theory is bunk. Even at very dilute levels .05 ppm 1/280 it can still kill pathogens. Check Central Utah water studies. Refer to video 5 on site!
If by now your not getting the idea I think you may have had to much vodka
Cheers! Chase
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September 21st, 2009 at 12:16 am
Chase said:
So is ethyl alcohol.
Chase said:
Delt with him before Rustum Roy is an old fool who has some experience and qualifications in materials science and has pounded those to try to get credibility for areas he has no qualifications in at all. He’s been all over every kind of bad science from homeopathy to “faith based science” which is one of the dumbest things I’ve heard. Rustum Roy’s word means nothing here.
Chase said:
That means absolutely nothing. Nobody will dispute that silver is not generally acutely toxic.
Microbes are not generally that difficult to kill. Many of them are quite sensitive to the enviornment. As mentioned, alcohol does a reasonably good job at killing microbes. Many microbes are sensitive to acidic environments and can be killed with vinegar. Some can’t even survive in highly salty water.
Chase said:
Look, I realize you’re trying to get people to buy your product, but I’m just not going to fall for it and I doubt most of my readers are. Go find a site that isn’t as savvy about this stuff and they might buy into this crap.
Nobody who knows the first thing about microbes or chemistry is going to go drink something and believe it will cure infectious disease just because you can pour it onto a culture in a petri dish and show that it kills a large portion, or even all of the bacteria.
Just like vodka, it kills bacteria in a dish but is useless as an internal medicine. And it won’t even get you drunk! Thus, it has zero value in that capacity.
Nobody is going to dispute that silver has some antimicrobial properties and that it can be a useful disinfectant in a few narrow circumstances. And this means nothing about the medicinal value. There are plenty of even more effective antimicrobial substances. Silver is no longer used much as an antiseptic as iodine, boric acid, hydrogen peroxide, alcohols and other substances are more effective. For disinfectants things like bleach work far better. It has been relegated to limited use as an eye antiseptic and for some limited use to suppress microbe growth in water systems.
Look, I know all about this. Seriously. This stuff has been pushed by snake-oil salesmen since the 1890’s, if not earlier. It saw some popularity in the 1920’s and turned a lot of people blue and gray.
Your scam is neither original nor clever.
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September 21st, 2009 at 2:23 am
Chase said:
Point being what? Alcohol and lysol are both disinfectants. Silver products have never been shown to do anything useful for human health internally and can also produce unpleasant effects like grey and blue skin. They’ve been sold for decades to cure all that ails you. Classic snake-oil. Repackaged makes no difference.
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September 21st, 2009 at 2:04 pm
You should really look at the website and the new technology before you are so quick to judge. Millions of bottles have been sold and yet nobody has turned blue. You also need to understand that SilverSol is METALLIC not ionic or colloidal meaning you cannot turn blue. I think it’s funny because if your versed in chemistry this is pretty basic.
They cured malaria in Africa on an average of 3-5 days and were subpoenaed by the United States Congress for a Congressional testimony.
This is not snake-oil , you can believe whatever you want to believe but that doesn’t change the fact that is is incredible and you would really be doing yourself a diservice.
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September 21st, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Chase said:
I read the page. There’s 20 minutes of my life I won’t get back. This is another take on something that has been going on forever. There are all kinds of silver based preparations out there. True metallic silver is not water soluble, but there have been lots of products that have used silver in the form of ions or various silver compounds or by binding the silver to proteins. In any case, it all amounts to the same thing. The whole idea of silver being used for antimicrobial purposes goes back hundreds of years. Silver compounds have antimicrobial properties and stuff like silver nitrate was one a common antiseptic. It’s considered obsolete these days.
When we say it’s “Colloidal” that covers nearly all silver products. It just means that it has been dispersed into a liquid and it’s distinct from dissolving, but in some cases you can’t tell at first glance. It means the material is suspended in the liquid but is not in solution. How you achieve this, as mentioned, doesn’t really matter. People have schemed up numerous ways to get silver to become suspended in water.
It doesn’t really matter what form it is in whether “ionic” or “metalic” because it’s not going to stay in its native form anyway if you just atomize it and put it in a liquid and expect it to disolve. Whatever the case, if you drink the stuff, what doesn’t get excreted is going to be absorbed in basically the same way. The only thing that changes is how much might be excreted.
The antimicrobial properties of silver are not in dispute.
It’s not a great antiseptic compared to others. It’s not that powerful and that’s one reason it is not used much as a general purpose antiseptic. It’s still used in some narrow circumstances, like bandages that are impregnated with silver. Whether this is really that useful is subject to debate.
Yeah, I’ve seen big claims about invitro effects demonstrated on actual tissue. I have seen very little good data on this.
Chase said:
Great. Do you have any interest in purchasing a bridge in Brooklyn?
No seriously. I would really doubt that and I’d love to see the case control study on that one, but even if it were true, the microbe that causes malaria can actually be killed fairly easily compared to others. Show me that it has descent effects as a general purpose in-body antibiotic. That will impress me.
Chase said:
Yeah… sure. Whatever you say.
Here’s my favorite passage from the page:
Good luck with your patent on that frequency. I was thinking of putting a patent on 1200 hz. That way, whenever someone speaks in a tone that contains elements of that frequency, they’ll have to pay me a royalty.
Quote Comment
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
lol thats funny Chem Geek! I have the the documentation for Malaria, also “Show me that it has descent effects as a general purpose in-body antibiotic.” The FDA approved Gel Kills MRSA check out the pics on the website for an awesome testimonial also we have proved its effectiveness to the FDA that’s when the rest of the sheep nod and say ok your right it works. But if that’s not enough I applaud you for being more thorough check out the 124 human case study in Ghana Africa (ear infections , sinus infections, malaria, many other things also a video on my website) this has 3 different EPA approvals one as a disinfectant passing all the required tests. Also I can send you all this documentation.
American Bio Tech Labs didn’t exactly patent the frequency but rather the process that leads to a silver particle acquiring this special attribute. They did not patent the UV spectrum or frequency!
“Nobody who knows the first thing about microbes or chemistry is going to go drink something and believe it will cure infectious disease just because you can pour it onto a culture in a petri dish and show that it kills a large portion, or even all of the bacteria.”
So by this logic anything developed from a petri dish (kill bacteria in it) is a scam,antibiotics anyone.
“It doesn’t really matter what form it is in whether “ionic” or “metalic” because it’s not going to stay in its native form anyway if you just atomize it and put it in a liquid and expect it to disolve. “
Actually Penn State University did a huge peer review study at 7 state of art labs taking years to complete.
They show how metallic silver is 300% more effective and safer. Look at the research.
“True metallic silver is not water soluble, but there have been lots of products that have used silver in the form of ions or various silver compounds or by binding the silver to proteins.”
That’s right! We embedded the silver in the water for more information look at Einsteins Brownian in motion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_motion
http://www.supernaturalsilver.com
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November 30th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I stumbled across this page trying to look up more info on this subject after my friend tried to get me to use silver for said purposes. I really knew nothing about it, but I feel much more informed now, thank you to all.
However, Mr/Ms Chase, your argument and sources you reference are almost embarrassing to read. Maybe less personal attacks on those who question you and better organization of your own information is needed? Oh, and “you’re” vs “your”, please get it straight. Sorry, I know it’s trivial, but it grates on my nerves.
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November 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Myles said:
For getting rid of bacteria? Yeah, if you have a bacterial problem, your best bet is to see a doctor and get a real and tested antibiotic. If you don’t have a bacterial infection, then there’s no need to kill bacteria in your body.
There are bacteria that live in the human digestive tract, on the skin and elsewhere. If they’re not causing you trouble, best to leave them there. They actually preform several important functions, including being a competitive inhibitor to other, potentially pathogenic, bacteria
Oh, and finally, check out Quackwatch.org for any such products you have concerns over. It’s a great site. Written by real MD’s who use plain English to explain what products are not living up to their claims. The doctor who runs it is one of the best known authorities on modern medical fraud and has been at it for many years. I believe (although I’m not certain) that he is retired as a practicing physician, but continues to work in the field of testing and evaluating claims of “alternative” products. I’m pretty sure he’s not part of a conspiracy, I mean, being retired, he wouldn’t be making extra money by getting more people sick anyway
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March 9th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
You might want to tell the US government, EPA, and the FDA that silver does not work, because the latest technology they are using is putting silver into bandages for armed forces that are injured on the battlefield. They have spent millions on studies and buying the bandages, and supplying silver water for the soldiers after several studies that they have sponsored. Those very people you are blasting are the people that the government have recognized their studies and have found them to be true.
There have been medical studies on it and published in many many peer reviewed journals, and they have found that the silver does work as an antibiotic, and more effectively than other antibiotics. Even more research on published papers will show that in many instances it works better than “modern” antibiotics.
Of course people who write these articles, like the ones above, are puppets of big pharma who do not make money from these types of medicines, but rather from patented “big research” drugs that they own patents on, that will only cure a very narrow type of diseases so that they can charge a lot of money for the drugs.
And doctors receive kick backs and biffs from pharma for prescribing drugs, not for other remedies. Remember, doctors treat the symptoms, not cure the diseases. And the greatest scams are the clinical tests.
Did you know that overdosing on dihydrogen monooxide can kill you? If you drink too much of it in a day? Yet the FDA, or EPA does not ban this.
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March 9th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Steven Sedlmayr said:
Silver sulfadiazine belongs to the class of medications called topical antibiotics. It is used to treat and prevent infection of skin wounds, especially in victims of serious burns. It may also be used in leg ulcers, skin grafts, surgical incisions, and minor cuts and scrapes. It is applied directly to the wounded area, and works by killing the bacteria that may cause infection.
Note however that this is a topical treatment, not something administered internally, nor is the silver sulfadiazine in colloidal suspension. There are any number of pharmaceuticals meant to treat skin conditions, that would be toxic if consumed internally. That something is effective as a topical agent, is no proof that it is effective in anywhere else in the body.
As for ‘Big Pharma,’ silver sulfadiazine is made by the big drug companies (and has been for decades) under the names Silvadene, SSD, SSD AF, Thermazene, and Flamazine. I was treated with the latter, 30 years ago when I sustained a serious burn on my left hand, which give the lie to your claim that this is new technology.
However under no circumstances is ’silver water,’ being administered to any patient, anywhere as a part of any therapy prescribed by legitimate physicians. Certainly not to US troops in combat service.
Quote Comment
March 9th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: alcohol has antimicrobial properties and is used as a general purpose antiseptic. This does not mean you can cure an infection by going out and drinking a lot of liquor.
(although, in a pinch, if you don’t have any other means of cleaning a wound, although it’s not the best thing for this because for one thing it stings like hell and you really need to soak it in alcohol to get it to work well as an antiseptic. It’s no longer preferred for open wounds but it will work)
Of course alcohol is only one example. There are many things that can kill bacteria on surfaces or even on wounds but are not suitable for internal use or use on an existing infection: Iodine, Hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochloride, Benzalkonium chloride
Killing bacteria on a surface or in the enviornment is one thing. Killing bacteria which has infected living tissue (and doing so without killing the tissue) is quite another!
Steven Sedlmayr said:
*sigh* That one never gets old. Yeah, you’ve caught me. I’m paid by the big pharma companies, the nuclear industry, the industrial food companies, the genetic engineering companies, the airlines, the CIA… I must be really rich if all the **** I’ve been accused of profiting from were even half true.
Steven Sedlmayr said:
Oh for Christ sake. Do you have any idea what you’re talking about? Do you even realize that most of the commonly used antibiotics are years, if not decades out of patent?
Penicillin-class antibiotics have been around since the 1930’s and therefore are many decades out of patent and can be produced by any reasonably equipped laboratory for pennies. They’re still very much in use. Amoxicillin is one of the most common oral penicillin-derived antibiotics – past patent since the 1970’s and dirt cheap as any number of generic variations are avaliable.
The first generation of Cephalosporin-class antibiotics were patented in the late 1950’s and thus have also been out of patent for many years – still very much in use.
Of course there are some antibiotics that are relatively new and still patent protected or which are expensive because they’re a specialty medication or expensive to produce.
The notion that antibiotics in general are raking in enormous profits for a few companies is bull****. Some of the most prescribed, most common general purpose antibiotics are cheap and non-exclusive.
Or do you just choose to ignore that?
Steven Sedlmayr said:
A couple years ago I had a bad bacterial infection of my lymph nodes. They were all swollen up and tender and I had a fever. I went to the doctor and got on an antibiotic. The infection went away.
I call that “cured”
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