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Definition:
According to some people, colloidal silver will destroy bacteria in the body and should thus
be used as a means to achieving better health. Typically, colloidal silver is created by infusing
drinking water with silver ions via an electrical charge. The use of colloidal silver began in the
1800s before the development of antibiotics.
Does colloidal silver destroy bacteria? Actually, silver is used as for legitimate medical purposes in a topical form - silver nitrate, for example, helps treat severe burns. Silver has a long history of being used to retard the growth of bacteria and algae and so have other metals, like copper.
The fact that silver inhibits the growth of living organisms should be the first clue to the fact that it is, on some level, toxic in nature. People who promote its use, however, say that it only affects pathogenic organisms - the nasty things like bacteria, but not human tissue. The truth of the matter is quite different because silver will affect any living cells it comes into contact with. It has no way of knowing that some cells are "good" while others are "bad."
The truth of the matter is also that silver has not been shown to have any positive effects on any of the diseases it is recommended for. On the contrary, the FDA cautions against the use of colloidal silver because the full effects of its toxicity are still unknown. The only sure thing which silver does is cause Argyria. What happens is that, over a long period of time while silver is injested, the metal is deposited in the skin, organs and other tissues where it remains - a problem which exists with the injestion of other heavy metals as well. In the end, a person's skin turns a grey or blue-grey color. Permanently.
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Related Resources:
What is Alternative Medicine?
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