SummaryĬolloidal silver is commonly found as a dietary supplement in liquid or spray form. Common brands names include Acticoat, Allevyn Ag, Aquacel Ag, Biatain Ag, Flamazine, Mepilex Ag, and Silvercel ( 7).įinally, silver is found in other commercial products, such as cleaning agents, agricultural treatments, and personal hygiene products like shower gels and deodorants ( 7). Homeopathy is based on the premise that very low doses of a substance can produce health benefits, though little research supports this ( 7).Īdditionally, silver is commonly added to bandages and dressings to help with wound and burn healing. Typically, colloidal silver products are sold as homeopathic remedies. Most products contain very low doses of colloidal silver, usually ranging from 10–30 parts per million (ppm) ( 7). Though it’s discouraged for oral use, colloidal silver can still be found in liquid and spray form. It’s an ancient remedy that was once used to treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, though it’s recently gained popularity as an alternative medicine. SummaryĬolloidal silver is a suspension of silver particles in a liquid. Today, those who use colloidal silver take it as an oral dietary supplement or apply it directly to their skin. However, no research supports these claims. Since the 1990s, colloidal silver has started to regain popularity as an alternative medicine, with advocates claiming that it can replace antibiotics or other medical therapies to treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections ( 7).Ī smaller number of people go as far as to assert that it helps treat conditions like Lyme disease, tuberculosis, HIV, and even cancer. However, colloidal silver was quickly abandoned in the early 20th century when antibiotics were discovered and found to be more effective than colloidal silver in the treatment of health conditions and disease ( 7). In fact, the earliest recorded use of silver as a medical treatment dates back to the Han Dynasty in China (1500 B.C.) ( 7). Historically, silver was used as an all-purpose remedy for various infections and illnesses due to its antimicrobial properties. This means that they’re less than 100 nanometers in size and invisible to the naked eye ( 6). The size of the silver particles in colloidal silver varies, but some are so tiny that they’re referred to as nanoparticles. “Colloidal silver” is the term used to describe tiny particles of silver suspended in a liquid ( 1). What is colloidal silver, and why is it used? The FDA considers colloidal silver unsafe due to its many side effects if taken orally, but it’s approved for topical use. Ultimately, any colloidal silver product intended for oral use isn’t safe or recommended. It also reduces the absorption and efficacy of certain drugs, such as antibiotics and the thyroid medication thyroxine ( 1, 4, 5). However, colloidal silver drugs that are marketed for oral intake are not legal for sale ( 1).Ĭonsumption of colloidal silver is associated with many serious health risks, such as argyria, neurological damage, and liver and kidney harm. Otherwise, the product is considered misbranded and is subject to regulatory action ( 3).Ĭolloidal silver is approved for topical application on skin infections, skin wounds, and in bandages and dressings for the treatment of burns. However, this product is still commonly sold as a dietary supplement ( 1, 2).Īny company that produces silver products that are labeled or promoted to prevent or cure disease must undergo FDA approval prior to marketing. Since then, the FDA has not approved any new colloidal silver drugs on the market. In fact, the FDA deemed that all over-the-counter products that contain colloidal silver ingredients or silver salts are not generally recognized as safe or effective ( 1, 2). However, colloidal silver has been declared unsafe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1999. Colloidal silver is a popular remedy in alternative medicine.
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