5 Colloidal Silver Benefits for Health That Are Backed by Evidence
Unlike silver used in jewelry, colloidal silver has many health benefits. Antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral are just some of the common words associated with this natural remedy.
Yet despite ample scientific evidence, many health claims strongly denounce the benefits of colloidal silver. In this post, we’ll set things straight by looking at the science-backed health benefits of colloidal silver.
What Is Colloidal Silver?
Colloidal silver refers to nanosized particles of pure silver suspended in a liquid. It’s also commonly known as “silver nanoparticles,” “silver ions,” and “silver solution.”
The History of Colloidal Silver
Interestingly, silver has been used as early as ancient Greece to heal wounds and infections. Before the invention of refrigerators, silver was also used to purify water and prevent food spoilage.
When it comes to modern medicine, colloidal silver first made its appearance in 1891, when a surgeon used it for wound sterilization. The popularity and uses of silver nanoparticles continued to grow until antibiotics took over as the most popular defender against bacterial infections.
However, with the rise of drug-resistant pathogens that have made modern medicine increasingly ineffectual, silver is regaining its position as a destroyer of said pathogens. We’ll explore this in more detail later on.
5 Colloidal Silver Benefits for Health
Here, we will delve into the many health benefits of colloidal silver.
1. It Has Antimicrobial Properties
Did you know that silver has been used for at least 6,000 years as an antimicrobial agent?
Before antibiotics entered the health care scene, silver reigned as the champion for rebuffing infections and healing wounds. With colloidal silver’s antimicrobial properties, it provides protection against not just bacteria but also viruses and fungus. That’s why colloidal silver is said to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
Below, we will explain colloidal’s many antimicrobial properties.
Antibacterial
The multidrug resistance of many bacterial strains towards antibiotics has become a significant health threat for the global population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result."
To illustrate, the bacteria strain Salmonella, which causes typhoid fever and food-related infections, is resistant to commonly used drugs like quinolone antibiotics and tetracycline. Without an effective cure, Salmonella can be life-threatening.
However, scientific evidence shows that when used alone or together with antibiotics, colloidal silver displays antibacterial properties against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. By damaging bacterial DNA, silver nanoparticles prevent bacterial cells from replicating.
One notable success showed the combination of silver nanoparticles, and the antibiotic ampicillin was effective against the previously multidrug-resistant Salmonella strain.
As such, colloidal silver has gained a reputation for destroying hard-to-kill bacteria strains.
Antifungal
Candida albicans and Candida glabrata are both responsible for most candida fungal infections. While these types of fungal infections can be treated with the antifungal drug fluconazole, the CDC has highlighted drug resistance in certain candida strains, particularly Candida glabrata.
Luckily, the antifungal nature of colloidal silver paves an alternative to treating such fungal infections. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Biofouling reported silver nanoparticles successfully fended off Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.
Antiviral
Besides fighting the good fight against bacteria and fungus, colloidal silver can also hold its own against viruses. Silver nanoparticles have been known to act as antiviral agents against infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and herpes.
On top of that, another study demonstrated that colloidal silver is also capable of fighting off the H1N1 influenza A virus. This highlights its potential as a natural alternative for preventing influenza infections.
2. It Protects Against the Flu
Remember when we said colloidal silver can fight the influenza virus? Similarly, silver nanoparticles can protect you and your family from the flu.
If you need more proof of its flu-fighting properties, here's an example: In 2011, a study was conducted on children (aged 12 and below) with nasal congestion and the common cold. The children were divided into two groups — one group was treated with colloidal silver and beta-glucan while the other group received saline solution. While both groups showed significant improvement from the treatments, the colloidal silver group had a 90% complete recovery rate compared to the saline group’s 66% complete recovery rate.
3. It Helps With Sinusitis
Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, is one of the most common health problems worldwide. It ranges from acute sinusitis (which lasts less than four weeks) to chronic sinusitis (lasting 12 weeks or longer). In the United States alone, 28.9 million adults are diagnosed with chronic sinusitis.
While over-the-counter drug products and antibiotics may relieve some sinus infection symptoms, a natural remedy is available in the form of colloidal silver. Silver nanoparticles have been shown to rival oral antibiotics in managing chronic rhinosinusitis.
4. It Speeds Up Wound Healing
There is scientific evidence that silver nanoparticles stop bacterial growth and reduce inflammation in the wound healing process.
A 2019 case report in the Journal of Wounds Asia examined the use of silver in chronic wound management. A nano colloidal silver (NCS) spray of 30 parts per million (ppm) was sprayed on the wound site before covering it with additional wound dressing. The results showed NCS not only reduced infection but also sped up the wound healing rate.
5. It Helps With Inflammatory Skin Problems
Since silver nanoparticles are anti-inflammatory and can heal open wounds, it’s almost expected to see it in skincare. Beauty brands have leveraged colloidal silver’s trio of superpowers (anti-bacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) for inflammatory-based skin concerns. These skin problems include acne and hyperpigmentation to name a few.
Best Uses of Colloidal Silver
From staving off pathogens to wound care, colloidal silver can be used in almost any setting. Here are a few ways in which you can enjoy the health benefits of colloidal silver:
Sanitizer
Hand-washing is strongly encouraged to prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses, and germs (especially when viruses are going around). But if clean water and antibacterial hand soap aren't available right when you need them, the answer lies in our Silver Hand-it-izer Spray.
With antimicrobial colloidal silver and moisturizing organic essential oils, this hand sanitizer keeps your hands clean and soft. It's also free from alcohol, toxins, and preservatives for an all-natural experience.
Tooth-Cleaning Product
Besides keeping your hands clean, mouth hygiene is equally important. But the conventional toothpaste formula can be toxic to your health. That's why we've created the Dirty Mouth Toothpaste with colloidal silver. The toothpaste will remove destructive bacteria from your mouth without causing damage in the long run.
Rest assured that our Dirty Mouth Toothpaste is made with 100% natural ingredients like bentonite clay and baking soda.
Dietary Supplement
Perhaps the best use of colloidal silver is in the form of a dietary supplement. This form helps you reap the full effects of its immune-boosting powers.
But a word of caution before you actually purchase one: Some colloidal silver products on the market are not made with true colloidal silver. This means taking such dietary supplements won’t give you the actual health benefits of silver nanoparticles and may even lead to unwanted health complications.
It’s best to buy a colloidal silver supplement from a reputable source and carefully check the ingredient list.
Side Effects of Colloidal Silver
As with any natural remedy, colloidal silver may result in some side effects. To avoid other effects, please note the recommended colloidal silver intake level.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the recommended daily dosage of colloidal silver is 5 micrograms per kilogram of your weight. This includes both oral and topical use of the silver particles. We also recommend you ask your primary doctor how much colloidal silver is ideal for you.
Drug Interactions
Colloidal silver can interfere with certain medications. Silver nanoparticles have been reported to lower the absorption rate of the following drugs:
- Quinolone antibiotics: Treats bacterial infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis
- Tetracycline antibiotics: Treats bacterial infections and acne
- Thyroxine: Treats thyroid deficiency
It’s always best to consult your health professional on whether it’s safe to take colloidal silver, particularly if you’re new to it. That way, you can enjoy the benefits of the silver solution with peace of mind.
Skin Discoloration
There are many claims that ingesting colloidal silver causes argyria, a health condition that happens when silver accumulates in your body over time.
However, it should be noted that this health claim is based on ingesting ionic silver or silver proteins. Ionic silver refers to silver ions while silver proteins are silver particles suspended in gelatin or casein. Silver proteins are also much larger than the silver nanoparticles in colloidal silver.
Since ionic silver and silver protein are different from the true colloidal silver, ingesting the first two substances can undoubtedly harm you. Ionic silver combines with chlorine to produce silver chloride, an insoluble compound that your body can't process.
Accumulated silver chloride will ultimately lead to argyria. So, it's incorrect to say colloidal silver causes a bluish-grey skin discoloration when ionic silver is the real culprit.
Boost Your Immune System With Colloidal Silver
The health claim of colloidal silver as a cure-all is indeed far-fetched, but it’s been shown to treat a host of health problems. Instead of looking at colloidal silver products as the be-all and end-all health product, consider it as a natural remedy that boosts your immune system and fights bacteria, fungi, and pathogens.
