Colloidal Silver: 4 Incredible Health Benefits
4 Incredible Health Benefits of Colloidal Silver
Colloidal Silver: Overview
Colloidal silver is a simple solution that may boost overall wellness in small daily doses. T
he mineral is infused in colloid, a liquid that suspends the tiny silver particles. It has a long history of use dating to Cyrus the Great, the King of Persia1 from 550 to 529 BC, who only drank boiled water out of silver flagons. Although there are dangers with ingesting too much silver, colloidal silver contains less than an ounce and a half per day. Here is a little bit more about the health benefits of colloidal silver.
What is Colloidal Silver?
Colloidal Silver is basically a solution of sterilized water with suspended nanoparticles of silver. The solution is expressed numerically as parts per million (ppm), which is the same as milligrams of silver per liter of water. The total silver content in the solution is often marketed in ranges from 10ppm to 30ppm. There are rare cases when the total silver content can be higher but is really not needed for the solution to be effective. A 10ppm solution does wonders.
Additionally, there are three types of silver solutions marketed, which are Silver Proteins, Ionic Silver, and True Colloidal Silver. Silver Protein products use large silver particles suspended into gelatin. Ionic Silver products use silver ions suspended in water and are the least expensive to produce. True Colloidal Silver products contain “actual” silver nanoparticles suspended in water without proteins or additives.
All in all, the True Colloidal Silver is the most effective. This solution has been used for centuries and found to be effective against almost all organisms tested. This silver solution is often used to prevent microbial infections.
According to the Silver Institute5, Silver nanoparticles helps heal the body in the following three ways:
Binding with Bacterial DNA – Research shows that the silver particles from silver solutions enter microbial DNA and prevents it from unwinding and stop the bacteria from replicating. When the bacteria can’t replicate or reproduce, they eventually will die off as your body’s immune system attacks them.
Catalytic Oxidation – Silver is known to block the cellular respiration process of microbes. Cellular respiration is a biological process that occurs as a metabolic reaction that converts biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and releasing waste products. It is said that silver is can block the cellular respiration process because it can hold oxygen molecules naturally and reacts to what is known as the sulfhydryl groups which surround viruses and bacteria. I like to think of this as silver basically suffocating viruses and bacteria and essentially killing them.
Reaction with Bacterial Cell Membranes – Research also showed that the silver ions found in silver nanoparticle solution can attach to the cell membrane of the bacteria and also block the cellular respiration process described above. Again, stopping the bacteria from replicating.
Now that you know a little about Colloidal Silver, let’s discuss some of the benefits.
The Health Benefits of Colloidal Silver
Colloidal Silver has many health benefits and many medical uses. The following are four of the most important health benefits that are supported by research in my opinion.
Colloidal Silver Antibacterial Benefits
The mineral has antibacterial properties. Before modern antibiotics, it was a popular prescription for fighting common infections and illnesses. For fungal infections, consumers rub it on their skin to clear it up directly. When used topically, users claim it has broad antiseptic characteristics2.
Colloidal Silver as an Anti-Microbial
Microbial is a very basic term that can describe viruses and bacteria. Silver nanoparticles have the potential to fight both viruses and bacteria3 naturally. Researchers are hoping it proves to be an effective treatment for septic wounds and can reduce the severity and the duration of the infection.
Wound Care/Skin Health/Treating Acne with Colloidal Silver
Another health benefit of colloidal silver is to reduce acne outbreaks. Dr. Neil Sadick, an NYC dermatologist, explains4,
“Both colloidal silver and colloidal gold have been used for quite some time in the fields of medicine and skincare …They are minerals, each with different biological activities.”
The doctor continues to tell The Zoe Report about the mineral’s anti-fungal, antibacterial, and specifically, anti-inflammatory benefits that reduce the redness and swelling associated with acne outbreaks.
A skincare expert, Nicolas Travis, helps further explain how the colloidal silver works with acne and other skin conditions,
“The particles attach themselves to the proteins on the cellular wall of the bacteria, where they penetrate into the cell to disrupt the metabolic processes of the bacteria; leading to the death of the bacteria … Think of silver as suffocating the bacteria; cutting off its cellular respiration.”
Another potential skincare benefit of the mineral includes its high concentration of antioxidants. These protect the skin from free radical damage. It also helps clean up the damages done by free radicals by making them whole, which “heals” them.
Colloidal Silver Antiviral Benefits
According to the International Journal of Nanomedicine6, silver nanoparticles, like those in True Colloidal Silver, can reduce viral infectivity. This happens when silver nanoparticles block the interaction of the virus within that cell. Colloidal Silver has been shown to be an antiviral for the following viruses by suffocating the virus as discussed previously: hepatitis C7, Pneumonia, herpes, HIV/AIDS, Warts, and Shingle.
How to Take Colloidal Silver?
The mineral comes in a small spray bottle that you can spray under your tongue for oral use. You can also spray it on an area of your skin for direct use on wounds and infections. Some brands may offer a gel to use topically for healing lacerations and maintaining immune health.
Risks and Dangers of Colloidal Silver
Currently, there is not a consensus on the safety of colloidal silver solutions as there is debate on both sides about the potential health risks of the solution. Many research projects show that colloidal silver solutions are safe and effective to use. As with any supplement, it is important to follow the direction of use.
There was a report of a man who decided to make his own colloidal silver and overconsumed the product, turning his skin permanently green. Only, use colloidal silver solution from reputable manufactures, and under no circumstance should you attempt to make your own product.
Additionally, the University of Michigan researcher8 found that oral ingestion of silver nanoparticle solution for 28 days did not alter the gut microbiome diversity of animals involved in this study. However, it should be a point of consideration to supplement with pre and probiotics to ensure the gut microflora is maintained for optimal health and healing.
Final Thoughts:
The health benefits of colloidal silver may be the ideal naturally occurring compound to keep in your medicine cabinet. Try the mineral to heal wounds quicker with a few squirts of the suspended liquid or use it daily to boost immunity wellness. For safety, only use a small amount one time per day. Speak to your doctor before starting any new supplements.
References:
- https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/greek-babylon.asp
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23771576/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7167925/
- https://www.thezoereport.com/p/colloidal-silver-benefits-for-skin-dont-just-include-a-healthy-glow-15987533
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920586196002039
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3826769/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2818642/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26525505
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