Colloidal silver is a very effective home remedy, but it’s best used externally and never swallowed as it harms gut flora. More recent research has found that colloidal silver harms the brain.
What is Colloidal Silver?
Colloidal silver is one of the most effective natural antibiotics widely available to the public.
What’s more, colloidal silver is cheap and easily obtained at many health food stores. Some people make it at home. It consists of tiny silver particles suspended in liquid for use either externally or internally.
The remarkable antibiotic nature of silver has been known for centuries. In the early 1900′s, the founder of Searle Pharmaceuticals, Alfred Searle, wrote in his book The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease:
Applying colloidal silver to human subjects has been done in a large number of cases with astonishingly successful results…having the advantage of being rapidly fatal to microbes without toxic action on its host. It is quite stable. It protects rabbits from ten times the lethal dose of tetanus or diphtheria toxin.
In the 1970s, Dr. Robert O. Becker at Syracuse Medical University began to intensively research colloidal silver. He discovered that silver not only kills bacteria, but it actually killed bacteria that were resistant to all known antibiotics with no undesirable side effects.
Moreover, unlike prescription antibiotics, pathogens do not become resistant or immune to silver over time. It even has the ability to eradicate antibiotic-resistant microbes like MRSA.
This is because colloidal silver doesn’t poison the microbes like antibiotics do, but rather smothers them by adhering to their cell walls and inhibiting their enzyme production.
Internal Use of Colloidal Silver
Despite its stellar reputation as a natural antibiotic, I never swallow colloidal silver and don’t allow my children to ingest it either. I only use colloidal silver for externally based infections such as swimmers ear. Others I know use it to gargle with as a strep throat home remedy.
My reasons are fairly simple.
First of all, silver is a heavy metal that accumulates in the body over time, the same as lead, cadmium, and aluminum. Why would anyone knowingly consume heavy metals?
It never made any sense to me which is why I have always avoided consuming any silver solution including silver nitrates, ionic silvers, colloidal silvers, silver chlorides, and silver proteins.
The claim that colloidal silver is the only safe silver solution has never been at all convincing to me.
Dr. Kaayla Daniel PhD writes in her marvelous piece Mad as a Hatter: How to Avoid Toxic Metals and Clear Them from the Body:
Although the mental and physical problems from metal toxicity have escalated in recent years, our very language tacitly acknowledges the historic toxicity of certain metals: “Mad as a hatter” from the Civil- War-era’s crazed use of mercury sizing in hat manufacture, “gold fever” from the murderous greed of early prospectors, “lead poisoning” as black humor for “getting shot,” and, more recently, “get-the-lead-out” exhortations from trainers who would have us exercise long and hard in order to sweat out toxins and melt excess fat.
Certainly, occasional use of colloidal silver internally probably does no harm. This would including gargling with it to resolve strep throat without antibiotics.
Why risk it when there are plenty of natural antibiotics such as garlic, turmeric, cayenne, manuka honey, and oregano oil (oreganol) that are highly effective and present no metal toxicity issues?
Risks to Beneficial Bacteria
While the fact that silver is a heavy metal with accumulation in the body that is difficult to undo (and yes, it can permanently turn your skin blue if you get too much which happens with some forms of silver solution) is reason enough in my book to keep the colloidal silver for external use only, the biggest reason of all is to protect the gut microbiome.
You see, colloidal silver works not by poisoning microbes like antibiotics do, but by smothering them by adhering to their cell walls and inhibiting their enzyme production.
While colloidal silver’s unique method of killing bacteria is highly effective and does not lessen over time as microbes do not become resistant to it, it is not selective in the bacteria it kills.
In other words, colloidal silver can decimate beneficial bacteria in the gut just the same as pathogenic strains. Isn’t this exactly why conventional antibiotics are so problematic?
Reducing the population in the gut of beneficial bacteria is serious business no matter what the cause …natural or drug-based.
Dr. Martin Blaser MD of New York University’s Langone Medical Center who writes in the August 2011 edition of Nature, warns against harming the beneficial microbes in the gut:
Early evidence from my lab and others hints that, sometimes, our friendly flora never fully recover. These long-term changes to the beneficial bacteria within people’s bodies may even increase our susceptibility to infections and disease.
False Marketing Claims
Some colloidal silver manufacturers claim that their product does not harm beneficial microbes. Even some prominent alternative physicians deceptively claim it does not harm flora.
However, this information is usually a ploy to sell product and ignores the chemical realities of the metal’s effect on living organisms.
Silver Kills Microbes Indiscriminately
Steve Barwick, author of The Ultimate Manual on Colloidal Silver sets the record straight about this false advertising regarding colloidal silver:
But the truth is, colloidal silver does indeed act as a broad spectrum natural antibiotic. As such, if enough mineral silver reaches the intestinal tract it most certainly can kill off the friendly (i.e., beneficial) bacteria that thrive there.
Colloidal silver simply has no way of knowing a beneficial microbe from an infectious microbe. If the microbe is sensitive to silver, then silver will kill it whether it is a beneficial microbe or an infectious one.
Proponents of small amounts of colloidal silver taken internally say it won’t harm delicate gut balance. However, I choose not to take any chances given that many food-based natural antibiotics work just as well or even better for resolution of internal infections. This article details the best natural antibiotics to choose from instead of colloidal silver when an internal agent is required.
Why risk it where your delicate gut microbiome is concerned? Colloidal silver is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Just because it wasn’t obtained via prescription makes it no less of a risk to your delicate intestinal health.
Contraindicated on GAPS Diet
Due to its ability to upset the delicate gut balance and harm beneficial gut flora, colloidal silver is contraindicated on the GAPS Protocol for gut healing developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD.
Certified GAPS Diet Practitioners trained by Dr. Campbell-McBride recommend avoiding the ingestion of colloidal silver. This is necessary while attempting to rebuild the gut environment with beneficial microbes and healing/sealing the gut wall to put autoimmune disease in remission. L. D. Moore, a practicing GAPS Diet Practitioner, had this to say:
As a certified GAPS practitioner protecting the gut is the highest priority. I am SO careful at what my clients ingest that may destroy that delicate balance. I put colloidal silver in the no ingest bucket.
Do you take colloidal silver internally? Why or why not?
Wouldn’t it be better to use plant-based medicines such as garlic that have no risk in comparison, don’t build up in the body, act as food for flora, and are equally effective?
I’m interested to hear your reasons for this as my research tells me to just say no.
References
(1) The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease
(2) How to Avoid Toxic Metals and Clear Them from the Body
(3) The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual
(4) Stop the Killing of Beneficial Bacteria
(5) Does Colloidal Silver Kill Both Good and Bad Bacteria?
What a buzz kill! I’ve had good general health for most of my adult life. I’ve attributed some of that good health to my daily doses of collidal silver but the current argument being made does make sense if in fact the silver metal does accumulate in the body. In fact, I’ll have to reevaluate my daily ingestion of colloidal silver. Anybody that walks outside these days cannot help but to be aware of the heavy daily chemtrails cross-crossing our skies, fumigating us like cockroaches with heavy metals and carcinogenic poisons that are part of the Government’s diabolical population control plan, ostensibly promoted as their answer to the fictitious global warming scam. I see no need to assist them in that effort by purposefully contributing to my own demise. I want to preserve my intestinal flora and not push up flowers from my grave because I was told silver colloidal was safe.
Don De, I have not used Colloidal Silver as of yet, I have just purchased some from a health food store for the very first time. I say this; Yes what you say is true, the Government has been spaying us. You claim you are doing well all these years. So, you must be doing something right. Don’t give in to everything you read. The original poster may or may not have a complete picture of things. If you believe what you say about being sprayed, and you feel great, isn’t it clear to you that you the silver is protecting you? Everything in good measure. All the best.
Is there any risk to using it externally? I currently use a solution of colloidal silver & lavender water on my skin each day. It is a very small amount of colloidal silver, but I’m still curious. Thanks!
Educate yourself go to youtube and see Dr Becks videos. Make your own collioidal silver as one does not know what one is buying ! every thing should be taken with discretion. To much of a good thing could be bad ! Medicine does not usually change our skin color should it do that we would be purple !!!
Meaning that we are not aware as how bad they affect our organs and the consequences of their chemical action on our bodies.
Garlic ( as mentioned here by somebody) is good to a certain extent as it does destroy our brain cells.
Pharma corporations make billions addressing the symptoms of a disease but it does not cure !! one cured patient is one less client !!!
Read: DR Johanna Budwig. Dr Beck, DR GERson ( his daughter’s Charlotte’s gerson you tube;
Be in charge of your own bodies and do not let others to be responsible for your health.IT IS YOUR DUTY TO YOURSELF.
Can you provide a link to the FDA recommended daily allowance for colloidal silver?
Thanks
Ari
There isn’t one … the FDA doesn’t recommend ingesting colloidal silver.
I don’t trust much of what the FDA does either. They are in bed with the drug companies. I have ingested colloidal silver but only when needing a”miracle pill” and do not think it would be wise to take it like a vitamin. Your article was thought provoking. I believe everyone needs to do their homework.
Sarah- thanks for this info. Just used colloidal silver for a really bad cold, and got great results. Used both internally, nasal spray and throat spray. BUT- I did not realize what it would do to the gut, so for that reason, and knowing that 80% of our immune receptors are in our gut, I will no longer use internally. THANK YOU!!! Although, I was really sick, and if not this, would have probably ended up at the doctors office with a script for another antibiotic, and would have been sick much longer with the same end results to my gut. Glad for the knowledge though. For those wondering, I got my nasal spray and the others at The Vitamin Shoppe, and cost wasn’t too bad. Only used 2 days.
Sarah you do realize who works for the FDA and who is on the board and executive level? They mostly from the Pharma companies that produce the antibiotics that are being fed to the population. Yes, antibiotics do work, though we also need to talk about the numbers of deaths, and severe illness that have occurred from taking antibiotics. The FDA are basically making biased approvals/denials on submissions and also passing a huge number of pharma products without full clinical studies. If you google it you will find some lawsuits explaning some of these circumstances from the past and current ones.
The FDA isn’t wrong about everything despite the fact that the folks who work there are indeed in bed with industry.
Those who do their own research on nutrition and supplements and health know that the FDA doesn’t regulate supplements or natural or holistic treatments. Of course the FDA isn’t wrong about EVERYTHING. But knowing they are indeed in the pockets of Big Pharma, I certainly give what it has to say very very little serious consideration.
Colloidal Silver DOES turn your skin blue/gray. I watched my friend and my sister take that stuff for years and both of them have now to deal with the terrible appearance of their skin on their face, neck and hands looking like they are lacking in oxygen. It takes about 7 years and the condition is called argyria. Google it and you will see what can happen to you. DO NOT TAKE THAT STUFF INTERNALLY.
Sounds like they were taking either a large dose (PPM) or large particle silver which could be the culprit here. If you do some research, you can get silver generators that produce nano-microns which are smaller than any cell in your body. Of course anyone will tell in moderation but it seems like theres more to the story
Argyria takes years and large quantities to develop by today’s colloidal silver standards. And so if your relatives developed this(which I’m not inclined to believe) then they would have definitely taken something other than the recommended mixtures and doses in circulation today. To which I’d add, wouldn’t be applicable regardless.
Argria is caused by using the wrong type of silver solution along with over use ie too high PPM and not pure coloidal silver
Sharon, would you mind sharing what ppm solution they were using and the dosage they were taking?
Thank you and I’m sorry for their suffering!
Blessings to you and them.
Sharon, I’ve researched and collected a vast array of information regarding Colloidal Silver. Because so much misinformation is being spread, I take it with a grain of salt and dive into the manufacturing processes of all brands of Colloidal Silver. Here is what I have gleaned to be true statements.
1. If you choose to create your own CS, there are excellent generators being sold, but since I do not have an interest to go this route, my knowledge is limited. However, I’ve consistently seen Silver Puppy Equipment get high reviews.
2. Since I purchase my CS, I don’t care about the cost as long as I’m getting the purest processed CS of the highest quality that meets my expected healing criteria. I would only recommend three brands: Utopia Silver Advanced, Mesosilver (my favorite), and ASAP Plus.
3. Give absolutely no credibility to rumors, negative reviews, and especially the medical community. They can make remarks that lead one to believe they’ll die if they substitute modern medicine with, heaven forbid, anything naturally-derived from God by which we can heal ourselves!
Can someone please tell me where I can purchase good quality colloidal silver? I would love to try it but I don’t want to get “the wrong” kind! I’m willing to try it if it will help the post nasal drainage and nausea I’ve had for months!!
There’s a difference between regular colloidal silver and nano-silver, which is so small that the particles cannot get stuck in the skin cells, the particles are carried out of the body instead, so they aren’t stored in the skin if you take too much–that is the cause of argyria. For good quality silver information go to http://thesilveredge.com/ and read about safe silver, safe for daily ingestion as well as other uses and why it won’t turn the skin blue or decimate beneficial intestinal flora.
I too recommend thesilveredge.com as I myself have a generator from Steve, so does my two friends, one has been giving his kids CS for over 7 years and Argyria issue as we do it in moderation and the generator is of course producing nano-micron silver.
Trace Minerals Research colloidal silver stopped my 3 week dry cough in 4 hours
I have to say I’m really new to Colloidal Silver. I just bought some for the first time to clear up my daughter’s persistent UTI. I am also using oregano oil. Now I’m thinking I should stop using the silver an just use the oregano oil. I have to say I was weary from the get go. But I guess my worry is that I have heard that ANYTHING that is antibacterial will go after both good and bad and that is why I use all things antibacterial with caution. Do you have any articles that talk about how plant based antibiotics on’t attack the good flora? Thank you!
Robin, please do more research. Silver vs Antibiotics is a huge debate and after doing extensive research, I will never give antibiotics to my girls (17 months and a 5 yo) I have a generator from thesilveredge.com and have successfully cured many ailments that have come up for me and my wife and my daughters. Nano-particle silver is safe, especially when taken in moderate doses and a relatively low PPM (10-15) which is powerful enough for most influenzas.
You should not be giving colloidal silver to children to ingest! They have a long life to live and you have no idea what the long term consequences of this are and the negative impact on their gut health.
The term and qualification for heavy metal is an interesting one. ie. a heavy metal cannot be degraded or destroyed. To a small extent they enter our bodies via food, drinking water and air. As trace elements, some heavy metals (e.g. copper, selenium, zinc) are essential to maintain the metabolism of the human body. However, at higher concentrations they can lead to poisoning. Heavy metal poisoning could result, for instance, from drinking-water contamination (e.g. lead pipes), high ambient air concentrations near emission sources, or intake via the food chain.
Heavy metals are dangerous because they have the potential to bioaccumulate in our bodies. And Bioaccumulation is the accumulation and an increase in concentration of a chemical in a biological organism over time as compounds accumulate whenever they are either; ingested or introduced by exposure faster than it can be broken down (metabolized) or excreted.
The good news however, is that Silver is considered a heavy metal as the body can and will excrete under normal circumstances. However, it remains that certain silver compounds* can contribute to the gestation and accumulation of silver compounds in the skin. Which is what is now known and called Aryria.
Beyond this is remains that the accumulation of silver compounds a matter of longer term exposure( several years) and concentration(100-1000 ppm). Whereas most pure colloidal silver solutions(5-20ppm) used today fall well bellow the tolerance limits for human bio-accumulation.
As for the flora, the cautionary statements hold true. Colloidal silver can and will destroy all form of bacteria in it’s path. That said, getting colloidal silver into the bloodstream to treat serious infections is as simple as holding the solution under the tongue for a min. of five minutes for the duration of the treatment. Not to mention that drinking colloidal silver is the least effective method of taking it.
Hope this helps
I never thought about silver killing gut flora. I will have to research that some more, but it makes sense. I will just nebulize it instead. I agree with other posters that transdermal is the best way to absorb ANYTHING good or bad, so if silver causes heavy metal toxicity, it will do so transdermally as well as internally.
I am new to colloidal silver and just researching how to use it, so I started reading first the articles against consuming than I will those pro. I find interesting that you say I don’t ingest but use topically. It’s the same thing. Anything applied to the skin gets absorbed in the body, even faster than by ingesting it. It goes directly in the blood. So, I don’t understand the point.
You are correct.
In fact, if argyria is of concern, then rubbing the compound onto ones skin could be viewed as a fastract method of getting there. As the oxidized silver will react with sulfur and selenium to produce the very mixture of Ag2S and Ag2Se that is observed in forming Argyria.