However, colloidal silver has been declared unsafe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considering that 1999. In fact, the FDA considered that all over the counter items which contain colloidal silver ingredients or silver salts are not typically acknowledged as safe or reliable (, 2). Ever since, the FDA has not approved any new colloidal silver drugs on the market.
Any business that produces silver products that are labeled or promoted to prevent or treat illness needs to undergo FDA approval prior to marketing. Otherwise, the item is considered misbranded and goes through regulative action (3). Colloidal silver is authorized for topical application on skin infections, skin wounds, and in bandages and dressings for the treatment of burns.
Usage of colloidal silver is connected with numerous severe health dangers, such as argyria, neurological damage, and liver and kidney harm. It also decreases the absorption and efficacy of specific drugs, such as antibiotics and the thyroid medication thyroxine (,, ). Ultimately, any colloidal silver product meant for oral usage isn't safe or recommended.
The size of the silver particles in colloidal silver differs, but some are so tiny that they're referred to as nanoparticles. This indicates that they're less than 100 nanometers in size and unnoticeable to the naked eye (). Historically, silver was utilized as an all-purpose treatment for numerous infections and illnesses due to its antimicrobial properties.
However, colloidal silver was quickly deserted 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 illness (). Because the 1990s, colloidal silver has actually started to gain back popularity as a natural medicine, with supporters declaring that it can replace prescription antibiotics or other medical therapies to treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections ().
Nevertheless, no research study supports these claims. More In-Depth , those who utilize colloidal silver take it as an oral dietary supplement or apply it directly to their skin. Colloidal silver is a suspension of silver particles in a liquid. It's an ancient treatment that was as soon as used to treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, though it's just recently gained appeal as a natural medicine.