Re: collodial silver problems...
That's it? Your one specific reference?
Since I cannot immediately find the actual article you've mentioned, let's just critique the abstract a bit. First, for the studio audience, I'd like to point out that argyria is a cosmetic condition which causes a bluish coloration to the skin due to the deposit of excess silver particles there. Silver workers of old would often suffer from this discoloration, but other than the coloration, it was harmless.
"The onset of argyria following the use of dietary supplements containing collodial silver protein is presented."
Most of us are simply using
Colloidal Silver , generated from pure silver wires and distilled water by passing a DC current through the water. There isn't any protein to be found in this environment, so right away, this "research" is not directly applicable to the use of
Colloidal Silver .
"The patient was using a silver-containing product for cold and allergy prophylaxis."
This seems a little flimsy. A "study" is being made by following the results of a single patient and extrapolating a condemnation of a practice based on the results of that one patient. Furthermore, silver is not indicated for allergies. A patient using silver for allergies is mis-using silver. I think you'll also find that no one recommends using high doses of silver products for extended periods of time -- which "prophylaxis" (preventative measures) suggests the patient was doing.
The rest of the abstract suggests that the complete report goes into the history of silver, and describes argyria quite well, and then it degrades into alleging that silver might be toxic, despite any lack of data demonstrating toxicity.
I'd like to point out that a combination of silver nitrate and erythromycin is used on babies' eyes when they're born, to help kill any microbes (gonorrhea and chlamydia) from the mother's vagina which might cause blindness. Clearly, there is something to the use of silver products for antimicrobial purposes, so why are you trying to turn it into something to be feared, Mr. Campbell?
Colloidal Silver is a tool that any being who is ready to assume full responsibility for his own health may use in his quest to eliminate illness and return to a state of vitality. It is not the solution to every problem, but it can be very effective when properly used.
How about the references below? Not all of them are positive, but not one of them proves silver to be toxic, either, although some allege it. Many demonstrate the utility of silver and colloidal silver for antibacterial purposes. Some even discuss products like the one your reference probably used as its single data point.
=-John-=
- Dean W, Mitchell M, Lugo VW, MD, South J, MA; Reduction of Viral Load in AIDS Patients with Intravenous Mild Silver Protein: 3 Case Reports. Clinical Practice of Alternative Medicine. Volume 2, Number 1, Spring 2001.
- Silver S, Misra TK; Bacterial transformations of and resistances to heavy metals. Basic Life Sci 1984;28:23-46.
- Slawson RM, Lohmeier-Vogel EM, Lee H, Trevors JT; Silver resistance in Pseudomonas stutzeri. Biometals 1994;7(1):30-40.
- Cervantes C, Silver S; Metal resistance systems in Pseudomonas. Rev Latinoam Microbiol 1996 Jan-Mar;38(1):45-64.
- Rosen BP; The role of efflux in bacterial resistance to soft metals and metalloids. Essays Biochem 1999;34:1-15.
- Gupta A, Matsui K, Lo JF, Silver S; Molecular basis for resistance to silver cations in Salmonella. Nat Med 1999 Feb;5(2):183-8.
- Fung MC, Bowen DL; Silver products for medical indications: risk-benefit assessment. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1996;34(1):119-26.
- Russell AD; Plasmids and bacterial resistance to biocides. J Appl Microbiol 1997 Aug;83(2):155-65.
- Roberts MC; Antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria of oral and upper respiratory origin. Int J Antimicrob Agents 1998 Feb;9(4):255-67.
- Aaseth J, Olsen A, Halse J, Hovig T; Argyria-tissue deposition of silver as selenide. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1981 May;41(3):247-51.
- Van Garsse L, Versieck J; General argyria caused by administration of tobacco-withdrawal tablets containing silver acetate. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1995 Dec 23;139(51):2658-61.
- Rungby J, Danscher G; Hypoactivity in silver exposed mice. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh) 1984 Nov;55(5):398-401.
- Ohbo Y, Fukuzako H, Takeuchi K, Takigawa M; Argyria and convulsive seizures caused by ingestion of silver in a patient with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 1996 Apr;50(2):89-90.
- Pifer JW, Friedlander BR, Kintz RT, Stockdale DK; Absence of toxic effects in silver reclamation workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 1989 Jun;15(3):210-21.
- Williams N, Gardner I; Absence of symptoms in silver refiners with raised blood silver levels. Occup Med (Lond) 1995 Aug;45(4):205-8.
- Duhamel B; Electric Metal Colloids and Their Therapeutical Applications. Lancet, 1912. Jan 13.
- Searle A; The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease. London: Constable & Co. 1920. 67-11.
- Legge Roe A; Collosol Argentum and its Opthalmic Uses, Br. Med.J., 1915, Jan 16, 104.
- van Amber Brown G; colloidal Silver in Sepsis, Ann J. Obstetrics, 1916, Jan. June 136-181.
- Stecher, Finkel, Et al., Merck & Company (Merck Index), Rahway, New Jersey, Mild Silver Protein, 1960, 686.
- Harris IM; Regulatory and ethical issues with dietary supplements. Pharmacotherapy 2000 Nov;20(11):1295-302.
- Berry JP, Dennebouy R, Chaintreau M, Dantin F, Slodzian G, Galle P; Scanning ion microscopy mapping of basement membrane elements and arterioles in the kidney after selenium-silver interaction. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand) 1995 Mar;41(2):265-70.
- Kaur P, Vadehra DV; Effect of certain chelating agents on the antibacterial action of silver nitrate. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol 1988;32(3):299-306.