Does colloidal silver boost immunity or overall health?

By Chris Woolston, LA Times

At a time when most people are avoiding metals such as lead and mercury, there's a full-out rush among the health-conscious for silver, a metal that is showing up in elixirs and sprays, soaps and toothpastes.

Considered potentially toxic by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, silver enjoys a lustrous reputation in alternative health circles. Proponents believe that silver in its many forms can kill germs, boost the immune system and generally improve health.

Colloidal silver -- water infused with particles of the metal -- is an especially popular option for silver aficionados. You can buy gadgets over the Internet to make batches of colloidal silver at home, or you can buy ready-made products at health food stores and drugstores.

The claims: The label for Sovereign Silver says that it's "the first line of defense for immune threats."

The bottom line: Silver undoubtedly has some germ-killing powers. Silver compounds are sometimes applied to bandages to prevent infections, and silver is also used to treat drinking water.

But there's no evidence that taking colloidal silver can do anything to fight disease or improve health, says Dr. Edmund Pribitkin, a professor of otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

"Those studies haven't been done," says Pribitkin, who co-wrote a 2008 article on silver nasal sprays and colloidal silver published in the Ear, Nose and Throat Journal. In his view, just because something kills germs on contact doesn't mean it will fight infections inside the body. He notes that sulfuric acid kills germs too, but nobody touts it as a health tonic.

Contrary to claims made by some websites, silver in large enough doses can cause side effects. In rare cases, it can collect under the skin and react with sunlight to create a permanent bluish tint, a condition known as argyria. Although unsightly, argyria is not dangerous. Victims include Stan Jones, a frequent candidate for office in Montana who has publicly stated that he turned blue after taking colloidal silver in preparation for Y2K. In 2002, he speculated on "The Daily Show" that Montana was ready "for a senator of color."

A report from the National Institutes of Health warns that large doses of colloidal silver could cause seizures, kidney damage, stomach trouble, headaches and fatigue.

The EPA estimates that a person could safely take up to .005 milligrams of silver per kilogram of body weight each day without side effects. Because almost no research has ever been conducted on colloidal silver, the agency warns that this figure is a very rough guess. But, by that standard, a 150-pound (68-kilogram) person could safely take seven times the recommended dose of Sovereign Silver or 1.2 times the recommended dose of Silver Shield.

Steve - I would not touch colloidal silver. We have had clients try it on their own. Some turned a blueish tint and others showed potential renal damage.