…there is
very little substantive evidence that silver acts either as a cumulative poison
in the human body like lead and mercury, or that it reaches toxic levels in any
tissue.
Silver does
accumulate preferentially in the basement membrane region of the dermis, but no
evidence has been seen to show that this is either life-threatening or a
clinical manifestation of toxicity.”
--
“Silver in Healthcare: Its Antimicrobial
Efficacy and Safety in Use,” by Alan B. G. Lansdown, pg. 45, 59, 60
Is
colloidal silver harmful to the human body?
Let’s
be frank: There's not a single
nutritional supplement on the face of the earth that can't cause some kind of
harm to the human body when used in excess.
·
Vitamin A taken to excess can, over time, cause muscle pain,
fatigue, irritability, depression, schizophrenia, fever, liver damage and
anemia.
·
Calcium taken to excess can, over time, result in kidney
malfunction, calcification of soft tissue within the body, cellular toxicity, impaired
immune function and even result in heart attack.
·
Iron taken to excess can, over time, result in cirrhosis of the
liver and heart failure.
I
could go on and on through every supplement.
They can all be "dangerous" to human health at some dosage
level, but can be extremely beneficial
to human health when used at normal, sane dosage levels.
The
trick, obviously, is to get the right
dosage level, and not venture into excessive
levels.
Colloidal
Silver’s Safety
Colloidal
silver is no different. It’s considered
to be safe and amazingly beneficial when used in moderation.
As
Dr. Jonathan Wright, M.D., of the famous Tahoma Clinic in Washington State says
about colloidal silver and its safety:
"Silver belongs to the family of metals that also includes
copper and gold (both of which can also have numerous health benefits when
they're used properly).
One of the primary concerns people tend to have about using these
metals is the risk that they'll accumulate in the body and lead to heavy metal
toxicity.
But if you have plenty of antioxidants in your diet, such as
selenium, vitamin E, and amino acids like N-acetyl cysteine, you're safe from
any harmful effects from this family of metals. Germs, however, are not."
Dr.
Wright is considered to be one of the best and brightest. And because I use colloidal silver regularly,
I always make sure my daily multi-vitamin/mineral supplement contains those particular
antioxidant nutrients he recommends.
According
to researchers Drake and Hazelwood, in the study “Exposure-Related Health
Effects of Silver and Silver Compounds: A Review” (see earlier link for full
study):
“Silver in any form is not thought to be toxic to the immune,
cardiovascular, nervous, or reproductive systems (ATSDR, 1990) and is not
considered to be carcinogenic (Furst and Schlauder, 1978).”
And
according to the Dartmouth
University Toxic Metals Research Program:
"Trace amounts of silver are in the bodies of all
humans and animals. We normally take in between 70 and 88 micrograms of silver
a day, half of that amount from our diet.
Humans have evolved with efficient methods of dealing with
that intake, however. Over 99 percent is readily excreted from the body.
Is silver harmful to humans? Unlike other metals such as
lead and mercury, silver is not toxic to humans and is not known to cause cancer,
reproductive or neurological damage, or other chronic adverse effects."
Everything Is a Poison…
Well,
all of that’s nice to know. But we always have to remember that at some dosage
levels, everything is a poison. As the ancient physician Paracelcus used to
teach:
“Poison is in everything, and no thing is without poison. The
dosage makes it either a poison or a remedy.” -- Paracelsus PA (1493-1541)
In
other words, there's no substance on the face of the earth that's not harmful at some dosage level.
We
know, for example that sugar is absolutely vital to human health in normal
usage. After all, the human brain runs
chiefly on the sugar known as glucose.
But we also know that excessive
use of sugar can lead to rotting teeth, diabetes, coma and even death.
We
know, for example, that salt is absolutely critical to human health. Indeed, the human body literally cannot
function without it for a single day.
But we also know that excessive
use of salt can lead to high blood pressure and stroke.
The
point being, if excessive usage of sugar and salt can become problematic over
time, so can excessive usage of a natural substance like colloidal silver.
While
colloidal silver is not considered to be particularly toxic even at high levels
of usage and accumulation in the human body, it can cause a condition known as argyria, in which silver particles become
trapped in the skin and eventually begin to tarnish when exposed to sunlight,
staining the skin gray or even blue.
Colloidal
Silver and Argyria:
How Much Is
Excessive?
So
how much colloidal silver is considered to be so excessive it can cause argyria?
Well,
in public interviews the so-called "Colloidal Silver Blue Man," Paul
Karason, claimed he was orally ingesting 10 ounces of colloidal silver,
oftentimes twice a day. That’s a total
of 20 ounces a day.
What’s
more, he was making his colloidal silver with a crude, homemade device that
produced very high concentrations of silver probably somewhere around 50 to 100
ppm or higher.
He
was also using salt to increase the rate of production and the concentration,
which means he was producing a silver chloride solution instead of a typical
ionic colloidal silver solution like you’ll find in most health food stores.
And
according to his public interviews, he apparently did this for 10 straight
years before turning blue!
Most
people, by comparison, use only about a
teaspoonful to an ounce of 10 ppm colloidal silver a day. (Sometimes more, for very short periods of time
if feeling under the weather or fighting an active infection.)
So
the “Colloidal Silver Blue Man” was taking more than 20 times the normal daily recommended mineral supplement dosage,
and five to 10 times (or more) the
normal concentration. And he did so
daily for 10 years before turning blue. It
seems this was not just excessive use, but obsessive
use.
The
point is, he was an argyria victim waiting to happen. And it was all because he
cast aside moderation and common-sense, and decided to use wildly excessive
amounts of colloidal silver daily, for years on end. There are just some people like that out
there.
Colloidal
Silver Usage Worldwide
Today,
an estimated 10 million people in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico use colloidal
silver responsibly as a nutritional
supplement. Millions more throughout
Europe and Asia use it.
A
government-approved colloidal silver product called Microdyn is used regularly
throughout Mexico and other developing nations to help keep residents safe from
contaminated drinking water. (Learn more
here.)
In
Europe, colloidal silver is used in the drinking water supplies of thousands of
cruise ships and cargo ships, to safely sterilize and disinfect the drinking water. In fact, according to the Jowa Group that
makes the little devices for ships that add silver to the drinking water:
“Since its
introduction in 1970, this unit has been installed in thousands of ships… sterilizing
water with the help of silver is an old and well-tried method that goes all the
way back to antiquity. It is completely harmless to humans and animals and the
silver ions do not change the taste or smell of the water. This product, called
Jowa AG-S, has made us world-famous in the shipping industry!”
Colloidal
silver has even been used in the drinking water of both the NASA and Russian
space flight programs, including on the original Space Shuttle. (Learn more here.)
So,
colloidal silver usage is far more widespread worldwide than you might
suspect. It’s even used in outer
space.
And
except in cases where people might have a rare but serious allergy to mineral
silver, or in cases where people excessively and abusively use silver over long
periods of time, it’s generally considered to be perfectly safe.
Nobody Wants
to Turn Blue
Of
course, nobody wants to “turn blue.” But
nobody should want to develop diabetes or heart disease, either.
Yet,
knowing that abusive use of sugar will cause such problems, some people do it
anyway. Similarly, knowing that
excessive use of salt can cause high blood pressure and stroke, some people do
it anyway.
That’s
exactly what’s happened with colloidal silver, in relation to argyria: Knowing that excessive daily intake of colloidal
silver over long periods of time can cause argyria, some people have done it
anyway.
Why? Well, I supposed it’s for the same reason
some people abuse salt or sugar. They
enjoy the temporary benefits of excess, and think they’re immune from the
long-term consequences.
Follow the
Directions
This
is one reason why responsible colloidal silver vendors recommend people
carefully follow the directions on the bottle when using commercial brands of
colloidal silver.
Indeed,
most reputable colloidal silver vendors recommend a teaspoonful of colloidal
silver up to several times a day when being used daily, or up to an ounce
several times a day for short periods of time when the body needs extra
nutritional support to fight infection or disease.
Above
all, don’t listen to idiots on the internet who say you can drink all of the
colloidal silver you want for as long as you want without ever causing any harm
– especially those who claim they sell a “special” kind of colloidal silver
that “can’t cause argyria” no matter how much you use.
Sorry
folks, there’s just no such thing. Just
like there’s no such thing as a special kind of sugar that won’t rot your teeth
if used to excess, or a special kind of whiskey that won’t get your drunk if
you drink too much, there’s no special kind of silver that won’t cause argyria
if used to excess.
Indeed,
there’s no vitamin, no mineral…no herb…and no amino acid or other nutritional
supplement that you can use to excess for long periods of time without
suffering the consequences. So why would
anyone think the same is not true for colloidal silver?
No One Knows
No
one knows exactly why some people end
up with argyria from taking larger amounts of colloidal silver over long
periods of time, and why other people can take the same large amounts for long
periods of time and not end up with
argyria.
It’s
a mystery. It’s been hypothesized that apparently
some people just don’t process silver from their bodies as effectively as
everybody else. Some researchers think
low levels of dietary antioxidants are to blame.
But
if you're one of the unfortunate ones who overdo the colloidal silver intake
and end up with argyria, it's obviously no fun.
Argyria is generally considered to be a permanent cosmetic skin condition.
A New Argyria
Treatment
However,
there are special laser treatments
for it now, if the argyria is not too widespread over the body. It's similar to tattoo removal laser
treatments. Somewhat painful, I’m told, but
apparently effective.
In
the Ultimate
Colloidal Silver Manual, I wrote briefly about Dr. Allison Vidimos, of the world-famous
Cleveland Clinic, who apparently originated the idea of using a laser treatment
to remove argyria deposits in the skin, and lectures doctors about how to use
the technique.
But
there are other doctors using this technique.
Here’s an excerpt from an online comment I recently received from a
reader of the Colloidal
Silver Secrets blog:
“Well, eight years ago, I ingested colloidal silver more than my
body could get rid of and I unhappily turned gray on my face because of it.
Some people noticed it and some people didn't. Anyway, here I am knowing I have what they
call argyria.
I've read that laser can really help minimize the gray or blue
colored skin caused by argyria on some individuals. I searched and found a
doctor experienced in using the right kind of laser. Thank goodness he was willing to help me.
This doctor also removes tattoos which is kind of what argyria is,
a tattooing of the skin from ingesting too much colloidal silver.
I found Dr. Steven Popkow MD in Los Angeles, California. He
is a very gentle and understanding doctor which is so important when it comes
to such a sensitive issue.
For those seeking help also, his business address is: Skin Laser
Center, 12027 Venice Blvd., Suite B, Los Angeles, California 90066 The phone
number is: (310) 915-8060.
I've had 2 treatments so far and yes it is quite painful, but so
worth it. I've got my original color back before I had argyria and I am
completely thrilled.
With additional laser treatments, Dr. Popkow can treat the rest of
the spots that get missed here and there.
I feel what Dr. Popkow charges is very reasonable. The cost is
around $200 a treatment.
So, for the people on the west side of the United States, there is
a doctor who helps with the discoloration of argyria and for those who live
even further who might want to travel to see Dr. Popkow.
Today, I don't have to walk around worried about who might be
wondering why my face is gray because it's not anymore.
I'm not a person that likes to hide, so I just went on living, but
I feel the relief big time now thanks to Dr. Popkow. He has definitely changed
my life for the better. The joy I feel is immeasurable.
I take chlorella everyday to help chelate metals out of the body
internally. The silver is not just in the skin so cleansing is very important.
This is my journey and my BIG lesson and I hope that I may be of help somehow
to others.”
The
Precautionary Principle
So…the
bottom line is, take your colloidal silver in moderation, and with a good,
healthy dose of caution and common sense.
As
thousands upon thousands of colloidal silver users can attest, it’s one of
the most amazing healing substances on the face of the earth.
But
like anything else, the cautionary principle should always prevail: Use it wisely. Don’t overdo it.
If
you make your own colloidal silver with a high-quality colloidal silver
generator like the new Micro-Particle
Colloidal Silver Generator from TheSilverEdge.com, you might want to consider following the
patented “12-for-25”™ rule for determining your daily dosage levels, developed
by our good friends at Invision International Health Solutions.
Their
simple calculation helps you determine your optimal daily dosage level of
colloidal silver based upon your own body weight and the ppm (i.e.,
concentration) of the colloidal silver you’re making.
You
can read more about the “12-for-25”™ rule in the FREE Colloidal Silver Safe Dosage
Report,
which describes this simple method for determining how much colloidal silver to
use. Just click the link to go to a web
page where you can order it for FREE, and it will be sent to you by return
email at no cost.
Successful Judicious
Usage
I've
used colloidal silver successfully and without any harm whatsoever for over 17
years now.
So
has my wife. My mom. My in-laws.
Our kids. Other family
members. My tax advisor. My chiropractor. My housekeeper. And tens of thousands and thousands of
readers of my book, The Ultimate Colloidal Silver
Manual.
Indeed,
as I mentioned above, there are estimated to be as many as 10 million colloidal
silver users throughout Canada and the Americas. After all, virtually every well-stocked
health food store in every city of the U.S. and Canada sells the stuff. And it’s sold all over the world, to boot!
What’s
more, tens of thousands of people make their own colloidal silver with colloidal silver generators.
All
of this has been going on for decades. And in this time, only a small handful of
colloidal silver users who have abused the substance have experienced argyria.
Nevertheless,
because argyria from excessive colloidal silver usage is very real, most wise
people prefer to err on the side of caution, and use colloidal silver
judiciously and with an abundance of common sense.
There’s
no reason to be afraid of a tremendously beneficial substance like colloidal silver, just because some people have used it abusively. Used within the bounds of reason, colloidal
silver can make a tremendous difference in your health and well-being.
Yours
for the safe, sane and responsible
use of colloidal silver,
Helpful Links:
Important Note and
Disclaimer: The contents of this Ezine have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Information conveyed herein is from sources deemed to be accurate and
reliable, but no guarantee can be made in regards to the accuracy and
reliability thereof. The author, Steve
Barwick, is a natural health journalist with over 30 years of experience
writing professionally about natural health topics. He is not
a doctor. Therefore, nothing stated in
this Ezine should be construed as prescriptive in nature, nor is any part of
this Ezine meant to be considered a substitute for professional medical
advice. Nothing reported herein is
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The author is simply reporting in
journalistic fashion what he has learned during the past 17 years of
journalistic research into colloidal silver and its usage. Therefore, the information and data presented
should be considered for informational purposes only, and approached with
caution. Readers should verify for
themselves, and to their own satisfaction, from other knowledgeable sources
such as their doctor, the accuracy and reliability of all reports, ideas,
conclusions, comments and opinions stated herein. All important health care decisions should be
made under the guidance and direction of a legitimate, knowledgeable and
experienced health care professional.
Readers are solely responsible for their choices. The author and publisher disclaim
responsibility or liability for any loss or hardship that may be incurred as a
result of the use or application of any information included in this Ezine.
Copyright
2012 | Life & Health Research Group, LLC | PO Box 1239 | Peoria AZ
85380-1239 | All rights reserved
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