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→History and Applications: Silver-based cremes such as Silver sulfadiazine
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==History and Applications==
==History and Applications==
Prior to [[1938]], colloidal silver was widely used by physicians as a mainstream [[antibiotic]].<ref>Journal of American Science, 3(3), 2007, Ma Hongbao, Horng Dengnan, Cherng Shen, Colloidal Silver [http://www.americanscience.org/journals/am-sci/0303/13-0281-mahongbao-silver.pdf]</ref> It was produced by pharmaceutical companies under various names, including Protargol. But the electro-colloidal production process was costly and the [[pharmaceutical]] [[industry]] developed fast-acting, less-expensive sulfa drugs and penicillin. Silver nitrate solutions were introduced by [[Carl Siegmund Franz Credé|Credé]] in 1880 to protect newborn infants' eyes from [[infection]].<ref>http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=727485</ref>, but have largely been replaced by antibiotic ointments since [[1978]]<ref>neonatal gonoccal prophylaxis [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0689/is_n4_v30/ai_9023167/pg_7]</ref><ref>Neonatal Conjuctivitis [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001606.htm]</ref>. This silver nitrate is a [[solution]] of a silver [[salt (chemistry)|salt]], not a suspension of colloidal silver. Silver-based cremes have been used in burn centers for more than 100 years.<ref name="cedars">[http://healthinfo.cedars-sinai.edu/library/healthguide/en-us/Cam/topic.asp?hwid=hn-1173001 Complementary Medicine] - Information about complementary & alternative medical therapies, Cedars-Sinai Health System</ref> Colloidal silver can be used to keep drinkable water [[potable]] over a long period.
Prior to [[1938]], colloidal silver was widely used by physicians as a mainstream [[antibiotic]].<ref>Journal of American Science, 3(3), 2007, Ma Hongbao, Horng Dengnan, Cherng Shen, Colloidal Silver [http://www.americanscience.org/journals/am-sci/0303/13-0281-mahongbao-silver.pdf]</ref> It was produced by pharmaceutical companies under various names, including Protargol. But the electro-colloidal production process was costly and the [[pharmaceutical]] [[industry]] developed fast-acting, less-expensive sulfa drugs and penicillin. Silver nitrate solutions were introduced by [[Carl Siegmund Franz Credé|Credé]] in 1880 to protect newborn infants' eyes from [[infection]].<ref>http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=727485</ref>, but have largely been replaced by antibiotic ointments since [[1978]]<ref>neonatal gonoccal prophylaxis [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0689/is_n4_v30/ai_9023167/pg_7]</ref><ref>Neonatal Conjuctivitis [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001606.htm]</ref>. This silver nitrate is a [[solution]] of a silver [[salt (chemistry)|salt]], not a suspension of colloidal silver. Silver-based cremes such as [[Silver sulfadiazine]] have been used in burn centers for more than 100 years.<ref name="cedars">[http://healthinfo.cedars-sinai.edu/library/healthguide/en-us/Cam/topic.asp?hwid=hn-1173001 Complementary Medicine] - Information about complementary & alternative medical therapies, Cedars-Sinai Health System</ref> Colloidal silver can be used to keep drinkable water [[potable]] over a long period.
{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
Concentrations of colloidal silver at 5 parts per million or higher have been found to kill numerous infectious [[bacterium|bacteria]].<ref>[http://www.toolsforhealing.com/CD/Articles/B/Brigham-YoungUniversityRe.html BYU Study]</ref> Colloidal silver has been approved by the EPA as a disinfectant for hospitals and medical centers.<ref>http://www.newstarget.com/013028.html</ref>
Concentrations of colloidal silver at 5 parts per million or higher have been found to kill numerous infectious [[bacterium|bacteria]].<ref>[http://www.toolsforhealing.com/CD/Articles/B/Brigham-YoungUniversityRe.html BYU Study]</ref> Colloidal silver has been approved by the EPA as a disinfectant for hospitals and medical centers.<ref>http://www.newstarget.com/013028.html</ref>

Revision as of 07:02, 4 February 2008

Colloidal silver refers to microscopic particles of silver that are held in a liquid suspension. A colloid is technically defined as particles which remain suspended without forming an ionic, or dissolved solution. The broader commercial definition of colloidal silver includes products that contain various concentrations of ionic silver, silver colloids, ionic silver compounds or silver proteins in purified water. Colloidal silver with concentrations of 30 parts per million (ppm) or less are typically manufactured using an electrolyte process, whereas colloidal silver with higher concentrations of 50 ppm or more are usually either silver compounds such as silver chloride and silver iodide or are solutions that have been bound with a protein to disperse the particles.

History and Applications

Prior to 1938, colloidal silver was widely used by physicians as a mainstream antibiotic.[1] It was produced by pharmaceutical companies under various names, including Protargol. But the electro-colloidal production process was costly and the pharmaceutical industry developed fast-acting, less-expensive sulfa drugs and penicillin. Silver nitrate solutions were introduced by Credé in 1880 to protect newborn infants' eyes from infection.[2], but have largely been replaced by antibiotic ointments since 1978[3][4]. This silver nitrate is a solution of a silver salt, not a suspension of colloidal silver. Silver-based cremes such as Silver sulfadiazine have been used in burn centers for more than 100 years.[5] Colloidal silver can be used to keep drinkable water potable over a long period.[citation needed] Concentrations of colloidal silver at 5 parts per million or higher have been found to kill numerous infectious bacteria.[6] Colloidal silver has been approved by the EPA as a disinfectant for hospitals and medical centers.[7]

Method of Action

Colloidal silver might kill bacteria by inhibiting the expression of enzymes and other proteins essential to ATP production. [8] It can be expected to have similar effects on human enzymes.

Toxicities

Argyria

Main article: Argyria

Long-term intake of silver products may result in a condition known as argyria, one symptom of which is a blue or gray discoloration of the skin.[9] It occurs when sunlight interacts with silver deposited in the skin, in the same way that silver particles in photographic film darken when exposed to sunlight. It can occur both via ingestion of silver, or through topical application of silver to the skin.[citation needed] While generally considered permanent[10], some have claimed to have reversed it.[11] Death from argyria has been reported from as little as four months use of oral colloidal silver[12] , and cases of kidney damage, stomach distress, and headaches have been reported, as well as cases of brain and nerve damage.[13][14] [15][16]

Many scientific articles report cases of argyria after ingestion of colloidal silver [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22].

Government reactions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned over-the-counter sales in the U.S. of any product claiming to have therapeutic value, health benefits, or making any medical claims, unless it has undergone the rigorous safety and efficacy testing required of pharmaceuticals. As such testing has not been conducted with colloidal silver, the product now has the status of a dietary supplement in the US (dietary supplements cannot claim to cure diseases, only that they "support healthy functioning").[23] The FDA has issued warnings to Internet sites selling or promoting colloidal silver as an antibiotic or for other medical purposes.[24] If no medical benefits are claimed, colloidal silver is sold as a supplement, and as long as the products comply with all other FDA regulations, its sale is considered legal.[25] In 2002, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration made a similar ruling.[26]

References

  1. ^ Journal of American Science, 3(3), 2007, Ma Hongbao, Horng Dengnan, Cherng Shen, Colloidal Silver [1]
  2. ^ http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=727485
  3. ^ neonatal gonoccal prophylaxis [2]
  4. ^ Neonatal Conjuctivitis [3]
  5. ^ Complementary Medicine - Information about complementary & alternative medical therapies, Cedars-Sinai Health System
  6. ^ BYU Study
  7. ^ http://www.newstarget.com/013028.html
  8. ^ http://aem.asm.org/cgi/reprint/71/11/7589.pdf
  9. ^ Skin dicoloration folllowing the administration of colloidal silver in cystic fibrosis PMID 18025945
  10. ^ Believe it or not- silver still poisons PMID 18025945
  11. ^ Argyria-Reversal Claim
  12. ^ Myoclonic status epilepticus following repeated oral ingestion of colloidal silver PMID 15111684
  13. ^ Agyria: a report of a case associated with abnormal elec troencephalographic and brain scan findings PMID 3112046
  14. ^ "Joshua B Glenn, Anna N Walker: Argyria In An Elderly Man. The Internet Journal of Dermatology. 2002. Volume 1 Number 2 available online
  15. ^ Argyria and convulsive seizures caused by ingestion of silver in a patient with schizophrenia PMID 8783381
  16. ^ Brain involvement in generalized argyria PMID 6705320
  17. ^ Kalouche H, Watson A, Routley D , Blue lunulae: argyria and hypercopprecaemia , Australas J Dermatol. 2007 Aug;48(3):182-4
  18. ^ Baker CD, Federico MJ, Accurso FJ, Case report: skin discoloration following administration of colloidal silver in cystic fibrosis, Curr Opin Pediatr. 2007 Dec;19(6):733-735 PMID 18025945
  19. ^ Chang AL, Khosravi V, Egbert B, A case of argyria after colloidal silver ingestion, J Cutan Pathol. 2006 Dec;33(12):809-11 PMID 17177941
  20. ^ Wadhera A, Fung M, Systemic argyria associated with ingestion of colloidal silver, Dermatol Online J. 2005 Mar 1;11(1):12 online: [4]
  21. ^ Brandt D, Park B, Hoang M, Jacobe HT., Argyria secondary to ingestion of homemade silver solution, J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Aug;53(2 Suppl 1):S105-7
  22. ^ McKenna JK, Hull CM, Zone JJ, Argyria associated with colloidal silver supplementation, Int J Dermatol. 2003 Jul;42(7):549
  23. ^ COLLOIDAL SILVER NOT APPROVED FDA reports "Use of colloidal silver ingredients in food-producing animals constitutes a potentially serious public health concern", Wednesday, February 12, 1997
  24. ^ FDA warning healthymagnets
  25. ^ FDA ISSUES FINAL RULE ON OTC DRUG PRODUCTS CONTAINING COLLOIDAL SILVER FDA, 1999-08-17
  26. ^ TGA. Regulation of colloidal silver and related products Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Goods) Order No. 1 of 2005 [5] revoked Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Goods) Order No. 1 of 2004. 9 November 2005 update

See also

  • Wadhera, Akhil (2005). "Systemic argyria associated with ingestion of colloidal silver". Dermatology Online Journal. 11 (1): 12. Retrieved 2006-02-25. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) A report on one case of argyria caused by colloidal silver.
  • Rosemary's Story-Argyria using unknown silver compound & concentrations as prescription nasal spray over 40 years ago as a child.
  • Worth more than its weight in silver for burns - Mass. firm taps growing market for dressings infused with the metal, Ross Kerber, The Boston Globe, 2005-05-10
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