Uses of Colloidal Silver Water

Colloidal silver is a product mostly used in alternative medicine. It contains submicroscopic particles of the element silver suspended in a liquid base, typically water. Manufacturers of colloidal silver products claim they are effective at treating many health disorders. Silver is effective for certain external treatments, but no research indicates it has benefits for oral use.

Antiseptic

• Silver was commonly used as a topical antiseptic before other medicines were developed, as silver is effective at killing external microorganisms and inhibiting their growth. Colloidal silver and silver compounds are still used by some people as external antiseptics today.

Infection Fighter

• Silver was commonly used to fight infections, such as sexually-transmitted diseases, before antibiotic drugs were developed, as explained by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). People also historically used colloidal silver in an attempt to cure disorders ranging from the common cold to epilepsy. Some people continue to use colloidal silver as an alternative antibiotic.

Eye Infections

• Most states require eye drops of silver nitrate for newborn babies to prevent eye infections. People have made anecdotal reports of colloidal silver used as eye drops as a cure for conjunctivitis and sties, according to physician Ray Sahelian, but he notes that research does not indicate that colloidal silver prevents bacterial growth as silver nitrate does.

Other Claims

• Marketers of colloidal silver have promoted the product as being effective for treating a wide variety of disorders, as listed by Quackwatch.com. These include acne, cancer, chronic fatigue, cholera, diabetes, hemorrhoids, HIV and AIDS, influenza, malaria, parasite infestations, shingles, syphilis, tonsillitis and whooping cough. Claims are made for colloidal silver having anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal and immune system-boosting properties. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibits advertising any of these health claims for colloidal silver. The MSKCC notes that no clinical research supports taking colloidal silver orally for any purpose.