No discussion about Colloidal Silver would be complete without addressing the subject of the condition known as argyria and the “blue-faced man.” Quite possibly you’ve heard or seen articles about him in the news, and one look at his face may cause you to swear off ever trying Colloidal Silver as a health supplement.

I’ve done quite a bit of research on the topic, since I myself use Silver from time to time for health reasons, and I wanted to know that I was making responsible, well-informed decisions regarding my own body.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the “blue-faced man” is a unique case and is the result of an extreme over-usage of Silver. By his own admission, this particular man, Paul Karason, not only drank the Silver, but also rubbed it all over his face to treat a skin condition he developed 14 years ago. The end result was a bluish-gray discoloration of his skin, a condition medical doctors call “Argyria” and believed to be permanent. While this has caused unpleasant aesthetic effects for Mr. Karason, it should be noted that taking large amounts of any supplement, even a natural one, is never a wise course of action. As in all other things, moderation is the key.

I also discovered in my research that there are 3 different types of products under which Silver may be sold—there’s Ionic Silver, Protein Silver, and true Colloidal Silver. Quality is the key—you want to avoid purchasing products that are sub-standard, contaminated, or counterfeit. It is believed to be the products that contain protein that are the ones that cause Argyria. A simple way to tell if your Silver product has protein in it is to shake the bottle. If it develops a foam which does not dissipate quickly, then the Silver is suspended in protein and it’s probably wise to avoid it.

If you’d like to do more research of your own, here is a great link I came across. It compares the three main types of Silver, and from what I can tell, it is an unbiased analysis which is meant to educate consumers and not meant to promote any particular product. It also includes a table with a breakdown of all the different Silver products on the market. I encourage you to check it out if you want to learn more about Silver:

http://www.silver-colloids.com/Reports/reports.html

Or read my other article on Ionic and Colloidal Silver

I’m also very aware that there are many warnings about using Colloidal Silver on the internet. Please keep in mind that BigPharma is threatened by anything that has the potential of hurting their business and cutting into their profits. My overall conclusion is that when taking Silver that is made and used properly, for short-term illnesses rather than chronic conditions, there is not only the potential for great benefits, but also very little risk to the human body.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Consult the physician of your choice for medical care and advice.