© 2009 by Daniel Carter. All rights reserved. Copying or reproducing any portion of this article without permission is illegal and will be prosecuted.

Since the mid to late 1800's silver has been used as a potent antibacterial/antiviral remedy. Cowboys knew that if they dropped a silver coin in their canteen, water would stay safe to drink for days, despite the hot temperatures and high bacteria growth rate to which the canteen was exposed.

Silver nitrate has long since been used as an eye drop solution for newborns to help them avoid infection.

Colloidal silver is made of silver colloids suspended in water. A colloid is the smallest biological form of matter and is small enough to pass through membranes and tissues, thus avoiding the digestive processes, enabling it to be directly absorbed by the body.

Colloidal Silver is produced via a constant current reverse polarity process. True colloidal silver consists of both elemental and ionic particles. The most common forms are 10 to 50 parts per million (ppm). Some processes used to produce colloidal silvers yield a lower quality and less assimilability than others. While higher ppm silvers may give the impression of the being more effective, more quickly, their purity and assimilability may come into question. In lower quality colloidal silvers, agglomeration occurs, thus reducing absorption and effectiveness. More information about agglomeration and other quality factors can be found here. Although some colloidal silvers range in color from amber to nearly black, quality colloidal silver will not generally be severely discolored.

While there are proponents for high and low volume ppm silvers, no silver is truly effective unless it is created through high quality processes. The addition of stablizers and proteins (by some manufacturers) to silver adds additional size and bulk to the molecules, thus rendering them far less assimilable and thus reducing their potency.

Some reports claim that only higher volume ppm silvers are effective. A few companies such as this one sell quality silver at 500 and 1100 ppm. The average consumer usually buys silver at a volume of 10-50 ppm. Some of these are effective, while others actually have little to no silver in them! Comparisons and a little detective work will go a long away to avoid purchasing expensive tap water.

You can compare several manufacturer's quality and pricing here. 

Including but is not limited to: acne, AIDS, allergies, arthritis, athletes foot fungus, boils, burns, candida (yeast infections), cystitis, diabetes, eczema, hay fever, indigestion, parasitic infections, psoriasis, ringworm, warts, common cold, and other common viruses, including Swine Flu, or H1N1 virus.

Other anecdotal reports include curing some forms of early stage cancer, lupus and other diseases. However, it should be noted that the overall condition of the body is an important factor in how it will accept and assimilate any nutrient or medicine. The more damage there is to the body, the more difficulty nutrients and medicines have of permeating shriveled, damaged cell walls. To reverse such cell damage is a slow, constant process at best, and in some cases is irreversible. However, under normal health conditions, colloidal silver can be extremely effective in treating common bacteria, viruses and other problems. The key in using this remedy (and all such remedies) is to begin usage at first signs of infection.

Colloidal silver can be used orally or topically. Silver can be used topically sprayed onto such wounds as cuts, skin infections or acne. Instructions are printed on the container for oral use and should be followed.

healthmad.com reports silver can also be used in the following ways:

"Uses of colloidal silver include: Eye wash, to kill bacteria on the eyeball itself, topical astringent, to draw poisons from the skin, mouthwash, which, when left in the mouth for at least six minutes, kills the bacteria and germs that are present. Silver is also efficient in the role of nose drops, ear drops, and can be put on cuts and scrapes without further damage to the skin, or causing pain."

steadyheal.com reports the following from colloidal silver toxicity:

• Argyria: a blue-gray skin discoloration to the skin, fingernail beds and gums which is permanent.
• Neurological problems and seizures
• Kidney damage
• Skin irritation
• Indigestion
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Can interact with penicillin, quinolones, tetracycline and thryroxine drugs

raysahelian.com documents that argyria, or the blue-gray discoloration to skin pigment, can only be caused in very high, continual doses of silver:

"Argyria is a condition of excess silver in the body. The estimated amount of silver accumulation over a one-year period that is required to produce argyria is 1 to 5 grams. This amount is very large compared to the 50 mcg typically recommended and consumed by people using over the counter colloidal silver products. Using the most conservative figure, 1,000 mg (1 gram) of silver corresponds to the silver content in 100 liters of 10 ppm colloidal silver."

Colloidal silver, like any other medicine, can be abused. It is not a cure-all or miracle remedy. It is specifically effective in the human body for treating against such disease causing agents as bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. Following dosing and usage directions is critical for success in treating the conditions listed in this article.

A good rule of thumb is that at first onset of symptoms, begin a dosage of colloidal silver, as per directions on the container. Continue using as directed, which could be from 2 to 4 doses a day for about 2 to 3 days beyond becoming symptom free. If you stop usage too soon, your symptoms could rebound and worsen. In most cases treating such symptoms is going to take about the same length of time as a normal course of antibiotics. You are just substituting antibiotics for colloidal silver. When you finish the course, you are done. You stop usage until you find the need to address such issues again.

Another benefit to using colloidal silver is that it reduces the problem of overuse of antibiotics. There are also other natural remedies which are antibacterial and antiviral. Oregano oil has similar properties as colloidal silver, without the danger of heavy metal toxicity. Even honey has powerful antibacterial properties.

Remedies and natural substances such as colloidal silver, oregano oil and more are meant to be used as needed and not continually. As with anything we put into our bodies, too much of any one thing can create an imbalance and potential toxicity. Used intelligently, prudently, as needed, these substances become powerful tools to better health.

There are other antimicrobial/antiviral natural alternatives such as hydrogen peroxide and oregano oil. This isn't a complete list, but these are good resources when they are needed.