For centuries, the antimicrobial properties of silver have been appreciated even if they weren’t fully understood.  In ancient times, water and wine was carried and stored in silver containers to maintain purity and prevent contamination.  Hippocrates used silver in ancient Greece to heal wounds, and the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder wrote of the ability of silver to prevent wound infections.  In the middle ages, the wealthy began using silver tableware and utensils suffering from lower rates of plague-related death.  The wealthier Chinese used silver chopsticks.  Now, modern day science is beginning to be able to understand and explain what previous generations have known.

Silver sulfadiazine is a cream that is used in over 70% of the burn centers in America to prevent infection that can accompany second and third degree burns.  It was introduced almost 40 years ago and has been used extensively since.  It has also been used in the care of newborns that are born without a full layer of abdominal skin (called omphalocele) to delay surgery and improve outcomes.

Silver is also being used in bandages and dressings.  Silverlon is a registered trademark for a silver charged dressing that is marketed by Argentum Medical, LLC.  It reduces bacterial and fungal contamination on a wound including some antibiotic resistant strains.  It is approved by the FDA.  The bandages are grey in color and look somewhat space-aged.  Multiple studies on Silverlon have been performed.  There are also silver impregnated bandages available under the Curad brand.

Silver nitrate drops have been used in the eyes of newborns since 1881 to prevent blindness from the resulting infection. Silver nitrate sticks are used to cauterize small bleeding wounds or to destroy granulation tissue.

Although not true medical uses, silver is used for water purification in hospitals and swimming pools. It is used as a disinfectant in the water supply of the International Space Station. Silver has been added to hospital sheets and everyday clothing. Colloidal silver is sold in health food stores and over the internet as a dietary supplement; however, there is no need for dietary silver in humans. There are no studies that show that use colloidal silver is effective for any condition but investigation is undergoing in cancer treatments and AIDS.

While the use of silver in photographic applications has decreased with the advent of digital photography, the medical uses for silver has stabilized and even increased overall demand. At current prices, silver is relatively inexpensive. As additional medical uses for silver develop, the price could very well increase significantly. Now may be the time to seriously consider investing in silver.