Monday, June 15, 2009

Explaining colloidal silver side effects

By Raymond Petros

Colloidal silver has established itself as a powerful germicide in the world of medical science. Today this substance is used in combination with various other ingredients to produce a variety of products including colloidal silver water, supplements and creams. All these products have diverse health benefits.

Silver by itself does not have any role to play at all with regards to the biological functioning of the body. Rather it is excreted automatically from within the system in less than twenty four hours after being taken.

Naturally the maximum amount that the human body can excrete is 50 mcg. When silver is consumed in a larger amount than that which can be excreted then the remaining silver becomes embedded under the surface of the skin. It also starts transforms into silver sulfide and enters into tissues.

One of the most serious side effects that colloidal silver has the potential to develop is Argyria. It must be kept in mind that this side effect only occurs after a prolonged ingestion of the substance.

This is in essence a skin condition wherein the entire body develops a grayish-blue pigmentation.

While on the one hand medical science seeks to unearth a viable cure for this skin condition on the other it lacks proof suggesting that colloidal silver does in fact trigger argyria.

Argyria and other related problems, outlined as side effects of colloidal silver only occur when the impurity content in these substances is very high.

Excess consumption of colloidal silver can also cause the arteries near the heart to become hard. As a result a condition known as arteriosclerosis may develop. If left unattended this may give rise to more serious problems like heart attacks.

Colloidal silver has the potential to deposit onto tissues and this can lead to organ damage. As a consequence of this the functioning of the immune system may also be altered.

Neurological problems like seizures can also spring out of excessive use of colloidal silver. Then there are other side effects like headaches, skin irritations, stomach distress and fatigue that one is liable to develop.

All the side effects mentioned above only occur when the ingestion of colloidal silver is prolonged. However there are some substances that may react with colloidal silver to develop harmful side effects instantly.

The list of drugs that have been identified as being reactive with colloidal silver includes tettracyclines, thyroxine, quinolones and penacillamine.

Therefore it is essential that those looking to use colloidal silver make sure that they are not using any of these substances from before.

Persons undergoing certain health conditions or situations also need to exercise caution when making use of colloidal silver.

Pregnant women for example should are advised to consult their doctors and be aware of the other substances that they are consuming. Individuals undergoing liver and kidney problems also need to regulate the intake of colloidal silver.

This is because such patients are far more susceptible to toxicity caused by silver.

Although you will find the market to be loaded with colloidal silver products the FDA has not yet given approval of the colloidal silver supplements for medicinal uses. Hence the FDA has not tagged any colloidal silver product as safe or effective. - 14130

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