For many years silver solutions have been used effectively in medicine and charged silver solutions have since the 1920’s been approved by the FDA for use as antibacterial agents. The safety of using silver solutions has been disputed in the past. However, if silver solutions are manufactured in the correct environment and according to the correct specifications, the safety of the product cannot be refuted.

· The ancient cultures of Greece, Rome, Phoenicia and Macedonia all relied on silver to keep them healthy.

· Around 400BC, Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine” taught that silver supports the healing process.

· During the Middle Ages, upper-class Europeans used silver utensils and goblets, ensuring the safety of their food and water.

· Silver lined the water vessels of the armies of Tsar Alexander as they fought Napoleon.

· In America’s Old West, it was common practice to drop silver coins into drinking water barrels to prevent the water from spoiling.

· Previously a silver coin was placed on a babies naval after the umbilical cord was cut thus preventing infection.

· As recently as the 1930’s colloidal silver was the preferred choice of physicians for empowering the immune system and supporting the body’s innate healing process.

· NASA uses silver in the water purification systems of the space shuttle and international space station.

· Up until the 1970’s, surgical equipment was made from silver.

· Silver was the most important antimicrobial agent available before the introduction of antibiotics.

· Since the emergence of antibiotic resistence, there has been renewed interest in the therapeutic benefits of colloidal silver.

· Further information relating to the history of colloidal silver is available in the scientific evidence on this website.

This is a Scientific Report on the Safety and Efficacy of Ionic Colloidal Silver Below 25ppm by Ian McQueen (edited 01 June 2012).

Many have benefited from colloidal silver (CS) over the years, some even learning how to make it and opening small businesses for its production and sale. But large pharmaceutical companies have not considered colloidal silver as a viable product owing to its long history and consequent difficulty to patent.

Notwithstanding its proven use as an antimicrobial agent, most colloidal silver manufacturers and distributors have little or no understanding of the laws governing the pharmaceutical industry and make outlandish and unsubstantiated claims about various versions of the product, for which they cannot provide evidence or proof when challenged to do so. Another (and perhaps more disturbing) aspect is that most CS manufacturers do not know what they are making. An internet investigation to ascertain production methods being used revealed that one company, for example, produced CS by placing two silver electrodes in a solution and then ran a low voltage electrical current across the electrodes. It then claimed, in its advertising, that the product is not produced by an electrolytic process. Such statements will not earn the respect of relevant scientists, pharmacists or major governing bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) or the Medicines Control Council of SA (MCC).

The term ‘colloidal silver’ covers a wide range of silver-based preparations ranging in strength from 5 ppm (parts per million) to 750 000 ppm. These can be made electrolytically or chemically, and some of the strong solutions can be harmful. Many contain caustic silver nitrate, which could explain the reluctance of some doctors to use CS as they associate it with high strength silver compounds. Notwithstanding, products containing high silver concentrations are registered as scheduled drugs with the FDA and MCC. This report is based on ionic colloidal silver at strength below 25 ppm.

Some products sold as colloidal silver are ionic silver products and not true colloids, the most common of which are silver hydroxide and silver oxide. Certain manufacturers questioned about this claimed they did not manufacture silver hydroxide and that their solution consisted only of pure silver+ ions and distilled water, which begs the question: what balances the positive (+) charge of the silver+ ions?

It is possible to produce genuine colloids, the most common of which is silver chloride. Although silver chloride has therapeutic value, it is unstable and, within three days, around 98.4% of the silver flocculates and settles at the bottom of the container. Other allegedly ‘pure’ silver products need a chelating agent or gel to hold them in suspension, which often hinders the mobility of the silver ions. Clumps of non-ionic silver particles also form colloids.

From observation and in vitro tests, true colloidal and ionic silver have proved therapeutically beneficial and many products are known to contain both types of silver.

Silverlab colloidal silver is manufactured according to the Hippocratic Oath principle that regimens are prescribed for the good of patients and are based on ability and judgment, without intending harm to anyone: ‘I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients, according to my ability and my judgment, and never do harm to anyone.’

The full scientific name for Silverlab Ionic Colloidal Silver is Electrically Isolated Ionic Silver Hydrosol, produced by using a unique, specialised electrolytic method. It is a water soluble ionic silver solution ranging in concentration from below 0.1 ppm to 25 ppm and is not bonded to other chemicals or proteins. Silverlab CS is manufactured at 18 ppm and its low silver concentration, powerful characteristics (oligodynamic) and zero causticity/toxicity make it perfectly safe to use.

The antimicrobial agent in the product is known to be free silver ions. To achieve this effect, silver ions must be available in solution at the microbial surface. Efficacy depends on the aqueous concentration of these ions. Silver ions appear to kill pathogenic micro-organisms instantly by blocking the respiratory enzyme system (energy production) as well as altering microbe DNA and the cell wall. They also appear to block T cell (TCR) receptors on the HIV virus and to stop the HIV RNA from unravelling.

The extracts below are taken from credible sources available to governing bodies. Source names appear in the Reference Notes section at the end of the article.

Toxicity

Adverse effects: symptoms of poisoning stem from the corrosive and caustic nature of silver nitrate. A 75% (instead of 1%) solution of silver nitrate applied to newborn infants by mistake had an ill effect. [8] (Ref. 1)

Results revealed no clinical abnormalities, macro-pathological abnormalities or micro-pathological abnormalities in any of the test groups. No animals died during the studies.[9] (Ref. 2)

In water, at concentrations sufficient for bactericidal activity, silver does not impart taste, colour or odour and has no apparent detrimental effects on mammalian cells. (Ref. 3)

The critical effect observed is cosmetic only, with no associated adverse health effects.  Argyria, the critical effect upon which the RfD (oral Reference Dose) for silver is based, occurs at levels of exposure much lower than those associated with other effects of silver.

There are no known severe toxic reactions. Argyria is the only acknowledged effect of silver and is characterized as a cosmetic problem only.  According to the EPA IRIS report, it requires an accumulation of between 2-4 g of silver for Argyria to manifest. The report assumes an oral retention factor of 0.04, which means 4% of ingested silver is retained. They based their assessment on a total intake of 25 g of silver during the lifetime of a 70 kg male, with a 4% retention, resulting in 1 g total body silver after 70 years.[10] Based on this, they worked out the RfD or daily reference dose as 0.014mg/kg/day for a 70 kg male, equivalent to 98 micrograms/day for a 70 kg male.  (Ref. 4)

Pharmacology

Silver’s antimicrobial effect has been demonstrated in numerous applications against different types of microorganisms. The bactericidal efficacy of silver is through its binding to disulfide or sulfhydryl groups in cell wall proteins. Silver also binds to DNA. Through these binding properties, metabolic processes are disrupted, leading to cell death. (Ref. 27)

EFTEM observations demonstrated that the silver ion readily infiltrates the interior of E. coli, contrary to the early hypothesis that it resides initially in the cell membrane area. Furthermore, 2-DE and MALDI-TOF MS indicated that the expression of a ribosomal subunit protein, as well as that of some other enzymes and proteins, is affected by the silver ion. The present results demonstrate, for the first time, that one of the major bactericidal functions of the silver ion is its interaction with the ribosome and the ensuing inhibition in expression of the enzymes and proteins essential to ATP production. (Ref. 28)

Medical literature shows that a variety of viruses have been successfully treated with silver-based drugs. However, ‘silver salts’, and/or inferior silver preparations, lack the bio-availability, active silver content, and safety needed to be effective. State of the art, electrolytically produced oligodynamic Ag+, however, offers distinct advantages and versatility of use over older and cruder formulations. Possessing much smaller, sub nanometre-sized particles, greater electrical potential and lower concentrations, it is more bio-available than other formulations. Efficacy against the SARS-related coronavirus, for example, may be enhanced when nebulized Ag+ is inhaled. This should achieve swift reduction of viral loads, especially in the early stages. Moreover, there is no known toxicity for oligodynamic Ag+ in humans. The only known mechanism of resistance also appears to play no role, notwithstanding the mutability of the coronavirus. Therefore no functional barrier to the virotoxic effects of oligodynamic Ag+ may be expected, regardless of the rapidity or variety of mutations.

Like bacteria and fungi, infectious viral organisms may have multiple susceptibilities when encountering oligodynamic Ag+. On the other hand, evidence suggests that oligodynamic Ag+ will not interfere with normal white blood cell (WBC) activity, and may even enhance WBC activity. Feng, et al. concluded that oligodynamic Ag+ offered profound immune benefits because of its ability to intervene with select bacteria in three key ways almost simultaneously. Central to all three is the ability of oligodynamic Ag+ to denature (dose-dependent permanent inactivation) essential microorganisms’ protein and DNA.

One type of essential protein maintains the integrity of the cell’s membrane and boundaries. Once the membrane becomes unstable, the cells begin to rupture.

Simultaneously, the smallest sizes of Ag+ may more easily penetrate the membrane pores of bacteria. Once penetration occurs, life-essential enzyme reactions governing cell metabolism go into partial or full arrest.

As the silver further penetrates the most interior recesses of the cell, the genetic building blocks (nucleic acids) of the germs are paralysed, ending the ability of the invaders to replicate.

Delivery of active Ag+ is the key to success. Providing that delivery of oligodynamic Ag+ to the viral foci is accomplished, the effective dosage level of pure oligodynamic Ag+ is essentially medically benign to human cells. As Berger, et al. concluded, oligodynamic Ag+ generated electrically at target tissue area is observed to be very effective immune intervention at low concentrations, yet appears to cause no harm to normal mammalian cells.  (Ref. 30)

Colloidal silver was extensively employed in the medical practice at the beginning of the 20th century, for instance, as a germicide in hospitals. Prestigious medical journals described the efficacy of silver colloidal dispersions as bactericides with no adverse drawbacks. For instance, in 1918 a paper by T. H. Anderson-Wells appeared in the Lancet reporting that a preparation of colloidal silver was “used intravenously … without any irritation of the kidneys and with no pigmentation of the skin”. 63 The use of such a remedy, which seemed to be both effective and safe, decreased in popularity during the antibiotic era, although many physicians continued prescribing it as nose drops against colds and allergies or as eye drops to heal ophthalmic infections. Lately, it has regained popularity as an “alternative” drug against a number of pathologies and diseases.

Reference Notes

1. Martindale Pharmacopeia, 34th edition, p. 1746.

2. Daan Goosen, ’90-day toxicity study performed on Sprague rats at a dose of 14ml/kg per day with 18 ppm ionic colloidal silver manufactured by Silverlab Colloidal Silver,’ La-Bio Research, Tshwane University of Technology, 30 April 2009.

3. Michael A. Butkis, Michael P. Labare, Jeffrey A. Starke, King Moon and Mark Talbot, ‘Use of Aqueous Silver to Enhance Inactivation of Coliphage MS-2 by UV Disinfection,’ Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2004, Vol. 70, pp. 2848-2853.

4. US Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Risk Information System, Silver (CASRN 7440-22-4), last revised 12 January 1996.

5. Wikipedia, Heavy metals (chemistry), accessed 18 October 2010.

6. Wikipedia, Toxic metals, accessed 18 October 2010.

7. American Biotec Labs.

8.World Health Organisation, ‘Silver in Drinking-water – Background document for development of WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality,’ Geneva (2003).

9. Professor Helen R. Buckley PhD, School of Medicine, Temple University, 2 February 1995.

11. FDA, Public Health Service, Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research, File F99-22589, 3 November 1999.

12. South African Bureau of Standards Commercial, ‘Bioburden Level Determination performed on Ionic Colloidal Silver 19 ppm,’ (November 2005).

13. South African Bureau of Standards Commercial, ‘Sterility of Ionic Colloidal Silver 19 ppm,’ (October 2005).

14. Ian McQueen, IDM Laboratory & Engineering Services, ‘Effects of Silverlab Ionised Silver 18 ppm on a variety of Probiotic Bacteria,’ (May 2010).

15. Vinny Pinto, ‘Effects of Ionic Colloidal Silver on Probiotic, life-giving microbes,’ Fermentation with Syntropic Anti–oxidative Microbes (2004).

16. Yoshinobu Matsumura, Kuniaki Yoshikata, Shin-ichi Kunisaki and Tetsuaki Tsuchido, ‘Mode of Bactericidal Action of Silver Zeolite and its comparison with that of Silver Nitrate,’ Applied and Environmental Microbiology (July 2003), Vol. 69 (7), pp. 4278-4281.

17. Belinda Galeano, Emily Korff and Wayne L. Nicholson, ‘Inactivation of Vegetative Cells, of Bacillus anthrasis, B. cereus, and B. subtilis on Stainless Steel Surfaces Coated with an Antimicrobial Silver- and Zinc-Containing Zeolite Formulation, Applied and Environmental Microbiology (July 2003), Vol. 69, pp. 4329-4331.

18. Butkus, M.A. (US Military Academy), Labara, M.P. (US Military Academy) and Edling, L. (GeoTrans Inc., USA), ‘The efficacy of silver as a bactericidal agent: advantages, limitations and considerations for future use,’ Vol 1ss, pp. 407-415.

19. South African Bureau of Standards Commercial, ‘Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Ionic Colloidal Silver 19 ppm,’ (December 2005).

20. N. Simonyeti, G. Simonyeti, F. Bougnoi and M. Scalzo, ‘Electrochemical Ag+ for Preservative Use,’ Applied and Environmental Microbiology (December 1992), Vol. 58, pp.3834-3836.

21. South African Bureau of Standards Commercial, ‘Effects of Ionic Colloidal Silver on Candida albicans,’ (December 2005).

22. Professor Patrick Bouic, ‘Effects of Ionised Silver 18 ppm on Candida albicans,’ Synexa Life Sciences (June 2007).

23. Dean, W. et al, ‘Reduction of Viral Load in Aids Patients with Intravenous Mild Silver Protein: 3 Case Studies,’ Clinical Practice of Alternative Medicine (2001).

24. Professor Patrick Bouic, ‘Effects of Ionised Silver 18 ppm on 2 Melanoma cell lines,’ Synexa Life Sciences (July 2007).

25. Professor Patrick Bouic, ‘Effects of Ionised Silver 18 ppm on 4 cancer types and PBMCs,’ Synexa Life Sciences (July 2007).

26. Professor Patrick Bouic, ‘Anti-inflammatory activity of Ionised Silver 18 ppm,’ Synexa Life Sciences (July 2007).

27. Woo Kyung Jung, Hye Cheong Koo, Ki Woo Kim, Sook Shin, So Hyun Kim and Yong Ho Park, ‘Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Action of the Silver Ion in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli,’ Applied and Environmental Microbiology (April 2008), Vol. 74, pp. 2171-2178.

28. Nadia Silvestry-Rodriguez, Kelly R. Bright, Donald C. Slack, Donald R. Uhlmann and Charles P. Gerba, ‘ Silver as a Residual Disinfectant to Prevent Biofilm Formation in Water Distribution Systems,’ Applied and Environmental Microbiology (March 2008), Vol. 74, pp. 1639-1641.

29. Mikihiro Yamanaka, Keita Hara and Jun Kudo, ‘Bactericidal Actions of a Silver Ion Solution on Escherichia coli, Studied by Energy-Filtering Transmission Electron Microscopy and Proteomic Analysis, Applied and Environmental Biology (November 2005), Vol. 71, pp. 7589-7593.

30. John Marshall Dudley, ‘The Chemical and Physical Basis of the Therapeutic Value of colloidal forms of silver,’ from a colloidal silver research paper.

31. Eric J. Rentz, DO COMM CNMO, ‘Viral pathogens and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Oligodynamic Ag+ for Direct Immune Intervention,’ Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine (June 2003), Vol. 13 (2), pp. 109-118.

32. John Barltrop, MA PhD DSc and Dr R.C. Renlund, ‘Toxicity of Mild Silver Protein,’ 27 January 1995.

33. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, US Public Health Service, Toxicological Profile for Silver (December 1990).

Foot Notes

[1] As manufactured and distributed by Silverlab and also generally referred to as Electrolytically Isolated Silver (EIS), Oligodynamic Silver, Hydrosol of Silver, Nano Silver, Positively Charged Ionic Silver or Colloidal Silver.

[2] Published 25 October 2010.

[3] For generations silver has been used for its antimicrobial properties to prevent and treat a variety of diseases, most notably infections. The Food and Drug Administration has approved silver solutions since the 1920s for use as antibacterial agents.

[4] Denotes parts of silver per million parts of water.

[5] The Hippocratic Oath is an oath taken by doctors swearing to practice medicine ethically. It is widely believed to have been written by Hippocrates, traditionally regarded as the father of western medicine, in the late 5th century BC.

[6] Oligodynamic – powerful in small quantities.

[7] As Silverlab Ionic Colloidal Silver is classified as a complementary medicine, the company makes no strong medical claims for its efficacy, stating frequently on its packaging ‘may help with. . .’ But this should not be construed the company suggests the product is ineffective.

[8] A 1% solution is equivalent to 10 000 ppm, and a 75% solution is equivalent to 750 000 ppm.

[9] Taken from a 90-day study performed on Sprague rats at a dose of 14ml/kg per day using Silverlab 18 ppm CS, which is equivalent to a 71 kg person drinking 90 litres of CS over a 3-month period.

[10] To reach 1 gm of accumulated CS, one must consume 1 388 litres of Silverlab Colloidal Silver at 18 ppm, which would place one at around a quarter of the way to the 2-4 g maximum. By contrast, only 2.5 litres of a 1% (10 000 ppm) solution would take a 70 kg man to the same level of retained silver. The World Health Organisation (WHO) conservatively recommends not more than 10 g total intake in a lifetime, equivalent to 555 litres of 18 ppm colloidal silver.

[11] ‘Silver preparation. . . effective in inhibiting and killing strains of candida albicans and cryptococcus neoformans from 0.7 ppm in vitro.’ Professor Helen R Buckley, School of Medicine, Temple University, 2 February 1995.

[12] Equal to 1.142 parts of silver per million parts of water – or ppm.

[13] Effective Microorganisms are a mixture of probiotic microbes including lactic acid bacteria, actinomycetes and phototropic non-sulphur bacteria.

[14] The only side effect would be symptoms of detoxification that may include headache and sluggishness in the body for a few days. This effect is known as the Jarisch Herxheimer Reaction.

Some 80 years ago, the soil had more silver which prevented infectious diseases by destroying fungi, bacteria and viruses. Today, the silver in the soil is exhausted, because animal and kitchen waste are no more reverted into farmland. Moreover, the infectious organisms are now much more resistant to prescription antibiotics.  They, however have no resistance to silver.

It Suffocates Bad Cells

The unique property of colloidal silver is that it is toxic to single celled organisms (including bacteria, viruses and fungi). Bacteria are single celled organisms. They do not have lungs and so their survival depends on attaching themselves to specific enzymes in order to get the oxygen they require to live and replicate. Silver acts upon these enzymes and prevents the bacteria from breathing, therefore essentially suffocating them.

Colloidal Silver Restores Good Cells

According to Dr Robert Becker, a pioneering surgeon at Syracuse Medical University, colloidal silver stimulates the growth of damaged cells. A solution of silver ions in pure water kills bacteria, fungi and viruses rapidly (4-6 minutes in wounds) without adverse effects anywhere on the human body. Also, unlike prescription antibiotics, it does not eradicate the microbiomes.

Colloidal Silver Accelerates Healing

One of the multiple colloidal silver benefits is that it helps with the healing processes of human tissue. This is the reason why it is so beneficial in the treatment of burn wounds, cuts and scrapes.

Colloidal Silver Fights Infection & Reduces Inflammation

Colloidal silver is also a fantastic potent anti-inflammatory. Researchers at the National Institute of Health (NIH) studied the effects on inflammation after receiving treated with colloidal silver. They found that the inflamed skin of pigs treated with colloidal silver experienced near-normal skin after 72 hours, while other treatment groups untreated with silver remained inflamed.

Here’s a list of colloidal silver uses compiled by various people from all over the world who found colloidal silver beneficial in their lives:

First Aid

· Spray colloidal silver on burns; it supports the healing process and reduces scarring.

· Use colloidal silver topically on dermatitis, eczema, cuts, wounds, abrasions, rashes, sunburn, razor nicks, bruises and bandages.

· Spray colloidal silver onto plasters; it will facilitate wound healing. 

· Use colloidal silver on assist with the management of acne.

· May assist with eye ear and nasal conditions.

· Reduces bacteria deep in the throat and at the back of the tongue thereby assisting with halitosis and tooth decay and mouth sores.

· Soak dentures to reduce microbial count. 

· Excellent for nappies and nappy rash.

· Diminish dandruff, psoriasis, skin rashes, etc.

· Spray in shoes, between toes, between legs to stop most skin itch, athlete’s foot, fungi, jock itch.

· Spray inside shoes, watch bands and gloves and under fingernails periodically.

Sterilising/Purification

Safely sterilise anything from toothbrushes to surgical instruments.

Disinfect

· Spray on garbage to prevent decay odours.

· Use as a toilet spray.

· Mist kitchen sponges, towels, cutting boards to eliminate E. Coli 0157:H7 and salmonella bacteria to prevent food poisoning, gastrointestinal inflammation, and genital tract infections.

· Spray refrigerator, freezer and food storage bin interiors.

· Stop mildew and wood rot.

· Add to water-based paints, wallpaper paste, dishwasher, cleaning and mopping solutions, etc.

· Spray pet bedding and let dry.

· Spray on top of contents of opened jam, jelly, and condiment containers and inside lids before replacing.

· Spray air conditioner filters after cleaning.

· Swab air ducts and vents to prevent breeding sites for germs.

· Use routinely in laundry final rinse water and always before packing away seasonal clothes. Damp clothes or towels and washcloths will not sour or mildew.

· Eliminate unwanted micro-organisms in planter soils and hydroponics systems.

· Spray plant foliage to stop fungi, molds, rot, and most plant diseases.

· Treat pools, fountains, humidifiers, Jacuzzis, hot tubs, baths, dishwashers, re-circulating cooling tower water, gymnasium foot dips, and bath and shower mats.

· Treat shower stalls, tubs, fonts, animal watering troughs, shavers to avoid trading germs.

· Human and animal shampoos become disinfectants.

· Prevent carpets, drapes, wallpaper from mildewing.

· Wipe telephone mouthpieces, pipe sterns, headphones, hearing aids, eyeglass frames, hairbrushes, combs, loofas.

· Spray toilet seats, bowls, tile floors, sinks, urinals, doorknobs to disinfect.

· Kill persistent odors by spraying area

· Rinse pillowcases, sheets, towels, and bedclothes.

Preservation

· Add when canning, preserving, bottling.

· Add to milk to delay spoiling, fermenting, deteriorating or curdling. Before fridges existed, a silver coin was put in a bottle of milk to make it last.

· Rinse fruit and vegetables before storing or using.

· Mix in postage stamp, envelope, and tape moistening wells, paint and paste pots to prevent bacterial growth, odors, spoiling or souring.

· Add 5ml colloidal silver to flowers and it last 2-3 times longer.

“The silver lining: towards the responsible and limited usage of silver” [Link here]
by K. Naik and M. Kowshik

Summary 

Silver has attracted a lot of attention as a powerful, broad spectrum and natural antimicrobial agent since the ancient times because of its nontoxic nature to the human body at low concentrations. It has been used in treatment of various infections and ulcers, storage of water and prevention of bacterial growth on the surfaces and within materials. However, there are numerous medical and health benefits of colloidal or nanosilver apart from its microbicidal ability which as yet has not been fully embraced by the medical community. These include antiplatelet activity, antioxidant effect, anticancer activity, wound healing and bone regeneration, enhancement of immunity, and increase in antibiotic efficiency. Additionally silver also provides protection against alcohol toxicity, upper respiratory tract infections and stomach ailments. Although nanosilver has been proposed for various topical applications, its usage by ingestion and inhalation remains controversial due to the lack of detailed and precise toxicity information. These beneficial properties of silver can be utilized by using silver at very low concentrations which are not harmful to the human body and environment. The following review discusses the diverse medical applications of silver and further recommends human clinical studies for its in vivo usage.