Jen-Bear has raised the subject of colloidal silver.

OH DEAR, MS BEAR!

Have you never heard of Quackwatch? It's an excellent site, and it's well
worth taking a quick look there whenever one hears of a fabulous new
treatment.

http://www.quackwatch.org/

In our Support group List Highlights section, under the heading 'Warnings',
there are several notes on the dangers of colloidal silver. Here's an
extract from Dr Andrew Weil's comments:

"The promoters of colloidal silver make some fantastic claims: They say
their products extend life, protect you from cancer, and cure just about
anything. They'll tell you that mineral deficiencies lead to a weakened
immune system and cancer. All of this is nonsense. Colloidal silver
supplements are also heavily advertised as powerful antimicrobials and
immune system stimulants, capable of curing up to 650 different diseases.
Again, none of these claims have been proven."

"If taken orally, it can accumulate in the body's tissues and cause a
disfiguring skin condition called argyria. Skin pigmentation, especially
around the nose and mouth, turns bluish, permanently. Those affected have
been described as looking like corpses suddenly come to life. Medical
literature also contains reports of neurological problems that developed in
long-term users of oral silver products."

There are photos on the internet of people who are suffering from argyria,
and the "back from the grave" look really is for the rest of their lives
because there is no cure for argyria. Here are a few old posts on the
subject:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-support/message/55214

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-support/message/55219

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-support/message/55233

However, Argyria is pretty rare. Most users of colloidal silver don't take
enough to turn blue or grey, and they usually stop if they see discoloration
starting in their hands or nails. However, silver can build up in ALL bodily
tissues and there are medical reports of deposits causing neurological
problems such as muscle paralysis and seizures, vision impairment, heart
damage if the silver interferes with electrical conductivity, bone marrow
defects, increased photosensitivity, severe pain, etc.

Promoters of colloidal silver say these reports involve excessive amounts or
other forms of the metal such as silver salts, or silver nitrate which is
sometimes used in the making of colloidal silver. But who defines what is
excessive?

A 'safe' level is an amount that can be eliminated through the kidneys, but
people with kidney disease may find it difficult to excrete metals and be
more at risk of toxicity. The same goes for people with liver disease, since
silver can interfere with liver enzymes. Young children presumably have
lower tolerance levels, as would people who have allergic reactions to
silver - just as some people are allergic to copper, nickel or other metals.

It's up to you, Jen. Your choice!

Kind regards,

Aurelia