Dr. Smith with Your Health

SHOULD YOU INVEST IN SILVER?
Dr. Brian A. Smith

In the early years of this century, silver compounds were successfully used as antibiotics. Recently a few companies have started to market silver colloids. Their use in HIV has yet to be explored to any great extent however there may be a place for their use. Silver compounds have been shown to be effective against candida albicans and therefore should be considered as a possible treatment for thrush and intestinal candidiasis. They have also been shown effective against pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause pneumonia, gonorrhea, staphylococcus and streptococcus (as in strept throat).

Silver apparently attaches itself to the membrane of single celled organisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi. This renders the wall of that organism weak and susceptible to rupture. It may also stimulate the bacteria "eating" cells (phagocytes) into action.

There exists conflicting information about the intestinal absorption of silver. One manufacturer claims that, as colloids, the particles are unlikely to cross the intestinal wall and reach the bloodstream. However, this same company also states that silver taken orally tends to be found in phagocytic cells in the liver and elsewhere, which indicates intestinal absorption.

While there exists a debate on the most beneficial form of silver, some agreement exists in some crucial areas. First, it appears to be non-toxic in the dosages necessary to treat infection. Second, there exists no studies on safety in long term intake. Third, it is effective in killing organisms in concentrations from 3 to 10 parts per million. Fourth, the dosage for therapy is in micrograms. (1 microgram equals one millionth of a gram).

The best type of colloidal silver is not known. The two most common forms are a silver colloid-protein molecule form and an electrocolloidal form. The latter will have a golden yellow color and the former will be darker, approaching brown. There is continued debate between the manufacturers of each as to which product is superior. These products are liquid and can be used as mouth rinses for thrush or topically applied for skin conditions. One of my patients reports a several year history of plantars warts on his feet which responded to none of the therapies he tried. After applying colloidal silver to the warts for 1 week, they were gone. Oral dosages usually start at 1 to 3 teaspoons per day for 1 to 6 days, then decreasing to 1/2 to 2 teaspoons. As silver can inactivate the protein digesting enzymes, it would be prudent to take this on an empty stomach. The maximum time limit for oral administration I would suggest would be 10 days for any particular infection. Once again, there are no studies available on long term usage of silver colloids. The costs vary widely, from a low of about $21.00 to a high of $38.00 for 4 ounces. (There are about 6 teaspoons in an ounce).

Silver is a heavy metal and to many people, including myself, there is a concern with the safety of ingesting heavy metals. These metals will deplete antioxidants in the body and adding antioxidants will serve to counteract this effect. Also, large doses of vitamin C have been shown to reduce heavy metal accumulation in tissues.

Silver is cleared from the body slowly through the formation of bile. When clearance falls behind intake, argyria can result. Argyria is a condition of silver deposition in the tissues consisting of an ashen gray discoloration visible in the skin and eyes. It is associated with ingestion of large quantities, in the gram range, of silver. It is not associated with any known disease or loss of function. Blood levels of silver can be monitored and the lab test cost about $45.00.

As with all substances, you would be best served to be under the care of a qualified health professional when for all therapies.

The information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and should not be construed as a course of treatment for any individual.

Dr. Brian A. Smith is a chiropractic doctor and naturopathic physician who has specialized in the treatment of immune-suppressed individuals since 1987. He is a scientific advisory board member of AIDS ReSEARCH Alliance.

He maintains a private practice in Los Angeles and can be reached at (323) 306-4909. Questions from readers are welcome as are suggestions for future articles. You can also contact him via E-mail at: Send e-mail to Dr. Smith

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Articles by Dr. Brian A. Smith:

HIV and CHIRO † VITAMIN C † BETA-CAROTENE † MINERALS † DMG † PROTEIN † DIET & HIV † MORE ON PROTEIN † NUTRITION † DHEA † LIVER † CHIRO † NAC † SILVER † ALT THERAPIES †