Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesSafetySide EffectsShould You Take Colloidal Silver?Frequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Safety
Side Effects
Should You Take Colloidal Silver?
Frequently Asked Questions
Colloidal silver, a solution of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid base, is marketed as a remedy for wounds, skin disorders, certain diseases, and other health concerns. However, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved it for medical use, and it should not be consumed, injected, or inhaled.
In the United States, the FDA does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. When choosing a supplement, look for independently tested products, such as the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), Consumer Labs, or NSF, and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Is Colloidal Silver Used For?
Silver, which is slightly different from colloidal silver at the molecular level, has been used in medicine for centuries. It’s been promoted as a cure-all for everything fromtuberculosisandarthritistoherpesandcancer. Silver was also used as an antimicrobial for wounds.
After the FDA ruling, many drug stores stopped selling colloidal silver products. Since then, some manufacturers have rebranded these products as dietary supplements orhomeopathic remedies. That’s because these don’t need FDA approval.
Manufacturers and proponents of colloidal silver claim these products can:
Some preliminary evidence supports a few of these claims, showing that colloidal silver may have properties that fight against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and inflammation.However, more research is needed before colloidal silver can be confirmed as safe and effective.
Wound Healing
According to one review article, several studies have examined the use of silver-containing dressings on skin ulcers and wounds. They found that the silver particles had antibacterial properties that helped treatdiabetic ulcers.
However, it should be pointed out that this review article does not specifically reference colloidal silver. Further studies using colloidal silver would need to be made before making firm conclusions about its use for wound healing.
Rhinosinusitis
One prospective cohort study looked at colloidal silver for resistant chronicrhinosinusitisin 20 participants. Researchers compared a topical nasal spray containing colloidal silver to a topical nasal spray containing saline. After six weeks of therapy, colloidal silver showed no clinically meaningful improvement in rhinosinusitis symptoms.
A study also looked at the safety and efficacy of colloidal silver in people with chronic rhinosinusitis. Researchers compared a nasal spray containing colloidal silver to oral antibiotics. After 10 days of therapy, colloidal silver showed no difference in the improvement of symptoms compared to oral antibiotics. No severe side effects were seen with colloidal silver.
Colloidal silver’s effectiveness for rhinosinusitis doesn’t seem great given the outcomes of the studies. Further studies using colloidal silver would need to be made before making firm conclusions about its use for rhinosinusitis.
Supplement FactsActive ingredient(s): Colloidal silverAlternate name(s): Ag, Argentum, SilverLegal status: Not generally recognized as safe or effective, misbranded (FDA) (United States)Suggested dose: There is no known standard dose. Dosing depends on the condition, dosage form, and other patient-specific factors.Safety considerations: Argyria, ocular argyrosis, and discolored fingernails
Supplement Facts
Active ingredient(s): Colloidal silverAlternate name(s): Ag, Argentum, SilverLegal status: Not generally recognized as safe or effective, misbranded (FDA) (United States)Suggested dose: There is no known standard dose. Dosing depends on the condition, dosage form, and other patient-specific factors.Safety considerations: Argyria, ocular argyrosis, and discolored fingernails
Active ingredient(s): Colloidal silver
Alternate name(s): Ag, Argentum, Silver
Legal status: Not generally recognized as safe or effective, misbranded (FDA) (United States)
Suggested dose: There is no known standard dose. Dosing depends on the condition, dosage form, and other patient-specific factors.
Safety considerations: Argyria, ocular argyrosis, and discolored fingernails
Is Colloidal Silver Safe?
Topical products containing colloidal silver may help treat wounds, burns, or skin infections.
However, its safety when ingested, injected, or inhaled is unknown. In 1999, the FDA ruled that not enough data exists to deem over-the-counter (OTC) drug products containing colloidal silver safe or effective.
How to Store Colloidal Silver
Keep topical colloidal silver preparations in a cool place and the bottle or tube tightly sealed. Discard colloidal silver supplements according to the expiration date listed on the packaging.
Keep colloidal silver out of reach for children and pets.
Side Effects of Ingesting Colloidal Silver
It’s unclear how toxic silver is to internal organs. Animal studies show that silver has been associated with:
Some anecdotal evidence points to the possible long-term dangers of taking colloidal silver. For example, a 72-year-old male taking colloidal silver as an oral nutritional supplement for over 10 years developed acute myeloid leukemia.
A case of kidney injury associated with colloidal silver has also been reported. It involved a 47-year-old woman taking colloidal silver to treat her cancer.
Additionally, one case of death has been linked to colloidal silver use. The case report involved a 71-year-old man who developedmyoclonic status epilepticusand died. He had taken a daily dose of colloidal silver for four months before his death.
These reports only suggest an association between colloidal silver and the development of cancer, kidney injury, and death. They cannot prove colloidal silver was the cause of such severe outcomes.
Interactions
Colloidal silver may interact with some medications, such as thyroxine and specific antibiotics. It may weaken the way your body absorbs these drugs.
Tell your healthcare provider if you take colloidal silver, even for short-term use.
Due to a lack of research, there’s no known safe or effective oral dose of colloidal silver, and the point at which colloidal silver becomes toxic is unknown.Furthermore, the concentration of silver particles can vary from one product to the next. Some products have as few as 10 parts per million (ppm), whereas others have more than 300 parts per million.
Due to a lack of research, there’s no known safe or effective oral dose of colloidal silver, and the point at which colloidal silver becomes toxic is unknown.
Furthermore, the concentration of silver particles can vary from one product to the next. Some products have as few as 10 parts per million (ppm), whereas others have more than 300 parts per million.
Researchers haven’t studied colloidal silver enough to know whether it’s safe to use as a supplement. As such, the FDA doesn’t consider any form of colloidal silver safe for ingestion, regardless of its concentration.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re considering using colloidal silver as a dietary supplement. Likewise, check whether topical colloidal silver products meet the standards of a trusted independent tester such as USP, ConsumerLab, or NSF. Keep in mind, though, that even tested products are not guaranteed safe or effective.
Alternative to Colloidal SilverFor its antibacterial properties,honeyis a good alternative to colloidal silver. Studies have found that applying honey to an infected wound may help clear the infection and speed healing. Honey is also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Alternative to Colloidal Silver
For its antibacterial properties,honeyis a good alternative to colloidal silver. Studies have found that applying honey to an infected wound may help clear the infection and speed healing. Honey is also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Summary
Colloidal silver is a solution made of silver particles suspended in a liquid. It’s touted as having numerous health benefits, but there’s no evidence supporting its effectiveness for most of them.
Silver has been associated with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties when applied to the skin and has been used for treating skin infections and ulcers. However, the FDA advises against oral consumption of colloidal silver products because not enough research has been done on its safety and efficacy.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt’s not illegal to put colloidal silver in products. However, products can’t claim that colloidal silver has any medicinal benefits.The FDA ruled that colloidal silver isn’t safe or effective in treating any illness. But the FDA doesn’t tightly regulate supplements or homeopathic products. As such, colloidal silver is still used in unregulated products.Some early research supports that silver nanoparticles may help prevent COVID infection.However, this study was not conducted in humans. Therefore, more research is needed before recommending its use for preventing COVID-19. Even if there were a definite benefit, it would need to be weighed against the known risks of colloidal silver.Topical products (products used on the skin) that have silver may have some benefits. For instance, bandages and dressings with silver may help with burns, skin infections, or skin wounds.Talk to your healthcare provider before using these types of products.
It’s not illegal to put colloidal silver in products. However, products can’t claim that colloidal silver has any medicinal benefits.The FDA ruled that colloidal silver isn’t safe or effective in treating any illness. But the FDA doesn’t tightly regulate supplements or homeopathic products. As such, colloidal silver is still used in unregulated products.
Some early research supports that silver nanoparticles may help prevent COVID infection.However, this study was not conducted in humans. Therefore, more research is needed before recommending its use for preventing COVID-19. Even if there were a definite benefit, it would need to be weighed against the known risks of colloidal silver.
Topical products (products used on the skin) that have silver may have some benefits. For instance, bandages and dressings with silver may help with burns, skin infections, or skin wounds.Talk to your healthcare provider before using these types of products.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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