Here's a letter sent to a Dr Weil
and his reply..He has a link to
quackwatch.
Colloidal Silver: Better
than Antibiotics?
My son was recently hospitalized for
an infected hip joint. He then developed
a blood clot in a femoral vein. The first
antibiotic he was given didn't work. Since
this was his very first antibiotic, I
expected better results. What about
"natural colloidal silver"?
-- Francelle Reynolds
(Published 11/11/99) An infected hip joint is a
serious condition, and antibiotics, given for a long
period of time -- and if necessary, surgical
drainage -- are the best treatment. I certainly
wouldn't recommend going off the antibiotics in a
case like this. As far as colloidal silver is
concerned, I can't see how it would help. In fact, it
could be harmful.
The term "colloidal" means the minerals are of a
certain size, facilitating use by the body. 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.
At one time, silver products were useful as
germicidals, but they've been replaced gradually
by more effective ones. And no matter what the
promoters of colloidal silver tell you, the human
body doesn't need silver. Safety is an issue, too. 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.
My advice is to stick with the antibiotic treatment
your son is receiving. And what you might do --
what's better than using colloidal silver -- is
investigate electromagnetic stimulation for bone
healing, a treatment that is backed by scientific
evidence.
Dr. Andrew Weil
Have you ever used colloidal silver instead of
antibiotics? What were the results? Discuss the
pros and cons on the Boards.
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