--210.49.207.9 05:58, 6 November 2007 (UTC)Colloidal silver is a colloid of silver particles in water. It has antimicrobial properties and was, in the past, used on external wounds and burns to prevent infection. Some alternative-health practitioners claim that it is a beneficial nutritional supplement. Others also claim that it is a powerful antibiotic^[1] which is relatively safe for human consumption, though this is disputed because of the risk of argyria,^[2] a permanent blue or gray skin condition which is otherwise benign. The intake of some silver products in large quantities over long periods of time has caused argyria in some people,^{[3][4][5][6][7]} though at dosage levels generally considered normal, the risk for argyria is low. A Colloid or colloidal dispersion is a type of homogeneous mixture. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or slows the growth of microbes like bacteria (antibacterial activity), fungi (antifungal activity), viruses (antiviral activity), or parasites (antiparasitic activity). ... Staphylococcus aureus - Antibiotics test plate. ... Argyria (ISV from Greek: αργύρος argyros silver + -ia) is an extremely rare condition caused by the ingestion of elemental silver, silver dust or silver compounds. ...

Applications

Colloidal silver can be used to keep drinkable water potable over a long period.^[1] Silver has been used as a topical antiseptic for minor burns for more than 100 years.^[8] Concentrations of colloidal silver at 5 parts per million or higher have been found to kill numerous infectious bacteria.^[9] Drinking water This article focuses on water as we experience it every day. ... In medicine, a topical medication is applied to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes such as the vagina, nasopharynx, or the eye. ... Phyla/Divisions Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Omnibacteria Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular, bacterium) are a major group of living organisms. ...

Colloidal silver is also used in some thermal greases, due to silver's high thermal conductivity. Silicone thermal compound Metal (silver) thermal compound Metal thermal grease applied to a chip Surface imperfections Thermal grease (also called thermal compound, thermal paste, or heat sink compound) is a substance that increases thermal conductivity between the surfaces of two or more objects. ... K value redirects here. ...

Controversies

Argyria

Long-term intake of high doses of certain silver products may result in argyria, a rare condition of blue or gray discoloration of the skin.^[3][4][5] While generally considered permanent, some have claimed to have reversed it.^[10] Argyria is non-fatal^[11] and has no other known negative health implications.^[12] Almost all known cases of argyria resulted from exposure to or use of silver compounds, such as silver oxide, silver nitrate, and silver chloride.^{[citation needed]} Even the well-known case of Stan Jones, a Montana Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and 2006, was found, after a scrutiny of his production methods, to have likely been caused by silver chloride and/or other silver compounds. This was due to (1) his use of mineral-rich well water, (2) his adding of salt as an accelerant, (3) his unusually long production times, and (4) his failure to filter the final product.^[13] Mr. Jones began producing and ingesting his silver product in 1999, due to fears of antibiotics being unavailable due to "Y2K" bug problems.^[6] Advocates assert that, under careful use of properly produced colloidal silver, argyria is virtually impossible,^[14] though these claims are anecdotal and have not been confirmed by scientific study.^{[attribution needed]} Argyria (ISV from Greek: αργύρος argyros silver + -ia) is an extremely rare condition caused by the ingestion of elemental silver, silver dust or silver compounds. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Stanley Jones. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  Ranked 4th  - Total 147,165 sq mi (381,156 km²)  - Width 255 miles (410 km)  - Length 630 miles (1,015 km)  - % water 1  - Latitude 44°26N to 49°N  - Longitude 104°2W to 116°2W Population  Ranked... See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ...

As a supplement

Advocates of colloidal silver claim it to be a useful supplement to their diet, providing them with improved health and well being and (among other things) a low incidence of colds and flu.^{[citation needed]} These claims are not supported by scientific study and are not accepted by the mainstream medical community. Rhinoviruses cause most common colds // Acute viral nasopharyngitis, or acute coryza, usually known as the common cold, is a highly contagious, viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, primarily caused by picornaviruses or coronaviruses. ... Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). ...

Corporate changes

Though colloidal silver was once produced by pharmaceutical companies under various names including Protargol, it gradually fell into disfavor, with the development of sulfa drugs in the 1930s and the development of penicillin in the 1940s. By the mid 1970s, all major U.S. pharmaceutical companies had ceased production of colloidal silver.^[15] Sulfonamides, also known as sulfa drugs, are synthetic antimicrobial agents derived from sulfonic acid. ... For the Japanese rock band, see Penicillin (band). ...

Government reactions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned over-the-counter sales in the U.S. of any product claiming to have therapeutic value, health benefits, or making any medical claims, unless it is a drug. Despite colloidal silver's earlier history as a drug, the product now has the status of a dietary supplement in the US (dietary supplements cannot claim to cure diseases, only that they "support healthy functioning").^[16][17] The FDA has issued warnings to Internet sites selling or promoting colloidal silver as an antibiotic or for other medical purposes.^[18] If no medical benefits are claimed, colloidal silver is sold as a supplement, and as long as the products comply with all other FDA regulations, its sale is considered legal. In 2002, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration made a similar ruling.^[19] Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... “FDA” redirects here. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... The Therapeutic Goods Administration or TGA is the regulatory body for therapeutic goods (including medicines, medical devices, gene technology, and blood products) in Australia. ...

Terminology

The term, "colloidal silver", has been used inaccurately by some to advertise products which are mostly silver compounds or proteins bound with silver^{[citation needed]}. This has contributed to over-all confusion about the term, "colloidal silver", in the market. In order for a mixture to be a true silver colloid, the silver atoms must be tiny metallic particles suspended in solution. A compound is an area of land that is surrounded by fences, walls, or barbed wire and is used for a particular purpose, especially an area containing buildings and where the entry and exit of people is controlled. ...

Differing preparations

Confusion around colloidal silver is increased by the fact that there is more than one manufacturing process, and that these lead to a number of significantly different products, all of which go by the name "colloidal silver", and which have differing properties.

Preparations called 'colloidal silver' include:

• Electrolytic silver (most common method used today)
• Ground silver (standard form of colloidal silver pre-World War II)
• Electrolysis of salt solution (produces a yellow product)

Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 217th day of the year (218th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Colloidal gold
• Argyria

Colloidal gold is a suspension (or colloid) of sub-micrometre-sized particles of gold in a fluid, usually water. ... Argyria (ISV from Greek: αργύρος argyros silver + -ia) is an extremely rare condition caused by the ingestion of elemental silver, silver dust or silver compounds. ...

External links

• Wadhera, Akhil; Max Fung (2005). "Systemic argyria associated with ingestion of colloidal silver". Dermatology Online Journal 11: 12. Retrieved on 2006-02-25.  A report on one of the few known cases of argyria caused by colloidal silver.
• Rosemary's Story - Argyria after using silver as an alternative medicine.
• Worth more than its weight in silver for burns - Mass. firm taps growing market for dressings infused with the metal, Ross Kerber, The Boston Globe, 2005-05-10