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Does anyone have experience using colloidal (nano) silver as an antibiotic for lyme disease?

My wife has monthly IVs, 20ml, and after 2-3 days of herxing, she feels much better.
57 yr old, Male
57 yr old, Male
asked Mar 28, 2010 at 11:41PM in Infectious Diseases
4 Answers
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  • 1
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    answered Mar 29, 2010 at 12:38PM
    I have no experience with colloidal silver, however, I though it advisable that you read this comment from the Mayo Clinic.

    Mayo Clinic Housecall
    Stay up to date on the latest health information.

    Question
    Colloidal silver: Is it safe or effective?
    My dad takes colloidal silver because he says it helps him maintain good health, and he hasn't been sick in years. But is colloidal silver safe, and is there any evidence that it does improve health?

    Answer
    from Brent A. Bauer, M.D.
    Colloidal silver isn't considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim.
    Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid — the same type of precious metal used in jewelry, dental fillings, silverware and other consumer goods. Colloidal silver products are usually marketed as dietary supplements that you take by mouth. Colloidal silver products also come in forms to spray, to apply to your skin or to inject.
    Manufacturers of colloidal silver products often claim that they are cure-alls, boosting your immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, and treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, shingles, herpes, eye ailments and prostatitis.

    However, no sound scientific studies to evaluate these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has taken action against some manufacturers of colloidal silver products for making unproven health claims.

    It's not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in argyria (ahr-JIR-e-uh), a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums. While argyria doesn't pose a serious health problem, it can be a cosmetic nightmare because it's not reversible, even when you stop taking silver products.
    Rarely, excessive doses of colloidal silver can cause possibly irreversible serious health problems, including:
    Seizures and other neurological problems
    Kidney damage
    Skin irritation
    Colloidal silver products also may interact with medications, including penicillamine, quinolones, tetracycline and thyroxine medications.
  • 0
    Votes
    answered Mar 29, 2010 at 01:24PM
    Hi Jerry,

    Observing my wife and daughter, both of whom have Lyme, immediately after their infusions, they feel a flushing of the skin, similar to the niacin flush, but without the itching. So it sounds like a dilator. Also, there is period of 2-3 days after the infusion when they are in moderate to sever pain, similar to the post die-off Herxheimer reaction, when the Borrelia burgdorferi are trying to get away from the nano-silver.

    If I were in the FDA (or AMA), I wouldn't want any sound scientific studies made either. Silver has been used for over 100 years as an effective antibiotic. Only until the pharmas rose did silver start becoming unpopular. I would want to shut them down too. In the ongoing battle of ILADS vs IDSA, there has been an admission by IDSA who currently oversees and effectively sets Lyme policy, that there are conflicts of interests which should be corrected. Sad to say again, but "follow the money."

    A friend of mine does have argyria. He says it is a small price to pay in return for some relief from the agony of Lyme.

    Thanks,
    John
  • 0
    Votes
    answered Mar 29, 2010 at 01:28PM
    John,
    I am assuming that traditional treatments were exhausted first. Other antibiotics can be less toxic and effective.
    Good luck.

    Gerry
  • 0
    Votes
    answered Mar 29, 2010 at 09:01PM
    I agree with Gerry, and I offer this additional information on the risks of such a "remedy":

    http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/silverad.html

    Seems to me it's the multi-level marketers who don't want the FDA involved; then they might have to prove their wild claims. ;-)
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