It seems like it should be a simple yes or no question: is colloidal silver antibacterial? Rules about what can be said, how much testing is required to say something, and how specific that testing has to be makes answering simple questions (like is colloidal silver antibacterial) surprisingly complicated!
In short, colloidal silver is pretty well accepted as antibacterial—but we aren’t allowed to say that applies to humans.
Is Silver Antibacterial?
Silver is definitely antibacterial, and not only that, silver is an antiviral, antifungal, and even kills some amoebas. Silver has antioxidant properties. And studies so far show that it’s safe for animal cells, and highly effective against bacteria and other pathogens.
Why is silver antibacterial? Based on some of what’s been studied, it gets at the important part of a bacteria—bypassing the parts of the bacteria that other antibacterials attack, and that the bacteria can shift to become antibiotic resistant. According to limited studies, bacteria haven’t been shown to be silver resistant.
Is Colloidal Silver Antibacterial?
So, is colloidal silver antibacterial? True colloidal silver is just silver nanoparticles (tiny, non charged and non-clumped together particles of silver suspended in water). It’s also been shown in studies to be antibacterial.
Silver nanoparticles (what’s suspended in colloidal silver) are used throughout all sorts of industries for their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal properties. Nanosilver is used to coat catheters, hospital surfaces, daycare surfaces, gym bags, socks, shoes, and so much more that’s marketed as non-toxic antibacterial or anti-odor.
You can draw a lot of conclusions for yourself about “is colloidal silver antibacterial” by looking at where else it’s used.
The Catch: Is Colloidal Silver Antibacterial for Humans?
Here’s the big catch when answering “is colloidal silver antibacterial”: colloidal silver is the supplement form of silver. It’s made and marketed for human consumption. Because it’s for humans, the rules are pretty strict about what can be said that it does.
All those studies about safety, effectiveness, etc.?–Can’t be applied to humans. For anything, even a common vitamin, to be said to do something—the specific product that contains it has to go through specific and extensive testing.
So, you have to draw your own conclusions and have your own experiences about whether colloidal silver is antibacterial.
What About Products That Make Bold Claims?
Some companies ignore these rules. Lately, some are even breaking the big ones, like talking about cancer.
Whether or not you agree with the rules and whether they’re helpful, you have to wonder about companies that haven’t been around very long and are willing to say Big Things. It doesn’t matter if “is colloidal silver antibacterial” is true—promising to treat or cure a human with no side-stepping is a big no-no, and I’d wonder what other rules are being broken?
How People Traditionally Used Silver, and Later Colloidal Silver
When considering “is colloidal silver antibacterial”, it’s helpful to know how people used silver traditionally. Silver coins were sometimes added to milk or food containers to prolong freshness, silver was associated with health support, and when colloidal silver came along it was used how we use antibiotics today—to support humans who had infections or other problems. It was very well known that colloidal silver was used to prevent eye infection in newborns because the practice continued in some parts of the world even after antibiotics were invented.
Why People Continue to Use Colloidal Silver
Colloidal silver can and is referred to as health support. It supports the immune system, and people use it to give themselves extra support against cold, flu, sinus infections, ear infections, and more.
People continue to use colloidal silver, to tell their friends about colloidal silver, and even to come up with new ways to use colloidal silver. Dog and cat owners (and even vets) and used colloidal silver to help support pet health, too.
Colloidal silver is often commonly used as skin support—both among average users, and also in medical settings where silver in other forms is used in creams and bandages to support wound (and especially burn) healing.
Support Your Immune System with Colloidal Silver
Is colloidal silver antibacterial? For humans, the takeaway is that it’s immune support you can use all sorts of ways—as a supplement, as skin support, in your neti pot or your nebulizer. Share it with your pets or your friends.
Colloidal silver is has been around a long time and continues to be popular for a reason—it’s great immune support for all sorts of health concerns.
