From: Linda Sy MD
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 15:34:54

Matija,

I agree with Dr. Andrew Weil. The FDA has clamped down on sales of colloidal silver here in the U.S. for good reasons.

Colloidal silver reminds me of another heavy metal ingredient which was used heavily long time ago and was finally prohibited by the FDA due to the side effects. This is mercury.

I find a lot of parallels in these 2 ingredients. Mercury at one time, was a panacea for many ailments. It is an excellent anti-microbial (bacteria, fungi & others) and was used as antiseptic; it was an excellent bleaching agent and used for rx of brown spots in Asia; it was an anti-inflammatory agent (great for psoriasis & seborrheic dermatitis). It can be absorbed through skin and inhalation. It is slowly deposited in skin, gums, teeth, nails, nasal mucous membrane causing discoloration. Chronic long-term exposure to small quantities of mercury caused permanent side effects that are not detected until they occur. Mercury caused acrodynia, pain & pink discoloration of feet & hands, scarlet discoloration of cheeks (rosacea?), hair & nail loss, a metallic taste in the mouth, halitosis (fishy smelling breath).

Most importantly, it was later found to cause permanent kidney damage. It also caused incapacitating neurological damage, as reported in Japan when a small village exposed to mercury in contaminated fishes they ingested for long period of time, developed severe brain & nerve damage in their children.

Linda Sy M.D.
Linda Sy Skin Care

From: “Matija”
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 4:08 PM
Subject: [rosacea] Dr. Andrew Weil’s Take on Colloidal Silver

I remember that someone posted Dr. Andrew Weil’s opinion on the effectiveness of parasite cleansing from the body, so I searched through his site for something on colloidal silver. I did find something and here it is:

TODAY’S QUESTION

Colloidal Silver: Better than Antibiotics?

Q: 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

A: 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