[rosacea] Re: Dr. Andrew Weil's Take on Colloidal Silver

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
http://www.lindasy.com
Voice:Toll-free 877-Lindasy (546-3279)
FAX: 925-939-5207

----- Original Message -----

From: "Matija"
To: <rosacea-support@egroups.com>
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

    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