Colloidal Silver Nasal Sprays - Are They Safe And Do They Work?

Colloidal silver nasal sprays are being touted as a cure for sinus infections however what is the real story.

When minute particles of metallic (non-ionic) silver are suspended in fluid it is called colloidal silver. It can be taken orally, applied to the skin, used as eye drops or taken as a nasal spray.

Throughout the years people have known about silvers anti-bacterial and ant-fungal properties. It was used to store water in a fresher state for longer (silver containers) and therefore it should be effective for bacterial and fungal sinus infections.

No one disputes the anti-bacterial effects of silver. Many commercial wound dressings contain silver salts. However colloidal silver taken internally has not been clinically proven to be effective and has no supporting medical literature. Having reviewed the scientific literature the US National center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) concluded there is no clinical support that colloidal silver is effective for any disease. The FDA also reiterates these claims.

The NCCAM came to the conclusion that colloidal silver can cause serious side effects. The FDA also dispute claims that colloidal silver preparations are safe. There is a large variation in the silver content of different brands of colloidal silver. This is a potential risk to consumers

Unfortunately side effects have been reported, some severe such as liver and kidney damage, skin and eye irritation, fatigue, headaches etc. Colloidal silver can also prevent certain antibiotics from working properly.

Long-term use of colloidal silver, or the use of high doses, can result in argyria and argyrosis. Argyria is a permanent and irreversible change resulting in the skin becoming bluish-gray in color. It is most apparent in regions of the body that are exposed to sunlight. It is caused by silver forming complexes with proteins. These complexes accumulate in the skin. There they are transformed by the action of sunlight into inert silver salts, which are responsible for the discoloration. Argyrosis is the corresponding process occurring in the eyes. Argyria and argyrosis can occur following inhalation of a nasal spray, oral use or injection of colloidal silver, or following its application to mucous membranes.

After reviewing reports of 70 cases of argyria caused by silver compounds, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a chronic oral Reference Dose (RfD) of 5 milligrams of silver per kilogram body weight per day (5 g/kg/day). This is the dose at which the risk of developing argyria reaches a significant level. For an adult of average weight (70 kg, approx. 154 pounds) this corresponds to a daily dose of approximately 350 mg silver.

Effective and safe alternatives to colloidal silver nasal sprays are SinuSoothe, Sinus Buster and Sinol. They are natural nasal sprays that are doctor recommended and contains ingredients that relieve pain, inflammation, improve sinus drainage and clear nasal congestion. SinuSoothe is particularly effective at killing bacterial and fungal infections. They are non addictive, completely safe to use daily and have no known drug interactions.

Before using new treatments please speak with your doctor first.