Colloidal Silver As An Alternative To Traditional Hand Sanitizer | Healthy Planet

It has been years since the pandemic began, but hand sanitizers still feel like an essential purse or totebag carry. Whether you're running a quick errand, or spending the entire day at work; we're willing to bet you have at least one laying aroun somewhere. 

However, most of these hand sanitizers, even the ones sold at health food stores, are made up of 70% alcohol and can be extremely drying. While hand sanitizer is undoubtedly a useful product, there is another alternative to alcohol-based sanitizers that is just as effective: colloidal silver. Beyond that function, lqiuid formulations are sold to be used internally or externally as a 'natural' antibiotic. 

What is Colloidal Silver?

Colloidal silver is a suspension of tiny silver particles in a liquid, typically purified water. It is often compared to hand sanitizer in terms of packaging, as both are clear liquids commonly found in small spray bottles. However, the key difference lies in their composition: hand sanitizer contains alcohol, preservatives, and scents, whereas colloidal silver consists solely of silver nanoparticles and purified water.

• Composition: Unlike hand sanitizer, which includes a mix of alcohol, preservatives, and fragrances, colloidal silver contains only silver particles and purified water. The silver particles are less than 100 nanometers in size, making them invisible to the naked eye.

How Can You Use Colloidal Silver?

Colloidal silver has been used historically for its purported antimicrobial properties, serving as a remedy for various infections and pathogens before the advent of antibiotics. When exploring the answer to the question "What is colloidal silver used for?" it's important to understand its potential applications and methods of use.

Historical Use

Pre-Antibiotics Remedy: Before antibiotics were discovered, colloidal silver was commonly used as an all-purpose treatment for infections and pathogens.

• Bacteria: Colloidal silver is known for its antibacterial properties, which enable it to kill harmful bacteria.
• Viruses: It has been suggested that colloidal silver can also fight viruses, adding to its reputation as a versatile antimicrobial agent.
•  Fungi: Colloidal silver may be effective to combat fungal infections, such as those caused by candida.

Methods of Use

Topical Application: Colloidal silver can be used as a topical spray, applied directly to the skin to help treat infections or wounds. This method leverages its antimicrobial properties on the surface of the skin.

Internal Use: Some people ingest colloidal silver internally, although this method is controversial and should be approached with caution. The safety and efficacy of internal use are not well-supported by scientific evidence.

Nasal and Throat Spray: Colloidal silver can be used as a nasal or throat spray to help alleviate symptoms of respiratory infections. This application targets the antimicrobial properties directly at the site of infection.

Our favourite options: Sovereign Silver Spray 59mL*, Sovereign Silver Silver Hydrosol 946mL*

Is Topical Colloidal Silver Safe?

Even though colloidal silver has many antimicrobial uses, not everyone is completely sold on the product. Silver itself is present in our everyday environment and we are constantly exposed to small amounts. Can ingesting it as a supplement be toxic?

Current studies show that the risk for chronic exposure to colloidal silver is not known, but appears to be fine when used externally or when used internally for a maxium of ~14 consecutive days. Considering how long it's been used and how effective it's been, the risk of overexposure is likely low. Nonetheless, it is recommended to use colloidal silver with some caution.

References

Castellano, J. J., Shafii, S. M., Ko, F., Donate, G., Wright, T. E., Mannari, R. J., Payne, W. G., Smith, D. J., & Robson, M. C. (2007). Comparative evaluation of silver‐containing antimicrobial dressings and drugs. International Wound Journal, 4(2), 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-481x.2007.00316.x

Clinic, C. (2024, June 11). Is colloidal silver safe? Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-colloidal-silver-safe

Colloidal silver. (n.d.). https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=065407e0-9763-4be2-823d-c697c4533508&type=display

COLLOIDAL SILVER: Overview, uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, dosing and reviews. (n.d.). https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-779/colloidal-silver

Domínguez, A. V., Algaba, R. A., Canturri, A. M., Villodres, Á. R., & Smani, Y. (2020). Antibacterial Activity of Colloidal Silver against Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria. Antibiotics, 9(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9010036

Ferdous, Z., & Nemmar, A. (2020). Health impact of silver nanoparticles: A review of the biodistribution and toxicity following various routes of exposure. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(7), 2375. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21072375

Goh, C. F., & Ahmed, A. H. M. (2020). How to make hand sanitiser gel. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7677811/

Golin, A. P., Choi, D., & Ghahary, A. (2020). Hand sanitizers: A review of ingredients, mechanisms of action, modes of delivery, and efficacy against coronaviruses. American Journal of Infection Control, 48(9), 1062–1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.06.182

Kaiser, K. G., Delattre, V., Frost, V. J., Buck, G. W., Phu, J. V., Fernandez, T. G., & Pavel, I. E. (2023). Nanosilver: An Old Antibacterial Agent with Great Promise in the Fight against Antibiotic Resistance. Antibiotics, 12(8), 1264. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12081264

Mohamed, D. S., El-Baky, R. M. A., Sandle, T., Mandour, S. A., & Ahmed, E. F. (2020). Antimicrobial Activity of Silver-Treated Bacteria against other Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogens in Their Environment. Antibiotics, 9(4), 181. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9040181

Scott, J. R., Krishnan, R., Rotenberg, B. W., & Sowerby, L. J. (2017). The effectiveness of topical colloidal silver in recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis: a randomized crossover control trial. Journal of Otolaryngology-head and Neck Surgery, 46(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-017-0241-z

Sim, W., Barnard, R., Blaskovich, M., & Ziora, Z. (2018). Antimicrobial silver in medicinal and Consumer applications: A patent review of the past decade (2007–2017). Antibiotics, 7(4), 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics7040093

Vazquez-Muñoz, R., Avalos-Borja, M., & Castro-Longoria, E. (2014). Ultrastructural Analysis of Candida albicans When Exposed to Silver Nanoparticles. PloS One, 9(10), e108876. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0108876

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