Medicinal Uses Of Silver

Since ancient times water used to be stored in sliver utensils to keep it free from germs. In some places people put silver coins in the milk container to delay spoilage.

Now silver is being used by Russian to sterilized recycle water in MIR orbital space stations. Even NASA had started using silver as means as disinfecting water in its space shuttles and many of world Airlines have began to use silver water filters to disinfect water. WHO had recommended water filter containing silver to provide safe drinking  water in developing countries. Silver is being used in some swimming pools instead of chlorine to disinfect its water as water disinfected by silver does not sting the eyes like chlorine treated water.

Beside above uses silver is being used as medicine in many ways.

Anti Septic

Silver ions are bioactive. It has oligo dynamic effects and toxic to the bacteria. Silver ions causes irreversible damage to the important enzyme systems in the cell membrane of the pathogens, thus killing then. With increasing emergence of antibiotic resistance of micro organisms, use of silver as anti-septic is increasing.

Disinfectant

Silver can be used to disinfect water and other thing.

External Infection

Silver compound like silver sulphadiazine and others are the Gold treatment of burns wounds. Silver compound can be used as ointment (silverex). Now silver compound or nano molecules silver inpregmented dressing are available to treat external wounds. It is often used to treat corns and warts.

Medical Appliances

Silver coated urinary catheters and silver endo tracheal tubes are used to prevent the risk of UTI and ventilator associated pneumonia.

Eye Infection

Silver nitrate can be used in diluted concentration in eye infections of newborns.

Bone Prostheses

Silver is used in some appliances used for reconstructive orthopedic surgery and some cardiac devices.

Other Uses

Silver was considered to be ‘all cure medicine’ and used for treatment of cancer, diabetes, HIV, AIDS Herpes, Tuberculosis, seizures, tropical sprue, gonorrhea, comon cold etc.

Silver picrate is used as treatment of tricomoniasis and moniliasis infections which are not responding to traditional drugs.

Toxicity of silver

Prolonged contact with silver can cause blue or gray skin.

The condition is called as Argyria. It eas prevalent in photographers who uses photographic films which contain silver nitrate  But as photography have become digital incidence of magyria had decreased.

Silver when ingested may accumulate in hairs kidney, liver, heart, muscle. Excess intake of silver had been reported to cause seizures, liver and heart damage, stomach upset, fatigue and skin irritation.

Silver also interact with certain drugs like pencillinase thyroxine , Qunololone, tetracycline.

Colloid silver preparation was available. In August 1995 FDA had banned colloid silver preparations for use as internal medicine Researchers are needed to fortify the traditional beneficial effects and safety of silver in various diseases. Silver is not only ornamental value. It has many beneficial medical uses too. Wearing of silver ornament may protect from various infections. So wear the silver jewellery they will take case of your beauty as well as your health.

Thanks,

Health, Dec -2012