Guest guest Posted January 23, 2002 Report Share Posted January 23, 2002 Colloidal Silver: Risk Without Benefit Stephen Barrett, M.D. Colloidal silver is a suspension of submicroscopic metallic silver particles in a colloidal base. Long-term use of silver preparations can lead to argyria, a condition in which silver salts deposit in the skin, eyes, and internal organs, and the skin turns ashen-gray. Many cases of argyria occurred during the pre-antibiotic era when silver was a common ingredient in nosedrops. When the cause became apparent, doctors stopped recommending their use, and reputable manufacturers stopped producing them. The official drug guidebooks (United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary) have not listed colloidal silver products since 1975. Dubious AdsIn recent years, silver-containing products have been marketed with unsubstantiated claims that they are effective against AIDS, cancer, infectious diseases, parasites, chronic fatigue, acne, warts, hemorrhoids, enlarged prostate, and many other diseases and conditions. Some marketers claim that colloidal silver is effective against hundreds of diseases. During 1998, a Florida-based multilevel company, stated: Our colloidal silver contains 99.99% pure silver particles suspended indefinitely in demineralized water that kills bacteria and viruses. It can be applied topically and/or absorbed into the blood stream sub-lingually (under the tongue), thereby avoiding the negative effects of traditional antibiotics that kill good bacteria in the lower digestive tract. An all natural antibiotic alternative in the purest form available. The presence of colloidal silver near a virus, fungi, bacterium or any other single celled pathogen disables its oxygen-metabolism enzyme, its chemical lung, so to say. The pathogens suffocates and dies, and is cleared out of the body by the immune, lymphatic and elimination systems. Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics which destroy beneficial enzymes, colloidal silver leaves these beneficial enzymes intact. Thus colloidal silver is absolutely safe for humans, reptiles, plants and all multi-celled living matter. It is impossible for single-celled germs to mutate into silver-resistant forms, as happens with conventional antibiotics. Also, colloidal silver cannot interact or interfere with other medicines being taken. Colloidal silver is truly a safe, natural remedy for many of mankind's ills. Colloidal silver can be taken indefinitely because the body does not develop a tolerance to it [1] Seasilver Intermational, a California-based multilevel company, claims that American are suffering from "silver deficiency." Although silver is not an essential nutrient, product information posted on the company's Web site states: The depletion of minerals in our soil has left us deficient of silver, one of our most essential trace minerals, causing a drastic increase in immune system disorders in our society in the last decade. Research has taught us that all disease is allowed to manifest itself because of a weakened immune system. In over 20 years of worldwide research on Colloidal Silver, numerous interviews with government agencies, health care practitioners and their patients, no other nutrient, herb or drug (prescription or over-the-counter) is as safe and effective against all known forms of unfriendly virus, bacteria, and fungus. Additionally, while it is generally known that most antibiotics kill only perhaps 6 or 7 different disease organisms, reports have shown that Colloidal Silver has been used successfully in the treatment of over 650 diseases! Furthermore, strains of disease organisms fail to develop in the presence of Colloidal Silver. Colloidal Silver's greatest attribute is its unique ability to function as a superior second immune system in the body! [2] The ad below is from the July 1996 issue of Alternative Medicine Digest. Critical Studies In 1995, an herbal distributor named Leslie Taylor tested nine commonly marketed colloidal silver products available at health-food stores and concluded: Two of the products were contaminated with microorganisms. The amount of silver suspended in solution varied from product to product and would gradually decrease over time. Only five products actually showed antibacterial activity in a laboratory test. To perform the test, she prepared a culture plate with Staphylococcus aureas bacteria, which can cause infections in humans. She then placed a drop from each product on the plate and used disks of two common antibiotics as controls. After eight hours of incubation, she found that bacterial growth had been inhibited around the antibiotics and four of the products. Of course, the fact that a product inhibits bacteria in a laboratory culture doesn't mean it is effective (or safe) in the human body. In fact, products that kill bacteria in the laboratory would be more likely to cause argyria because they contain more silver ions that are free to deposit in the user's skin. . FDA laboratory studies have found that the amount of silver in some product samples has varied from 15.2% to 124% of the amount listed on the product labels. The amount of silver required to produce argyria is unknown. However, the FDA has concluded that the risk of using silver products exceeds any unsubstantiated benefit [3]. In November 2000, a case was reported of a 56-year-old man who developed argyria while taking a colloidal silver product. The man, who had sold and used colloidal silver for three years, developed blue/gray discoloration of his fingernails accompanied by a very high blood level of silver [4].Enforcement Actions Between October 1993 and September 1994, the FDA issued warning letters to five colloidal silver marketers:: Higher Education Library Publications (H.E.L.P.), of Springfield, Utah, was ordered to stop claiming that its colloidal silver product was effective as a natural antibiotic and might be effectuive against cancer, genito-urinary diseases, tuberculosis, and AIDS. Nutrition, Inc., of Arvada, Colorado, was ordered to stop stating or implying that its Silvicidal, when administered orally or intravenously, was nontoxic, FDA-approved, and was a broad-spectrum antibiotic that killed bacteria and all virus and fungal infections. In addition, it was falsely claimed to be effective against a long list of specific diseases. Reseau Internatrional of Cincinnati, Ohio was ordered to stop claiming that its colloidal silver product was a "natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory immune system stimulant" abd that it was effective against cancer, staph, strep, influennza, general body infections, inflammation, impaired immune system, fungus toxicity, tonsillitis, Menier's symptoms, whooping cough, shingles, syphilis, cholera, and malaria. The labeling also stated that colloidal silver caould cause major growth stimulation of human tissues and can regenerate Silverado Inc.,, of Bountiful, Utah, was warned to stop making false claims that its colloidal silver product was effective as an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-fungal agent and that it could stimulate the immune system. Unic, of Carmichael, California, was ordered to stop claiming that its colloidal silver product was effective against many diseases.burn-damged tissue without scarring. In October 1996, the FDA proposed to ban the use of colloidal silver or silver salts in over-the-counter products [5]. A Final Rule banning such use was issued on August 17, 1999 and became effective September 16th. The rule applies to any nonprescription colloidal silver or silver salt product claimed to be effective in preventing or treating any disease [6]. Silver products can still be sold as "dietary supplements" provided that no health claims are made for them. During 2000, the FDA issued warnings to more than 20 companies whose Web sites were making illegal therapeutic claims for colloidal silver products. In May 2000, the Federal Court of Australia banned Vital Earth Company Pty Limited and its director Darryl John Jones from falsely representing that the colloidal silver produced by their "Vital Silver 3000 Zapper,Vital Silver 2000 Automatic" and "Vital Silver 2000": Can kill all disease-causing bacteria, fungi and virus within six minutes of contact Has no harmful side effects; that colloidal silver could be used as an antibiotic for all the acquired diseases of active AIDS Is effective with more than 650 different pathogenic bacteria and virus types Has been used successfully against diseases including AIDS, cholera, diabetes, leprosy, leukemia, lupus, skin cancer, syphilis and whooping cough. The company was also ordered to pay AUS$9000 in costs and to provide refunds [7]. In June 2001, the FTC obtained consent agreements with two companis: Robert C. Spencer and Lisa M. Spencer, doing business as Aaron Company (Palm Bay, Florida) Colloidal silver has been medically proven to kill over 650 disease-causing organisms in the body and is effective in curing diseases ranging from cancer and multiple sclerosis to HIV/AIDS [8]. ForMor, Inc., doing business as ForMor International, and its president, Stan Gross (Birmingham, Alabama) agreed not to make unsubstantiated claims that colloidal silver is effective in treating over 650 infectious diseases, has no adverse side effects, and is effective against arthritis, blood poisoning, cancer, cholera, diphtheria, diabetes, dysentery, gonorrheal herpes, influenza, leprosy, lupus, malaria, meningitis, rheumatism, shingles, staph infections, strep infections, syphilis, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and yeast infections [8,]. References The company (Changes International) is no longer in the supplement business. Seasilver International Product Information, accessed October 12, 1998. Fung MC, Bowen DL. Silver products for medical indications: risk-benefit assessment. Journal of Toxicology and Clinical Toxicology 34:119-26, 1996. Gulbranson SH and others. Argyria following the use of dietary supplements containing colloidal silver protein. Cutis 66:373-374, 2000. Federal Register 61:53685-53688, 1996. (To access this document, search the 1996 volume for "colloidal silver.") FDA. Final rule: Over-the-counter drug products containing colloidal silver ingredients or silver salts. Federal Register 64:44653-44658, 1999. Download PDF version Refunds for buyers of alternatuve therapy devices. News release, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission., May 5, 20 "Operation Cure.All" wages new battle in ongoing war against Internet health fraud. FTC news release, June 14, 2001. For Further Information Rosemary Jacobs, an argyria victim, has made a detailed study of the colloidal silver marketplace and is willing to answer questions. Quackwatch Home Page This article was updated on June 21, 2001. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2002 Report Share Posted January 23, 2002 About Barrett Here is one about the quackman himself. DOCTOR WHO? BY DONNA LADD Diagnosing Medical Fraud May Require a Second Opinion Quackwatch.com— a skeptical psychiatrist's attempt to torpedo alternative and natural-health movements— scored a victory in late April when a government panel named it as a credible source for exposing fraudulent online health information. By so doing, the panel may have been, inadvertently or not, choosing sides in an escalating health e-commerce battle. The Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health, appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reached a rather obvious conclusion: Health information on the Internet can be inaccurate and misleading. Thus, consumers need to learn to separate the healthy wheat from the dangerous chaff. That is, Internet users need to guard against quacks. '[Consumers] really need to be able to avoid quackery and bias. Bias can be as damaging as outright quackery,' HHS Health Communication and Telehealth Staff Director Mary Jo Deering told Reuters. But in today's divided health climate, a quack is in the eyes of the beholder. A touch therapist treating your third eye? Or a conventional doc who sprinkles around free pharmaceutical samples? The panel, composed of doctors, as well as representatives from HMOs such as Kaiser Permanente, insurers, and online health providers, considered but rejected the idea that the government should be in the business of quack exposing by regulating health information online. 'The panel decided that the most important thing is to have a voluntary standard for these Web sites,' said HHS official Dr. Thomas R. Eng, who directed the panel's study. Eng unveiled vague guidelines and disclosure statements to help consumers determine the validity of sites. At the press conference, Eng named Quackwatch.com as a good site for uncovering fraudulent health information. But the mere mention of the site, posted by alternative- medicine opponent Dr. Stephen Barrett, raises the blood pressure of alternative advocates. Barrett, a former psychiatrist in Allentown, Pennsylvania, doesn't sugarcoat his bitter pills. His site is a virtual hit list of therapies he finds too illogical to be tested for their validity. Chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, vitamins and herbs, relaxation techniques, and preventive nutrition plans, as well as specific practitioners like Dr. Bernie Siegel, M.D. (author of Love, Medicine & Miracles and Peace, Love & Healing), Deepak Chopra (ayurvedic guru), and myriad others, are included in the quackery roundup. Barrett, now a full-time journalist and book author and never a medical researcher, says he exposes underresearched, illogical therapies with little written about them. Yet he also says he examines reams of material to reach the conclusions published on his site, which are then often quoted as undisputed fact in the mainstream media. Barrett depends heavily on negative research and case studies in which alternative therapies do not work, but he says that most case studies that show positive results of alternative therapies are unreliable. 'It's easy to look at something like chiropractic, see what they're doing, and describe what they're doing wrong,' Barrett says. He adds that he does not criticize conventional medicine because 'that's way outside my scope.' Barrett believes most alternative therapies simply should be disregarded without further research. 'A lot of things don't need to be tested [because] they simply don't make any sense,' he says, pointing specifically to homeopathy, chiropractic, and acupuncture. He believes that consumers should rely solely on established medical groups and studies, and that anyone who wants to consider info on both sides is 'waiting to be quacked in a major way.' 'He seems to be putting down trying to be objective,' says Peter Barry Chowka, a former adviser to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine. 'Quackwatch.com is consistently provocative and entertaining and occasionally informative,' Chowka added. 'But I personally think he's running against the tide of history. But that's his problem, not ours.' Chowka feels it is okay for HHS to mention Quackwatch.com as one of many sources. 'But I have a problem when the federal government recommends a limited number of specific sites.' The panel also recommended its own site: www.healthfinder.org, which includes advice on how to detect online health fraud (but does not mention Quackwatch). Eng later backed away from his Quackwatch endorsement, saying consumers should question Barrett's site as well as those it targets. 'The government doesn't endorse Web sites,' Eng says. Still, he says, '[Quackwatch] is the only site I know of right now looking at issues of fraud and health on the Internet.' The Quackwatch debate illustrates a major rift in the health-care ranks as health entrepreneurs on both sides scramble for their share of health-oriented e-commerce. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that about 22.3 million adults, or nearly 40 percent of American adults online, looked for health info online in 1998, while drug companies spent $1.5 billion advertising prescription drugs directly to U.S. consumers. In late May, a $5 billion merger was announced between two Web-based health services: Healtheon Corp. and WebMDInc. This merger, backed by Microsoft, Intel, and Excite!, is bringing together doctors, insurers, and drug companies to sell and promote health services. Yet corporate health sites have a battle on their hands: Many consumers are rejecting big-business medicine and opting for natural, less invasive, and nondrugged routes to wellness. And the Web is a grassroots way for consumers to decide for themselves. 'A power struggle has been going on for decades between those who have the power and the insurgents,' Chowka says. 'Give people the benefit of the doubt,' he adds, calling for an end to 'medical McCarthyism.' 'We no longer need a nanny state or a government-appointed watchdog to filter information to us.' Yet Eng emphasizes that interactive media has a unique ability to 'influence behavior change'— thus the need for caution. 'They tailor information and interactions to the individual,' he said of Web sites. 'In print media, there is some kind of vetting. In interactive, anyone or their brother can slap a Web page together.' That, Barrett argues, is where his site comes in. Consumers, he says, aren't qualified to judge for themselves and must choose sides. 'The consumer has to decide who to trust. I think I'm needed, and I'm qualified,' he says. Tell us what you think. editor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2002 Report Share Posted January 23, 2002 Here is one more about barrett: THE QUACK QUACK REVEALING WHO THE REAL QUACKS ARE Stephen Barrett, M.D., is a retired psychiatrist who lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania U.S.A. He is a self-proclaimed consumer advocate, famed author, and editor. It appears that Stephen Barrett, M.D., uses this self-serving organization called Quack Watch to assist his gloating ego. It seems he has such a large ego and requires such a vast amount misinformation in school he has become psychotic and is in need of ego petting. This could be the reason he published one of the finest deceptive websites on the Internet called Quack Watch. According to research it appears the Quack Watch website has hoodwinked many to believe Stephen Barrett, M.D., is actually trying to alleviate the confusion of the public. Furthermore, according to Stephen Barrett's website, he insists that he is only concerned in educating the world in truth pertaining to what he has personally termed 'Quackery scientific research, education and medicine.' However, in my estimation, he is one of those egotistical, arrogant, elitists with such an ego, that he believes he knows everything there is to know about scientific research, education, medicine, and life itself. Nevertheless, in my opinion, he is nothing more then a well-educated ‘psychiatric’ propagandist. Moreover, I think this man is as good at propaganda and mind control tactics as some of the best military propagandist in the world. He reminds me of those that worked for Adolph Hitler’s war machine. Adolph Hitler’s SS used that same system of written propaganda in his attempt to control the minds of his solders and the world. He also reminds me of a man named Dr. Leonardo Conti M.D. Conti was chief physician of Hitler’s Third Reich. He was responsible for the killing of a large number of his own people among the German population. If anyone was diagnosed with a 'unsound mind,' Conti would kill them. The devious part of Conti's system of death was that he was also the one who would diagnose all those who had 'unsound minds' prior to murdering them. Consequently, under Hitler’s government Dr. Leonardo Conti M.D. broke no laws by doing so. I believe Mr. Barrett uses Quack Watch and his self-appointment to continue to mislead the world, strictly for profit. This is simply Propaganda ‘Physiology 101’ (Confusion leads to conformity). Please allow me explain; by writing and supporting a propaganda machine of organizations or a particular government agency (i.e., the AMA, FDA, etc.) or a drug company, et al; all ‘psychiatric propagandist’ know that by writing propaganda and slandering others in your field of study, many inexperienced people will in time believe you are the real expert in the particular field you write about. Therefore, Mr. Barrett knows that by writing his propaganda he will establishes himself as the one of the world's experts. Moreover, via his propaganda these inexperienced people will be guided to believe Mr. Barrett or his associates are the real authority on every issue that he and his associates write about. It is important to realize that this is simply tabloid reporting, for selling his book! s. Mr. Barrett knows when he writes this type of propaganda it will astound those less knowledgeable in the subject matter and he also knows most people will be so confused after they read one of his books, they will need to read another to become less confused. This is known as BAITING. He does this for one reason and that is ‘ HE KNOWS’ he will sell more of his books if he can keep everyone confused. In historical humanistic propaganda warfare ‘psychiatric’ propagandist know if they can keep the public confused they are more likely to accept the published information as fact and this is known as ‘mind friendly persuasion’ and this leads to what is known as ‘mind control’ and thus we have conformity. NOTE: There were millions of people that believed the Titanic was unsinkable and many were indoctrinated to believe the earth was flat. If they did not believe the king's instruction or attempted to teach otherwise, they were burned alive at the stake for all to witness the king's authority to decree knowledge. Keep in mind the world was also told by men like Mr. Barrett that humans will NEVER go to the moon and a horseless carriage was impossible. Many of the people that attempted to restrict humanity of technological advancement were also self-proclaimed experts. Moreover, when you review history you will discover there are many men that make a good living misleading the world. These men attempt to conquer those of us that are not informed. They do this by simply misleading us into believing they are the expert in the topic they are teaching. Don’t believe everything you read! Medicine is BIG business and what I have discovered as a physician is there are those that will do anything they can to keep the world ignorant and BIG business will protect profits at all cost. I have also discovered, that if we are kept confused and blinded to the truth, we are predisposed to follow the so-called leaders and in this case some of us will go to an early grave “The Truth will set you free but the lies will keep you entombed†Mr. Barrett has published one of the best deceptive websites on the Internet and this website has hoodwinked many to believe he is actually trying to help and educate the world in truth. If you are one of those people that believes everything you read please look and this man's website. You can accept him and his associates as the real experts, or you can search for the truth for yourself. His website is posted at http://www.quackwatch.com John L. Matthews Ph.D. D.Sc. Oxford England Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2002 Report Share Posted January 24, 2002 In a message dated 1/23/2002 6:16:34 PM Pacific Standard Time, SuppyZ writes: Subj: Collidal Silver article sent to me Date:1/23/2002 6:16:34 PM Pacific Standard Time SuppyZ Reply-to: Sent from the Internet Colloidal Silver: Risk Without Benefit Stephen Barrett, M.D. Colloidal silver is a suspension of submicroscopic metallic silver particles in a colloidal base. Long-term use of silver preparations can lead to argyria, a condition in which silver salts deposit in the skin, eyes, and internal organs, and the skin turns ashen-gray. Many cases of argyria occurred during the pre-antibiotic era when silver was a common ingredient in nosedrops. When the cause became apparent, doctors stopped recommending their use, and reputable manufacturers stopped producing them. The official drug guidebooks (United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary) have not listed colloidal silver products since 1975. Dubious AdsIn recent years, silver-containing products have been marketed with unsubstantiated claims that they are effective against AIDS, cancer, infectious diseases, parasites, chronic fatigue, acne, warts, hemorrhoids, enlarged prostate, and many other diseases and conditions. Some marketers claim that colloidal silver is effective against hundreds of diseases. During 1998, a Florida-based multilevel company, stated: Our colloidal silver contains 99.99% pure silver particles suspended indefinitely in demineralized water that kills bacteria and viruses. It can be applied topically and/or absorbed into the blood stream sub-lingually (under the tongue), thereby avoiding the negative effects of traditional antibiotics that kill good bacteria in the lower digestive tract. An all natural antibiotic alternative in the purest form available. The presence of colloidal silver near a virus, fungi, bacterium or any other single celled pathogen disables its oxygen-metabolism enzyme, its chemical lung, so to say. The pathogens suffocates and dies, and is cleared out of the body by the immune, lymphatic and elimination systems. Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics which destroy beneficial enzymes, colloidal silver leaves these beneficial enzymes intact. Thus colloidal silver is absolutely safe for humans, reptiles, plants and all multi-celled living matter. It is impossible for single-celled germs to mutate into silver-resistant forms, as happens with conventional antibiotics. Also, colloidal silver cannot interact or interfere with other medicines being taken. Colloidal silver is truly a safe, natural remedy for many of mankind's ills. Colloidal silver can be taken indefinitely because the body does not develop a tolerance to it [1] Seasilver Intermational, a California-based multilevel company, claims that American are suffering from "silver deficiency." Although silver is not an essential nutrient, product information posted on the company's Web site states: The depletion of minerals in our soil has left us deficient of silver, one of our most essential trace minerals, causing a drastic increase in immune system disorders in our society in the last decade. Research has taught us that all disease is allowed to manifest itself because of a weakened immune system. In over 20 years of worldwide research on Colloidal Silver, numerous interviews with government agencies, health care practitioners and their patients, no other nutrient, herb or drug (prescription or over-the-counter) is as safe and effective against all known forms of unfriendly virus, bacteria, and fungus. Additionally, while it is generally known that most antibiotics kill only perhaps 6 or 7 different disease organisms, reports have shown that Colloidal Silver has been used successfully in the treatment of over 650 diseases! Furthermore, strains of disease organisms fail to develop in the presence of Colloidal Silver. Colloidal Silver's greatest attribute is its unique ability to function as a superior second immune system in the body! [2] The ad below is from the July 1996 issue of Alternative Medicine Digest. Critical Studies In 1995, an herbal distributor named Leslie Taylor tested nine commonly marketed colloidal silver products available at health-food stores and concluded: Two of the products were contaminated with microorganisms. The amount of silver suspended in solution varied from product to product and would gradually decrease over time. Only five products actually showed antibacterial activity in a laboratory test. To perform the test, she prepared a culture plate with Staphylococcus aureas bacteria, which can cause infections in humans. She then placed a drop from each product on the plate and used disks of two common antibiotics as controls. After eight hours of incubation, she found that bacterial growth had been inhibited around the antibiotics and four of the products. Of course, the fact that a product inhibits bacteria in a laboratory culture doesn't mean it is effective (or safe) in the human body. In fact, products that kill bacteria in the laboratory would be more likely to cause argyria because they contain more silver ions that are free to deposit in the user's skin. . FDA laboratory studies have found that the amount of silver in some product samples has varied from 15.2% to 124% of the amount listed on the product labels. The amount of silver required to produce argyria is unknown. However, the FDA has concluded that the risk of using silver products exceeds any unsubstantiated benefit [3]. In November 2000, a case was reported of a 56-year-old man who developed argyria while taking a colloidal silver product. The man, who had sold and used colloidal silver for three years, developed blue/gray discoloration of his fingernails accompanied by a very high blood level of silver [4].Enforcement Actions Between October 1993 and September 1994, the FDA issued warning letters to five colloidal silver marketers:: Higher Education Library Publications (H.E.L.P.), of Springfield, Utah, was ordered to stop claiming that its colloidal silver product was effective as a natural antibiotic and might be effectuive against cancer, genito-urinary diseases, tuberculosis, and AIDS. Nutrition, Inc., of Arvada, Colorado, was ordered to stop stating or implying that its Silvicidal, when administered orally or intravenously, was nontoxic, FDA-approved, and was a broad-spectrum antibiotic that killed bacteria and all virus and fungal infections. In addition, it was falsely claimed to be effective against a long list of specific diseases. Reseau Internatrional of Cincinnati, Ohio was ordered to stop claiming that its colloidal silver product was a "natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory immune system stimulant" abd that it was effective against cancer, staph, strep, influennza, general body infections, inflammation, impaired immune system, fungus toxicity, tonsillitis, Menier's symptoms, whooping cough, shingles, syphilis, cholera, and malaria. The labeling also stated that colloidal silver caould cause major growth stimulation of human tissues and can regenerate Silverado Inc.,, of Bountiful, Utah, was warned to stop making false claims that its colloidal silver product was effective as an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-fungal agent and that it could stimulate the immune system. Unic, of Carmichael, California, was ordered to stop claiming that its colloidal silver product was effective against many diseases.burn-damged tissue without scarring. In October 1996, the FDA proposed to ban the use of colloidal silver or silver salts in over-the-counter products [5]. A Final Rule banning such use was issued on August 17, 1999 and became effective September 16th. The rule applies to any nonprescription colloidal silver or silver salt product claimed to be effective in preventing or treating any disease [6]. Silver products can still be sold as "dietary supplements" provided that no health claims are made for them. During 2000, the FDA issued warnings to more than 20 companies whose Web sites were making illegal therapeutic claims for colloidal silver products. In May 2000, the Federal Court of Australia banned Vital Earth Company Pty Limited and its director Darryl John Jones from falsely representing that the colloidal silver produced by their "Vital Silver 3000 Zapper,Vital Silver 2000 Automatic" and "Vital Silver 2000": Can kill all disease-causing bacteria, fungi and virus within six minutes of contact Has no harmful side effects; that colloidal silver could be used as an antibiotic for all the acquired diseases of active AIDS Is effective with more than 650 different pathogenic bacteria and virus types Has been used successfully against diseases including AIDS, cholera, diabetes, leprosy, leukemia, lupus, skin cancer, syphilis and whooping cough. The company was also ordered to pay AUS$9000 in costs and to provide refunds [7]. In June 2001, the FTC obtained consent agreements with two companis: Robert C. Spencer and Lisa M. Spencer, doing business as Aaron Company (Palm Bay, Florida) Colloidal silver has been medically proven to kill over 650 disease-causing organisms in the body and is effective in curing diseases ranging from cancer and multiple sclerosis to HIV/AIDS [8]. ForMor, Inc., doing business as ForMor International, and its president, Stan Gross (Birmingham, Alabama) agreed not to make unsubstantiated claims that colloidal silver is effective in treating over 650 infectious diseases, has no adverse side effects, and is effective against arthritis, blood poisoning, cancer, cholera, diphtheria, diabetes, dysentery, gonorrheal herpes, influenza, leprosy, lupus, malaria, meningitis, rheumatism, shingles, staph infections, strep infections, syphilis, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and yeast infections [8,]. References The company (Changes International) is no longer in the supplement business. Seasilver International Product Information, accessed October 12, 1998. Fung MC, Bowen DL. Silver products for medical indications: risk-benefit assessment. Journal of Toxicology and Clinical Toxicology 34:119-26, 1996. Gulbranson SH and others. Argyria following the use of dietary supplements containing colloidal silver protein. Cutis 66:373-374, 2000. Federal Register 61:53685-53688, 1996. (To access this document, search the 1996 volume for "colloidal silver.") FDA. Final rule: Over-the-counter drug products containing colloidal silver ingredients or silver salts. Federal Register 64:44653-44658, 1999. Download PDF version Refunds for buyers of alternatuve therapy devices. News release, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission., May 5, 20 "Operation Cure.All" wages new battle in ongoing war against Internet health fraud. FTC news release, June 14, 2001. For Further Information Rosemary Jacobs, an argyria victim, has made a detailed study of the colloidal silver marketplace and is willing to answer questions. Quackwatch Home Page This article was updated on June 21, 2001. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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