As for colloidal silver, you can’t say you weren’t warned

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With cold and flu season arriving a bit earlier than usual this year, consumers may be tempted to try colloidal silver. They even may be tempted to try it in large doses. Here’s some advice: Don’t.

The substance is currently pitched as a flu fighter, among other things. Harumph. Not only is there no proof colloidal silver works in such a fashion, it’s not the harmless tonic some would have you think.

We’ve said this before, of course, but Paul Karason drives the point home better than we ever could. The man turned blue (seriously) after taking large quantities of the substance, simply water laden with silver particles.

Here’s the Today/MSNBC story (with photos -- worth seeing).

As for the ‘I told you so’s’:

In May: Scam ‘cures’ for swine flu face crackdown The FDA and FTC target peddlers of colloidal silver and other potentially harmful products. Tamiflu and Relenza are the only approved treatments.

In February: Does colloidal silver boost immunity or overall health? The metal is popular in alternative medicine circles, but claims are unproven and large doses can be harmful.

As that story notes: ‘Contrary to claims made by some websites, silver in large enough doses can cause side effects. In rare cases, it can collect under the skin and react with sunlight to create a permanent bluish tint, a condition known as argyria. Although unsightly, argyria is not dangerous.’

And heck, in 2003: Be leery of the silver bullet

Here’s more on colloidal silver products from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It notes that silver has been used medically for centuries, but that, you know, modern medicine has some advantages over it.

-- Tami Dennis