Evidence supporting the use of: Colloidal silver
For the health condition: Abscesses
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Colloidal silver has a long history of use in traditional and folk medicine, particularly as an antimicrobial agent prior to the advent of modern antibiotics. In the context of abscesses, which are localized infections that result in pus accumulation, silver preparations (including colloidal forms) were sometimes applied topically with the belief that their antimicrobial properties would help treat or prevent infection. This practice was more common before the 1940s, when antibiotics became widely available. The rationale was based on silver's known ability to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and fungi in laboratory settings.
However, scientific evidence supporting the use of colloidal silver for treating abscesses is very limited. Most data comes from in vitro (test tube) studies or from the use of silver sulfadiazine cream for burns and wound care, not specifically for abscesses or in colloidal form. Modern clinical guidelines do not recommend colloidal silver for treating abscesses, and the U.S. FDA has stated that over-the-counter colloidal silver products are not safe or effective for any medical condition. Furthermore, misuse of colloidal silver can lead to adverse effects such as argyria (irreversible skin discoloration) and organ toxicity.
In summary, while there is traditional use of colloidal silver for abscesses based on its historical application as an antimicrobial, this is not supported by robust scientific evidence, and safer, more effective treatments are available today.
Other ingredients used for Abscesses
AbrusAbuta
Acacia
Achyranthes
Activated charcoal
Agave
Alchornea
Alkanet
Alkanna
Allicin
Aloe vera
Alstonia scholaris
amber
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Ampelopsis
anamu
Andrographis
Antirrhinum majus
Aquilegia formosa
Aquilegia viridiflora
Ardisia
Arisaema
arnica
Asclepias cordifolia
ash
assam indigo
Asteraceae
aucubin
bai ji
balsam
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
Bassia scoparia
bayberry
bee products
bee propolis
bentonite
berberine
bergamot
Bidens pilosa
bindweed
black nightshade
black root
black walnut
black-eyed Susan
blackboard tree
Bletilla
bloodroot
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
borassus palm
boxthorne
boxwood
Brazilian peppertree
bromelain
bur-reed
burdock
Butea monosperma
Calendula
California pitcher plant
Calotropis gigantea
capillary artemisia
carrapichinho
Casearia sylvestris
castor oil
catlaw buttercup
Ceanothus integerrimus
Cedrus libani
celandine
Centipeda
chamomile
Chinese raisintree
Chiococca alba
chrysophanics
cinquefoil
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
cocklebur
coconut
colloidal silver
copaiba oil
cowage seed
cowherb
croton seeds
curcumin
Cymbidium goeringii
Cynanchum
Cynodon dactylon
Cynoglossum grande
Davilla rugosa
Didymocarpus
divi-divi
dragon\'s blood
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
elephant vine
elephant\'s head
Erigeron
Erodium cicutarium
eucalyptus
Euphorbia
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European Elder
European five-finger grass
Ficus simplicissima
figwort
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
gallotannin
garlic
garlic bulb
genipap
geranium
giant blazingstar
ginger
Gnaphalium
golden shower tree
goldenseal
green tea
Guazuma ulmifolia
Gugambilla
Gumweed
heal-all
Hedyotis
Helicteres isora
Hellebore
henna
Herb Robert
honey
hound\'s tongue
Houttuynia
Huang hua
Hyaluronidase
Immortelle
Indian fagonia
indigo leaves
Isatis
Jessica\'s sticktight
Kachnar
Kalanchoe pinnatum
Kamala
Kigelia africana
Kokilaksha
lac resin
lacquertree
Laggera pterodonta
Lantana camara
lavender
Lebbek
Lesser speargrass
Levant cotton
Lewis's monkey flower
licorice root
little ironweed
lodhtree
Lophira lanceolata
luffa
Macaranga indica
magnesium
Mahonia
mallow
Malva sylvestris
marigold
Marking Nut Tree
Matapalo Tree
Matico
melaleuca alternifolia
Microcos
Milkweed
Morning glory
Myrrh
Naphthoquinones
Nasturtium
Nimbidin
nut grass
Oak
Oldenlandia diffusa
oregano
Oxystelma
paederia foetida
papaya
Paris polyphylla
Patrinia
pau d'arco
paw paw
Pellitory
Pentatropis capensis
Petiveria
Peucedanum
Physalis angulata
Pink Root
Plantago
plantain
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
Pokeweed
privet
Propolis
protein
punarnava
purple Tephrosia
red alder
red root
red spiderling
resin
Rhus glabra
Rubia yunnanensis
Sandy Everlasting
Sangre de Grado
Sanguisorba
Sanicle
Sarcandra glabra
Sargentodoxa
scrophularia root
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
Sesbania
sheep's sorrel
shen-chu
Shikonin
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sicklepod
siler root
Simaruba
Skunkvine
Smartweed
Smoketree
Smooth Alder
Solanum indicum
Spanish Needle
Speedwell
Spilanthes
Stellaria dichotoma
Stereospermum
Stillingia
Tagetes
Tannins
Tayuya
Tea Tree Oil
Thuja
Thymol
Thymoquinone
Thymus
Tree of heaven
Trichosanthes
Trypsin
Tulbaghia
turmeric
Viola
Violet
vitamin C
Waltheria ovata
White oak
Whiteweed
Witch Hazel
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yerba Mansa
Zingiberene
Other health conditions supported by colloidal silver
AbrasionsAbscesses
Bites and Stings
Boils
Burns and Scalds
Conjunctivitis
Cuts
Eye Infections
Infection
