Silver Is Never Second Place.

Colloidal Silver. The History, Medicine, and Practical Use

© Kate Shemirani 2026

INTRODUCTION

For thousands of years, silver was regarded not as ornamentation, but as protection. Long before the rise of pharmaceutical monopolies, silver was a cornerstone of medicine, surgery, food preservation, and water safety. Its antimicrobial properties were universally recognised across cultures, codified in pharmacopoeias, embedded in surgical practice, and woven into everyday language.

THE HISTORY OF COLLOIDAL SILVER

Silver has been used medicinally since at least 4000 BCE. Ancient Egyptians stored water and wine in silver vessels to prevent spoilage. Hippocrates documented silver’s role in wound care and ulcer treatment. In ancient Rome and Greece, silver nitrate was routinely applied to wounds.

By the 19th and early 20th centuries, colloidal silver was formally listed in medical pharmacopoeias, including the British Pharmacopoeia and the United States Pharmacopeia. Prior to the antibiotic era, silver preparations were standard treatment for infections, burns, and surgical wounds.

BURNS BANDAGES AND SURGICAL USE

Burns Bandages, impregnated with silver compounds, were widely used in hospitals for wound management and burn treatment. Silver dressings were particularly valued in burns units due to their ability to prevent infection without damaging tissue.

Silver was also integral to surgical environments. Surgical instruments, trolleys, and trays were traditionally made from or coated with silver due to its natural antimicrobial action. This reduced cross-contamination and postoperative infections. Modern replacements, plastic and stainless steel, lack these intrinsic antimicrobial properties.

“BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN YOUR MOUTH”

This phrase originates from the historical practice of feeding infants with silver spoons. Wealthier families used silver cutlery not merely as a status symbol, but because silver reduced bacterial contamination in food and drink, improving infant survival rates.

DISPLACEMENT BY PHARMACEUTICALS

The removal of silver from mainstream medicine coincided with the rise of synthetic antibiotics. Silver cannot be patented, reformulated endlessly, or financially controlled in the same way pharmaceuticals can. Its sidelining was economic, not scientific.

MODERN USES OF COLLOIDAL SILVER

Topical Uses: - Wound care and minor cuts , Burns and scalds , Skin infections , Eye washes (very dilute) , Acne and skin inflammation .

Internal Uses (historical and alternative practice): - Gastrointestinal infections , Oral and dental hygiene , Respiratory infections , Immune support

(Note; Internal use remains controversial within conventional medicine. Historically documented use does not equate to modern medical endorsement).

HOW TO MAKE COLLOIDAL SILVER AT HOME REQUIRED KIT

Distilled water (pure, not deionised or mineral water)

Two .999 fine silver rods or coins

Glass jar

Low-voltage DC power source (battery or regulated colloidal silver generator)

Alligator clipsTDS meter (optional but recommended)

Dark glass storage bottle

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour distilled water into a clean glass jar.

2. Suspend two silver rods in the water without them touching.

3. Attach alligator clips to the silver rods.

4. Connect clips to the low-voltage power source.

5. Allow current to pass through the water for 15–30 minutes.

6. The water should develop a faint cloudy or opalescent appearance.

7. Measure parts per million (PPM) if using a meter (commonly 5–20 ppm).

8. Transfer to a dark glass bottle and store away from light.

USAGE GUIDANCE

Topical application is generally preferred.

Internal use, if chosen, should be minimal, intermittent, and low PPM.

Avoid prolonged high-dose use.

Never use tap water or salt additives.

CONCLUSION

Colloidal silver was once a foundation of safe medicine, surgery, and hygiene. Its removal reflects a shift in economic priorities rather than therapeutic failure. Understanding its history allows informed, respectful use without fear or mysticism, just knowledge.

And yet again, we can see healthcare has been replaced with wealth-care.

And me? Even my pets get it in their distilled water!