For thousands of years, even before the birth of Christ, silver has been used all over the world for its healing and anti bacterial properties. The famous Greek physician, Hippocrates (who is considered by many as the father of modern medicine), wrote that silver could prevent disease and had special healing properties. Consequently, the Ancient Greeks and Romans used silver utensils as well as silver urns to keep water and other liquids fresh.
Ancient Egyptian writings indicate that they used silver too; as did the ancient Chinese who's Emperors ate with silver chopsticks.
During the Middle Ages wealthy families gave their children silver spoons to suck on as protection from the horrific plagues that ravished Europe; hence the expression, born with a silver spoon in his mouth". To this day, people still refer to getting their best silverware out", for special occasions.
Early American pioneers dropped silver coins into their wells and water barrels to keep the water safe from bacteria and algae. Likewise, settlers in the Australian outback suspended silverware in their water tanks to retard spoilage. Dairy farmers often used silver milk pails to keep the milk from spoiling.
In the late 1800's, Western scientists re-discovered the use of silver as an anti-bacterial agent. By the early 1900's, the use of silver in Western medicine had become widespread. Surgeons used silver sutures to close surgical wounds; in order to prevent infection and to accelerate the healing process. There were however a few controversies at this time. This was due to the overuse of certain protein-bound silver products leading to a skin discoloring condition know as argyria, as well as improperly prepared and unstable silver. However, reputable medical journals reported that properly prepared silver solutions were safe with no adverse side effects. It was reported in February 16th, 1918, by T. H. Anderson Wells in the Lancet, that colloidal silver solution was used intravenously . . . without any irritation of the kidneys and with no pigmentation of the skin".
Silver leaf was even used to prevent infection in soldiers wounds during World War I. However, silver lost favour in the 1930's due to the emergence of new synthetically manufactured antibiotic drugs, hailed at the time as wonder drugs". It wasn't until some time later that antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria emerged leading to an ongoing cat and mouse game between super resistant bacteria and the pharmaceutical companies.
Nevertheless, during World War II (1939 to 1945), colloidal silver solutions were often used as a topical antiseptic and either taken orally or even injected as an antibiotic.
In the 1970's, silver made a comeback into mainstream medicine when the late Dr Carl Moyer, chairman of Washington University's Department of Surgery was given a grant to research better treatment for burn victims. A silver compound was found more effective than 22 other antiseptics at killing invasive burn bacteria and allowing the burn wound to heal. Today Silver Sulphadiazine (Silvadene) is used in 70% of American burn centers.
A recent report states that some 275,000 kg (605,000 lbs) of edible metallic silver foil are eaten ever year in India. This may be due in part to its use in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) medicine as a tonic, elixir or rejuvenative agent for age or debilitating diseases.
Modern clinical studies have proven the efficiency of ultra-dilute silver colloidal solutions as an extraordinary, powerful and safe, bactericidal agent from which bacteria and viruses are unable to develop a resistance.
