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Meet the Man With Blue Skin

blue skin, argyria, colloidal silverWhen Paul Karason, now 57, developed a case of dermatitis 14 years ago, he decided to use a treatment called colloidal silver. The treatment, which is not considered safe or effective by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, turned his skin blue, and he’s been living with it that way for over a decade.

Colloidal silver is made by extracting silver from metal. Manufacturers often describe the liquid as a cure-all, and Karason both drank the silver and rubbed it on his skin.

Because the changed happened so gradually, Karason says he didn’t even realize it was happening. That is, until an old friend came by and asked what he’d done.

It appears Karason may have suffered from argyria, an irreversible blue-gray discoloration of your skin, nails and gums that’s linked to colloidal silver. Other potential side effects of the liquid include:
  • Seizures and other neurological problems
  • Kidney damage
  • Indigestion
  • Headaches and fatigue
  • Skin irritation
Karason has not sought medical attention for his skin discoloration, and he says he’s still drinking smaller amounts of the silver.

The change in his skin color prompted him to move from Oregon to California, where he hopes to be accepted.

Still, Karason says, “I do tend to avoid public places as much as I can."

Sources:

Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Colloidal silver has many antibacterial properties and is commonly used in hospitals to treat wounds and burns. It has even reached the mainstream in the form of a silver bandage line from Curad. According to the bandage company:

“Laboratory testing showed that silver reduced bacterial growth like Staph. aureaus, E. coli, E. hirae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa -- a powerful germ that does not respond to many antibacterials -- in the dressing for 24 hours.”

Even washing machines are now, for better or worse, using silver ions to kill bacteria.

Meanwhile, silver-coated urinary catheters are used to help reduce urinary tract infections (UTIs) -- studies showed they reduced the incidence of UTI by 47 percent -- and historically, colloidal silver has been used internally as a natural antibiotic.

However, while it certainly has some benefits, Paul Karason’s skin discoloration is an important reminder that even natural treatments can carry side effects, and taking large amounts of any supplement, even a natural one, has the potential to throw your body out of balance.

Colloidal silver has also become very popular on the Internet, and you must be very careful to avoid counterfeit, sub-par, or contaminated versions.

Because there are risks involved, I’d encourage anyone thinking of using colloidal silver to do so only under the care of a knowledgeable natural health clinician.

And as for Karason’s first problem, the dermatitis that prompted him to use the silver, getting some safe sun exposure on your skin is an ideal way to clear up this skin problem.

Remember also that most of the infections you acquire are not the result of some pernicious germ that is out to get you. Rather, most frequently it is because your immune system was impaired because you violated one or more of the following three basic health principles:
  • Having good tools to cope properly with stress. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has proven to be an extremely effective stress-relief technique for many patients in my clinic. You can view the free EFT manual for more information.
  • Eating a healthy diet, tailored to your nutritional type, with little or no sugar or grains. 
If you follow these three tips, your risk of infection, and need for an antibiotic (natural or otherwise), will be greatly decreased.


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Comment on This Article Community Comments (193)
 
 
Posted On Dec 26, 2007
I won't even try to sum up the research I've done on colloidal silver, but,  when it is made and used properly there is NO risk of argyria.  The form that CAN cause problems is colloidal silver suspended in protein.  Very few if any brands indicate there is protein.   If it is a very high PPM (parts per million) over 20, it probably is in protein.  Another way to tell is to shake the bottle.  If it foams and the foam doesn't immediately dissipate, then it is in protein and avoid it.  This gentleman is the ONE known modern case and he admittedly over used it.  Don't let this article frighten you.  Also, my research has led me to believe that the colloidal silver you make at home with a generator is NOT the most beneficial form as advertising would have you believe.

 
Patty D
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2007
Patty D  
Replied

Sheila C
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 1/2007
Sheila C  
 
Posted On Dec 27, 2007
I agree Patty, I have used colloidal silver gel on cuts.  It leaves no scar and the skin does not turn blue.


KathieJamisonCote
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
KathieJamisonCote  
 
Posted On Dec 27, 2007
Thanks for the great info Patty :) 


BeyondOrganic
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
BeyondOrganic  
 
Posted On Dec 27, 2007
I think colloidal silver is great also.  I used it as an antiseptic on my dad and also gave it to him internally.   I wanted to research more on the making it at home as Russ I think it was recommends.  I mentioned that to a water expert man my dad knew and he said you have to be very careful with these home made units and asked me if I hadn't heard about people who turned "gray".  He does not think the homemade ones are good at all.  I would have loved to make my own, as it would have been much more affordable , but with out more research I won't risk it.  He scared me out of buying it. Thanks Patty for the info.


BeyondOrganic
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
BeyondOrganic  
 
Posted On Dec 27, 2007
Oh and Hi KJC!  Haven't seen you for a while.  Was thinking about you recently.  Hope you're well.


Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Dec 28, 2007
Correct ICS usage, at approximately 10 PPM, per day, works.


Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Dec 29, 2007
Sooooo?  Is 'The Blue Man Group', in Vegas, really overdosers of cheap ICS?

;-)

Uncle Russ


no nonsense
Novice User Novice User Joined On 7/2007
no nonsense  
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

BO, research CS generators from SOTA instruments or SCADA.  These companies make high quality products and SOTA was endorsed by the late Dr. Bob Beck.  And they won't break your wallet either.

Some things to remember when making CS is to use, when possible, distilled water so silver does not interact contaminants or other minerals floating in the water.  Optimally it would be best to make your own distilled water from a stainless steel distiller, to avoid the plastic toxins that would have seeped into the water in the first place.  Also store it in amber glass bottles and away from sunlight, since silver is photosensitive (the silver ions will turn black when exposed to light).



kindjoe
Novice User Novice User Joined On 7/2007
kindjoe  
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

As a pharmaceutical chemist i cannot imagine how much difference could exist between a home generator and an "industrial" generator for CS. The only thing that would separate the two final products is Quality control and the analytical instruments that measure ppm.   At low ppms the solution is truly colloidal however when a certain concentration threshold is reached (depending on the purity of the water and silver source) the solution becomes ionic and is more easily oxidized forming a black precipitate , silver oxide.  Home generation can produce a high quality CS if strict guidelines are used to prevent high ppm ionic solutions. This must be determined empirically since the variables include: voltage, distance between the anode and cathode, quantity of water, temperature, quality if water, etc..

However if a reasonably accurate ppm meter (reads 0 in distilled water) is used to stop production at or below 10,000 ppm it should be fine and should be stored in an amber glass bottle out of the light. If the solution begins to accumulate a black precipitate at the bottom then discard it and make a fresh batch. Finally i agree with noignrnc, in that immunity is your best defense and CS should be used sparingly for acute infection, not for chronic illness. I do not agree with the germ theory as big pharma would propose, yet it is the innate or "designed"  intelligence of our immune system that truly begets health and longivity. If you have a chronic problem then your system is out of balance, NOT silver deficient.  



Patty D
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2007
Patty D  
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

kindjoe, thank you for your explanation.  What I had been reading talked about home generators making a largely ionic silver which they said was bad, but did not explain that you could control that simply by checking it with a ppm meter.  I'm glad to know that and it makes some of the contradictory things I'd been reading make more sense.



oiler
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2008
oiler  
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

Can you say "Papa Smurf".



zemalouise
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2008
zemalouise  
 
Posted On Jan 13, 2008

I very much agree with you on this, I have also done tons of research on CS and if taken properly and in the right dose there is NO way of getting argyria, I have been taking it for some time now for my arthritis and it is wonderful. alos it has to be made properly



healthiswealth
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 7/2007
healthiswealth  
 
Posted On Jan 14, 2008

I am VERY concerned (and skeptical) about stories like this that in essence are attacks on the most effective natural health remedies. Let me clarify this article for everyone: This is ONE guy who WAY OVERUSED colloidal silver. Nothing here mentions the thousands that benefit from it. I read an article in the Wall Street Journal attacking colloidal silver a couple of years ago. Completely biased and almost certainly paid for by Big Pharma. Colloidal silver is a great threat to them.

Big business tends to attack anything that really works, that can seriously hurt their business and that they can't profit from. This clearly appears to be one of those attacks. People have to wake up and realize that "news" stories in Big Media nowadays are nothing more than favors and mouthpieces for their biggest advertisers. They are not allowed to print the truth anymore, and anything in the mainstream media should be looked at with skepticism.

Big Pharma kills over 200,000 Americans every year. There are rarely fatalities from natural remedies. You have to carefully moderate any supplement that you take. But if we are comparing the natural health field to the Evil Medical Establishment, I'll take one Papa Smurf over 200,000 dead family members, friends and neighbors ANY day.  


 
 
 
Posted On Dec 27, 2007
Colloidal Silver is and interesting thing due to the differences, variances people get when  making it, and there as soooo many people doing it.  We made batches to work on a mildew problem when we were in the Nederlands and it worked well and we still make some to this day.  We would never drink it because of the possibilities of impurities and all the other things that have been mentioned.
I personally take Ionic Silver when the body needs a boost due to and infection or such.
The properties Silver has will blow you away. In my research this is what ..in a nutshell I found that lead me to be ok with taking it if I need to.  
“What we have actually done was rediscover the fact that silver killed bacteria, which had been known for centuries…when antibiotics were discovered, clinical uses for silver as an antibiotic were discarded.”    Dr. Robert O. Becker, M.D.

SILVER HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST MORE THAN 650 MICROORGANISMS.
Silver is a natural element that occurs as a trace mineral in the soil.  Silver has been used for thousands of years for health care.  It is believed that silver, although not essential for any enzyme system, is a systemic disinfectant and works like a secondary immune system.
In applications as an antibiotic it does not have the serious ramifications that conventional antibiotic do.  Conventional antibiotics are designed to seek and destroy only a certain band of pathogenic bacteria yet kills the bacteria needed in the digestive tract (also known as friendly flora).  Once your friendly flora has been destroyed the yeast also found in the intestinal tract begins to run rampant causing a serious condition of candidiasis.  Silver does not have this serious side effect.

I do not sell it but can share where to find a good quality product.

our.healing.planet@gmail.com

Healthy New Year

NieeMA


 
NieeMA
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 6/2006
NieeMA  
Replied

BeyondOrganic
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
BeyondOrganic  
 
Posted On Dec 28, 2007
Very well stated NieeMA.


noignrnc
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 4/2007
noignrnc  
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

NieeMA (and everyone) -

I STRONGLY disagree with the statement below...PLEASE correct me with links to valid information if you have evidence of my being incorrection (the more I learn, the more I'm sure 'unlearning' what we think we know is correct is just as importantant as learning something new! :)

>>>Conventional antibiotics are designed to seek and destroy only a certain band of pathogenic bacteria yet kills the bacteria needed in the digestive tract (also known as friendly flora).  Once your friendly flora has been destroyed the yeast also found in the intestinal tract begins to run rampant causing a serious condition of candidiasis.  Silver does not have this serious side effect.<<<

Silver is NOT selective in destruction of microorganisms (and this includes ALL health-giving bacteria in our bodies). You can easily give yourself a yeast infection/overgrowth and/or various varieties of digestive problems by using too much/long colloidal silver (especially with the high ppm types).  Here is a VERY good explanation (mirrored by hundreds of other CS sites & FAQs)   colloidal-silver.utopiasilver.com

I use CS extensively externally (and used to use it internally quite often) and when I might run up against an infection that I can't beat by bolstering my immune system with high-quality echinacea tincture, I would use it again internally....but that hasn't happened in over 6 years!  For me (for common infections) it makes more sense to bolster my body's own immune system to learn to recognize/identify the invader and how to destroy it (hence gaining some level of true natural immunity), than it does to indiscriminately kill beneficial life within my body just to kill a few lousy bad guys (which sounds alot like the logic of chemotherapy to me...yikes).

Remember, the Powers That Be have a LOT to gain by making us 'bacteria-phobes' and breaking down our immune system.  I feel that strengthening our immune systems is a healthier choice.



ColorWave
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2008
ColorWave  
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

I agree with you, NieeMA, as I have been making my own and using it for 15+ years, & when OVERused, it can cause yeast infections, like antibiotics.  

The KEY to ANY treatment for any problem/disease, is common sense and judicious use of the product.  We cannot take antibiotics on a daily basis for the obvious reasons, and likewise, WHY would someone take an "antibiotic-acting" substance, natural or not, on a DAILY basis? As NieeMA and others on this thread have said, boost the immune system instead! Think about it!

I do know someone (now deceased for other reasons) who took it in very high strengths and doses (16+ oz/day) for 3-4 years, until he finally developed Argyria. AT LOW DOSES, WITH CONSERVATIVE USE, AND WITHOUT THE USE OF SALT IN MAKING IT, COLLOIDAL SILVER IS A REAL AND EFFECTIVE PRODUCT! Use common sense!

I've made about 75 gallons of colloidal silver in the past 15 yrs that I gave to friends, family, & clients, & myself, using a Bob Beck zapper/silver maker.  Don't be in a rush--take the slow road & NOT use the salt (a faster method), and the particle size will be smaller, the color a slight gold.  Use ONLY 99.9999% PURE silver bars or thick wire (ask at silversmithing supply). GOOD DISTILLED H2O IS A MUST! I use old hydrogen peroxide plastic bottles to store it in (the plastic is made to withstand chemical decomposing), or dark brown GLASS bottles (the BEST method) that I keep INSIDE A DARK CABINET! Colloidal Silver WILL become TOXIC when exposed to light!

The best advice I can give to discovering the TRUTHS about viable & wonderful NATURAL methods of self-healing are to QUESTION EVERYTHING, and then keep questioning EVERYTHING! Especially the FDA, organized Medicine, & media. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH...research...research! Question, Question, Question everything! Try researching out-of-USA resources. And you will begin to discern the truths from the regurgitated garbage and disinformation that flies around the (mostly USA) web.



Health 1
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2007
Health 1  
 
Posted On Feb 06, 2008

The blue color could potentiallu also point to vascular problems and or cardiovascular as well.Could be multi factoral.

Blessings

Dr. Trudy


 
 
 
Posted On Dec 26, 2007
I wonder if it was truly colloidal silver or something that was represented as colloidal silver.

Mary

 
mmc88121
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 11/2006
mmc88121  
Replied

Reesacat
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 1/2007
Reesacat  
 
Posted On Dec 27, 2007
Could someone help me out?  I accidentally gave Mary -3 points when I was trying to give her +3 points because I agreed with her.

If you could give her  some points to make up for my goof, I would be grateful.

Need more tea..........


DizzyIzzy1
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2007
DizzyIzzy1  
 
Posted On Dec 27, 2007
Just gave her 2... though I would give 2 anyway because I agree!!

Tis ok Reesacat, we all have blonde moments (some more than others... ahem... ;) )


Reesacat
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 1/2007
Reesacat  
 
Posted On Dec 27, 2007
Thanks, DizzyIzzy1!  Blond moments, hmmmm...
I wondered what those were (I like that better than senior moments!).

 
 
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

This is the second article I have read from your website that contains spurious information.  TRUE colloidal silver DOES NOT cause argyria.  Incorrectly prepared silver does.  I won't go into how this is so becuase it has been adequately covered in previous postings.

I wonder if it is the fact that you get involved with so many different topics that you (& staff) do not have enough time to research every aspect of what you post?  

I am of the opinion that it is your responsibility to ensure that what you post is thoroughly screened before it becomes part of your opinion and you perpetuate the notion to everyone.  I am not saying that everything you post is rubbish - you have shared worthwhile and important information that is of much benefit to everyone.

I am suggesting that you narrow your focus and thoroughly research your info so that your efforts do not become watered-down and you do not lose your "follower's" confidence.

I continue to be a follower.


 
RMax
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 1/2008
RMax  
 
 
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

Look mommy, it's a Smurf.  

This guy needs to wipe the ridiculous grin off his face--it's no laughing matter.  He is like an adult poster child for stupid.  People who go overboard with alternative treatments cause problems for the rest of us later down the road.


 
katkoowee
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2006
katkoowee  
Replied

superlurker
Novice User Novice User Joined On 12/2007
superlurker  
 
Posted On Jan 12, 2008

No, that guy should smile and grin all the way to the bank!!!  He will get laid and paid more than any American televangelist, if he is worshiped as a HINDU GOD.

"Vishnu is one of the gods of the Trinity. Vishnu represents the power of sustenance. Vishnu is known to be blue in color. The blue of Vishnu indicates his infinite stature. Blue is associated with the infinite since immeasurable entities like the sky or ocean appear blue."



 
Posted On Jun 29, 2008

Very educational, as I've read from various friends how they took colloidal silver for this or that, but had never heard or even considered the possibility of overdoing it. I remember a friend that went crazy with the carrot juice thing 20 years ago, juicing and drinking a pound of carrots a day or so...and she turned orange!! I've heard that it happens to others. Wonder what happens if this guy starts drinking a lot of carrot juice - would it balance the blueness in his face as the orangy tint came in??

Also, what about a heavy metals detox type diet, like the.... oooh now my brain kops out on me, the clay stuff that I can drink - Bentonite - (whew, thought of it!)? wouldn't something like that help detox the silver effects from his body??

Hey I added some points for Mary to make up for the one who accidentally gave her negative poingts!! ;-)  It happens to the best of us!!


 
 
 
 
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