Swine flu scammers selling fake remedies online

Did you know that a silver solution has the power to kill the swine flu virus?

Hogwash, says the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission, which issued warnings Friday that scammers are taking advantage of the swine flu scare to sell worthless, even dangerous  "remedies."

An Internet search coughed up sites selling colloidal silver, which is basically water that includes silver particles. The ads say the swine flu virus (also known as H1N1), can be killed by washing the skin and even the hair with the stuff.

But colloidal silver as a cure-all is a fraud with a long history, with quacks claiming over the years it could be used to treat cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis, scarlet fever, diabetes and numerous other diseases.

In 1999, the FDA banned therapeutic claims for over-the-counter colloidal silver products. Studies showed the solution could be dangerous, causing seizures and kidney damage. Pregnant women were specifically warned because colloidal silver could cause harm to fetuses. 

So, when it comes to swine flu, there's no silver lining. Simple hand-washing is one of the best defenses against getting the flu, experts say, and if you do get it there are only two FDA-approved antiviral drugs for treatment, Tamiflu and Relenza, both of which are available only by prescription.

—David Colker

Comments

[Anon]

I agree with the statement in this article that some people are making inappropriate claims against colloidal silver and there are many people out there selling what they claim is colloidal silver and also claiming that it will cure you of everything possible. These people should not be allowed to make money from peoples insecurities and fears.

HOWEVER, silver is being used more and more in medicine today - elastoplast put silver into their plasters to prevent infection and promote healing, NASA use silver in their water purification systems to ensure no contamination, hospitals around the world use silver in burns units to speed healing and stop infections. Companies are even using it in socks to stop your feet smelling (this is done by preventing bacteria that cause the smell from browing) and on cheese to prolongn it's shelf life and stop it going mouldy! Silver has a big part to play in legitimate medicine today. Proper, correctly made colloidal silver is, as the article says, tiny particles of silver diluted in pure water. It is a 'watered down' version of what many companies and medical units have been using for many years - pure silver, to promote healing and prevent growth of other unwanted organisms, be they viruses, bacteria or fungus. I don't think the writer should be so quick to say this stuff is quackery. Yes, some people will be making bad 'colloidal silver' and they should avoided. But we are using silver more and more in medicine today - someone needs to test silver against this virus and then we will know for sure if it is quackery or if there is some foundation to these claims after all.

[Swine Flu Remedies]

There are plenty of potential homeopathic remedies available today. While they will not "cure" the flu, they will certainly help to lessen the effects and make it easier to deal with the sickness and the soreness that is a result of getting the flu, swine or otherwise.

[matthew barnhart]

The whole swine flu thing has really been blown completely out of proportion. How many people have died from it? In mexico I believe last I heard was 19 people. How many die in a day from car accidents? Much more than swine flu.

[James]

Colloidal silver does cure Swine Flu. I have been taking CS for years and have never gotten sick until recently. I got swine flu from work. I upped my dosage of colloidal silver and I am 100% taking no drugs. Thank you!