History of Silver Use as a Medicine

Silver has long been recognized in recorded history (as early as 69 B.C.) as having germicidal properties. From the time man first learned to work with silver, he has known that it delayed the spoilage of foods and even demonstrated a reduction in the symptoms of illness. Wealthy people of old had silver drinking goblets, silver tableware and silver utensils. Even those who could have afforded gold utensils usually chose silver because it appeared to promote better health.

In the days before refrigeration, farmers tossed a silver coin in a bucket of milk to preserve it. Chemists put silver dimes in Petri dishes to sterilize them. For many years, it was common practice to place silver wires and threads around infected wounds that refused to heal. Throughout the ages, the 'Metal of the Moon', as it was known to some of the ancients, has been used effectively for numerous medicinal purposes.