Complete Guide to Turning Blue

     People are always looking for the "secret" to health and wellness; some magic cure-all that can fix everything from a cold to cancer. Countless companies and multi-level marketing organizations exist for this very reason, and they stand to make very good profits. Consumers need to be vigilant and remember that if something is too good to be true, it probably is.

     One such "cure-all" is colloidal silver.  Made of small pieces of silver, yes the same silver used in jewelry and some silverware, suspended in liquid, the antidote comes in digestible form or as a spray.  Touted on one manufacturer's website as capable of healing an incision after surgery, boosting children's immune systems ("It was fun to watch the baby open his mouth, eager to get his spray!"), and healing burns, they claim it's harmless and effective.

     Others disagree, including Brent A. Bauer, M.D.

     "Colloidal silver isn't considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim," Bauer said on Mayoclinic.com.  "It's not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in argyria, a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums."

     Bauer points out that although turning blue isn't a serious health problem, the condition is irreversible.

     Perhaps the most famous case of a person's skin turning blue-gray is Paul Karason of California. Karason, a firm believer of the health benefits of consuming silver, has been interviewed on local news and Oprah for his condition.