Typically, colloidal silver products are sold as homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy is based on the premise that very low doses of a substance can produce health benefits, though little research supports this ( 7). Further, no human data supports consuming colloidal silver to treat or prevent medical conditions like diabetes, cancer, HIV, digestive issues, and other illnesses ( 8). Colloidal silver” is the term used to describe tiny particles of silver suspended in a liquid ( 1). Additionally, silver is commonly added to bandages and dressings to help with wound and burn healing. Common brands names include Acticoat, Allevyn Ag, Aquacel Ag, Biatain Ag, Flamazine, Mepilex Ag, and Silvercel ( 7). Israili ZH. Antimicrobial properties of honey. Am J Ther. 2014;21(4):304-23. doi:10.1097/MJT.0b013e318293b09b

The Silver Shield is a Round Shield that you can craft in Valheim. It’s a direct upgrade from the Banded Shield and has no alternative Tower Shield. The silver shield is the most elegant-looking shield in the game.Rezk T, Penton J, Stevenson A, et al. Pauci Immune crescentic glomerulonephritis in a patient with T-cell lymphoma and argyria. BMC Nephrol. 2016;17(1):49. doi:10.1186/s12882-016-0259-x Hadrup N, Lam HR. Oral toxicity of silver ions, silver nanoparticles and colloidal silver--a review. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2014;68(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2013.11.002 It’s a good item for mid-game mobs such as those in the Swamp area, and maybe beyond, though I wouldn’t take this as a wolf guard anytime soon. Again, I’m personally not a fan of these tower shields, but if you aim to be the dedicated Swamp tanker for the team then suit up and be the iron defender your team needs. If you use silver frequently on an open wound, you may experience localized argyria due to a buildup of silver in the surrounding tissue — though this condition is rare ( 18). Dakal TC, Kumar A, Majumdar RS, Yadav V. Mechanistic basis of antimicrobial actions of silver nanoparticles. Front Microbiol. 2016;7:1831. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01831

A major issue is the misinterpretation of the results from test-tube and rodent studies. Although a study may suggest that colloidal silver kills certain strains of bacteria in a lab setting, this finding can’t be applied to humans ( 8). Finally, silver is found in other commercial products, such as cleaning agents, agricultural treatments, and personal hygiene products like shower gels and deodorants ( 7). Summary Any company that produces silver products that are labeled or promoted to prevent or cure disease must undergo FDA approval prior to marketing. Otherwise, the product is considered misbranded and is subject to regulatory action ( 3). It's not clear how much colloidal silver you can take before it may be harmful. But it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years. This can lead to a blue-gray tint on your skin, eyes, organs, nails and gums. This condition is called argyria (ahr-JIR-e-uh). Argyria does not typically cause a major health problem. But it can be a cosmetic concern because it does not go away when you stop taking silver products. I haven't taken antibiotics or any prescriptions for any illness in close to a decade. I prefer to use natures's pharmacy of herbs and natural products. I am very thankful to have found Silver Shield to add to my "natural" medicine cabinet.

Same ordeal as the Wood Tower Shield, but with the extra step on resin. (YouTube Channel: Bigundes World)

Medici S, Peana M, Nurchi VM, Zoroddu MA. Medical uses of silver: history, myths, and scientific evidence. J Med Chem. 2019;62(13):5923-5943. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01439 Mota L, Dinis-Oliveira RJ. Clinical and forensic aspects of the different subtypes of argyria. J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2086. doi:10.3390/jcm10102086 According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you should keep your daily silver exposure to no more than 2.27 mcg per pound of body weight (5 mcg per kg). Yet, since that’s hard to measure, it’s best to avoid unnecessary exposure to silver ( 19). Summary You’re environmentally exposed to extremely small amounts of silver every day. It’s present in very tiny amounts in drinking water, the food supply, and even the air you breathe ( 8). I use the gel form as my "antibacterial" hand protection rather than those nasty gels you see on the counters all around town. It has been my go to product for any type of cut, scrape, bite or burn.It’s unknown exactly how colloidal silver works. However, research suggests that it attaches to proteins on the cell walls of bacteria, damaging their cell membranes ( 8, 9, 10). Since then, the FDA has not approved any new colloidal silver drugs on the market. However, this product is still commonly sold as a dietary supplement ( 1, 2). Research suggests that the effects of colloidal silver vary depending on the size and shape of the particles of silver, as well as their concentration in a solution ( 8, 9, 10, 11). However, it’s worth noting that colloidal silver products aren’t standardized and may have serious side effects. Due to their ability to incite oxidation and cell damage, they may also harm healthy human cells ( 8, 9, 11, 12). This allows silver ions to pass into bacterial cells, where they interfere with metabolic processes and damage DNA, leading to the cell’s death ( 8, 9, 10).

Numerous case studies have found that silver intake from colloidal silver dietary supplements may lead to argyria ( 15, 16, 17). Further, silver nanoparticles and silver ions that are ingested can accumulate in your organs. Prolonged use of and exposure to colloidal silver may lead to a condition known as argyria, which results in your skin turning blue-gray due to a buildup of silver ( 8, 12). Honestly, it’s the same pattern of hierarchy for the next shields as choices are limited, and also limited are the styles available for this shield, as seen below. Argyria is a condition that turns your skin a blue-gray color due to the buildup of silver metal particles in your body and skin. Silver deposits may also occur in your intestines, liver, kidneys, and other organs ( 14).Though it’s discouraged for oral use, colloidal silver can still be found in liquid and spray form. Most products contain very low doses of colloidal silver, usually ranging from 10–30 parts per million (ppm) ( 7). While argyria isn’t inherently harmful, it’s irreversible and likely permanent. That said, since little research is available on the side effects of colloidal silver, there may be other unknown side effects.