Silver is a very useful metal with unique properties, and more applications for silver are discovered every week. One of the most promising areas for research is the use of silver in consumer health products.

Your first experience with a silver product was probably at birth, when a nurse dropped a 1% solution of silver nitrate in your eyes to prevent blindness. Although antibiotic ointments have been developed, silver nitrate is still used today, especially in poorer countries.

Silver's antibacterial properties are essential for treating burn patients. Silver sulfadiazine cream, also known as Silvadene, is used to prevent and cure bacterial infections in second- and third-degree burns. Hospitals now use silver-coated bandages, which can kill even antibiotic-resistant microbes. The metal seems to cripple an enzyme that many species of bacteria use to produce energy. The new bandages only have to be changed once a week, instead of twice a day like traditional cotton fabrics. This is much less painful for the patient.

Clinical trials have proven that silver helps burns to heal faster, and also reduces pain. A burn or cut breaks electrochemical signals sent to the brain through the nerves and is interpreted as pain. The conductive power of silver helps to transmit some of those signals. This fools the brain into perceiving the wound is partially healed, so pain is lessened. Even if you're not hospitalized, you can still benefit from the power of silver. Next time you're in the drugstore, look for Curad's adhesive bandages impregnated with silver for home use.

Silver is an important element in water purification. Most home water filters contain silver to prevent the growth of algae and bacteria. In swimming pools, its sanitary effect can greatly reduce the need for chlorine.

Recently, silver has entered the high tech world of nanotechnology. Samsung Electronics has introduced over 100 new models of consumer appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers that sanitize with the power of silver. Key components are coated with nano-size silver particles which kill most bacteria without the need for noxious chemicals. Unpleasant odors and unsightly mildew are almost eliminated. These products seem to be better for both consumer health and the environment. Unfortunately, these appliances are only available in the Middle East, but they should be introduced in other countries soon.

Silver is an excellent antimicrobial element, but that's only one of its many properties. In addition to consumer health uses, silver is essential for solar cells, window coatings, fuses and switches, high performance solders, and chemical catalysts for manufacturing, to name only a few. In most of these applications, silver is discarded, since it's not cost efficient to recover the metal.

While the demand for silver grows, its production has remained below demand levels for over 60 years! The deficit was bridged mostly by governments. They dumped silver on the market at below-market prices. This artificially suppressed the price, and gave you the opportunity to buy silver cheaply.

However, in 2001 the U.S. Government finally depleted its strategic stockpile of 5 billion ounces. It now must buy silver to produce its U.S. Silver Eagle coins. Ironically, the government is now contributing to demand, not supply. Not surprisingly, the price of silver has risen 82% since November of 2001. If you didn't buy silver at $4 an ounce, don't despair. Silver is still near its 600 year low price, adjusted for inflation, and the fundamentals call for an even higher price in the future. There's still time to stock up now!