‘The Body’ Elle under fire for promoting colloidal silver

Elle Macpherson risks turning that famous body blue by promoting colloidal silver, a toxic substance banned in Australia which can have the nasty side effect of turning skin an unhealthy shade of smurf.

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Elle Macpherson’s “health advice” could see her turn into a living smurf, experts have warned.

In an Instagram post on Friday, Ms Macpherson posted a recipe from prominent anti-vaxxer David “Avocado” Wolfe to “take one drop of coated silver (a colloidal silver concentrate) in water each day”. But experts warn colloidal silver can be fatal.

Colloidal silver, a water solution containing small particles, ions and nanoparticles of silver has been used to sterilise wounds but it is not considered safe for ingestion and can cause a silver toxicity condition called argyria which turns the skin blue permanently.

Elle Macpherson has become a wellness influencer.

Paul Karason shot to internet fame when he became the real life Papa Smurf after his skin turned blue after taking colloidal silver. He died at age 62 in 2013.

Although the former supermodel is based in the USA, she is a wellness influencer with over 500,000 followers. There are currently no FDA-approved prescription or over-the-counter drugs containing colloidal silver that are taken by mouth in the USA.

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, there are no products containing colloidal silver approved for marketing in Australia with the exception of registered topical silver preparation.

Elle Macpherson’s post.

The TGA said on Friday there had been “three adverse event reports associated with colloidal silver, including one with a fatal outcome”.

The TGA said “silver has no known nutritional benefit and its well-defined toxicity can occur with all forms of the metal, including silver salts and colloids. Despite this, claims of therapeutic benefit continue to be made for colloidal silver products”.

Professor of medicine and public health advocate John Dwyer said “it’s ineffective and dangerous and anyone who uses it is foolish and has been poorly advised”.

“It can be toxic,” Prof Dwyer said.

“All this nonsense is going on and far too many people think they are getting the good oil from celebrities and that has influence.”

Biochemist Dr Darren Saunders also recommended not taking advice from celebrities.

“It is toxic, it can turn you blue and it can be permanent,” he said.

In May, Ms Macpherson endorsed the same BioCharger lamp machine spruiked by celebrity chef Pete Evans, who was fined $25,200 for promoting the device in April as a treatment for coronavirus.

Ms McPherson has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as ‘The Body’ Elle under fire for promoting colloidal silver