Since the Dark Ages gems and minerals have been used to treat infections. They have been ground up or melted into the tinctures used by the tribal people who were in charge of healing.
One of the oldest metals used as an antibiotic is silver. If you have ever suffered an extremely bad burn you may have been given a wound care salve known as Silva-dene. This is a silver product. Most notably, Collodial Silver is well known as an antibiotic. Silver has been historically used as a salve for wound care and used to be taken internally as an antibiotic. Nostradamus was a physician who employed the use of silver.
In the Dark Ages and Middle Ages people employed cups and bowls made of silver to treat water and insure its cleanliness. Babies were given silver spoons to suck on to keep them healthy and to assist in teething. Silver was used to treat the eyes of new born babies, people with syphilis and other STD's, treating ulcers and sores in the mouth and nose. In wars before WWII and the advent of antibiotics, silver was used to treat gunshot wounds and other battlefield health problems.
Utilizing sprays containing liquid collodial silver people have treated sinus infections that refused to heal.
Once modern antibiotics were invented, the use of silver waned. However, it is still used in burn products and silver nitrate is still put into new born babies' eyes. It is used in cutting boards to prevent food contamination. Other products use silver to purify water. Silver is a known antibacterial. It can be used on a swab to calm an ear infection. a drop or two in pet's water dishes can be effective in preventing worms.
Today the FDA warns against using too much silver. It also cautions that no one should say that the use of silver can treat or cure any illness or wound.
Susan Warth is a freelance writer with a background in alternative medicines.