Do you like wearing silver jewelry?

Well, who doesn’t? Whether it’s a bracelet, necklace, or dainty ring, silver jewelry is one of the best purchases you can buy.

I love the look of silver accessories, but I never knew the benefits of wearing silver!

I did some research and thought it’d be neat to share some of what I found.

 Source: Deleece Cook onUnsplash

Even before humans understood germs, we’ve used silver to protect against infection.

Ayurvedic medicine from ancient India containsinstructions for using silver, and the “father of modern medicine” Hippocrates claimed it hadhealing properties.

This metal has been used by royalty for millennia, so it was only natural for the upper class to eat off silver for generations.

Could that be related to their longevity compared to peasants during the same period?

Modern science has supported those early intuitions.Study after study after study has shown that silver is an effective antibacterial agent via what is known as the oligodynamic effect.

Other metals interact with bacterias in similar ways, including gold, copper, and zinc. But silver isthe most effective.

Because of its chemical properties, silver destroys the enzymes of the bacteria and kills them.

Some research indicates thatbacterium killed by silver stays active, attacking and killing their disease-causing neighbors!

In the medical field, silver is a common active ingredient inbandages and salves to treat burns, and there’s evidence it canprevent ventilator-related pneumonia.

You might even benefit from silver’s antimicrobial properties in your everyday life.

It’s used as a filter layer in different types ofwater purification systems and sometimessewn into clothes to kill odor-causing bacteria.

Whileingesting silver won’t help, wearing silver against your skin can kill germs and help prevent infection.

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Did you know that many people have metal allergies?

While we usually think of allergies as reactions to foods, medicines, or particles in the air, metal allergies are in fact some of the most common.

Nickel is the most prevalent, with as many as18% of North Americans allergic to the metal.

People who suffer from a metal allergy can get a rash on their skin just from coming into contact with that metal.

Of course, someone with an allergy needs to avoid what they’re allergic to.

But it actually affects us all—even if you don’t have an allergy, exposure to a metal cangive you one.

(And what causes more exposure than wearing that metal pressed up against your skin all day?)

Jewelers include many of those metals—even nickel—in the pieces they make. That’s where silver comes in to save the day.

Silver is one of the least allergenic metals and is one of the best options forpeople with sensitive skin.

It’s one of the safest metals to keep against your body, which is good news for jewelry lovers!

In addition to killing harmful bacteria and being gentle on the skin, there is some early evidence that silver may help with pain relief.

In a recent study on the treatment of arthritis, it was shown that a certain type of medical silver ring couldhelp relieve joint pain.

And a thoroughreview of existing literature suggests that silver may help with pain relief in wound dressings.

Most studies focus on healing effectiveness rather than pain relief, so the evidence is still up for debate.

But considering the fact that there are almost zero side effects to skin contact with silver, it’s an area worth exploring.

If you’re suffering from pain—especially in the hands or other areas where you wear jewelry—wearing something made from silver just might help.

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For nearly every religion and belief system, there’s a symbolic meaning for silver.

Since ancient times, silver has drawn connectionswith the moon and femininity.

It’s an easy comparison due to its contrast with gold, which has a warmer color that’s associated with the sun.

In Eastern (Chinese) philosophy, silver is likewise associated withyin modalities.

Amongst the Navajo tribe of North America, silver holds special historical importance and remains a key part of Navajo jewelry, along with turquoise.

Silver also plays a major role in Abrahamic religions.

The precious metal was used to build both the temple in the wilderness and in Jerusalem.

Jesus’s famous “render unto Caesar” speech was likely explained using a silver Roman coin.

And silver is referenced as an article of wealth and blessing in the Qu’ran.

No matter your religious beliefs or traditions, silver almost certainly has had a part to play.

Silver is often associated withmental tranquility.

Silver has a cool tone, which has been shown to result in amore relaxed and calm mood.

As the most reflective metal known to humankind, silver’s mirrorlike properties give it a sense of openness and space as well as encouraging us toward—excuse the pun—reflection.

Traditional Tibetan meditation practices used silver for this very purpose.

A common accessory for this practice is asilver spinner ring, which lets the wearer help center and ground themself.

These rings have been used by people across the world in modern times to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and bring a sense of calm.