Gold in medicine

Some elements found in body tissues have no apparent physiological role, but have not been shown to be toxic. Examples are mbidium, strontium, titanium, niobium, germanium, and lanthanum. Other elements are toxic when found in greater than trace amounts, and sometimes in trace amounts. These latter elements include arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, silver, zirconium, beryUium, and thallium. Numerous other elements are used in medicine in nonnutrient roles. These include lithium, bismuth, antimony, bromine, platinum, and gold (Eig. 1). The interactions of mineral nutrients with... 

The earliest use of gold complexes in medicine primarily involved gold thiolates, which being yellow or even gold-colored in solution, led to their designation as chrysotherapy (chrysos is Greek for gold). 

Tiekrnk, E.R.T. (2003) Gold Compounds in Medicine Potential Anti-Tumour Agents. Gold Bulletin, 36, 117—124. 

Here then, we see in the writings of a modem master that he, and probably our old masters, did not see gold as the main purpose. Their search was for the Universal Medicine that would allow a human being to live in perfect health and extend the normal lifespan. Today, with the degradation of the environment and rampant disease, this Universal Medicine would be more valuable than all the gold in the world ... 

Mahdihassan, S. "Prime matter and ferment-gold." In Essays in the history of alchemy, medicine and drugs, ed. S. Mahdihassan, 39-. Hamdard Foundation, 1982. 

Shaw, C. Gold Complexes with Anti-arthritic, Anti-tumour and Anti-HIV Activity In Uses of Inorganic Chemistry in Medicine, Farrell, N., Ed. The Royal Society of Chemistry Cambridge, 1999, pp 26-57. 

Gold has been used in medicine for many centuries, and since the 1920s several injectable gold compounds have been widely used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Recent reviews of the medicinal uses of gold compounds have been published (412-414). 

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