I have consumed gold in forms which allow it to be metabolized by the body. It is a well-known tonic in the Ayurvedic system of medicine (which I'm presently studying, having trained in Western medicine). Gold has very potent effects on the nervous system, and is also a potent anti-inflammatory in arthritis.
Elemental gold simply consumed as is in powder form will have little to no effect on the body. It needs to be processed either into a
bhasma (ash) using specific methods, or an
alchemical form. An acquaintance of mine extracts the gold (among many other herbs and minerals) into oil, where it functions as a potent, nanomolecular level remedy.