The “terminology” used in the silver supplement market has truly become confusing, frustrating and many times downright misleading. Sadly, between well-meaning manufacturers who honestly don’t know the difference between the two main types of silver (or what they are actually producing) to those who knowingly mislead the consumer through deceptive claims and pseudo-science, it’s rare to find a general consumer that could actually know the difference between the two main types of silver solutions.
Colloidal Silver: Colloidal silver can be defined as a silver solution that is comprised of a majority of silver particles. Silver particles are pure pieces of silver metal that are neither ionic nor bound to any other constituents such as chloride, Cl– or oxygen O– (forming AgO/Ag2O or AgCl for example.) The word “colloidal” is the most misrepresented term for almost all silver solutions produced today. First of all, the general consumer only knows one word concerning silver solutions; that word is “colloidal.” It is safe to say that 9 out of 10 consumers have never even heard of the term “ionic”, which is what 90% of all silver solutions sold today actually are.
Ionic Silver: Ionic silver can be defined as a concentration of silver ions (Ag+) suspended in highly purified water where the majority of the solution is comprised of positively charged silver atoms. When a silver atom loses one or more of its negatively charged electrons, it is now termed as an ion of silver that carries a positive charge because the protons of its structure now outnumber the electrons. Realistically, 90% of all silver solutions marketed as colloidal are absolutely not colloidal by proper definition of the term and are in fact almost entirely ionic.
Ionic vs. Colloidal: Although most silver solutions sold today are actually ionic solutions (and misbranded as colloidal), this doesn’t mean that ionic silver is without merit or less effective than true colloidal silver. In fact, both forms are valuable based on the administration method chosen. Silver solutions can be administered in vivo (inside of the body) or in vitro (outside of the body) – topically. This is why there is value in knowing the difference between the two types and why having the ability to produce (both forms) of these two silver solutions is an invaluable luxury to the (educated) silver supplementing consumer.
Diverse applications of different types of silver solution: A true colloidal silver solution that is comprised of nanoparticles of pure silver metal that are less than 40 nanometres in diameter will exhibit a yellow hue. If the concentration of a true colloidal silver solution moves into the 15 PPM range of concentration or greater, the color will fade into a deep amber and then brown depending on how far beyond 15 PPM of concentration the solution is. This yellow color occurs because silver nanoparticles that are in this size range absorb the blue/violet/indigo spectrum of white light and thus reflect all other colors (except for) the spectrum that has been absorbed. This phenomenon of particle physics is called “plasmon absorption resonance” and is not a theory but rather a very well- understood attribute due to the presence of silver nanoparticles in solution.
This is why true colloidal silver (meaning complete pieces of silver metal that are neither ionic nor bound to any other agents) is the species of choice (in vivo), as pure metal particles of silver do not form weaker chemical compounds of silver anywhere in the body( like silver chloride AgCl or silver oxide AgO/Ag2O, which ,by the way, is extremely unstable).
In summary, ionic silver solutions are best suited for low (or no) chloride environments, preferably topical use, while true colloidal solutions (particles of pure metal) are the species of choice for chloride-rich environments such as the stomach and blood and can be taken orally with keeping their high efficiency.
How Colloidal Silver Benefits Work
According to a report written by Richard Davies and Samuel Etris of The Silver Institute in 1996, there are three primary ways how colloidal silver can serve as a natural healing solution:
Catalytic Oxidation: Silver naturally holds onto oxygen molecules, which readily react with the sulfhydral (H) groups that surround bacteria and viruses. In turn, this helps block the life-preserving cellular process known as cellular respiration, which is defined as a set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and then release waste products.
Reaction with Bacterial Cell Membranes: Silver ions can attach to bacteria cell membranes directly and produce the same respiration-blocking effect.
Binding with DNA: Shown to literally enter bacteria DNA, up to 12% of silver has been detected in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to one source, while it remains unclear exactly how the silver binds to the DNA without destroying the hydrogen bonds holding the lattice together, it, nevertheless, prevents the DNA from unwinding, an essential step for cellular replication to occur.
These processes define the following preservative properties of colloidal water.
Antibacterial
Colloidal silver, unlike its modern prescription antibiotic counterpart, simply doesn’t create resistance or immunity in the organisms that are killed by it.
Anti-viral
Colloidal silver suffocates the virus and can even reduce the activity of the HIV virus in AIDS patients. There are also numerous anecdotal accounts of colloidal silver’s efficacy against the hepatitis C virus.
Anti-inflammatory
Colloidal silver is also a fantastic anti-inflammatory remedy. Case in point: researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) studied the effects of inflammation after being treated by colloidal silver; they found that the inflamed skin of pigs treated with silver experienced near-normal skin after 72 hours, while other treatment groups not treated with silver remained inflamed.
Research is beginning to reflect what many people have already known for years — that colloidal silver can reduce swelling, speed healing, and boosts cell recovery!
Anti-cancer
In 2010, the group of scientists published a paper in Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research where anti-cancer properties of colloidal silver water were shown. The scientific study was performed on the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line with the results showing a dose dependent cytotoxic effect through induction of apoptosis and cell death.
In July of 2017, our company, Toulison Nutraceuticals Inc., obtained same results in experiments with the human breast cancer cell line, using the colloidal silver water manufactured by the company. There are data below on dose dependent (exponential) cytotoxic effect of colloidal silver water in wound scratch cell migration assay tested in human breast cancer cells.
Next, we will present regular water and colloidal silver water.
Below, we project a red laser light thru regular water. This illustrates that there are no particles suspended in the water. In other words, the light does not bounce off an anything.
Next, we project the same red laser light thru colloidal silver water. Here we see the red light beam reflect off of the silver particles suspended within the processed water. Note: Colloidal means particles suspended within a solution.
Lastly, Dr. Anna Toulina discusses the value of colloidal silver water.