The term “colloidal silver” covers a diverse range of related products that have been in use as anti-microbial agents since at least the late 1800’s. Some were produced by electrolysis and some were produced chemically. It remained in use as the primary such product until about 1938 when penicillin was developed as a more economical method of fighting germs in the human body. Since its initial development, colloidal silver has been primarily silver particles suspended in water.

The definition of the word "colloid" has two distinct meanings that should be remembered. The Chemistry definition of "colloid" is, “a system in which finely divided particles are dispersed within a continuous medium (such as water) in a manner that prevents them from being easily filtered or rapidly settled.”

There are also Physiology and Pathology definitions of “colloid” from that have a completely different and unrelated meanings to the Chemistry definition. The Physiology definition is, “the gelatinous product of the thyroid gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin, which serves as the precursor and storage form of thyroid hormone.” The Pathology definition is, “a gelatinous material resulting from colloid degeneration in diseased tissue.”

The word “colloid/colloidal” may be used to refer to both gelatinous and non-gelatinous based products. The Chemistry definition could be applied to both kinds of products, but using the Physiology and Pathology definitions could only be generally applied to gelatinous/protein based products and even that is a stretch unless you ignore the fact that they are specifically referencing product of the thyroid gland and diseased tissue.

The only known potential negative side effect of “colloidal silver” has been that with heavy and prolonged use of gelatinous based silver products, a cosmetic condition called Argyria may develop. According to the World Health Organization (WHO 1993) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency silver poses no toxic effect and that extreme overuse may cause this cosmetic condition. (USEPA 1992, 2001) It is believed that these gelatins/proteins greatly increase the chance that silver may be deposited under the epidermal layer of the skin. Imagine placing a handful of BBs or marbles in a bowl of water; they will immediately sink to the bottom of the bowl. …But if you place those same objects in a bowl of Jell-o, they will not sink to the bottom as readily.

These gelatinous additives are only required where the silver particle size is too large to stay suspended in only water. One of the primary silver sources has been silver nitrate, which tends to be comprised of very large silver particles, hence the need for a gelatin base to keep it suspended. With methods utilizing some of the original, but improved, electrolysis principles, it is no longer necessary to use gelantinous or protein bases to keep the silver particles suspended. If the silver particle size is small enough, they will stay suspended by Brownian Motion indefinitely in simply deionized/distilled water, greatly reducing or eliminating most concerns of developing Argyria. This doesn’t mean that it is OK to drink large quantities of silver and water for prolonged periods; there may well be some level of too much silver, but it is unknown. Every consumable food, drink, supplement and drug probably has some level where it may cause adverse effects. A few aspirin will relieve a headache, but consuming a bottle can cause death.

Although silver is found throughout nature, its occurrence is still rare enough to give it semi-precious value. Silver is the most chemically active of the “noble” metals and is harder than gold but softer than copper. It is usually stable in pure air and water but tarnishes when exposed to sulfur, hydrogen sulfide or ozone. Because of its softness and known health properties silver was used for food and drink vessels, jewelry and as a medium of monetary exchange. Evidence of silver mining has been found in Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea area as far back as 3000-4000 years B.C.

For many centuries, the anti-microbial properties of silver have been well known and utilized in practical applications. Alexander the Great was advised by Aristotle to store boiled water in silver containers to prevent diseases caused by contaminated water. The use of silver coins in milk and water to retard spoilage was common by pioneers settling the American west. The benefits of silver in the prevention of algae growth on ship hulls were known and utilized by Vikings. They lined their ship hulls with silver and copper strands. Silver and copper are used in modern shipbuilding for the same purpose.

Silver electrochemistry methods were instituted in the 1960’s by NASA with the use of electrolytic silver ionizers to purify drinking water in the Apollo spacecraft. They now use silver in the CO2 chemsorption process on the space shuttles, as well as on the international space station.

According to research by Acupoll Researchers and reported by Curad, silver is effective in preventing the growth of and reproduction of bacteria. Silver uses three primary mechanisms to control the growth of bacteria: 1) it removes hydrogen atoms from sulfhydryl groups on bacteria and viruses. The sulphur atoms then join and block cellular respiration and electron transfer, essentially inhibiting oxygen metabolism, 2) it inhibits the DNA replication by interfering with DNA unwinding and 3) it alters the bacterial membrane with enzyme mechanisms, rupturing the membrane.

Silver, because of it’s anti-microbial qualities is used in many products, such as: in Silvadine crème in burn wards, bacteria free cosmetics, solutions to prevent blindness in newborns, swimming pool filters, drinking water filters, bandages, and to control Legionella bacteria in hospitals.

The Samsung Corp. is using silver in washing machines, air conditioners, air purifiers, refrigerators that use the “Silver Nano Health System” technology. This technology uses a silver anode assembly to release silver ions into a bypass stream that is blended into the water for bacterial control, resulting in fresher smelling clothes.

Silver is also being used as an alternative in municipal water and waste treatment systems and plants. Although chlorine use as a disinfectant has been the primary method used in public water systems, it has some serious potential side effects, such as rectal and bladder cancer. In 1974 Johannes Rook discovered that toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs) were formed with organic matter in drinking water when chlorination is used. Other adverse health effects have been linked to DBPs. Damaged reproductive development has been found in the use of disinfectants such as chlorine dioxide, bromine, and ozone.

As a result of the dangers of DBPs, silver electrochemistry may provide a safe alternative in the treatment and purification of drinking water. Two proposals have been considered in the treatment of municipal drinking water supplies. They combined silver with hydrogen peroxide, which itself is an effective anti viral and anti bacteria agent. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has also conducted research in this same technique of Hydrogen Peroxide/Silver Ion water treatment. It has been well established by the EEC, WHO, and the USEPA that silver and hydrogen peroxide have no toxic effects on people. (Pedahzur 1995)

Mediated Electrochemical Oxidation (MEO) units have also proven to be a valuable means of treating radioactive hazardous wastewater at ambient temperatures in specific industrial processes (DWPF 1989). The US Defense Department (DWPF 1989), Chevron (Clarke & Foller 1990), Batelle Pacific Northwest (Molton et al 1988) and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Farmer et al 1992) have developed MEO processes to treat mixed wastewater streams containing radioactive, inorganic, organic and biological contaminants. (See figure 2: schematic of the MEO Process (Sequeria 1994)

Historically, either storing or incineration of hazardous wastes has been the primarily methods used in their disposal. Incineration itself is very hazardous in that it produces volatile radio nuclides. Because of this MEO processes are now an important part of the US Defense Department strategy to remediate the radioactive waste produced from many years of nuclear testing.

The use of the mineral silver for it’s anti-microbial properties is not only historically undeniable, but is rapidly becoming a mainstay in our modern world because of it’s effectiveness. As the expanding mutations of microbes resistant to “patented anti-biotics” increasingly becomes a threat to Earth’s populations, silver may very well become the most economical and effective shield against this threat.

Advanced Colloidal Silver and the other supplements we sell are not drugs and the information and opinions we offer are based upon use of these products as Dietary Supplements only. We have no doctors on staff and do not offer medical advice concerning colloidal silver, colloidal gold or any other dietary supplements. Although you may choose to supplement with colloidal silver, colloidal gold, and other mineral and vitamin supplements, we suggest that you consult a licensed physician if you believe you have a life threatening health issue. We also recommend that you do comprehensive research about colloidal silver, colloidal gold and all dietary supplements in general before accepting our opinions or the opinions of anyone else about how to care for your health.

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