About Colloidal Silver Water

Colloidal silver water has been in use even longer than conventional antibiotics for killing a variety of microorganisms. Now colloidal silver solution and related products are becoming popular for a wide array of health conditions and other purposes. What is colloidal silver, and how do the different types of solutions available differ?

Definition

Colloidal silver water is a suspension of small (in the nanometer range) metallic silver particles in water. It differs from an ionic solution of silver, in which the silver particles are dissolved rather than suspended, but many people use the term to refer to both. The smallest particles have the highest surface area and thus the most activity. The strength of a colloidal silver solution is measured in mg/l or parts per million (ppm): a 10 percent solution is 100,000 ppm. Typical solutions used as a natural antibiotic and disinfectant are in the range of 5 to 30 ppm, or occasionally as high as 250 to 500 ppm.

Production

Small amounts of silver are found in foods such as mushrooms and wheat flour, but silver is generally not ingested via food. Silver solution is produced using an electrolysis process. Both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) processes can be used, with some experts considering AC the superior option. This process typically produces ionic silver and silver nanoparticles.

History

Colloidal silver has been used for over a century for its ability to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. A 1914 study by Simpson & Hewlett showed that it could kill typhoid at only 5 ppm, and a 1918 study by Culver showed it to be effective against gonorrhea. In the 1960s it was commonly used for burn victims, especially against a form of pseudomonas bacteria. With the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s, use of colloidal silver and research into its benefits dropped off.

Uses

Various brands of colloidal silver water are available in health stores; some people even buy equipment for creating their own solutions at home. The solution is used topically for nail fungus, ringworm, burn wounds and other skin infections and injuries. It is taken internally to fight off systemic infections including candida and E. coli. Some people also use it as an eye wash, as a gargle and as a home surface sterilizer. Pet owners seeking natural alternatives to antibiotics and other prescription medications are also beginning to discover the benefits of colloidal silver.

Considerations

Some individuals, who have ingested higher doses of silver solution for an extended period, have experienced a condition called argyria, where silver is deposited in the skin. The skin then turns gray upon exposure to sunlight. This is generally a response to ingestion of silver protein solution rather than true colloidal silver. In fact, many of the products on sale have been tested and found to be primarily silver protein (which uses gelatin or protein and larger silver particles) or ionic silver rather than colloidal silver. Many companies sell colloidal silver generators, but Prof. Ronald Gibbs, director of the University of Delaware's Center for Colloidal Science for almost 20 years, warns these generators actually make ionic silver. Other scientists have also expressed concerns about the effectiveness of using a home process for making colloidal silver, especially due to the lack of consistency and standard strength for such solutions.