User's Guide to Colloidal Silver

A USER’S GUIDE TO COLLOIDAL SILVER

 

What exactly is colloidal silver?

 

        Colloidal silver is a suspension of very small particles of silver, 1 to 1000 nanometers in diameter, in water.  The particles are small enough that they stay suspended in the water for an indefinite time, without settling to the bottom.  Only a very slight haziness in the water may be visible to the naked eye, and there is a slight yellow cast.  A laser pointer directed through a clear glass of colloidal silver will reveal that there is something in the water, because you will be able to see the beam of light, in a darkened room.  The same light shone through a glass of plain water will reveal no visible light in the water.  This is the “Tyndall Effect,” discovered by John Tyndall during the 19th century.


                                                                                

 

        The clear yellow color of colloidal silver is somewhat mysterious because it does not appear until later in the process of making the colloidal silver, and the color deepens over the next few days.  While colloidal silver lasts indefinitely as long as it does not freeze, the yellow color seems to be only a stage that the liquid goes through, and it can fade completely; often changing to orange, pink or blue/grey before becoming clear.  The cause of the change in color is unknown, but it may be the result of natural or manmade radio waves.  Silver can very sensitive to light waves from the ultraviolet, to the visible, to x-rays.  Before digital photography was invented, silver was the key component of photographic film and print paper.  Once, when I was taking a course in black-and-white photography, I accidentally turned on the lights in the classroom before the instructor closed her box which contained a few sheets of white photographic print paper.  Later, when we developed the paper, it turned completely black!  Silver is used to make x-ray film, and radiation detectors.

        If you want to store colloidal silver for an extended period of time, it is best to keep the bottles inside a metal tin, such as a cookie or popcorn tin, with the lid tightly closed.  The color of the liquid does not indicate its strength; even when clear, colloidal silver retains its metallic taste, its electrical conductivity and its effectiveness.  Colloidal silver never spoils because it contains nothing but pure water and high-purity silver; nothing which could support bacteria.


What can colloidal silver do?


 

 

        Colloidal silver is a germicidal liquid which can kill pathogens, but has a gentle, soothing characteristic.  In contrast to alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, colloidal silver does not have a drying, bleaching or burning effect.  Germs do not build resistance to colloidal silver the way they do to pharmaceutical antibiotics.   Silver will always continue to kill germs because its effectiveness is based upon its electrical properties.

 

        To learn about the applications for colloidal silver, you must do your own research, because this writer is not licensed to give medical advice.  People are welcome to research how colloidal silver has been used in the historical book by Alfred Searle, The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease,[1]   and even in the review section at this site.

 

        Colloidal silver has an amazing refreshing and soothing effect when used as a nasal mist, throat spray, or swallowed, even in very small amounts.

 

How to use colloidal silver.

 

        You will have to do your own research and sometimes be able to read between the lines to understand how to use colloidal silver for your own, or for a family member’s benefit.  By law, Purevon™ can not give medical advice, or address any specific ailments.  General guidelines have been written by others, and I suggest that you look at Defy Your Doctor and be Healed, by Thomas and Sarah Corriher, for the best available information about colloidal silver and its use.  “During times of sickness, we recommend using 3 fluid ounces of colloidal silver, twice a day. Best results can be achieved by holding the colloidal silver in the mouth for a minute before swallowing it. This technique allows some silver to penetrate through the walls of the mouth, and directly into the bloodstream. Expect for it to have a metallic aftertaste.”[2]  My own experience with colloidal silver has been that the metallic aftertaste is only mildly disagreeable, and is more than made-up for by the clean feeling that its germicidal effect leaves behind.  Colloidal silver makes an excellent throat spray.  When used as a nasal mist, the clearing and soothing effect is gentle.  Colloidal silver can also be prepared for use as eye-drops; further information is available at healthwyze.org.

 

 

Real colloidal silver or an unknown potion?

 

        Colloidal silver has a very narrow definition; it is only water + silver, and the silver must be made of particles within the narrow size range of 1 to 1000 nanometers in diameter.  It may be true that the largest permissible particle size can be as much as 1000 times the size of the smallest. As a practical matter, though, a nanometer is only one millionth the size of a millimeter; and 1000 nanometers are only 1 thousandth of a millimeter in length.

 

        Colloidal silver is made by electrolysis, which is simply the passing of an electric current through water, using silver as electrodes.  The electric current causes the silver electrodes to dissolve into the water.  Particles of silver can be observed falling away from the silver electrodes, forming a cloud in the water.  Particles too large to remain suspended simply settle to the bottom of the container and will be filtered out when the batch is completed.  The process of electrolysis causes an electrochemical reaction to take place in the liquid, and the product of the reaction depends upon all of the materials in use; especially the liquid.  To obtain pure colloidal silver, we use pure distilled water and high-purity silver.  If anything else were to be added to the water, the additive could become a part of the electrochemical reaction taking place.  The product would then be altered; something other than colloidal silver would be created.  Many colloidal silver producers are now claiming that their products have extremely high concentrations of colloidal silver, 200, 500 or even 1000 parts per million or more.  Such high concentrations are not likely achieved by ordinary electrolysis.  The ingredients lists of some such products claim that a “protein” has been added.  If anything at all has been added to the product, it is not colloidal silver.

 

        Colloidal silver should be made from high-purity, 99.9% (also known as “three-nines”) silver.  Anyone who has studied modern health issues extensively, will be aware of the dangers of metal toxicity.  Using silver wire in making colloidal silver, is like playing “Russian roulette” because, with all of the imported wire coming from unspecified suppliers, there is no practical way to be certain that it meets standards.  Purevon™ uses only pure silver bullion supplied by a leading, reputable dealer.

  

The history of colloidal silver.



 

        Colloidal silver has had a tortured history in Western medicine; it is known to have been used as a medicine during the 19th and early 20th centuries.  It was regularly prescribed by doctors.  Colloidal silver was a proven general remedy for a number of human pathogens.  Something happened around the 1930s.  For what could only have been malevolent motives, colloidal silver was removed from the physician’s desk reference book of medicines, and taken out of common use by the medical community.  Silver is a natural substance which cannot be patented.  New patents were being issued for antibiotic drugs which could be pushed in place of colloidal silver.  Much of the knowledge base surrounding colloidal silver must have been lost or destroyed, because I can find next-to-nothing in the way of useful information about colloidal silver in a large university library which otherwise has an extensive collection in the fields of science.  Gone, as well, are the advanced Tyndall meters which had been used to test the concentration of colloidal silver.

        Colloidal silver could be one of the best secrets to health in our modern world of out-of-control disease.  As the owner of Purevon™, I am proud to be able to offer true colloidal silver, which I hope is setting the modern standard for what colloidal silver is.

 

Brian Humphreys,

PUREVON



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 


How much colloidal silver should I use, and how often?

“During times of sickness, we recommend using 3 fluid ounces of colloidal silver, twice a day. Best results can be achieved by holding the colloidal silver in the mouth for a minute before swallowing it. This technique allows some silver to penetrate through the walls of the mouth, and directly into the bloodstream. Expect for it to have a metallic aftertaste.”

Corriher, C. Thomas; Corriher, Sarah Cain (2013-12-23). Defy Your Doctor and Be Healed (Kindle Locations 4821-4824). Health Wyze Media. Kindle Edition.

 

Is colloidal silver safe to drink?

“It might be suggested that a liquid containing only one part of colloidal metal in 2,000 of fluid would be too weak to be of use, but this is not the case. There are at least 20,000 million active particles of metal in 1 cc. (=15 drops) of properly prepared colloidal silver of this concentration, and one great advantage of colloidal elements in such a low concentration is their complete harmlessness to the patient.”

Searle, Alfred B., The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease, p. 73, Constable & Company, Ltd., London, 1920.

 

Is Silver in a Bottle colloidal or ionic silver?

Silver in a Bottle is colloidal silver.  Colloidal silver is defined as a suspension of microscopic to molecular dimension particles in liquid.  "Ionic" particles is a term used by electrochemists to refer to a particle which has an electric charge.  The definitions of "colloid" and "ion" are not mutually exclusive; a colloidal solution may contain traces of ions, but unlike an ionic solution, will have visible color and a degree of cloudiness.

 

What size are the particles of silver suspended in the water?

In a colloidal solution, particles are held in suspension by the molecular motion of the particles and the liquid.  I know of no way to directly measure the size of the silver particles suspended in water, but U.C. Davis defines "colloid" as:

"A colloid is a solution that has particles ranging between 1 and 1000 nanometers in diameter, yet are still able to remain evenly distributed throughout the solution."

http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Core/Physical_Chemistry/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Solutions_and_Mixtures/Colloid

All colloidal solutions will range in particle sizes.  As the colloidal silver is made, the size of the particles increases as more silver particles are produced, increasing the conductivity of the solution; albeit, ever so slightly.  Even the conductivity test is not 100% reliable, but we also time the process, and observe the color of the product after it has set for a few days, to assure consistent results.


Is the bottle made of glass or plastic?

Silver in a Bottle is offered in both glass, and plastic bottles.  The plastic bottles are made of PET plastic, which is one of the safest plastics because it contains no BPA.  It is widely used for foods and beverages; bottled juices, soft drinks, etc.  I could find no information to show that the plastic would have any harmful effect on the product or the user.  We decided to use the plastic bottle because it is less breakable than glass and lighter in weight.  Since the bottles are shipped my mail, the plastic bottle lowers the price.  I wanted to be able to offer a good sized bottle at a reasonable price, knowing that many people would be ordering more than one bottle.  Glass bottles are available and can be ordered at a minimally higher price; the postage is not always significantly higher, depending upon the destination.  Glass bottles seem to be generally considered to be the best, especially for long-term storage.

 

How long can I keep colloidal silver?

“A good batch of colloidal silver should last for years, because the silver itself is a powerful preservative.”

Corriher, C. Thomas; Corriher, Sarah Cain (2013-12-23). Defy Your Doctor and Be Healed (Kindle Location 4834). Health Wyze Media. Kindle Edition.

It is recommended that colloidal silver be stored away from strong radio waves, x-rays and ultraviolet light, including strong sunlight.  It should not be allowed to freeze, but cool temperatures are not harmful.  The pale yellow color of colloidal silver is somewhat delicate, and can be affected by electromagnetic waves and temperature extremes.  Silver is the basic ingredient in photographic and dental x-ray film, and it seems to be sensitive to radiation.  Tests have shown that even when colloidal silver loses its characteristic yellow tint, it does not lose its strength.  Avoid leaving on granite countertops because granite is radioactive.  If possible, store in a warm, dark place to protect from ultraviolet light.

 

What are the benefits of colloidal silver?

FDA regulations do not allow sellers of colloidal silver to market their products as an antibiotic, but colloidal silver has a long history. “While silver is now labeled as an alternative medicine, it was once used widely in hospitals as the premiere antiseptic and antibiotic. It is still used in hospital burn centers for its incredible ability to heal burns more rapidly than steroids. We were astounded when witnessing it eliminate a sunburn in the span of just an hour, and a burnt tongue within minutes.”

Corriher, C. Thomas; Corriher, Sarah Cain (2013-12-23). Defy Your Doctor and Be Healed (Kindle Locations 4589-4591). Health Wyze Media. Kindle Edition.

 

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[1] Searle, Alfred B., The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease, pp. 83, 85, and 86, Constable & Company, Ltd., London, 1920.  A pdf copy of the book is available for free download from the archives page at healthwyze.org.

 

[2] Corriher, C. Thomas; Corriher, Sarah Cain (2013-12-23). Defy Your Doctor and Be Healed (Kindle Locations 4821-4824). Health Wyze Media. Kindle Edition.