Researching Colloidal Silver: A Must Have for Around-the-Home

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I have used colloidal silver for more than a decade. I use it daily for purifying water, healing skin conditions, for body and oral hygiene, reducing tooth pain, and disinfecting skin wounds. I had a dog named Molly who had a stubborn skin condition and with regular use of the colloid daily, it began to heal.

I have made a recipe using colloidal silver and essential oil or peppermint extract to kill bacteria whilst also freshening the mouth. It’s very easy to make when you have your setup at home, and you can make it fresh any time you choose.

Also, I have made soaps and liquid soaps using colloidal silver as the substitute for the water in the recipe. See article:

When you make your own at home, you can also use it amply for sanitizing sinks, toilets and benchtops. You can only use it this way when you have a large quantity available, this is another reason I make my own.

How I make my high-quality colloidal silver at home

The choice to buy a generator to make my colloidal silver was easy. I wanted to make my own rather than buy colloidal silver pre-made, especially since I use colloid amply. Making your own at home saves money and is fresher too.

However, it was a difficult task trying to decide which generator to buy. There were many home generators to choose from, but would they produce a high-quality colloid?

I am glad to say that we are very happy with the generator we chose. It does a great job and I have tested the colloid for quality. Watch here to see more.

Watch until the end of the video to find out what generator I use.

What makes a high-quality colloidal silver?

The information from this video is mostly derived from Professor Ronald J. Gibbs who was the director of the Center for Colloidal Science at the University of Delaware since 1981, he passed in 2000. He wrote the book ‘Silver Colloids Do They Work?’

Also, Francis S. Key is the principal scientist and founder of the Colloidal Science Laboratory which researches metal colloids.

Most ‘silver colloids’ available are actually ‘silver solutions’ because of their higher ion-to-particle ratio, most are usually 90% ionic to 10% silver particles. High-quality silver solutions still have their benefits though.

A true colloidal silver consists of at least 50%-80% silver particles and doesn’t use electrolysis for its production. Very few brands of this type of silver are available and cost more. Their production processes are not disclosed. ¹

Now that we have clarified the terms colloid and solution, I will still use the label colloidal silver.

So, all colloids consist of silver ions and silver particles. A high-quality colloid will have a higher ratio of silver particles to ions.

A high-quality colloid has smaller particle sizes, which give it a greater total surface area and therefore greater effectiveness.

The product should be in pure steam distilled water with no other dissolved substances added. De-ionized water can also be used but steam distilled is best to ensure no other microbes or potential impurities. ²

The highest quality silver products Prof. Gibbs tested were all colourless. He also concluded that a yellow colour indicated a larger particle size. This only relates to colloids which are created by electrolysis. New technology and other methods of producing colloidal silver can create a higher-quality product with more silver particles than ions. ³

Other important points

The Tyndall effects

How can you test if you have high-quality colloidal silver?

A simple way to see the silver particles in suspension is by running a laser beam through the colloid. This is called the ‘Tyndall effect’ and was first described by the 19th-century physicist John Tyndall. A good quality colloidal shows this Tyndall effect. ⁶

I did this with my colloid, and it clearly showed the suspended silver dancing in front of my eyes.

So, what happens is that the particles scatter and reflect light, making the beam visible. For the effect to occur at all means there must be nano-particles present. The stronger the beam of light, the greater the number of nanoparticles in suspension. ⁹

A weak Tyndall effect suggests that there are very little to no particles, and in this case, it would be a silver solution, not a colloid.

History

Let’s delve into some historical facts regarding colloidal silver.

Colloidal silver has been used extensively throughout history for thousands of years, as far back as ancient Greece and Rome.
Silver benefits were reaped by using silver cutlery, silver vessels and silver coins. Silver coins were dropped into milk to keep it fresh.
The rich used silver dishware, cutlery, and drinking vessels to eat their food to keep bacteria away.
In the Middle Ages, the wealthy used silver as part of their eating and dining experience to protect them from catching the plague.
Silver was also used to prevent wine spoilage and to keep water fresh
Settlers from the Australian outback suspended silverware in their water tanks for the same reasons.
Pioneering trekkers traveling across the American West dropped a silver coin into their water bottles to keep them fresh and bacteria-free.
In the 1800s doctors used silver in sutures to heal and treat surgical wounds.
Also, silver leaf was used to heal wounds and combat infection in World War 1 troops.
Colloidal silver was popular by the 1900s, with many products being sold on the market for many infectious diseases; for oral, iv, and topical use.
Colloidal silver has also been used extensively in hospitals especially before 1940, when the use of antibiotics came in.
Silver is still used today: filters used to purify water from fountains in airplanes for germ free water.
It is also used by the Soviets to sterilize recycled water and to replace chlorine in pools with no side effects or risks to health.

These historical facts were derived from:

Here are some important benefits regarding the use of colloidal silver in different applications:

Can kill over 650 bacteria, parasites, moulds and fungi that could lead to illness. It is stated to be far more effective than antibiotics, where organisms adapt and become resistant. (Larry C. Ford, the M.D. UCLA Medical Test on Colloidal Silver Water 2012) ²
Silver nanoparticles have emerged as one of the best agents for the disinfection of water as it does not produce any by-products. These particles have strong disinfection properties against microorganisms. ⁶
Heals skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, burns and open infected wounds (Robert O. Becker, M.D) and (Dr. Axe) ^4,2
Kills viruses and boosts the immune, kills the common cold and the flu, HIV, AIDS, herpes, shingles and warts, hepatitis C. He states that colloidal silver works by ‘suffocating’ viruses, bacteria and fungi. (Dr. Martin Hum, Institute for Optimum Nutrition). ^2,5
Respiratory related illnesses, fights against bronchitis and pneumonia, allergies and asthma. These ailments may be caused by pathogens. Studies have indicated that colloidal silver works to destroy them by inhalation (Dr. Axe). ²
Infections, effective against sinus and ear infections as well as pink eye (inflammation of the surface and lining of the eye) (Dr. Axe). ³
I have found it useful in oral care and to reduce tooth pain

Facts listed derived from:

Positive Health Online | Article – Colloidal Silver – Antimicrobial, Antifungal and Antiviral Mechanisms with Clinical Actions
Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, RND, PhD., EAS Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Pg 52,53
Pink Eye Symptoms (and 8 Natural Conjunctivitis Remedies) – Dr. Axe (draxe.com)
Ringworm Treatment: Try These 6 Natural Remedies – Dr. Axe (draxe.com)
10 Silver Benefits and Uses Backed By Science | HuffPost Contributor
An overview of silver nano-particles as promising materials for water disinfection – ScienceDirect
Dr. Abhishek Kumar Bhardwaj, Environmental Technology & Innovation, Volume 23, August 2021, 101721

I hope that my research has shed some light on colloidal silver, and I do hope you find the best way to make your colloidal silver and use it for many different applications for yourself, your family, pets, and around the home.

Other sources used for both the video and article: