But ionic silver is the #1 most popular form of colloidal silver in the world today because, simply stated it’s the most effective form.

Here’s what the experts have to say about the powerful infection-fighting qualities of ionic silver:

"The antimicrobial properties of silver are due to the silver ion..."

-- Romans, I.B. 1954. Oligodynamic metals. In Antiseptics, Disinfectants, Fungicides, and Chemical and Physical Sterilization. Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 388-428.

-------------------------------------------

"Silver ions are bactericidal, antifungal, protozoicidal, and active against herpes simplex virus."

-- Russell, A.D., et al. 1994. Antimicrobial activity and action of silver. Progress in Medicinal Chemistry, 31, 351-370.

-------------------------------------------

"...the microbicidal activity of silver is significantly ion influenced.”

-- Simonetti, N., et al. 1992. Electrochemical Ag+ for preservative use. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 58(12), 3834-3836.

-------------------------------------------

"To be bactericidal, the silver must be available as a solution, and the efficacy of the solution is dependent on the concentration of silver ions present in the solution…silver is effective against a broad range of antibiotic-resistant organisms, which is expected because silver has been regularly found to be effective against antibiotic-resistant organisms”.

-- Wright, J. Barry, Lam, Kan, and Burrell, Robert E. 1998. Wound management in an era of increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance: a role for topical silver treatment. American Journal of Infection Control, 26(6), 572-577.

-------------------------------------------

“Beginning in 1973, in vitro studies demonstrated that such ions were an effective antibiotic with a very broad spectrum and favorable quantitative evaluations compared with synthetic antibiotics…The failure of other nontoxic metal ions to produce a similar alteration with the same electrical parameters strongly indicates that the electrically generated silver ion is the agent responsible for the observed cellular changes…Healing rates in these wounds are significantly accelerated and are accompanied by enhanced healing of the bone, soft tissue, nerve, and skin, with replacement of missing tissues by histologically normal tissues…The responsible agent for these cellular effects is believed to be the electrically generated silver ion”.

-- Becker, Robert O. 2000. Effects of electrically generated silver ions on human cells and wound healing. Electro- and Magnetobiology, 19(1), 1-19.)

-------------------------------------------

"Silver ions were more effective at inhibiting bacteria than platinum, gold, copper and stainless steel ions."

-- Spadaro, J.A., et al. 1974. Antibacterial effects of silver electrodes with weak direct current. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 6(5), 637-642.)

-------------------------------------------

“The Ag+ filler showed significantly more antibacterial activity than the control filler without silver ions…The findings indicate that the antibacterial effect is due to silver ions released from the Ag+-containing filler.” (Yamamoto, Kohji, et al. 1996. Antibacterial activity of silver ions implanted in silicone dioxide filler on oral Streptococci.

-- Dental Materials, 12: 227-229.

-------------------------------------------

“It has been shown shown that the ionic portion of a colloidal silver protein is the germicidal component.”

-- Sollman, Torald, and J.D. Pilcher 1924. Organic, protein and colloid silver compounds: Does the “colloidal silver” become available as antiseptic? Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine. 10:38-42.

-------------------------------------------

"...the bactericidal power of CS (colloidal silver) is due to the silver ion."

-- Uegaki, Shingo. 1930. Influence of the blood constituents on the bactericidal power of colloidal silver. Japanese Journal of Experimental Medicine. 8: 573-613.)

-------------------------------------------

"Silver is a disinfectant for non-spore forming bacteria at concentrations about 1000 times lower than the levels at which it is toxic to mammalian life. ...The ionic form of silver is necessary."

-- British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Silver, Environmental Protection Department, February 19, 1996

-------------------------------------------

“In the present paper we show that silver ions inhibit the respiratory chain of E. coli. The most sensitive site of inhibition was between the bcytochromes and cytochrome a,. A further site of inhibition was located between the site of substrate interaction with the respiratory chain and flavoprotein.”

-- “The Effect of Silver Ions on the Respiratory Chain of Escherichia coli,” P. D. Bragg and J. D. Rainnie, Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia

-------------------------------------------

“…conversion of silver to silver ions is necessary for efficacy.”

-- Albert T. McManus, MD, Chief of Microbiology, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Army Burn Center, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research

-------------------------------------------

"Ionic silver, although technically a colloidal, does seem to offer more beneficial properties than the traditional colloidal silver. Ionic silver can be generated by electrolyzing the silver metal or dissolving silver compounds and appears to have superior antimicrobial activity.

One of the reasons for this, in addition to the charge of the particles, might be that ‘silver ions in solution offer a greater surface area because of the fact that they are individual atoms, not clusters of atoms as seen in a colloid.’ This means that ‘they react more quickly and readily,’ and since they ‘are relatively smaller than colloidal particles, they will penetrate…more rapidly and effectively.’”

-- S.M. Foran, Therapeutic Properties of Silver: an Historical and Technical Review

-------------------------------------------

"Silver compounds have a wide variety of uses as caustics, astringents, antiseptics, and germicides. Their activity resides in the silver ion, which is a protein precipitant [in that] it is toxic to bacteria by precipitating the protein in the bacteria protoplasm.”

-- Handbook of the Hospital Corps of the United States Navy, 1953

-------------------------------------------

“All silver-based antimicrobials act against bacteria through the action of silver ions (Ag+). The effect of silver ions against microorganisms is well established and is referred to as the oligodynamic effect. Silver ions interact with bacteria cells through 3 mechanisms:

1. Damage cell membrane

2. Displace Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions

3. Interact with sulphur, oxygen or nitrogen

Silver ions are active against a broad range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Unique qualities of silver ions are: Low risk for bacteria resistance, effective in very low concentrations, no human toxicity”

-- Dr. Murray J. Height, Ph.D, Chief Technology Officer, HeiQ Materials, Silver Nanotechnology Working Group

-------------------------------------------

“It is the silver ion (Ag+) that provides silver with its unique recognition as the healthful metal. Its bactericidal activity is unique because though this ion breeches walls of bacterial cells, it does not do so to mammalian cells. This selectivity, which remains unclear, was perceived during ancient times leading to its universal use.”

-- Samuel F. Etris, The Silver Institute, writing in Silver Compounds

-------------------------------------------

“It has been suggested that the number of pathogens killed relates directly to the number of silver ions present…The research data confirmed that it is not the total amount of silver in suspension, but the total amount of ionized silver in solution, that determines effectiveness.”

-- Environmental Health Foundation, Silver for Human Health

-------------------------------------------

“…the principle activity of silver is as a result of the production of silver ions within an aqueous matrix… Silver ions interact with a number of components of both bacterial, protozoal and fungal cells. Toxicity to microbial cells is exhibited at very low concentrations…”

-- Technical White Paper: Antimicrobial Activity of Silver, Industrial Biological Services, Ltd.

-------------------------------------------

"Silver compounds are employed for their antiseptic and germicidal action on bacteria. The effectiveness of such preparations is due largely to the free silver ions. The higher the concentration of free ions the greater will be the germicidal effect."

-- Germicidal Efficiency of Some Silver Compounds Tested by the Improved Tissue-Culture Method, D.C. Foord, W.A. McOmie and A.J. Salle, May 1938 vol. 38 no. 4 572-574, Experimental Biology and Medicine

-------------------------------------------

[All quotes were taken from the Experts Quotes page or the Clinical Studies page at The Silver Edge web site.]

Silver Ions Rule!

The bottom line is that silver ions flat out rule.

That’s not to say other forms of colloidal silver – such as particulate, or metallic silver, or silver proteins, or silver citrate, etc. – are ineffective. They aren’t.

But they are only effective to the extent that they release silver ions in the system. The more silver ions they release, the more effective they are.

So the next time someone tries to tell you ionic silver is “ineffective,” show them this article and watch ‘em squirm.

Helpful Links:

Video: Learn How to Make Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver

.999 Fine Pure Silver Wire for Making Colloidal Silver

Get Your FREE Colloidal Silver “Safe Dosage” Report

Join the Colloidal Silver Secrets Group on Facebook

The New Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator

Subscribe to the Colloidal Silver Secrets Ezine

Make Your Own Colloidal Silver Inexpensively

Real-Life Colloidal Silver Success Stories

Colloidal Silver Update (News & Views)

The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual

The Colloidal Silver Secrets Video

Colloidal Silver Kills Viruses

Colloidal Silver Cures MRSA

Colloidal Silver Secrets blog

Meet Steve Barwick