The Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
About Making and Using Colloidal Silver
QUESTION: How is colloidal silver made?
ANSWER: Here's how it's done: Two small strands of .999 fine pure silver wire are dangled into a small glass container of pure distilled water. A colloidal silver generator is then attached to the two silver wires. The colloidal silver generator will send a specially calibrated low-voltage current of electricity into the silver wires. The low voltage electricity passing through the silver wires drives tiny, microscopic silver particles into the water, suspending them in the water with an electrical charge. This is called the electro-colloidal process. The end result is a pure colloidal silver solution.
QUESTION: How long do the two strands of .999 fine pure silver wire that come with each generator last?
ANSWER: Your silver wire will usually last for up to a full year, depending upon how often you make colloidal silver and whether you make normal 10 to 20 ppm batches, or make stronger concentrations which use up more silver per batch.
QUESTION: Can you use sterling silver instead of pure .999 fine silver to make the colloidal silver solution?
ANSWER: Experts tell us that you should NEVER use sterling silver to make colloidal silver. Apparently, sterling silver contains nickel, which is used as a hardening agent. We are told that nickel is extremely toxic to the human nervous system. So, to avoid problems with toxicity, you should always use .999 fine pure silver wire when making colloidal silver.
QUESTION: How do you know when it is time to replace your silver wires?
ANSWER: After many months of usage they will eventually begin to grow very thin and brittle and start breaking up. When they become so thin and brittle that they begin to break up, you should replace them with a new set.
QUESTION: Where can I purchase the .999 fine pure silver wire?
ANSWER: Sometimes you can get it from jewelry stores, but usually the prices are exorbitant. You can purchase pure .999 fine silver wire from The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals at 1-888-528-0559 for very reasonable prices. (Click here to go to our Silver Wire Price Chart.) Replacement sets of pure .999 fine 14 gauge silver wire are available for only $20 each plus s&h for the Battery Operated unit and the AC/DC unit, and only $25 each plus s&h for the "Big Batch" unit (because it uses nine inch lengths of pure silver rather than the standard six-inch lengths). Replacement sets for the new "Micro-Particle" unit are also $25 plus s&h (because it uses the significantly thicker and heavier 12 gauge .999 fine pure silver wire). Remember, each set of pure .999 fine silver wire will last you for up to a full year under normal usage. By purchasing the pure silver wire in bulk quantities you can get it even cheaper: For users of the Battery Operated generator, the AC/DC generator or the "Big Batch" generator, you can get a five foot roll of pure .999 fine 14 gauge silver wire only $75 plus s&h (which reduces the price to only $15/ft.), or a 10 foot roll for only $130 plus s&h (which reduces the price to only $13/ft.), or a 20 foot roll for only $220 plus s&h (which reduces the price to only $11/ft.). Or, for users of the new "Micro-Particle" generator, you can get a five foot roll of the heavier pure .999 fine 12 gauge silver wire for only $100 plus s&h (which reduces the price to only $20/ft.), or a 10 foot roll for only $180 plus s&h (which reduces the price to only $18/ft.) or a 20 foot roll for only $320 plus s&h (which reduces the price to only $16/ft.). Frankly, one person would be hard-pressed to use 20 feet of pure silver wire in an entire lifetime, unless you were making and selling your colloidal silver commercially or supplying your whole neighborhood during an extended crisis. Most people purchase an additional 5 or 10 feet, which will last you for up to five to ten years, or longer, depending upon how frequently you make colloidal silver. Again, to take advantage of these lower bulk prices just call The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals at 1-888-528-0559.
QUESTION: Instead of using distilled water, can you make colloidal silver with other kinds of water, like bottled water, well water, or reverse osmosis filtered water?
ANSWER: Absolutely not. We are told you should use only pure steam distilled water, which is available from most supermarkets or at Wal-Mart for around a dollar a gallon. Water from an underground well -- no matter how "pure" it has tested -- is still full of dissolved mineral content. Filtered water -- even water that has been run through a reverse osmosis system -- still contains dissolved minerals that can affect the quality and purity of your colloidal silver. Same with bottled water. Only pure steam distilled water is free of all contaminants, including dissolved minerals. What's more, if you fail to use pure steam-distilled water when making colloidal silver, or use an inferior quality steam-distilled water such as that produced with a home distiller, you may end up with overly large particles of silver. The colloidal silver particle size estimates used throughout this report are based upon Transmission Electron Microscopy studies from independent laboratories which tested colloidal silver samples prepared with pure steam-distilled water. You should not count on being able to produce similar high quality colloidal silver with the colloidal silver generators distributed by The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals if you fail to use pure steam-distilled water. What's more, the higher the quality of the steam-distilled water you use, the closer you will get to the particle size estimates discussed.
QUESTION: Won't pure steam distilled water "go bad" in storage if I don't use any for awhile?
ANSWER: No. Just store it in the plastic container you purchased it in, and keep the lid on. It will not go bad in storage.
QUESTION: Is it okay to distill your own water, and if so, where can I get a good counter top water distiller?
ANSWER: Certainly, it is okay to steam distill your own water, if you can match the quality of the steam distilled water available through commercial sources. Unfortunately, it is time-consuming and cost-prohibitive. It can take anywhere from three to five hours to properly steam distill a single gallon of tap water using a good home water distiller. Lots of mail order and internet companies sell counter-top water distillers, but frankly, many of these units do a very poor job of removing the mineral content from the water, in spite of the glowing claims made by the people who sell them. When you consider the fact that pure, professionally-produced steam-distilled water is only about 75 cents a gallon or less at Wal-Mart, and that a good home water distiller will cost you close to $750 or more, you'll see that it may be easier and far cheaper to simply purchase your distilled water commercially. You could purchase 1,000 gallons of distilled water for under $750 at Wal-Mart. Naturally, you are never going to need to make and drink 1,000 gallons of colloidal silver in your lifetime. The point is, why spend $750 or more on a home water distiller when the results are frequently uncertain, and when by contrast professionally made, steam-distilled water is so cheap and so easily obtainable at your local supermarket or discount store? What's more, as noted several questions earlier, absolutely pure steam distilled water is required in order to produce colloidal silver solutions containing the relatively small particle size ranges discussed throughout this report. It is unlikely you can produce such high-quality steam-distilled water with a typical home water distiller.
QUESTION: How do you store colloidal silver?
ANSWER: We are told by the experts that you should always store colloidal silver in darkly tinted glass bottles at room temperature. Because silver is very sensitive to light, you must keep it out of the light as much as possible. Storing it in darkly tinted glass bottles in a kitchen cabinet is fine. We have listed sources for darkly tinted glass bottles below. Additionally, never refrigerate colloidal silver. Refrigeration slows the electrical charge on the silver particles and causes them to drop out of suspension in the water. Keeping your colloidal silver at room temperature is always best. Avoid excessive heat and excessive cold whenever possible. Also, do not store it close to electrical or magnetic influences such as the television, radio, stereo speakers (which have large magnets in them) etc. All of these factors can seriously weaken the electrical charge on the silver particles, and render your solution less potent.
QUESTION: Where can I get the darkly tinted glass bottles in which to store my colloidal silver?
ANSWER: If your local health food store can't help you find the 16 ounce amber glass "Boston round" bottles with plastic lids, you can order them by the case (12 bottles to the case) for about $30 or so from Consolidated Plastics Company. Their toll-free telephone number is: 1-800-362-1000. Another source is Industrial Containers at 1-800-748-4250. And even another source is Essential Supplies at 1-562-997-9777. Or, you can go to your local supermarket and purchase a quart glass bottle of prune juice, which almost always comes in amber or green tinted bottles. We simply dump the prune juice out, rinse the bottle thoroughly, and use it to store colloidal silver in. Other customers tell us that empty wine or beer bottles work great. Just stop them up with a cork or rubber stopper. (Wal-Mart and other discount stores sell small packages of cork or rubber "bottle stoppers" for about $2.00 a package.) In a pinch, you can store your colloidal silver in a plain glass jar, such as a mayonnaise jar, and simply place the jar inside of a brown paper bag to keep the light out. Since jars like this often have metal lids, be sure you don't fill your jar to the brim with colloidal silver, because you don't want your silver solution coming into prolonged contact with the metal. Instead, only fill such a jar to within an inch or so of the top. If a little splashes and briefly touches the metal lid, that's not going to hurt a thing - it is prolonged contact with metal (such as through stirring with a metal spoon) that can cause the silver particles to lose their electrical charge, and thus their potency.
QUESTION: How long can you store colloidal silver before it loses its potency?
ANSWER: It depends upon the quality of the silver you have made, and the storage conditions. High quality colloidal silver produced solely with pure steam-distilled water will store far longer and retain full potency longer than colloidal silver produced with poor quality water (such as reverse osmosis, well water, etc) or with saline solution. Generally speaking, a high-quality colloidal silver solution such as those produced by the colloidal silver generators distributed by The Silver Edge Healtlh & Nutritionals will easily store for well up to six months in a dark kitchen cabinet at room temperature, and retain the vast majority of its potency during that time. However, under poor storage conditions potency loss can begin after only a few weeks to a few months. You may even begin to see silver particles that have slowly fallen out of suspension and have dropped to the bottom of your storage bottle, lightly coating the bottom of the bottle with a very fine silvery-grey lining. Ultimately, ALL colloidal silver particles begin slowly and gradually losing their electrical charge from the moment they are driven off the silver wire by the tiny electrical current. It may take many weeks or even many months, but eventually the gradual loss of electrical charge on the silver particles begins to weaken the potency of the batch as particles slowly begin to fall out of suspension. We are told that for this reason, when fighting an active infection, freshly made colloidal silver is always best. Conditions that contribute to the gradual loss of the electrical charge on silver particles include, but are not limited to: exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures, exposure to sunlight or artificial light, exposure to electrical fields or magnetic fields in the home (this is why experts recommend storing colloidal silver away from microwave ovens, televisions, radios or stereo speakers with large magnets in them), and even prolonged exposure to ambient household static electricity. Storing your colloidal silver solution away from such contributing factors can vastly increase the length of time it will remain fully potent. Colloidal silver solutions produced with the new "Micro-Particle" Home Colloidal Silver Generator, using pure steam-distilled water and no saline solution, are remarkably stable compared to standard colloidal silver solutions. We have seen micro-particle colloidal silver, stored in a clear glass quart-sized jar in a kitchen cabinet, last for well over a year in storage without producing any apparent fall out or loss of potency in spite of daily exposure to artificial room light for short periods of time as the cabinet was opened and closed. Placing the same silver solution in bright sunlight for 45 minutes also produced no discernible fallout of silver particles. This is unusual stability for a colloidal silver solution. If long-term storage under imperfect conditions is your main goal, the new "Micro-Particle" unit is your best choice.
QUESTION: Where can I get more sea salt for use in making colloidal silver?
ANSWER: Almost any good health food store will carry Celtic Sea Salt, or DeSouza's Solar Sea Salt for about $2 per pound. The main thing is to purchase a high-quality sea salt with no additives or preservatives. Make sure it is non-iodized sea salt. If you cannot find it at your local health food store, you can order it directly from: DeSouza's Solar Sea Salt Company, P.O. Box 395, Beaumont, CA 92223. Their toll-free number is: 1-800-373-5171. In a pinch, you really don't need sea salt at all to make colloidal silver. When you are ready to make your next batch, instead of adding the saline drops to the glass of distilled water, just add about two ounces of colloidal silver from your previous batch to it. Then run your generator as usual. In other words, rather than using the sea salt drops to stimulate electrical conductivity, you can use a few ounces of colloidal silver solution from a previous batch for the same purpose - it works like a charm!
QUESTION: How long will the batteries in my Battery-Operated Home Colloidal Silver Generator last, and how do I know when to replace them?
ANSWER: Your batteries should last anywhere from six to nine months, depending upon how often you make colloidal silver and how long you let your generator run each time. A good way to test your batteries is to briefly touch the two alligator clips on your generator together, while watching to see if the little LED light on your generator box begins to glow. If it glows brightly when you touch the two alligator clips together, your batteries are still good. If it glows very dimly, or not at all, it is probably time to change your batteries. Please keep in mind that only the Battery-Operated generator and the AC/DC generator use batteries (the AC/DC unit offers optional line-power). The "Big Batch" generator and the new "Micro-Particle" generator do not use batteries at all -- they are strictly household electrical line-powered units (i.e., they plug in to your household electricity just like a toaster or can opener). To learn more about these unique units go to the "Links" section above and click the link for "Colloidal Silver Generators."
QUESTION: How do I replace the batteries in my generator?
ANSWER: It is very simple. If you have a Battery Operated generator or an AC/DC generator, just remove the four screws at the bottom of the generator box, and take the lid off. (If using the AC/DC generator, be sure the unit is unplugged before you remove the lid!) You will see the three 9-volt batteries inside. Look at them carefully to see how they are arranged in the little box. Take them out and replace them with your new batteries.
QUESTION: Where can I get replacement batteries for my Battery Operated generator?
ANSWER: The little 9-volt batteries can be purchased inexpensively at Wal-Mart, or just about any drug store, hardware store or discount store. If you would like to make a bulk purchase so you have plenty of extras on hand, you can order them through Mouser Electronics at 1-800-346-6873. The last time we checked, their heavy duty carbon zinc "Supercell" 9-volt batteries (stock # 573-1604S) were only 74 cents apiece in quantities up to 100. That's a significant savings over regular store prices.
QUESTION: I read somewhere on the internet that using sea salt as an electrolyte to make colloidal silver will result in the production of colloidal silver chloride rather than colloidal silver. The article said that colloidal silver chloride can be harmful, and that therefore, sea salt should never be used to make colloidal silver. Is this true?
ANSWER: We've seen that article too. But just because something appears on the internet doesn't make it true. The truth is, you can indeed make colloidal silver chloride when you use saline solution as your electrolyte. This is because when some of the colloidal silver particles are joined electrically with some of the salt (i.e., sodium chloride) in the water, they form a bond -- colloidal silver chloride. But in terms of toxicity to human cells and tissues colloidal silver chloride is inert. That is, under normal use it has no toxic action whatsoever. It is apparently completely harmless. So much so that we could find absolutely NO toxicity listings for colloidal silver chloride in ANY of the major registries of toxic substances. There is no toxicological profile listing for it in the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). No toxicological profile listing for it in the ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). No toxicological profile listing for it in the HCDUA (Hazardous Chemical Database of the University of Akron, Department of Chemistry). And no toxicological profile listing for it with NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health). The well-known independent colloidal silver researcher Daryl Tichy has spent years studying the bottom line data from the medical journals and other scientific research that has been conducted on colloidal silver since the early 1900's. And he has conducted his own independent clinical laboratory research as well. He points out that a researcher named Leonard Herschberg at Johns Hopkins University was one of the first scientists of his time to advocate the use of sea salt to make electrically prepared colloidal silver. This was way back in 1916-1918, when much of the original medical research on colloidal silver was being undertaken. And in none of this early research was any toxicity or harm found from using colloidal silver made with the saline solution. Later, there were a number of very significant medical studies using a pure "colloidal silver chloride" solution with the brand name of Lunasol - a Latin name which can be roughly translated "moon solution." It was so-named because of the bright silvery mist coming off the silver electrodes in the water, due to the use of the saline solution as an electrolyte. Dr. Robert O. Becker, MD, formerly of Syracuse Medical University, used to lay pure silver mesh wire into the infected wounds of his patients. He would then take a low-voltage electrical apparatus much like one of the little home colloidal silver generators, and hook it up to the silver mesh. In essence, he was using the patient's own bodily fluids as the liquid medium in which to generate the silver particles! The silver particles were in this manner driven deeply into the tissues of his patients. And according to Dr. Becker, his patients were miraculously healed of their "incurable" infections, often within weeks. But here's the point: Do you know what one of the most predominant ingredients of human bodily fluids is? It's SALT. That's right. This means Dr. Becker was actually making silver chloride right inside his patient's own bodily fluids! And as he reported in his published medical studies, in no case was there ever any harm or toxicity whatsoever to his patients. There were no cells, tissues or organs harmed, even with all of that "silver chloride" being driven directly into their body tissues. There was no toxicity, even though the silver particles were being generated in heavily salt-laden bodily fluids. Yet the same bunch of yahoos on the internet who have the audacity to quote from Dr. Becker's medical research on the use of electrically generated silver particles in healing infections, will then turn around and tell you not to use salt when making your own colloidal silver! Finally, even if you ingest colloidal silver made without saline solution, as soon as it enters your body it mixes and bonds with the highly saline content of your bodily fluids anyway. So, we must ask, what's the difference?
QUESTION: Do you absolutely have to use the "sea salt" to make colloidal silver?
ANSWER: No, you certainly don't. In fact, with the notable exception of the brand new Micro-Particle Home Colloidal Silver Generator (which has been solely designed to make ultra-small silver particles as low as .0008 microns in size) you can easily make colloidal silver with or without sea salt when using the high-quality colloidal silver generators distributed by the Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals. Let's take a brief look at the chief differences between colloidal silver produced with and without the saline "starter solution."
The chief benefit of using the saline solution to make colloidal silver is that it helps dramatically speed up the colloidal silver making process. Adding a tiny amount of sea salt to the water acts as an electrolyte, which means it acts as a conductor of electricity. By using about four small drops of saline solution in a 16-oz. glass container filled with pure steam-distilled water, the electrical process is greatly enhanced, and the silver particles can be driven off the positive silver electrode with greater ease and speed by the electrical current. Again, this method of producing colloidal silver was first recommended by Leonard Herschberg at Johns Hopkins University way back in 1916-18. It allows you to produce a good high-quality concentration of approximately 10 ppm (parts per million) colloidal silver in only about 10 minutes. Without the use of the saline starter solution, producing a similar 16-ounce batch would take a full hour. Hence, if time is an issue (such as in a serious case of food poisoning when quick access to medical help may be unavailable for some reason, and a batch of freshly made colloidal silver may be the only reasonable short-term option), the use of saline solution can come in extremely handy.
The chief downside to the use of saline solution -- if it can really be called a "downside" -- is particle agglomeration. This simply means that the mineralized sea salt will cause some of the silver particles to bond with others, forming larger particle agglomerates. There is quite a bit of controversy over this issue. Some opponents of the use of saline solution claim that when silver particles agglomerate, the bond is somehow "fixed," resulting in a colloidal silver solution composed of excessively large silver particles. But other researchers point out that the bond between the silver particles is actually a weak covalent bond held together by the electrolytic properties of the minerals in the sea salt. These weak bonds are easily broken once the silver solution is ingested and the silver particles come into contact with other electrolytic minerals inside the human body. As noted colloidal silver researcher Mark Metcalf (whose mentor was the renowned physicist Dr. Bob Beck, inventor of the original battery-operated colloidal silver generator) has pointed out in the past, as the agglomerated silver particles make their way through the human body, this weak covalent bond between the silver particles and various minerals is broken and re-established many times, over and over again. This is because, as the positively charged silver particles come into contact with numerous other electrolytic minerals of varying electrical potentials, they will release their bonds with any weakly charged minerals and form new bonds with the more strongly charged minerals. In essence, it is the salts and other electrolytic minerals bonded to the silver particles that carry the silver particles throughout the body, from one end to the other, bringing them into contact with colonies of pathogenic microorganisms along the way. This is how colloidal silver "travels," so to speak, throughout the body. Opponents of this view simply claim that non-agglomerated silver particles are more effective because they are not "hindered" by any mineral bond caused by the use of the saline solution. But proponents counter that the moment non-agglomerated silver particles enter the highly saline and mineral-laden environment of the human body, they bond with other electrolytic minerals anyway, much as they would have if saline solution had been used in their production in the first place.
As an experiment to demonstrate how easily silver particles bond with the minerals in sea salt (which approximates the mineral content of the fluids of the human body), all you have to do is make a batch of colloidal silver without using saline solution (frequently called "no salt" colloidal silver). Afterwards, add a small pinch of sea salt to it. You will instantly see the formation of a light silvery-cloud in the water. That's because the silver particles immediately begin bonding with the salt. That is the nature of electrically charged silver particles, whether inside the highly saline environment of the human body, or in a saline solution outside of the human body. All of which begs the following question: What's the difference between whether colloidal silver particles agglomerate with minerals during the production process due to the use of saline solution, or do so once ingested due to the high salinity and mineral content of the human body? Either way, the loosely agglomerated silver particles are carried through the human body by their mineral "hosts," breaking and forming new mineral bonds along the way, and coming into contact with colonies of pathogenic microorganisms in the process.
Another disadvantage to colloidal silver produced with the use of saline solution is that it does not remain potent as long during storage. (See previous question above on storage and potency of colloidal silver.)
The bottom line is that in spite of the sometimes furious debate over this issue, both saline-produced colloidal silver, and "no salt" colloidal silver have been used with phenomenal effectiveness for many decades against mild to severe infections. Indeed, as documented in chapter 11 of The New Colloidal Silver Manual (sold through Life & Health Research Group, Inc. at: 1-888-846-9029), there are over nine decades worth of medical studies to prove it.
Making colloidal silver without saline solution simply requires more time. That's because without the minerals from the sea salt, you have far less electrolytic activity in the water right from the start. Indeed, as noted above it takes about an hour to make a similar 10 ppm batch of colloidal silver when not using the saline solution. This is because, with no saline electrolyte "starter solution" in the water to get the process moving quickly, you are basically dependent for electrolysis upon the tiny silver particles coming slowly off the positive silver electrode. As the silver particles slowly come off of the electrode, they add mineral content to the water, thereby gradually increasing electrolysis as well as gradually increasing the rate at which additional silver particles are released into the water. Because this process is much slower than when plenty of mineral electrolyte (in the form of saline solution) is added to the solution right from the beginning, it takes significantly longer to get a comparable batch of colloidal silver.
Many people feel that "no salt" colloidal silver is superior in both quality and effectiveness due to the fact that you will have fewer agglomerated particles in the solution. All things being equal, this still begs the question of what happens to individual silver particles once they are ingested and come into contact with the highly saline and highly mineralized environment of the human body. It should be obvious by now that once ingested, colloidal silver particles made without the saline solution simply bond to other minerals inside the human body, much as they would have if saline solution had been used in the colloidal silver making process to begin with.
And while "no salt" colloidal silver may indeed be more effective for many people, others tell us they experience far more successful results with colloidal silver that has been produced with the saline solution. In fact, many people absolutely swear by it. This obviously has more to do with biological individuality than with any other factor. No one's body responds exactly the same way to any substance. One person fighting a certain infection may respond best to "no salt" colloidal silver, while another person fighting a similar infection may respond best to colloidal silver produced with the saline solution. This apparent dichotomy may be due to any number of factors, including the pH of their bodily fluids, subtle differences in their body temperatures, differing states of metabolism or even their body's own unique electro-magnetic potentials.
This is exactly why The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals has chosen to distribute high-quality home colloidal silver generators that have been specially calibrated to give you the option of making colloidal silver either way: with or without the saline solution. When you purchase either the Battery-Operated unit, the AC/DC unit or the "Big Batch" Heavy Duty unit, you not only get full instructions for making colloidal silver with and without saline solution, you also get a packet of fresh non-iodized sea salt and a 2 ounce dropper bottle to make your saline solution with*. This way you can experiment for yourself, and determine which form of colloidal silver works best for you!
*Note: While the brand new "Micro-Particle" Home Colloidal Silver Generator is perfect for making "no salt" colloidal silver, it is not designed for making colloidal silver with the saline solution. In fact, the saline solution kit is not included with the "Micro-Particle" unit because this unit has been designed solely for making ultra-small silver particles as low as .0008 microns (i.e., eight ten-thousandths of a micron) in size. This precludes the use of saline solution, which as discussed above can cause silver particles to agglomerate. Once ingested, micro-particle silver acts like any other form of colloidal silver in that it attaches to the minerals that make up such a large part of the environment of the human body. However, because these silver particles are so small compared to standard sized silver particles, they are able to "ride" the minerals directly into the cells and tissues of the human body, as the cells absorb needed mineral nourishment. Thus, micro-particle silver is able to penetrate much deeper into the cells and tissues of the human body than is normally possible with larger standard sized colloidal silver particles. This is why so many researchers claim they get better results when using very tiny particles of silver against "stealth pathogens" such as those in the mycoplasmas family, which prefer to hide deep inside the cells and tissues of the human body rather than forming colonies on the outside of the organs and tissues like other pathogenic microorganisms.
QUESTION: When making "no salt" colloidal silver, how come I don't see any silvery mist coming off of the silver wires like I do when making colloidal silver with the saline solution?
ANSWER: The silver mist is formed when the saline in the water begins to bond with the silver particles. Since there is no such bond when you make "no salt" colloidal silver, the microscopic silver particles are generally invisible to the naked eye.
QUESTION: How do I know there are actually silver particles in the water when I make colloidal silver without salt?
ANSWER: First of all, you can taste the distinctive metallic taste of the water after making "no salt" colloidal silver. That alone lets you know the silver particles are there. But there is a simple trick for being able to "see" the silver particles when making "no salt" colloidal silver. You simply make your batch of colloidal silver using distilled water as per the directions that come with your generator, and then take one of those little red laser pointers that shine a bright red laser beam -- they're available in many office supply stores or catalogs for anywhere from $19 to $24 (or purchase one from The Silver Edge by calling 1-888-528-0559) -- and go into a dark room. Shine the laser light into your colloidal silver solution (being careful not to shine the red beam toward your eyes) and you will see a bright red beam of light shining through your colloidal silver solution. This is because the laser light is reflecting off of the tens of millions of microscopic silver particles that are suspended in the solution. If you were to shine the same light through a glass of pure distilled water instead, the beam would not show up at all, because there would be nothing in the water for the beam to reflect off of. In science, this is called the Raleigh-Tyndall effect, and it is precisely how researchers and scientists make sure the colloidal solutions they have prepared without saline indeed have suspended colloid particles in them.
QUESTION: What is the difference in the size of the silver particles produced by other colloidal silver generators, compared to those distributed by The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals?
ANSWER: While there are a number of good colloidal silver generators on the market today, many "cheapie" models (i..e., "mudmakers") can produce silver particles that are consistently a full micron (i..e., 1,000 nm) in size or even larger. As explained in the "Buyer Beware" report (accessible from the "Links" section above), that's because the manufacturers of these generators frequently fail to spend the money on the essential electronic components needed to properly balance the voltage and amperage in order to produce the correct wattage for making high-quality colloidal silver.
On the other hand, the generators distributed by The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals are specially calibrated by their manufacturer to produce silver particles in a range as low as .5 microns (i.e., five tenths of a micron) to .05 microns (i.e., five one-hundredths of a micron) when made without the saline solution. That's many fractions of a micron smaller than normal human blood capillaries which are usually seven to ten microns in diameter. This is important, because under certain circumstances large particles of colloidal silver can accumulate in the narrow passageways of human blood capillaries, causing a clogged capillary. While this is quite unusual even when ingesting larger silver particles, and generally would cause no health problems because the body can re-route blood flow through its millions of other capillaries, or even grow new ones if necessary, it is certainly wise to take precautions to limit the potential for excessive silver build-up in the human body. This is why the manufacturer of the generators distributed by The Silver Edge Health & Nutritonals takes the extra time and expense to include the special electronics needed to help produce silver particles in a very low fractions-of-a-micron size range.
As mentioned earlier, the brand new "Micro-Particle" Home Colloidal Silver Generator produces a significantly smaller particle size range, with silver particles as low as .0008 microns (that's eight ten-thousandths of a micron). This is about as close to "dissolved" silver as you can get. The particles are so small, a high-powered transmission electron microscope operating at 175,000x magnification is required to measure them. By comparison, an average red blood cell is typically 7-8 microns in diameter, and can be easily seen, with staining, under a standard optical microscope at only 1,000x magnification. So we are speaking of a particle size which is many fractions of a micron smaller than an average red blood cell or a typical blood capillary. While there may be a handful of colloidal silver generators with more "bells and whistles" than the brand new Micro-Particle unit, we know of no other comparable colloidal silver generator in terms of the quality and size of the silver particles produced. (And you certainly can't beat the price!)
QUESTION: What does "ppm" mean?
ANSWER: It means parts per million. It is a measurement of the concentration of silver particles in your colloidal silver solution. The higher the ppm, the more highly concentrated your colloidal silver solution is.
QUESTION: How many parts per million (ppm) of silver particles will these generators produce?
ANSWER: If you are using the Battery Operated generator, the AC/DC generator or the "Big Batch" generator, the operating instructions that come with your generator will explain how to make colloidal silver solutions ranging from 5 parts per million all the way up to several hundreds of parts per million. You can make pretty much any concentration of colloidal silver you want. On the other hand, the new "Micro-Particle" generator distributed by The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals is limited to producing about 7-10 parts per million.
QUESTION: Why is the "Micro-Particle" generator limited to producing 7-10 parts per million?
ANSWER: Because with the new "Micro-Particle" generator, you are making ultra-small silver particles (as low as .0008 microns in size) which have a much higher penetration capability inside the human body. And with higher penetration into the cells and tissues, you simply don't need stronger concentrations. By providing ultra-small silver particles that are so easily absorbed directly into the cells and tissues of the human body, the "Micro-Particle" generator does away with the need for higher concentrations.
QUESTION: Why do some people say that you should only purchase generators that produce a single uniform particle size of colloidal silver?
ANSWER: That's no mystery. It is because they are trying to sell you one of their generators which produces only a single uniform particle size. And that is fine if it is what you want. But as colloidal silver researcher Daryl Tichy has demonstrated in independent laboratory research, when it comes to colloidal silver, different pathogenic microorganisms respond to different particle sizes. This means one type of pathogen might respond best to silver particles that are .5 microns in size, while another type of pathogen might respond best to silver particles that are .05 microns in size, or to some size in between. So you really need a generator that produces a controlled range of particle sizes like the generators produced by The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals. A generator that produces only a single uniform particle size dramatically limits your ability to affect a large spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms. Darryl Tichy's research showed that a good broad spectrum colloidal silver solution would be a stable colloid with a controlled range of particle sizes rather than a single uniform particle size.
QUESTION: One internet web site says you need to take at least 500 ppm to 3,000 ppm colloidal silver for it to be effective. They say this is the concentration used by doctors in all of the old medical studies back in the 1920's and 1930's. They also claim that making your own colloidal silver can be very dangerous, and that the end result can be "poisonous." Another web site says that the ionic silver produced by home colloidal silver generators is no good, and that only metallic "particulate" silver is good. What do you have to say about these claims?
ANSWER: First, 500 ppm to 3,000 ppm is one heck of a load of silver particles on the liver and kidneys. We would never want to take concentrations that high, as they could lead to silver overload and eventual toxic buildup in the body over time, which can cause both liver and kidney damage. Responsible advocates of colloidal silver never recommend concentrations that high. In fact, most companies selling such highly concentrated colloidal silver solutions always tell you to dilute it thoroughly in water before ingesting it -- using approximately one teaspoon of their highly concentrated colloidal silver in an eight or 12 ounce glass of water. This effectively dilutes the silver solution to a level the body can easily handle without the potential for toxic overload -- about 10 to 15 ppm on average, depending upon the concentration you started with. Anyone selling such highly concentrated solutions who does not tell you to dilute it first is putting your health at risk, particularly if you plan on taking their silver solution regularly for extended periods of time.
Back in the 1920's and 1930's when experimentation with colloidal silver first began, the doctors and researchers were simply not aware of the potential for damage to the kidneys and liver inherent in overly high concentrations of colloidal silver. Nor were they aware that much lower concentrations of colloidal silver were just as beneficial without all of the unnecessary risk. A lot has changed since then. Doctors no longer recommend such excessive concentrations of colloidal silver because some of the patients treated with them during the 1920's and 1930's developed problems such as argyria (i.e., skin greying), indicating toxic silver overload. Later medical studies showed that significantly lower concentrations of colloidal silver gave equally impressive results, particularly when you used extremely small silver particles rather than the much larger silver particles that are inevitably produced in the more highly concentrated commercial colloidal silver solutions. For documentation, see The New Colloidal Silver Manual (sold through Life & Health Research Group, Inc. at: 1-888-846-9029), which has an entire chapter giving a brief synopsis of every major medical study conducted on colloidal silver from 1897 to the present day.
As for the spurious charge that colloidal silver produced with home colloidal silver generators is somehow "poisonous" or "dangerous," it always amazes us what some people are willing to say in order to sell their expensive commercial brands of colloidal silver. These people often charge as much as $29 or $39 or more for a tiny four ounce bottle, when in reality fresh, pure and unadulterated colloidal silver can be made for about 18 to 35 cents a quart! What a bunch of rip-off artists! Of course, they have to give you some kind of scare story, or try to bamboozle you with phoney scientific-sounding jargon, in order to convince you to pay a whopping $5 or $10 an ounce for their over-priced commercial brands of colloidal silver. It seems the higher the price mark-up, the more they claim their silver is the "only" good silver available. Fortunately, as more and more people find out that fresh, pure unadulterated colloidal silver can be made for only pennies per quart with a high-quality home colloidal silver generator, the fewer people these guys will be able to gouge with their overly-priced commercial brands.
To that end, we strongly urge beginning colloidal silver users to read the copyrighted interview with renowned colloidal silver researcher Daryl Tichy, which can be accessed from the "Links" section above. Mr. Tichy candidly explains that many of the people who sell expensive brands of colloidal silver on the internet and through other venues such as health food stores, and who make claims that only "their" colloidal silver is "good", are simply trying to define colloidal silver solely within the narrow parameters of the product they produce. In this way, by their own definition, they become the sole repositories of "good" colloidal silver.
The same goes for vendors of commercial colloidal silver brands who claim that the ionic form of silver produced by colloidal silver generators is no good, and that only their mysterious new metallic "particulate" form of silver is good. How do they explain the fact that virtually every major medical study ever conducted with colloidal silver used it in the ionic form (see chapter 11 of The New Colloidal Silver Manual, published by Life & Health Research Group, Inc. 1-888-846-9029) and that NONE used it in this mysterious new metallic "particulate" form? What's more, in light of the fact that these vendors openly admit their product is made up of metallic particles of silver, and not ionic silver particles, how do they explain the fact that it is the ionic form of silver -- and not the metallic particle form -- that is most readily utilized by the human body? They can't explain it, of course. So they simply try to bamboozle readers with indecipherable pseudo-scientific jargon which they use in a vain attempt to re-define colloidal silver in the image of their own over-priced commercial product.
Some sellers of commercially produced colloidal silver products will even go so far as to claim that their colloidal silver is made with a "secret proprietary process." This is usually a buzz phrase for "you wouldn't drink this stuff if you actually knew what it was made of." In reality, the big secret might just be that they are buying silver electroplating particles from an electroplating company, putting them into water and running a big charge of electricity through them in order to get them to stay in suspension -- and then charging you $29 or $39 for about eighteen cents worth of metallic silver electroplating particles and water. Do you really want to drink metal electroplating particles, rather than colloidal silver in the ionic form nature intended for use by the human body?
The bottom line is this: The very best colloidal silver is always pure, freshly-made unadulterated colloidal silver. Overpriced commercial brands which have likely sat in hot warehouses for months on end before being shipped to you through commercial carriers that likely exposed the package to high speed machinery, unwanted electrical fields and perhaps even x-rays (thanks to new homeland security regulations), simply cannot compare to the fresh, pure, unadulterated colloidal silver you can make with your own home colloidal silver generator in the comfort and privacy of your own home. The difference between the two is like the difference between night and day.
In short, don't fall for scare tactics and slick sales pitches disguised as "science" which are only designed to deceive you into paying excessively high prices for tiny bottles of commercially produced colloidal silver that cannot even begin to compare in quality to fresh, pure, unadulterated colloidal silver made with a high-quality home colloidal silver generator.
QUESTION: How much colloidal silver should a person take?
ANSWER: Because of FDA regulations, we really can't give dosage advice of any kind. However, one good source of information on colloidal silver usage is The New Colloidal Silver Manual, published by Life & Health Research Group, Inc. It is newly expanded to over 252 pages and has a fully detailed chapter on dosage information. You can purchase a copy by calling the publishing company's sales office at: 1-888-846-9029.
QUESTION: But colloidal silver is completely safe to use, right?
ANSWER: Nothing on earth is "completely" safe to use. As a silly example, one of the safest natural substances on earth is water. Yet ingestion of too much water can result in death. (This is called "drowning.") Similarly, common vitamins and mineral supplements are generally regarded as being very safe to use. Yet some vitamins and minerals can cause a toxic buildup in the human body, particularly if excessive amounts are taken. For example, it is well known that excess ingestion of iron mineral supplements can result in heart problems. And in certain people excess ingestion of vitamin C can cause iron to build up in the body to toxic levels. Excess ingestion of the common mineral supplement selenium can cause selenium toxicity, muscle wasting and even cancer in serious cases! So again, nothing is "completely" safe. The key to successful usage of nutritional supplements seems to be common sense usage and moderation. Colloidal silver is no different. Although it is used regularly with no problems by tens of millions of men, women and children throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe (as well as by missionaries in countries like Africa, South America and Asia), and its usage is now spreading through Russia and eastern European nations, like any other mineral supplement you absolutely must exercise common sense when using it. Using extremely high concentrations of colloidal silver, or taking large amounts of colloidal silver for prolonged periods of time is not recommended.
Another example: In rare cases some people are allergic to peanuts. Others to mushrooms. Yet peanuts and mushrooms are safely ingested by millions of people worldwide every single day. Similarly, in very rare cases, some people are allergic to silver and cannot even wear silver jewelry or have silver fillings from the dentist. This brings us back to common sense: If you have a known allergy to silver, you simply should not use colloidal silver. Of course, silver allergies are extremely rare. One dentist told us he had never seen a case of silver allergy in the entire 15 years he had used silver amalgam to fill cavities. But such an allergy is certainly possible in rare individuals. Experts tell us that if your body reacts badly to silver fillings or if wearing silver jewelry makes your skin break out in a rash, you may have a silver allergy and should probably not use colloidal silver. One of the very rare side effects caused by taking excessively high concentrations of colloidal silver, or by taking overly large amounts of colloidal silver for prolonged periods of time, is a cosmetic skin condition called argyria in which the skin can actually turn grey. While argyria is a strictly cosmetic condition, many researchers believe it indicates an excessive internal accumulation of silver particles, which can potentially cause toxicity to the liver, kidneys and other organs. (Some researchers claim that taking 400 IU per day of vitamin E and 200 mcg. per day of the mineral selenium during periods of increased colloidal silver usage can alleviate the toxicity problem.) Additionally, people with poor elimination (bad liver or bad kidneys) might have an additional risk of buildup of silver in the body if they use more colloidal silver than their body is capable of eliminating. If you are unsure about using it, ask you doctor about your particular situation. Additionally, The New Colloidal Silver Manual published by Life & Health Research Group, which is over 231 pages, covers in great detail many safety and dosage issues regarding the usage of colloidal silver. We highly recommend it. You can reach Life & Health Research Group, Inc. toll-free at: 1-888-846-9029.
QUESTION: Will colloidal silver cure (XYZ) disease?
ANSWER: Again, because of FDA regulations, we really cannot answer such questions. This is why we recommend the comprehensive 231-page book called The New Colloidal Silver Manual, published by Life & Health Research Group. It has a full chapter offering a synopses and documentation of virtually every medical study conducted using colloidal silver to treat various diseases from 1897 to the present day, as well as the results of each study. It reveals how colloidal silver has been used in the past by doctors for specific infections and diseases. And there is a complete chapter on specific dosage information. The manual will answer many if not all of your questions on colloidal silver. You can order it directly from Life & Health Research Group, Inc. by calling 1-888-846-9029, or visit their web site at www.lifeandhealthresearchgroup.com.
QUESTION: Is colloidal silver really an effective treatment for biological agents such as those used by terrorists?
ANSWER: Again, current FDA regulations prohibit us from attempting to answer such questions. However, The New Colloidal Silver Manual has a full chapter on the potential use of colloidal silver against certain biological or germ warfare agents. You can reach Life & Health Research Group, Inc. toll-free at: 1-888-846-9029, or visit their web site at www.lifeandhealthresearchgroup.com.
QUESTION: How can I learn more about the issue of safety in relation to colloidal silver made with the little low-voltage home colloidal silver generators?
ANSWER: Again, we recommend a book called The New Colloidal Silver Manual, published by Life & Health Research Group, Inc. It has been newly expanded to over 252 pages and has several chapters explaining colloidal silver safety issues in great detail. You can purchase the manual through Life & Health Research Group, Inc. by calling them toll-free at: 1-888-846-9029, or visit their web site at www.lifeandhealthresearchgroup.com.
QUESTION: Why don't you sell The New Colloidal Silver Manual?
ANSWER: Unfortunately, the FDA has ruled that you cannot sell colloidal silver generators and provide specific information on how to use colloidal silver at the same time. This is why we strongly recommend you speak with your doctor, or at least obtain publicly available information on colloidal silver usage, such as that provided in The New Colloidal Silver Manual mentioned above.
QUESTION: Does The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals offer a money-back guarantee and a warranty with their generators?
ANSWER: Of course. All colloidal silver generators distributed by The Silver Edge Heatlh & Nutritionals are warranted for one full year from the date of purchase against defects in parts and workmanship. Abuse, such as battering or dropping the units, or disassembling or otherwise altering the electronics components, is not covered under the warranty. The units are very sturdy, high-quality and built to last for a lifetime. But they are not indestructible.
Plus, you are protected by our 30-day money back guarantee of complete satisfaction. If you are dissatisfied for any reason, simply return your new generator within 30 days for a full refund, minus shipping and handling charges. Be sure to call us first at 1-888-528-0559 for a return authorization number. Returns that do not have a clearly marked return authorization number on the outside of the package will not be accepted and we are not responsible for their return to you. Also, the generator must be returned in new, re-saleable and un-tampered with condition or we cannot refund on it.
[IMPORTANT NOTE AND DISCLAIMER: We are not doctors. We are distributors of electronic appliances and nutritional supplements. Therefore we cannot and do not offer medical advice. Please do not call with medical questions. If you have a medical problem, please see your licensed physician. Self-treatment is not recommended. The FDA has not evaluated the information contained on this web site. Products distributed by The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Additionally, the contents of this web site are strictly for information purposes only, and should not in any way be construed as providing or attempting to provide medical advice. Information on this web site is derived from sources deemed to be accurate and reliable, but no guarantee, express or implied, can be made regarding the accuracy or reliability of same. Therefore readers are encouraged to verify for themselves and to their own satisfaction the accuracy and reliability of all reports, recommendations, conclusions, comments, and opinions. The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals does not make any claims or promises as to health benefits accruing from the use of any product. There is plenty of publicly available independent documentation -- both pro and con -- regarding the uses and efficacy of colloidal silver and its long history in health and medicine. For a comprehensive overview, you may want to obtain a copy of The New Colloidal Silver Manual (252 pages, from Life & Health Research Group, Inc., 1-888-846-9029). Or see the link above to "Some Interesting Sources of Information on Colloidal Silver." Colloidal silver generators are electronic appliances designed to produce high-quality silver colloid. They are not medical devices. The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals specifically disclaims responsibility or liability for any loss or hardship that may be incurred by the reader as a result of the application of any information included on this web site, or as a result of the use or misuse of any electronic product or nutritional supplement. You are solely responsible for your health and nutrition choices. Anyone with additional information on colloidal silver is encouraged to write to The Silver Edge Health & Nutritionals at the address directly above, so that it can be shared with others who may be interested.]
