Our Advanced Colloidal Silver is about 20 ppm consisting of approximately 20% ionic silver and 80% non-ionic silver. As you may know, there is ongoing debate about which is better, but it is our opinion that both may have their own distinct advantages in different environments. There is a misconception by some that only non-ionic silver particles are more effective and by others that only ionic silver is truly effective. This is possibly due to the fact that a producer and marketer is generally going to espouse that which will support his product.

The truth is: ionic silver is still silver, but electrically charged, either negatively or positively and may be more effective in non-hydrochloric acid environs. Non-ionic silver is more effective in the stomach and beyond. We believe that a product such as our “Advanced Colloidal Silver” gives you the best of both worlds, with a mean average particle size of approximately 2 nanometers. This particle size not only gives significantly more active silver surface area than even the high ppm, large particle, gelatinous based products, but also is more effective at getting down to the cellular level of your own body, as well as that of microbial bodies.

One of the most frequently asked questions concerning colloidal silver is, "Does colloidal silver use result in reduction of beneficial bacteria in the human digestive system?" This question is often answered, emphatically, "No" by purveyors of some "colloidal silver" products. They are answering correctly for the ionic products they are referring to, but for other colloidal silver containing silver particles, the correct answer is, "In many cases, yes."

The purpose of this article is to explain this seeming contradiction between ionic silver and non-ionic silver. If you have ever taken pharmaceutical antibiotics, you probably have experienced a die-off of the beneficial digestive bacteria in the lower bowel. Diarrhea is one of the symptoms of this die-off of bacteria. Organisms which include e-coli are essential to proper digestion of food and non-ionic colloidal silver will readily reduce the amount of e-coli and other bacteria that live in the lower human colon. A purely ionic "colloidal silver" product generally will not have this effect.

Here is why:

Silver can exist in water in two forms, the ionic form and the elemental form. In the ionic form, silver is part of a compound (the chemical union of two or more elements), which exists separately from its other ionic component. Silver nitrate is a common compound of silver and nitrogen; silver oxide, known as "tarnish" on sterling silver is a compound of silver and oxygen. Another silver compound is silver chloride. This compound is the common one which forms when ionic silver meets the human stomach. Hydrochloric acid is a major ingredient of the mixture in the "digesting" stomach.

Using a chemistry definition, true colloidal silver is defined as tiny particles of elemental silver suspended by "Brownian motion". These tiny elemental particles of silver which are ingested through the mouth in colloidal silver are absorbed, partially in the in the mouth, stomach, and intestine, but can also reach the lower bowel. It is here that they may kill some "beneficial" bacteria.

When ionic silver reaches the stomach, it combines readily with the chloride ion (from the ever-present hydrochloric acid) and becomes a virtually inert, insoluble compound, passing from the body in time and having little effect on any organism in the body, including the "beneficial" flora in the lower bowel. This ionic silver will not kill the other germs it encounters in the bloodstream or cells of the body beyond the stomach because it is now part of a new compound called silver chloride. That is why both are correct. Those speaking of ionic silver are right when they say, "it doesn't kill the beneficial flora" because it generally reaches the lower bowel as silver chloride. Those who say it can kill the flora in the lower bowel are right when speaking of non-ionic colloidal silver because the tiny particles survive the stomach acid and can potentially reach the lower bowel.

So, what can users of colloidal silver do to avoid the side effect of die off in the lower bowel? Small maintenance servings of Advanced Colloidal Silver is usually absorbed thoroughly enough in the upper digestive system mouth, throat, and stomach), so that little, if any reaches the lower bowel to kill e-coli and other bacteria and cause diarrhea. Therefore, there is no need to do anything to replenish lost bacteria. On the other hand, if one takes more than usual and drinks several ounces of liquid right away, it will likely make it to the lower bowel and partially kills the digestive flora. This may result in a usually mild bout of diarrhea, but the flora generally replenishes itself naturally.

Those using larger therapeutic servings for extended periods may choose to take Super Acidophilus or eat "live culture" yogurt to replenish the beneficial flora after a die off event from Advanced Colloidal Silver. Since the use of acidophilus is of great benefit to one’s digestion, we recommend making it a regular part of your daily supplement program, especially within a few hours after using larger servings of colloidal silver.

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