How to Use Colloidal Silver (the Right Way)

Colloidal silver is one of the most popular and powerful natural remedies in existence. It doesn’t matter what Facebook group you’re in or who makes up your circle, this form of silver will always come up as the proposed solution for just about everything. Creams, gels, or straight up liquid, you’re supposed to down this magical elixir at the first onset of a cold, infection, or modern-day hangnail.

I always cringe just a little on the inside when I see colloidal silver being thrown out there as the end all be all to whatever it is that ails you. Why? Because it’s powerful. Because it should only be used in certain circumstances and in the right way. Because it could prevent the use of a horrible antibiotic — which is good, but can also affect your gut flora — which is bad if you didn’t really need anything antibacterial in the first place.

My other issue?

There’s a lot of misinformation about colloidal silver:

It will turn you blue. (It won’t.)

You can take as much as you want of it. (You shouldn’t.)

It doesn’t work. (It does.)

It’s a heavy metal. (It’s not.)

It isn’t properly studied. (It is.)

(Okay, I should correct myself. I’ve never known anyone to turn even a remote shade of blue from using true colloidal silver, but if you don’t purchase the real stuff, don’t store it properly, and replace your beverage of choice with it … you do so at your own risk.)

From the ancient Romans and Greeks, plagues of the Middle Ages, and the Chinese to the earliest pioneers, silver has been widely used as an effective antibacterial since the beginning of the beginning. It never disappeared. It was simply replaced by synthetic pharmaceutical drugs and antibiotics. The marketing for these drugs is far better than the marketing for something relatively inexpensive that you don’t need the hassle of an appointment and a doctor’s sign off to obtain.

How Colloidal Silver Works

Colloidal silver consists of nano sized clusters of silver atoms that when put into an aqueous solution, exhibit a powerful negative charge. This allows it to attach to the membranes of bacteria making them more permeable, disrupt cell metabolism, bind to bacterial DNA so that it can’t multiply, and works through catalytic oxidation.

Despite what you have may have read from a mainstream source that has no understanding of natural medicine whatsoever (or an uninformed friend with an aversion to natural remedies), true colloidal silver is not a metallic solution. It is not “melted down heavy metal.” It is not a stainless steel spoon that got re-purposed and bottled up so that you could drink it and it is not the same as downing aluminum, mercury, or a hazardous waste.

To refer to nano sized colloidal silver clusters as being metallic, is incorrect. Scientists are now becoming aware that when silver nano particle sizes are reduced to 10 nm or less, classical physics break down and quantum mechanics takes over. […] Nano sized silver clusters respond distinctly differently to electrons and photons than would bulk silver metal and exhibit characteristics that are not present in bulk metallic silver. – Journal of Chemistry and Biophysics

What Does Colloidal Silver Do?

Colloidal silver is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral, helps with wound healing, ear infections, pneumonia, pink eye, and a lot of nasty skin conditions that even the best medications can’t seem to touch. It has been shown to enhance the effects of antibiotics against the worst types of bacteria (and could solve the problem of antibiotic resistance), and some studies have shown it to be as effective as the three most commonly prescribed antibiotics, but with far fewer side effects.

How to Use Colloidal Silver

There are many different types of colloidal silver products you can take but this is one supplement you shouldn’t mess around with:

1. First, never (ever) DIY colloidal silver. I do not care if you found a Pinterest “recipe” with a pretty stock photo or your friend tried some once and it worked. Do not do it. It’s not smart unless you’re a scientist with the proper lab equipment, a background in physics or quantum mechanics, and can guarantee the absolute quality of your product through testing.

You don’t want to risk ending up with a product that contains big clusters of silver atoms that are out of solution, something contaminated with silver ions or other chemicals, or something that could do more harm than good. You also don’t want skin discoloration or heavy metal accumulation, which is more likely to happen with homemade silver because it’s not manufactured properly (and doesn’t have the same properties).

2. Because of everything I just mentioned above, it’s equally important to source from a company that knows how to produce and store colloidal silver the right way. (I use Nature’s Sunshine or Sovereign Silver for liquid and Nature’s Sunshine for gel.)

3. Once your colloidal silver arrives, check to see how you should store it. Sources disagree on whether it should be stored in a cool dark place or refrigerated. What we do know is that it is sensitive to any type of heat. We’re talking infrared, microwaves, UV light, electrical cables, and the fire from your pet dragon. (I personally refrigerate my liquid silver and store my gel in a cool dark cupboard.)
4. Avoid taking colloidal silver if it is blue, black, or pink in appearance.
5. You can use colloidal silver internally, externally, and can even add it to your neti pot. If you’re using it internally, make sure you follow the dosage recommendations. Although it is safe for pets, pregnant women, and children, do not double or triple the dose and don’t take it if you don’t need it. Despite what you may have heard, this is not one of those preventive remedies you should add to your daily routine.

Colloidal silver should only be used as needed and for no longer than 14 days.

Now that you know what colloidal silver is, why you should use it, and what to look for when buying it, make sure you add colloidal silver to your “just in case you need it” natural medicine cabinet. It might save you a trip to the doctor, a ton of money, your sick days, and protect your gut from the effects of having to take an antibiotic.