The Difference Between Colloidal Silver and Ionic Silver

| Modified on Dec 29, 2023
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Difference Between Ionic and Colloidal Silver

Colloidal silver is a popular supplement in the alternative health world. This should come as no surprise since colloidal silver fights viruses, bacteria, fungus, and parasites. However, most silver products on the market are not actually colloidal silver, but rather ionic silver.

What is the Difference Between Colloidal Silver and Ionic Silver?

Ionic silver particles are very small and are able to bind with other elements in your cells, like selenium and mercury. These resulting particles can end up becoming trapped within your cells.

Colloidal silver nanoparticles, on the other hand, are much less likely to bind with other elements within your cells, making colloidal silver easier on your body, while still very effective as a natural remedy.

When ionic silver is reduced, colloidal silver is the result. Store bought colorless “colloidal silver” is, in reality, mostly ionic silver.

In order to turn ionic silver into true colloidal silver, an extra step in the manufacturing process must occur. This extra step is to add a reducing agent (typically a sugar solution) to the ionic silver and heat the ionic silver to just below boiling point.

Ionic silver that has been reduced is colloidal silver and will be yellow to brown in color. Reduce is from the Latin word redÅ«cere,” which means “bringing back,” or “restoring.” In science, to reduce means to return something to its original state.

Please be sure to watch our important new video series on colloidal silver so you can make good decisions about using colloidal silver for your health.

Colloidal Silver Video Series - Everything You Need to Know About CS

Part 1: Colloidal Silver - What They Don't Tell You and What You Need to Know

Part 2: The Correct Way to Make Colloidal Silver at Home, 20 PPM Using a Silvertron Elite.

Part 3: How to Make Reducing Agent and an Electrolyte Solution - Exact Instructions to Use for 20 PPM Colloidal Silver.

Part 4: Colloidal Silver Black Residue - How To Make Sure You Don't Contaminate Your Batch of CS.

Additional Pages of Interest:

All You Need to Know About Colloidal Silver
Can Colloidal Silver Turn You Blue?
Colloidal Silver for Pets
Difference Between Ionic Silver and Colloidal Silver


Colloidal Silver Brand Comparisons

Posted by Marty (Wisconsin) on 09/10/2017

I just pulled out this old bottle of R-Garden brand of Colloidal Silver in my cupboard and after watching your video, was curious to see if it was ionic silver or colloidal silver. I bought it at least 4-5 years ago and forgot about it. When I poured it onto a spoon it looked clear so I put it into this glass jar and then out in the sun with white paper underneath. Turned out it wasn't clear but pale yellow, but definitely not a baby shampoo color. It also tastes metallic, it's not tasteless like you said it should be.

The label says it contains 8.8 ppm of 99.999% pure colloidal silver. The dosage on the bottle says 1 teaspoon daily. From posts I have been reading it sounds like 1 teaspoon is far too little to do any good? Also, if it tastes metallic, what does that mean? Is it a bad batch of CS? Thank you

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Replied by Art
(California)
09/10/2017
2288 posts

In reply to Marty,

If the product was originally the color of water and clear and it also has a metallic taste, it likely is ionic silver. The little bit that can be seen in the picture does not look the color of water though.It looks like it has a little bit of golden color to it, but there is so little in the container it is hard to tell for sure. You said you left it in the sun and the sun exposure can partially reduce it which could explain why there is a little color to it. The fact that you say it has a metallic taste would suggest that it is not fully reduced and there is probably now a mix of colloidal and ionic silver. Many ionic silver products can contain a percentage of colloidal silver.

This product advertises itself as only 8.8 ppm. If that is the case, then that to could explain the lighter color. Colloidal silver that is close to the color of baby shampoo should be in the 20 ppm area. 8.8 ppm colloidal silver would be a lighter shade of yellow, while 40 ppm would be a much darker shade of yellow. Check the bottom of the jar and see if you can see what color the liquid is and also if there is any debris or sediment on the bottom of the jar. If so, it may not be up to 8.8 ppm anymore.

Art

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Replied by Alika
(Alberta (Ca))
10/07/2017

I would like to ask about side effect of colloidal silver "sovereign silver " 10ppm. Can colloidal silver dry skin? Also I have put a drop in my eyelids and that is also very dry, I gargling it and my throat also feel dry. Can that be a side effect? Any advise please!!!


Convert Ionic Silver to Colloidal

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Posted by Tim (Brisbane, Qld Australia) on 02/05/2018

Hi, I recently bought some colloidal silver online. supposed to be 20ppm, but it is clear, which makes me think it's Ionic silver. How can I convert this to Colloidal as it's supposed to have a gold tint? I received 500ml. Is there a ratio in the process I can use for any amount?

Thank you for this site, great info here.

Tim

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Replied by Art
(California)
02/08/2018
2288 posts
★★★★★

Yes, you can convert it if it really is ionic silver, but there is no practical way to know what it actually is.

To convert 500 ml of ionic silver to colloidal silver, you would have to add 10 drops of the Karo Light 50/50 (syrup/distilled water) mix to it and heat it to almost boiling. If it is 20 ppm ionic silver, then it should reduce to colloidal silver and should come close to the color of baby shampoo.If it were mine, I would take 1/4th of the bottle and add 3 drops of the 50/50 Karo Light to it and heat to near boiling to see what happens.

Art

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David
(AL)
12/29/2023

Which is better to consume, ionic or collodial?

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Replied by Tim
(Brisbane, Australia)
02/08/2018

Thank you for your suggestion. I will try 1/4 of the solution and experiment with your tips.

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Replied by Bill
(Pa)
02/09/2018
★★★★★

Add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, 3 drops of Karo, and heat it to about 140 degrees (IE: it doesn't have to boil).

Since there is no issue with plateout, baking soda is sufficient.

Bill

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Replied by Star
(New York)
04/29/2021

Colloidal Silver Vs Ionic Silver

Ionic minerals are the naturally occurring form of minerals found in plants. Colloidal minerals are those that have not yet been converted into a bioavailable form for the human body. But you say reduced back to colloidal is better??

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Art
(California)
04/29/2021
2288 posts

Star,

Silver as used for AgNPs is a metal.

Studies show that colloidal silver ("AgNP") is less toxic to normal human cells than ionic silver and colloidal silver is more efficient at getting Ag+ to where it needs to be inside of pathogens and also at helping to prevent Ag+ from entering cells indiscriminately as this can eventually lead to argyria with long term high dose use as Paul Karason did using an unknown form of silver that he made himself at home and took in large quantities every day. AgNPs release Ag+ when the silver particle comes in contact with different pathogens. The Ag+ then enters and destroys the pathogenic cell.

Art

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Replied by astrid
(Abu Dhabi)
09/20/2022

This is all a gimmick. Nano silver is inert and needs to release the Ag+ ions in order to combine with the negative charge from the pathogens and deactivate them. It is much faster to use Ag+ in the first place. Converting Ag+ ions into nanosilver is like making tomato soup and then converting it back to whole tomatoes in order to eat it! If you are not aware of the science, please read it at this link https://www.truecolloidalsilverfacts.com/ The link is FULLY BACKED by science.

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Art
(California)
09/20/2022
2288 posts

astrid,

I went to the link that you provided as scientific proof to support your claim, and there was not one scientific study to support the claim that you or the writer made. So basically, he is just giving his opinion of his understanding of the science. He is not a scientist, just the seller of a device that makes ionic silver.

I'm not saying you are right or wrong, but it seems that if you are going to make the claim, " FULLY BACKED by science," it seems like you should provide some scientific studies to support the claim or claims, in the writer's case. You didn't, and the writer of the article that you linked to, did not provide links to scientific studies that would support that claim.

Art

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Gerald M.
(Florida)
07/25/2023

Sorry but many studies show the 12 fold increase in efficiency and reduced human cell toxicity form nano colloids versus ions.

Please remember the human body has a digestive tract and many very strong chemicals that will react with ionic silver long before it can do any good.

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Replied by D
(BA, oklahoma)
12/06/2023

A friend makes colloidal silver but it is clear, which I hear means it is not true colloidal but actually ionic. I was given some, can I reduce it to be actual colloidal?

EC: Yes. Please read Art and Bill's posts in the thread we attached your post to.

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Art
(California)
12/29/2023
2288 posts

Hi David,

Studies suggest that colloidal silver is more effective, but anecdotal evidence suggests that ionic is effective also. The majority of newer studies use the colloidal form. I use the colloidal form and that is what my friends have used to good effect.

Art


Ionic Silver

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Posted by Jane (Australia ) on 02/19/2023

After watching Earth Clinic's video on the difference between colloidal and ionic silver. I have realized that my partner has most likely been spraying ionic silver up his nasal passages, not colloidal silver. Is he in any danger?

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Replied by Art
(California)
02/20/2023
2288 posts

Jane,

It shouldn't be a problem unless he is doing it everyday of the year, but that could be a problem whether it is ionic or AgNPs as it could potentially create bacteria that is resistant to silver. It is really useful to have silver as a backup plan in cases of bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. Consider that colloidal silver is like a potent antibiotic or antiviral, would you take either of those everyday of the year?

Art

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Gerald M.
(USA)
07/25/2023

Art,

Can you please post a link that shows that bacteria can become RESISTANT to silver, never heard of that.

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Replied by Rob
(Kentucky)
02/21/2023

@ Jane (Australia) Most the Colloidal Silver sold on the market is ionic silver. It has been thoroughly tested by the industry and causes no harm if used responsibly. I've been making and using it for over 30 years with no problems.

If you want to learn more, read:

https://thesilveredge.com/experts/

Colloidal Silver - The Natural Antibiotic Alternative by Zane Baranowski, CN

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Art
(California)
07/26/2023
2288 posts

Gerald M.,

I have mentioned multiple times that I am not a fan of using colloidal silver everyday unless absolutely necessary, because silver is somewhat like an antibiotic in that with regular exposure, bacteria can build resistance to it. Here is one study showing as much :

https://www.dovepress.com/consequences-of-long-term-bacteriars-exposure-to-silver-nanoformulatio-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN#:~:text=Panacek et al43 showed, of the flagellum protein production.

Here is a relevant quote :

' Panacek et al43 showed that Gram-negative bacteria (including E. coli strains) can develop resistance to silver nanoparticles after repeated exposure but without any genetic changes. It resulted from phenotypic changes involving inhibition of the flagellum protein production. '

I have heard some people mention that they take CS everyday and that is why I have mentioned this aspect of silver previously on EC.

Art

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Art
(California)
07/26/2023
2288 posts

Gerald M.,

This review may be more useful for you as it is a review of multiple studies confirming that various bacteria can definitely become resistant to colloidal silver:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.652863/full

It has also been confirmed in animal studies.

Art


Ionic Silver
Posted by Martin S. (Placerville, Ca. 95667) on 10/19/2021
★★★★★

Friend, I have also been using ionic silver and producing it myself since 1999, I used to have the same problems you were having and since I started using it I have had amazing health, I am 74 and I would put colloidal silver against any man made drug out there, I know it works for everything including pain from burns, I have never had an infection from cuts or anything else. Ionic silver is as safe as drinking water.