What's in colloidal silver?

A well-made colloidal silver has two ingredients: purified water and silver. The water is usually distilled or deionised so that it contains no minerals or chlorine, and the silver comes from high-purity electrodes, typically 99.99% fine silver. Some products also contain added salts, proteins or stabilisers. Those are a different kind of product (see colloidal vs ionic silver).

What does “colloidal” mean?

A colloid is a mixture in which extremely small particles of one substance stay spread through another instead of settling to the bottom. In colloidal silver, the particles are silver and the liquid is water. In practice, most colloidal silver made by electrolysis contains a mix of dissolved silver ions and tiny metallic silver particles, and the proportion of each depends on how it's made.

How is it made?

The traditional method is low-voltage electrolysis. Two silver electrodes are placed in deionised water and a small direct current is passed between them. Silver leaves the positive electrode and enters the water. Makers control the voltage, current, time and stirring to reach a consistent concentration. Our step-by-step guide to how colloidal silver is made goes into more detail.

What does ppm mean?

Concentration is stated in parts per million (ppm). For a water-based solution, 1ppm is about 1 milligram per litre, so a 10ppm solution has roughly 10mg of silver in each litre, or about 1mg in a 100ml bottle. Read more in what ppm means on colloidal silver.

What should colloidal silver look like?

Colloidal silver made mostly of dissolved ions is clear, like water. As the share of metallic particles rises, it takes on a pale yellow to amber tint. Whatever its colour, it should be transparent, with no cloudiness, grey specks or sediment. Any of those can mean contamination or a solution that has been stored badly.

Is colloidal silver a medicine?

No. In the UK, colloidal silver is not a licensed medicinal product. Products that claim to treat, cure or prevent illness are regulated as medicines, and advertising rules don't allow those claims for unlicensed products. That's why reputable UK sellers, us included, describe what's in the bottle and how it's made rather than what it does. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take medication, talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any product like this.