Frequently Asked Questions

What is ionic silver?
Ionic silver is a solution of extremely fine submicroscopic particles of pure silver suspended in water by a positive charge on each particle. These particles remain suspended throughout the solution because these positively charged particles repel each other with a greater force than gravity. This makes what is considered by the naturopathic community to be a powerful germicidal solution. Silver has been used and known as a powerful antibacterial agent by civilizations through out the world and its use can be traced as far back as the Greek and Roman empires. It is also considered to be non-toxic to the human body and it is lethal to over 650 disease-causing bacteria, viruses, fungi, pathogens and molds.

What is the difference between ionic silver and colloidal silver?
There are many silver products on the market today and many with good reports and testimonies; however, it is commonly known that for silver to be maximally effective and non-toxic to the human body, it needs to be suspended in microscopic sized particles and that the smaller the particle the more effective the solution. Ionic particles are considered to be smaller in size than colloidal particles and thus, more effective than colloidal particles.

Are there any negative side effects to ionic silver?
Ionic silver is considered by the naturopathic community as well as modern scientists across the world to be a non-toxic, safe, and highly beneficial mineral that can be taken orally or applied topically. It is not bio-accumulative as a heavy metal; however, it is considered to be a transitional metal, as is copper and other trace minerals. When ionic silver is taken orally and in reasonable dosages, there is virtually 100 percent elimination from the body within weeks.

However, this is not the case with silver chloride which is a homemade silver made from sea salts, silver electrodes and distilled water or water thought to be as pure as the distilled water. Silver chloride, when taken in large dosages, can accumulate in the body as heavy metals and cause a condition known as Argyria. This condition is where the skin turns to a blue tint from the accumulated metals under the skin; however, this condition is rare and occurs only when silver chlorides ((which can be toxic)) were used in large amounts over long periods of time. That is why we, along with others, have been and will continue to warn against the homemade silver chloride solutions. In fact, in the recent past, this condition has also been brought to public attention by some of the mainstream media and popular TV programs. Today, ionic silver is being used by millions, including naturopathic doctors and scientists, as an essential part of their daily dietary regimen. It is also being sold in thousands of health food stores across the nation and in many other countries.

Is ionic silver FDA approved?
The FDA does not have anything to do with natural vitamin or mineral supplements. Silver is a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil; therefore, ionized silver is not approved or disapproved by the FDA.

Why is your silver only 10 parts per million when others have a lot more?
It is commonly known that even 5 parts per million is sufficient for most bacterial infections. This has also been my personal experience; however, there is an advantage to having a slightly more concentrated silver, particularly when working with severe degenerate conditions. We have found that 10 parts per million is quite sufficient in these cases. Also, in the process of producing ionized silver, it becomes quite difficult to produce ion sized particles when the concentration of silver exceeds 15 or 20 parts per million. The smallest ionic particles are produced in the 5-15 parts per million concentration range; thus, making the 10 parts per million a neutral range producing a premium quality of safe and effective silver. Many of the more concentrated silvers on the market are produced by adding a protein base to keep the silver suspended in the solution since the particle size is too big to stay suspended by itself. Unfortunately, this makes for a less safe silver.

Does ionic silver kill beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract?
Ionized silver assimilates thru the walls of the stomach and hardly ever makes it to the digestive channels; therefore, it does not harm the friendly bacteria. If, however, someone is using large dosages of silver over a long period of time, and is concerned about this, Nature’s Defense also has a great pro-biotic that will quickly and effectively boost the friendly bacteria in the digestive system.

What is the shelf life of the ionic silver?
It is rather difficult to determine any exact shelf life on properly stored ionized silver. Ionic silver is not very sensitive to light or temperature; thus, it should be fine under normal conditions for 6 months to a year. However, we would encourage anyone who wants to store it for a long period of time to use only amber colored bottles and to store it in room temperature away from direct sunlight. The ionic silver from Nature’s Defense, when stored under this criteria, has maintained 90% of its value over 5 years. The ionic silver on this sight comes in an amber colored bottle which makes it ideal for long term storage as long as the bottle is not opened or the seal is broken.

Disclaimer: Natures Defense makes no health claims on ionic silver as it is not FDA approved. The information on this site is not meant to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or illness. The information on this site is strictly meant for the purpose of experimental and educational purposes only.