Colloidal silver is simply defined as any type of solution containing some silver particles in suspense. Colloidal silver will further contain other chemicals, substances, toxins, bacteria, etc. Colloidal silver is a broad term, and encompasses a wide variety of products. As an example, "colloidal silver" can easily compare to the word "car".
In the past decade, colloidal silver manufacturing has reached an all-time high, as fraudulent claims made by supplement companies and individuals have drastically increased. Each company and individual makes their own colloidal silver, often at their own home. Colloidal silver can be made by any individual, as it requires very cheap substances and a mixing tool.
Understanding Colloidal Silver
It is vital to understand that most anything can be referred to as "colloidal silver". If an individual dumps links of a silver chain into water, as long as the links are moving around submerged, the individual may call this product "colloidal silver". Once the Silver links sink to the bottom (fall out of suspense), the product is technically no longer colloidal silver.
However, if shaken, the product once again becomes "colloidal silver". 99% of colloidal silvers fall out of suspension, however, companies still refer to them as if they don't, knowingly misinforming the public. Because the silver used is typically much smaller then a solid link, it takes more time for it to sink to the bottom and come out of suspense.
It is important to remember that any type of silver suspended in a liquid may be called "colloidal silver". Furthermore, substances and chemicals may be added to the mix, and the product may still be referred to as "colloidal silver". To conclude, no 2 colloidal silvers are ever the same and colloidal silver can be most anything.
Colloidal silver has become notorious for outrageous and illogical claims. Scam-artists and fraudulent supplement companies continue to thrive as they thoroughly convince individuals of what colloidal silver is capable of. However, after learning what colloidal silver is, it seems just laughable for anyone to attempt to say colloidal silver can produce certain effects.
It would be the same as saying "You should buy one of our used cars. Cars have a 5 star crash test rating. Recently, cars have side airbags..." It is absolutely impossible to make any claim on the word "car". You must be able to identify a specific car in order to make a claim on it.
It is impossible to say colloidal silver can produce any effects, and all who do should immediately be labeled a con-artist. Many consumers will defend their suppliers by thinking "well, perhaps my supplier does not know all colloidal silvers are different." However, they most certainly do. Just as you believe it is outrageous to make claims on "cars", it is likewise outrageous to make claims on colloidal silver. The major difference being consumers know enough about the car industry, whereas they typically know little of the colloidal silver industry.
It is usually not ones fault they do not know anything about the industry. The problem generally comes about because of the inability to locate accurate / ethical information. Claims can only be made on an identifiable (brand name) colloidal silver, just as is the case with cars. Further, if (in the unlikely event) a claim can be made on a brand name colloidal silver, it is exclusive to that brand name.
If a Toyota has a 5 star crash test rating, Honda cannot use that test information to sell any of their vehicles, because the information would not apply. Toyota's car is completely different from Honda's, making the crash test exclusive to Toyota. This information is common knowledge to the public, and any consumer would consider Honda completely unethical if they attempted to sell a car with a Toyota crash test rating.
This analogy applies in the exact same way to brand name colloidal silvers. Any company that makes a claim based on what effects another colloidal silver can produce is completely fraudulent. If any company attempts this, consumers should be outraged and angry, just as they would be if the above car example occurred.
When researching any claims made, consumers should personally view customer reports and clinical trials written in regard to the brand name colloidal silver. Be sure the name of the product is located on the customer report / clinical trial. If it is not, the claims are most likely false, no matter what excuse a company uses. To view helpful tips for detecting fraudulent clinical trials, read this news article.
As a section recap, It is essential for all consumers to accept that any claim made on "colloidal silver" is completely fraudulent. Claims may only be made on brand name products, in which case consumers must still remain extremely cautious and on alert for fraudulent or misleading sources.
Many of the colloidal silver fraudulent companies and scam-artists have based their claims on Silvicidal test results. When the original doctors developed Silvicidal and had to classify it as something, they classified it as "an enhanced type of mild silver protein". Mild silver protein (a type of colloidal silver) is the most closely related (but distant) word that Silvicidal may be classified under. Classifying Silvicidal as mild silver protein makes it easily available to the public as a dietary supplement.
Nevertheless, doing so has cost Strictly Supplements, and DEDI, much more then we would have liked. The classification of Silvicidal has spawned a race of con-artists, some easily identified, others very difficult, as they appear to be very legitimate companies and have employed professional writers to publish well-written colloidal silver or mild silver protein articles. It should be noted the most difficult scam-artists to identify are large companies that merely offer colloidal silver as a name on a huge list of products.
Identifying Colloidal Silver Frauds
After reading this article and learning clearly what colloidal silver is, scam-artists should be easily identified. Below are a few helpful tips that may assist you in identifying frauds.
Always look hard at what a company has written about a product and what they know. Make sure everything they write or say makes complete sense. Do not let yourself get lost in "big" words they may use. Do not let yourself believe you don't understand because they know more then you. Big or small, be sure the words they use and what they're explaining makes sense.
Ask detailed questions about a company's products. Be sure you get answers and answers that make sense. After viewing this article, consumers should be able to easily identify weaknesses of fraudulent companies offering colloidal silver.
Do not tell yourself you must have a product because of it's claims. It is cruel when you are suffering from some affliction and are unable to find a cure. Then, come across some website that says they have a product that will cure you. Even though you wish it to be true, it is probably not. Do not LOSE faith, but at least investigate this website and determine if they are frauds or not. Though it may be very difficult, do not allow yourself to ignore the facts.
Lastly, view GHI/MRI's Consumer Protection Division. This division is dedicated to protecting consumers from frauds in the supplement industry. If you are ever looking into any supplement, and you are not sure if it is a fraud, look to see if it is listed on GHI/MRI's website. If it is not, ask GHI/MRI to investigate it for you and give you their opinion.
Strictly Supplements supports the GHI/MRI Consumer Protection Division, and urges all consumers to do the same by reporting fraudulent companies. If the frauds are to be stopped in this industry, consumer reports provide the only hope.