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What is silver oxide? It is a compound made of silver and oxygen. Chemists write it as Ag2O, which means two silver atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.
It is also the form of silver in our two silver supplements, Silver Infusion and Silver Excelsior. As fall turns to winter, more people ask us about silver for immune support. This post explains what the compound is and what researchers have found so far. It also says plainly where the evidence stops.
What Is Silver Oxide in Plain Terms?
Silver oxide forms when silver bonds with oxygen. Most of the published research looks at one version, called silver(I) oxide, and often at very small particles of it made in a lab. Those particles are measured in nanometers. One nanometer is a billionth of a meter.
That is worth knowing when you read about silver online. A lot of what gets written about silver health benefits comes from lab work on these particles. Very little of it comes from studies in people.
Chelated Silver Oxide and Colloidal Silver
Most silver supplements on store shelves are colloidal silver. That means tiny particles of silver metal floating in water.
Ours is a different preparation. We use a patented chelated silver oxide complex. Chelated means the silver oxide is bound to another molecule that carries it. In our formula that carrier is citric acid, the same acid found in lemons and oranges.
The ingredient list is short. Silver Infusion is made of chelated silver oxide complex, Kosher USP-grade vegetable glycerin and distilled water. It is stable at room temperature, so it does not need a fridge.
What PPM Means on a Silver Label
PPM stands for parts per million. It tells you how concentrated the silver is in the bottle.
Silver Infusion is 150 PPM and is ready to use. Silver Excelsior Serum is 4,000 PPM, which makes it our most concentrated silver product. It is made to be diluted with distilled water before use, so always follow the dilution directions on the label.
3rd Rock Essentials Silver Infusion – 150 PPM Chelated Silver Oxide Complex Supplement– 16 fl oz
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Proactive Supplements
HI-Z — Chelated Zinc Citrate - Liquid Zinc (1 fl oz)
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Vitamin D3 + K2 - Liquid Supplement (Chelated) — 1 fl oz
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Liver Guard
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Silver Excelsior Serum - 4000 PPM Silver Oxide Immne Support Supplement
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How Antibacterial Silver Works in the Lab
When scientists write about antibacterial silver, they usually mean silver ions. An ion is an atom that carries an electric charge.
A 2023 laboratory paper on silver nanoparticles describes the chemistry. A thin layer of silver oxide on the surface of a particle is what lets it dissolve and release silver ions in water, and this needs oxygen in the liquid. The researchers then tested coated silver particles against one type of bacteria in lab dishes.
This is chemistry done in a lab. It shows how silver behaves in water. It does not tell us what a silver supplement does inside a person.
Silver Health Benefits: What Studies Have Found
Research on silver oxide in people is still thin. A 2024 review found two completed early trials of a related product, a liquid of silver nanoparticles coated with silver oxide. In those trials, 60 healthy volunteers took 100 or 480 micrograms of silver a day for up to 14 days. The review reported no significant changes in their blood and urine tests.
Those trials looked at safety over two weeks, in a product that is different from ours. They did not test our formula and they did not measure immune benefits. Larger and longer studies in people have not been done yet.
Silver also differs from zinc and vitamin D in one important way. The NIH says silver is not an essential mineral, so there is no recommended daily amount for it. The NIH also notes that silver can build up in the body and cause argyria, a blue-gray tint to the skin that is usually permanent. Follow the directions on the label and do not take more than it says.
Silver for Immune Support in a Fall Routine
As the weather cools, a lot of our customers add a silver supplement to their daily basics.
Silver Infusion is our 150 PPM chelated silver oxide supplement. It comes in a 16 fl oz bottle for the household and as a 2 fl oz glass spray that fits in a bag.
Silver Excelsior Serum is the concentrate. You dilute it yourself with distilled water, so one bottle lasts a long time.
A supplement sits alongside the basics. Sleep and good food still do most of the work. If you are building a fall routine, our posts on how zinc supports the immune system and D3+K2 cover the other two supplements people reach for this time of year.
If you are pregnant or nursing, take medication, or have a health condition, talk to your doctor before adding silver.
FAQ
What is silver oxide?
Silver oxide is a compound of silver and oxygen, written Ag2O. It is the form of silver used in our Silver Infusion and Silver Excelsior supplements.
What does chelated silver oxide mean?
Chelated means the silver oxide is bound to another molecule that carries it. In our formula the silver oxide is chelated with citric acid.
Is chelated silver oxide the same as colloidal silver?
No. Colloidal silver is tiny particles of silver metal floating in water. Chelated silver oxide is silver bonded to oxygen and bound to a carrier molecule. They are different preparations, so compare the form of silver and the PPM on any label.
Has silver oxide been tested in people?
Only a little. A 2024 review found two early trials of a silver nanoparticle liquid coated with silver oxide. Sixty healthy volunteers took it for up to 14 days with no significant changes in their blood and urine tests. That product is different from ours, and larger studies in people have not been done.
How do I use a silver oxide supplement?
Follow the directions on the label. Silver Infusion is 150 PPM and ready to use. Silver Excelsior Serum is a 4,000 PPM concentrate that must be diluted before use. Talk to your doctor about any supplement you add to your routine.
Sources
- Ostwald Ripening and Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles, 2023. A laboratory study. Supports the description of how silver oxide on a particle surface releases silver ions in water when oxygen is present.
- Clinical translation and landscape of silver nanoparticles, 2024. A review. Supports the description of two early trials in 60 healthy volunteers.
- Colloidal Silver: What You Need To Know, NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Supports the statements that silver is not an essential mineral and that silver can cause argyria.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for education and is not medical advice.
