FAQs

Why does NowDrops taste like water?

NowDrops Colloidal Silver is made of just two ingredients: 99.999% pure silver and pure distilled purified water. Our particle size is so small (as small as 0.8 nanometers) that we have the lowest concentration with the most efficacy*. At 10 ppm, you will most likely only taste water!

Can I use NowDrops Silver after 3-year expiration date?

All NowDrops products carry a 3-year expiration date, supported by evidence. This means that even at the 3-year mark, a silver content analysis would still show a reading of at least 10 ppm (label claim). Over time, the concentration may decrease gradually as the silver adheres to (or adsorbs onto) the inside of the glass bottle or the surfaces of the closure system. It is always best to consume the product by (or before) the expiration date.

Where can I purchase NowDrops Silver?

It can be purchased online here as well as many other online stores. 

Your label states dosing for children 4 years and older; what about younger children?

Under the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), dietary supplements may only be marketed for children 4 years and older. See your health care practitioner for use with children under 4.

Why are there no disease claims made for your silver supplement?

Silver Hydrosol is marketed as a Dietary Supplement under DSHEA. In the USA, supplements are regulated by the FDA in a different category than drugs. Natural Immunogenics will not make drug claims in its marketing materials, even though many other colloidal silver manufacturers do. Making drug claims against specific infections or diseases, even if heavily substantiated, would risk re-categorization of our hydrosols as unapproved new drugs (requiring an NDA/New Drug Application at a potential cost of millions of dollars). We take very seriously the regulations and abide by strict manufacturing requirements (cGMP, FTC, etc.) to assure that each batch of finished product is as pure and safe* as the last. 

How do I give my pet NowDrops Silver?

Simply determine the right dose of NowDrops Silver for your pet’s weight and add it to a little over a day’s water supply in their water bowl. 

What types of animals can I give NowDrops Silver to?

NowDrops Silver is safe* for all types of mammals over 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) – small to large, feathered to furry. 

Does NowDrops Colloidal Silver need to be refrigerated or require special storage?

No, refrigeration is not required or recommended for any of our products. We only recommend keeping the product away from sources of electromagnetic energy (microwaves, electrical outlets) and direct sunlight. The product should not be stored in a freezer either.

Why does NowDrops Colloidal Silver sometimes taste different than others?

Our silver product tastes like water, although sometimes people report detecting a faint metallic taste. This faint metallic taste might feel stronger, usually due to the pH of the mouth when the product was ingested. For example, if you recently drank coffee, which is highly acidic, you might be more apt to detect the faint metallic taste.

If NowDrops Silver ever tastes stronger (bitter/sour/pungent) than “water with faint metallic taste,” the primary reason would probably be due to metabolic changes, such as acidic saliva, most likely due to changes in diet or from dietary choices, both of which could result in a change in the pH of your saliva. Secondary issues could be leaching of metals from dental amalgams. However, leaching usually only occurs when the saliva is acidic, thus pointing back to a dietary change. You can easily find lists of alkaline foods on the internet.

Don't silver ions combine with chloride in the stomach and therefore, render them ineffective?

People have been taught in high school and college freshman chemistry that silver ions react with chloride ions to form water-insoluble silver chloride. But in advanced courses in chemistry, one further learns that in the presence of large excesses of chloride ion, such as that found in stomach acid and/or blood, the silver exists as a water-soluble complex ion containing 2 chloride ions per silver ion. Since this is water soluble, it can be readily absorbed through the stomach if necessary. Now, while the strength of the complex ion formed by the reaction of silver with the two chloride ions is enough to prevent precipitation, it is also not enough to prevent the silver from its normal ability. There is no loss in effectiveness*.

Are other silver products with higher concentrations more powerful and effective?

More is not always better. What makes one silver product more effective than another is not its PPM but rather its particle size, charge (not neutral) and purity. The smaller the particle, the more bioavailable it becomes, and the greater the surface area available for conversion to bioactive silver while within the body.

Surface area is of utmost importance since the conversion from neutral metal to positively charged bio-active silver happens at the surface of the particle. Only the outermost layer or two of atoms on the nanoparticle surface will be able to convert during circulation in the body before excretion.

The question of particle charge is important because it acknowledges the bio-active state of silver, called the cation (Ag+). Many manufactured colloidal silvers are purposely or inadvertently bound into neutral silver metal particles or compounds like silver salts and silver proteins. This is done primarily to cheaply achieve higher total silver ppm concentrations. However, throwing more silver into colloidal suspension (or dissolved solution, in the case of silver salts) does not necessarily result in greater benefit. What matters for efficacy* is the concentration of bio-active silver or positively charged silver.

When you have a majority of active silver (Ag+), you need very little to effect very powerful and positive changes within the biological environment. For example, 10 parts-per-million of a predominantly active cation suspension can exert far more powerful effects than 500 parts-per-million silver colloids bound into neutral protein species.

For the average consumer, colloidal silver is a ‘blind’ item. It’s hard to see what your body sees without magnifying colloids via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) by a factor of 100,000x or even greater. At that level, particle size can be measured. Smaller particle sizes yield greater surface area to convert into bio-active silver. Other measurements, such as ion specific electrodes or ISE’s can indicate active Ag+ content.

Why may the body need silver as a nutritional trace element?

Silver is naturally found as a trace element in foods such as wheat, mammalian breast milk, and mushrooms, as well as natural waters. People on “free from” diets, such as gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free may not get the typical trace quantities found in the diet.  Furthermore, silver is recognized by Canada as a trace mineral necessary for the maintenance of health.

Is NowDrops Silver safe for nursing or pregnant women?

Although silver is a known component of the human and animal diet, FDA regulations limit the labeling of dietary supplements. Please consult with your health care provider to find out if silver hydrosol is appropriate for your needs during pregnancy or for the needs of your baby. Silver is a naturally occurring trace element found in all mammalian milk, edible mushrooms, whole grains, spring water, saltwater, and even tap water, among others.

Will extreme heat damage the product?

The product will not be damaged if exposed to high temperatures (under 125 degrees Fahrenheit) for short periods. It is not advised to store the product in a car during the summer, where temperatures can exceed this for prolonged periods. 

Will NowDrops Silver turn my skin blue (Argyria)?

Argyria is a condition caused by the ingestion or inhalation of elemental silver, ionic silver, low-quality colloidal silver, silver compounds or the inhalation of silver dust. The most dramatic symptom of argyria is the skin becoming blue or bluish-grey colored. Argyria may be found as generalized argyria or local argyria. Argyrosis is the corresponding condition related to the eye. The condition is believed to be permanent, but laser therapy has been used to treat localized forms with satisfactory cosmetic results.

It is true that silver in huge excess beyond 10,000,000 micrograms over 70 years per EPA can, in some cases, lead to argyria, a benign cosmetic skin discoloration. Impurities in other colloidal silvers may also increase the risk. However, pure silver hydrosol – which is free of proteins, salts, and other compounds – poses no health hazard when used as directed.* High parts per million (PPM) concentrations, particularly those that exceed the EPA oral Daily Reference Dose (RfD) for silver are not necessary and should be avoided.