Iodine is an element required by the body. Thyroid disorders, breast tumors, and skin problems are just a few of the maladies that can result from iodine deficiency. Every system of the body needs iodine and benefits from this mineral. Unfortunately, most diets are lacking in iodine, therefore an iodine supplement is a natural remedy for many health conditions.
Iodine Health Benefits
- Thyroid
- Heart
- Digestion
- Metabolism
- Energy
- Temperature Balance
- Sleep
- Breasts
- Skin
- Bones
- Hair
- Reproductive System
- Brain
- Glands
- Cognitive Function
- Immune System
- Cancer Prevention
Iodine and Women’s Health
Iodine deficiency can wreak havoc on a woman’s health. Insufficient iodine levels often leads to poor thyroid function, which can cause many health problems including low energy, hair loss, weight gain, ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breast disease, breast pain, fibroids, and infertility.
Studies have found improvement in the above and other symptoms with iodine supplementation.1,2
Men Need Iodine
While women’s needs for iodine may be more often noticed or diagnosed, men need iodine for proper body function.
Men specifically need iodine for proper prostrate function. In Japan, where iodine consumption is high, prostrate cancer is quite low.3
Children’s Iodine Needs
Certainly children need iodine, too. Children born to mothers with low iodine levels have an increased risk for mental retardation. Iodine deficiency may also be a cause of attention deficit disorder.4 Iodine supplementation appears to be useful to improve cognition in children.5
Iodine and the Elderly
Obviously age would not diminish the need for an essential nutrient, therefore the elderly have iodine needs as well. Nearly 200 years ago tincture of iodine was used topically for diseased joints, which is a common malady of the aging.6
Cancer and Iodine
Iodine has been found to be cytotoxic to some types of cancer cells include colon and breast cancer cells. In other words, it appears to kill cancer cells. Povodine iodine, Lugol’s iodine and a combination of iodine and iodide were each found to have some degree of effectiveness.
Not only a potential cancer treatment, iodine may be a cancer preventative as well. Low dietary iodine has been associated with increased risks of ovarian, breast and endometrial cancers.7
The Effect of Iodine on Infections
In addition to being a basic need for daily body function, iodine is an effective topical antibiotic, even for serious infections like MRSA. 8
Iodine also fights fungal skin infections like tinea.9
Certainly iodine has a long history in hospitals in it use to prevent surgical infections.
More recently, combinations of antibiotics and iodine have shown encouraging results against Lyme Disease bacteria.10
What Causes Iodine Deficiency?
Unfortunately, worldwide, it is estimated that over 2 billion people suffer with iodine deficiency.11
The body’s only source of iodine, apart from supplementation is from food. However, there are not a multitude of foods that contain iodine.
Sea vegetables are high in iodine, but not many people have local access to sea vegetables or choose to eat them even if they are imported.
Modern diets are high in processed foods. Processed foods tend to contain very little, if any iodine. While table salt is iodized, the salt added to processed foods is not.
It used to be that iodine was added to bread as a preservative. When it was discovered that bromide could bring the same results to bread as iodine, manufacturers switched to bromide. Unfortunately, not only did this remove an iodine source from modern diets, bromide competes with iodine in the body, and wins, further decreasing available iodine to the body.
Table salt is supplemented with iodine. However, many chose less processed forms of salt, like sea salt and do not receive this supplementation. Additionally, the amount of iodine in table salt is minimal. It meets the RDA, but in many cases, that amount of iodine is only enough to prevent goiter but not other health problems.
Many water supplies contain chlorine and fluoride. Both of these elements displace iodine in the body. Fluoride is even in many brands of bottled water. Unfortunately, even filtered water often contains fluoride. Carbon filters do not remove fluoride.
The bottom line is that intake of iodine is commonly inadequate and multiple factors can compromise even the small amounts of dietary iodine most people consume.
Food Sources of Iodine
- Kelp
- Wakame
- Nori
- Dairy products
- Cranberries
- Strawberries
- Some grains
- Navy beans
- Tuna
- Codfish
- Potatoes
Herbal Sources of Iodine
Black walnut is one great source of iodine. The hulls of black walnut are rich in iodine. Even removing the green hulls will stain the hands, just as an aqueous iodine solution would. Black walnut is used by herbalists for oral health. Indeed, iodine has been found to fight cavity causing bacteria in the mouth.12
Iodine Supplementation
There are a variety of ways to supplement iodine to the body.
Lugol’s Iodine
Lugol’s iodine is an excellent overall iodine supplement. It contains both iodine and iodide. This combination allows all body systems to benefit from iodine. This liquid form can be used internally, orally and directly on the skin. For more complete information about using Lugol’s Iodine, see this page.
Potassium Iodide
Some supplements say that they contain iodine as potassium iodide. Potassium iodide alone will benefit the thyroid, salivary glands the skin. It will assist in heavy metal detox. However, if a potassium iodide supplement does not contain elemental iodine, the breasts, prostrate, digestive system and brain may not benefit from the supplement.
Iodoral
Iodoral is the name of a company that produces a tablet form of Lugol’s iodine. It is sold in 12.5 mg and 50 mg tablets. It is commonly used to relieve thyroid conditions, fibrocystic breast disease and ovarian cysts.
Iodoral is more expensive than Lugol’s iodine but preferred by many because it is easier to take. This is especially helpful for those who do not like the taste of iodine, which is admittedly not the most pleasant taste.
Kelp Supplements
Kelp supplements will contain micrograms of iodine, as opposed to milligrams of iodine. Micrograms are much smaller units. If only a small amount of iodine is needed, a kelp supplement can be of benefit.
Black Walnut Supplements
Black walnut tincture supplies iodine to the body. It can be used internally or topically. It may be difficult to ascertain how much iodine is in a black walnut supplement however. Black walnut powder is also useful. It can be added to tooth powders for dental health, or made into a tea for another way to get iodine and the other healing elements of black walnut into the body.
Iodine and Companion Nutrients
Vitamins and minerals work together in the body. Iodine has several “companion nutrients” that must be present in the body to ensure that the full benefit of iodine is experienced. Additionally, without the companion nutrients, a reaction to iodine or lack of success with iodine supplementation is likely.
Companion Nutrients
- Selenium
- Zinc
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium
- B Vitamins
What About Iodine Skin Painting?
The body does absorb iodine through the skin. In fact, it is one way to get extra iodine into the body. However, it can be difficult to know exactly how much iodine is absorbed into the skin and how much evaporates.
Painting specific areas of the skin to get iodine to where it is critically needed may be a prudent use of skin painting. “Painting” a breast cyst, swollen lymph node, skin tag, mole or wart can help ensure that the iodine gets to where it is needed the most.
Furthermore, skin painting may be preferred by individuals who do not absorb nutrients well through the gut or who do not tolerate oral iodine dosing well.
One problem with skin painting is that it does discolor the skin a yellow/orange color. While the stain will vanish within hours or in some cases, days, vitamin C can be used to remove the stain. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon ascorbic acid in 2 teaspoons of water and use that solution to remove the stain.
Side Effects of Iodine
In addition to the staining of skin, which is not dangerous, iodine can have side effects in some individuals.
Iodine may cause digestive distress, including stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism. It can cause a jittery feeling, racing heart, sweating, and insomnia.
Iodine could cause flu like symptoms, especially if it is removing poisons from the body.
History of Iodine
French chemist Bernard Courtois discovered iodine in 1811. Soon after this, it was learned that iodine was of benefit to those with goiter.
Iodine has been used medically for swollen glands, joint disease, sexually transmitted diseases, gout, excess mucous, asthma, ulcers, edema, boils and burns.
Before it could be understood exactly what iodine did, it was prescribed liberally for a multitude of conditions. Dr. Albert Szent Gyorgyi, a medical student 100 years ago wrote, “Nobody knew what it did, but it did something and did something good. “If ye don’t know where, what, and why, prescribe ye then K and I (potassium iodine).”13
Have you used an iodine supplement? Please share your experience with us!
Additional Pages of Interest:
Lugol’s Iodine
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8221402
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29340704
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3883964/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4805050/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19726593
- http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM182903100020402
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/58152
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC271835/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21997943
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4997053/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19460960
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20578661
- http://www.optimox.com/iodine-study-14
Side effect reported
I just put one drop of iodine in my orange juice and then vomited at all up 3 minutes later, why?
Side effect reported
I plan on starting the Borax treatment- I have RA, allergies, An Autoimmune disease. Whatever.
6 mo ago, I started iodine therapy- did whole protocol- salt, vit. B's, everything for my thyroid. I gained 25 lbs! in 1 month. This is not an exaggeration. I cannot get it off. So I am hoping the Borax will get rid of the chronic fatigue etc. I had no BO on the iodine but I sure plumped up. Any idea why? Especially since it's supposed to help the thyroid, which is why I had put on weight before and had no energy?
I have posted before about using iodine for low thyroid. I have used it for years with great results. Well, it isn’t cheap and after I ran out a few months ago I decided to try something else. “Thyroid Energy” got good reviews so I tried that. It did seem to work for me. If I forgot to take it for a few days I would start getting a dry mouth, which is how I know my thyroid is doing poorly.
Well when I ran out of the Thyroid Energy stuff, I decided to go back to Iodoral, and I don’t even know why I decided to do that. It arrived last week and I have been taking it with selenium and zinc and C and my other usual stuff.
Yesterday I realized that I have more energy than I have had in a while. In the late evening my mind is more clear and I am folding laundry (instead of “waiting until tomorrow.”) I am also sleeping more soundly.
I am pretty sure it is the Iodoral. You know, sometimes things change gradually and you don’t realize they are changing. I think my energy got worse and my sleep got worse over time I didn’t make the supplement change connection at all.
Iodoral is kind of expensive but at the end of the day, it is worth it, literally!
~Mama to Many~
Side effect reported
I began taking nascent iodine about 3 weeks ago. Started 3 drops per day in the morning, straight in my mouth then swallowed with water. First week was great. Great energy, started sleeping better, etc. Then it turned bad. I started retaining water/bloating in my stomach. To the point my "fat jeans" now won't button. I'm guesstimating about an 6 lb. weight gain in 3 weeks. I don't know what to do now. I am afraid to switch to Lugol's and take a higher dose since no one seems to know why I am bloating/swelling. I do take magnesium, C, and a raw multi in the afternoons to partner with iodine and help the side effects, to no avail. At such a low dose, why am I experiencing this?
On 10/27/2011, David (Lubbock, Texas) posted the first post:
> …I noted someone had problems with burning eyes from taking iodine. I have taken 250 mgs daily for about eight months, luv it. It has fixed all my ailments, My eyes burn, if I don't wash well, scrub my face twice a day, I believe the iodine is loading up in the skin oils, and making it alkaline, which burns the eyes if it contacts them. Anyhoo, scrub your face, keep the oil off and you will live long and healthy taking iodine. david lubbock tx…
——————-
We haven't heard from David, lately. Is he missing because he was really taking 250 mg every day? I wonder if he meant 25 mg, instead? Or maybe he forgot to include the Selenium?
So far, I've read pages 1 and 16 of theseiodine comments. I have to go back and see if "Atomidine" is mentioned in any of the other 14 pages. I'm attached to Atomidine, because I'm stocked up on it. But it doesn't have the combination of elemental iodine and compound iodide, so maybe it's not the best supplement.
The Atomidine does seem to provide a de-toxifying effect. After taking it the previous day, I wake up around 4 AM with a racing heart. (Maybe 75 or 80 beats per minute when it would normally be less than 60, but with a bit of a pounding sensation, too.) Usually, that was my cue to stop taking the Atomidine, but now that I read from y'all that the racing heart is a symptom of detoxifying, then I'm sticking with it.
Last week, I took one drop later in the afternoon, and it woke me up before sunrise with a racing heart.
Two days ago, I took one drop in the morning, and it didn't wake me up the next night, so taking it in the morning seems to be a good strategy. Yesterday, I took two drops in the morning, and it didn't wake me up. Today, I took three drops in the morning, and I'm still alive.
Last year, I went through a couple of bottles of RLC Labs iThroid — 12.5 mg capsules, which contains a combination of iodine and iodide, and certainly smells like the real thing. And it's dark, dark green. It didn't create any detox symptoms, even though it has hundreds of times more iodine than Atomidine. I don't know if it helped, but it didn't hurt.
So, my first guess is that the Atomidine is a better detoxifier than iThroid. However, detoxifying is a different process than taking sufficient supplementation, so there's still a need for the iThroid.
Without guidance, I would stop taking one if I were taking the other.
When I went shopping [on Amazon], I don't remember why I chose the iThroid over the Lugol's. Maybe iThroid was less expensive per mg. Maybe it's because iThroid liquid is in a capsule, and that seemed more convenient than spilling iodine all over the place. I mean, I'm not a messy person, but I have my moments. I'll have to check again; it would be intuitive that a simple bottle of liquid should cost less than putting it into capsules.
Don't forget; if you take iodine — whatever size dose per day, then take a standard 200 mcg capsule of Selenium also. Selenium is an inexpensive supplement.
Or, one of the google returns say:
> Brazil nuts are known to include as much as 95 mcg of selenium per nut. Given that the RDA for selenium is 55 mcg and we recommend getting 200 mcg daily, just a couple of Brazil nuts could have you set.
Brazil nuts, however, can be a nuisance to remove from their shells, eh?
Since I get such great benefit from this site and all of your reportings, which I appreciate so much, I am writing to tell you that Iodoral (iodine) has helped me tremendously. My thyroid has been low for many years now. I've taken many things for it to no avail. Also suffered from adrenal fatigue, parasites, leaky gut, excess heavy metals, heart palps and arrythmia, and candida.
I read Lynn Farrow's book on high-dose iodine after beginning Bill Thompson's candida program (also with great success so far, I might add – thank you Bill). I am not 100% cured so far, but I am very happy with the results of both. Bill's protocol is unique in candida-cure land, imo, because it includes Lugol's. I find I hate the taste of that and it is easier for me to use Iodoral.
So, main symptoms: Hair loss, constant fatigue, extreme brain fog, with heart palpitations and arrythimia, especially at night so I was sleep deprived.
Dosage: Started with 25 mgs. Iodoral with salt loading and all the suggested supplements in Lynn's book (you'll have to look it up). In one week, went up to 50 mgs. In a couple of weeks, went up to 100 mgs. All this is intuitive for me, mind you, and no doubt will be for you. A short time after that, went up to 150 mgs.
Now, I am not salt loading and taking Vit. C only sporadically, but still take all the other suppies with the Iodoral. Whereas my heart palps used to keep me awake, I now only notice them once in a while and they are very mild. The brain fog is greatly reduced (Hallelujah! ), hair no longer falling out like it was and I have lots more energy and motivation. Still taking my OTC adrenal and thyroid glandulars. I had stopped them when I started the Iodoral to see what would happen, but then began again and they seem very helpful.
Was it the candida protocol or the high-dose iodine, (or the stuff I do for leaky gut and parasites)? One led to the other and both have been winners. I say, without the iodine, the candida protocol would not be as effective. I just wonder if the Iodoral will be a lifetime thing? I know I'm a lifer on the candida suppies (plus the diet) but I'm happy to take them all to get these results. Quality of life is much more important to me than quantity. Many thanks.
I have Hashimotos and take iodine tincture everyday. It caused a flare up when I first started but as soon as I added companion nutrients it completely stopped.
Hello.
My question today is for Bill. I was wondering what your thoughts are on nascent iodine vs lugols (potassium iodide). Pros/cons?
Hi Silversurfer…I would go with Lugols Iodine or Iodoral every time. Nascent Iodine is simply not as good as LI. For instance Nascent Iodine — containing just triiodide — cannot detox heavy metals or halides(like Bromine and Fluorine) as can LI. That’s because Nascent Iodine only contains triiodide. LI or Iodoral contains molecular iodine, iodide and triiodide. So Nascent iodine — just triiodide — does not have the other added health benefits of molecular iodine and iodide.
Here is a paper which describes in more detail why LI or Iodoral are the best forms of iodine to supplement.
Iodine Supplementation Guide
Having said that, Nascent Iodine is highly absorbed and tasteless and can easily be given to kids because its so gentle(due to no heavy metal or halide detox side-effects). Nascent iodine will also have benefit for the thyroid and other glands because it is so easily absorbed. Nascent Iodine isn’t a bad form to take but, in my opinion, its just not as good as LI because LI gives the body so much more benefit.
Thanks so much for the info, Bill. I have your book and have been following your protocol religiously. Within the first 2 weeks my jock itch has almost totally resolved itself without any creams or added support. I have been struggling with it for years. Also, I am beginning to just feel much better overall. I happen to be a clinical nutritionist and am also utilizing your protocol with my clients. Much thanks for all of your research and efforts. You never know how many people you can touch.
Hi Silversurfer…Thanks very much for your kind praise which I’m sure I don’t deserve. None of the anti-candida protocols that I advise have been discovered or invented by me — these remedies mostly belong to other people. And alot of these remedies have been around for hundreds of years. All I tried to do was just use some logic and connect the dots.
My favourite candida/pathogen kill combination now consists of Ted’s alkalizing remedies, Lugols Iodine, Borax and Turpentine/castor oil. These protocols seem to be the most consistently effective against candida/other pathogens/parasites.
I’ve also been working with and advising a parents autism group for the last year or so and I’ve seen up-close how efficient the Turpentine/CO remedy is at killing candida, parasites and removing biofilms. Some of the results and photos have been pretty astounding using just this one protocol together with Kerri Rivera’s MMS/Hulda Clark PP/GcMAF approach against ASD. Many of the parents who had hit a brick wall with Kerri’s protocol(which is very good, by the way) with no improvement for months suddenly found accelerated improvements all around with their autistic kids when they added just the turpentine/CO protocol. I’m also happy to report that many of the parents in this group have also moved on and also added borax, alkalizing and LI to there protocols as well.
I’m also glad that you will be using the protocols in your nutritionist work. That pleases me no end. The whole point of my book, apart from helping people cure their own candida issues, was to get that important information out there and let other people, who are far more qualified and cleverer than I am, run with it.
I found tree/plant Iodine/Potassium supplement on barefootherbalistmh site and very impressed. I am taking it with "worms be gone" tincture for a month now. There is passion in these products, passion for herbs, plant and its healing qualities. If you decided to supplement with Iodine, I recommend you look into these supplements.
The element BROMINE is very bad for you. It is in many, if not most, breads, soft drinks, and more. Bromine displaces iodine in a very many biological processes and causes: Cancer, mental disorders, skin disorders and more. It very much screws up your entire endocrine system. This is NOT news but few are aware of just how dangerous BROMINE is to so many aspects of human health. These very real dangers have been well documented for over 30 years now.
Be wary of sea salt and seaweed foodstuffs also because they contain bromine. Using iodized salt is best. Iodine is the element you need. The element bromine readily displaces it and thereby screws up all the many biological processes involved. Ignorance is NOT bliss….Oscar
Hello I am looking for Lugol's Iodine in Alberta, do you have a location here where I could purchase it?
You could purchase Lugols Iodine from Amazon in different concentrations..
FYI: if you will be using Lugol's internally, there is a protocol of vitamins here on this site to follow to safely take iodine without untoward side effects..
Hi Val from Innisfail – I get 5% Lugol's from London Drugs or Shoppers Drug Mart (you need to ask the pharmacist to order it for you). Mary from Saskatchewan recently mentioned a number of Calgary compounding pharmacies that carry it as well (in stock so it doesn't have to be ordered). I don't know if Innisfail has a compounding pharmacy but if there isn't, try any pharmacy. You may want to talk directly to the pharmacist (sometimes the assistants aren't as helpful).
Also, Bill from San Fernando said that Lugol's can be purchased at the vets and some pet shops in Canada.
Hope this helps – good luck! Bess