Iodine
Health Benefits

Benefits of Iodine for Health

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
General Feedback
Posted by Maggie (Calgary, Alberta,canada) on 06/12/2012

Hello again. I just started my family on Lugol's iodine. We are up to 3 drops in water/orange juice in AM. Last night my husband's back/leg pain was worse than usual. Would this have anything to do with an iodine detox? Also, this morning he was very irritable, probably due to pain but wondering if one has anything to do with the other. We also take a liquid multi each AM and hopefully there is enough supplements (selenium, boron) to help with the iodine reaction. Please advise if there are any suggestions to our current protocol and if we should just continue on this course, slowly working up to more drops each day. Thanks for any help. It is so nice to be able to heal ourselves from the inside out. Also, an interesting observation, our dreams are much more vivid after starting lugol's.

General Feedback
Posted by Lisa (Rabat, Morocco) on 06/12/2012

Also, Maggie, are you following the full iodine protocol? You should be taking Vitamin C, magnesium, selenium and unrefined sea salt (should be grey or pink in color). If you are having detox you can try taking 1/2 tsp. Of unrefined salt in 1/2 cup warm water and then follow with a full glass of water. You can repeat this every 30-45 minutes until urination. Before I started iodine I took lots of liver support. That might help you with detox issues.


Iodine Deficiency
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 03/08/2012

There are many who are still either extremely skeptical or who are fearful of supplementing Lugol's Iodine for health. But, just recently, I have found a series of 5 videos by Dr Brownstein, who fully describes in detail why iodine -- in the form of lugol's iodine -- is so necessary for the body. He lists and talks about all the diseases and illneses which are actually caused by iodine deficiency -- and the number is profuse. He also presents all the statististics, history of use and current research evidence which may surprise you. This series of videos is based on his well known book -- Iodine:Why you Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It.

Here is the first video in the series(you can easily find the other 4 videos in the series on youtube):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj-dwWsm8D0&feature=related

Iodine Deficiency
Posted by Kami (Texas, US) on 12/10/2014

Hello, I see that you're from the Philippines and I have a friend who would like to try Lugol's or Iodoral, but she hasn't found a good source and said that the stores don't carry it in her area. Could you steer me in the right direction. Is there a company that will ship to her and that won't cost an arm and a leg in shipping charges? Thank you so much!!


Iodine Deficiency
Posted by Bill (San Fernando) on 12/11/2014

Hi Kami...You can buy 500 mls of Lugol's Iodine in Manila for delivery within the Philippines from this website:

Lugol's Iodine -- Manila

The above 500 mls or half liter of lab grade lugols iodine will only cost you 380 pesos($8.52) and is astonishingly cheap(and will last you for years) when you compare it's price against J Crow's LI(made in America) which costs a ridiculous $25 for just 30 mls of LI for equine use.

Other vendors of LI in Manila are shown below:

Light Infinity Wellness Center,
West Avenue, near Baler ST,
Quezon City
Tel: 414 10298
Website: http://callbizdev.wix.com/lightinfinitywellnesscenter

Generics King Pharmacy
San Francisco
930-G Del Monte Ave,
SFDM, 1104 Quezon City,
Philippines
Tel: 632-4116692
Link: http://www.genericsking.com


Skin Ailments
Posted by Jan (Homer, Alaska) on 02/15/2012

We need help. My husband read your remedies for iodine. He has some "skin tags" one under each of his arm pits. He also has what looks like a precancerous growth on his scrotum and another skin tag there. He read that Lugol's Solution of 5% Iodine put on 2-3 times a day would allow the skin tags to eventually fall off and the little growth on his scrotum about the size of a pea would heal from the inside out.

We have followed all the instructions for over 2 weeks. The only change is that the skin tags under his arms look like they are darker in color and are getting hard. They all are in a bad place as they all get rubbed whenever he moves. When applying the iodine, it now "stings" and I'm getting concerned!! We are not doctor people and he did show the little growth to his MD in Homer and the doctor said it was "no big deal". Al is 70 yrs. of age and we are wintering in the Phoenix area during the winter. I don't know what else to do. Did we buy the wrong iodine? I put neosporin and vitamin 3 oil on each thing after each application. Can you help us? I'm getting desperate!! Jan

Skin Ailments
Posted by Deborah (Chino Valley, Az) on 02/16/2012

Hi Jan, Might be time to try another approach if what you've been doing is either not helping and/or starting to hurt. Have you tried castor oil? It works wonders for so many skin-related issues, and I know I've read about it's helpful history with both skin tags and cancerous or possibly cancerous skin issues. It does not burn, is extremely gentle and safe with a long, positive history of helpfulness.

I wonder if a twice per day application schedule, leaving it on for at least 10 minutes during the day, as well as overnight might help? I'm sure I've read of something that can be mixed with it to get rid of skin tags more quickly. If I remember it, I'll reply again.

Best of luck to you and your husband.


Skin Ailments
Posted by Sara (The Beach, Canada) on 02/16/2012

I know this may be more costly than lugols, but I know for a fact in my own experience that essiac tea will talk care of skin tags and growths. Research it and you can even buy the powder to make your own so it is more economical for you. Hope this helps.


Skin Ailments
Posted by Deborah (Chino Valley, Az) on 02/16/2012

Hi again, I'm with Sara... Essiac tea taken internally can be wonderful for the skin, especially if any precancerous activity may be going on. Sara, can it be used externally as well?


How to Take Lugol's
Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 02/05/2012

I am thinking of starting taking Lugol's tomorrow but I am still unsure of how to take it. I read a book but the author doesn't say anything about it and what I find on the Internet is contradictory. Some say to take it 30 min. before eating in a glass of water with ACV. Others say during the meals, someone here said 60 min. before the meal..... I have no idea! Does it make a difference and should I take it with the ACV?

How to Take Lugol's
Posted by Carly (Seattle, Wa - Usa) on 02/05/2012

Hi Francisca, I have been taking Lugol's topically. I am kind of worried to take it internally because I have many allergies / sensitivities to so many different things. I am wondering how others do the skin application.

I have been doing iodine foot painting, alternating bottoms of feet with my lower abdomen (ovary area) and breasts.

Doing approx. 1/3 of a dropper of 2% almost every day. I did back off a bit one time a month or so ago when I had some heart racing / palpitations. (They went away, and may have been because I had not been taking my magnesium as I should have been).

I am wondering if iodine painting compares in any way to taking it internally?

I have only read enough about it to be totally and utterly confused at this point. ;-)

If anyone has any information on this as well as Francisca's question, I would really appreciate hearing from them.

Thanks,

Carly


How to Take Lugol's
Posted by R. (L.a., Usa) on 02/05/2012

All by itself in a full glass of water is best for quick absorption, but it doesn't matter much. The most important thing is sufficient doses and regimen for a few months, I. E. at least 12.5 - 50mg - see e.g. http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/IOD-08/IOD_08.htm


How to Take Lugol's
Posted by Lisa (Rabat, Morocco) on 02/06/2012

Carly, in my opinion, you don't always absorb all that you paint on your skin (evaporation and such) and since it is recommended to take 25-50 mg at minimum, I don't think you could paint enough to get that. If you don't have an allergic reaction on your skin, you should be able to take it internally. You can always do both.


How to Take Lugol's
Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 02/06/2012

Hi Lisa (from Rabat, Morocco), Thanks for your info. I keep forgetting about the salt could you tell me how to take the salt? Also do you take the mag, selenium and vit c at the same meal or at a different time? Currently we add the grey coloured sea salt to all our meals. Thanks.


How to Take Lugol's
Posted by Lisa (Rabat, Morocco) on 02/07/2012

Hi Maria, I always take the mag. Selenium and vit C together. It's just easier that way. I have a liter water bottle that I add about a 1/2 tsp. Salt. Everytime I refill the bottle I add more salt. I am not a big fan of salt, but after doing this for awhile I don't like to drink plain water anymore. I also add extra to my food. As long as the salt is unrefined (usually gray or pink) it is okay to use and it has not affected my blood pressure. I believe it is the refined table salt that does this for those who worry about salt intake.


How to Take Lugol's
Posted by Lisa (Rabat, Morocco) on 02/07/2012

I should clarify my remarks about taking all the supplements together. I split up my doses of magnesium and vitamin C throughout the day.


How to Take Lugol's
Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 02/08/2012

Debbie, I started yesterday with one drop but I took it with the meal, today as well. I will try to take it before a meal tomorrow. I usually dream quite a lot, let's see what happens! This seems to be Hulda Clark's recipe, 5% iodine, 7% potassium iodide. On the bottle it says that one can take quite a bit more but I will go up a drop at a time. So far so good..... Let's see! I don't want any trouble! I hope it will cure the bags under my eyes, my weak hair, cold feet, insomnia and a few other things. I will keep you posted. So far I tried Turmeric in the tea for the bags under my eyes as someone advised here without any results. I am taking Vit. C, selenium, magnesium, the lot, and eating some Cilantro (coriander).

Do you know what I am also trying out and which seems to be working? I am getting rid of my addiction to warmth. I have always been too cautious with keeping myself warm, during the day and at night, now I am getting rid of all those layers of chlothing and I have only a thin blanket in bed although it is winter here and very cold it is too! It feels weird to get rid of my thick jumpers and thick duvet in bed but I am getting there without too much difficulty! I read a book about skin care where the author says that it is awful for skin and hair to be always far too hot and that we can retrain our thermostat. I believe we can because if you look at the young people here in Europe going around in the winter with hardly anything on that really is possible. But well, this is a training you can hardly do in Australia!


Iodine Deficiency
Posted by Sara (Sacramento, Ca, Usa) on 12/21/2011

Hello Everyone!

Does Iodine deficiency cause cracked feet? How do I know if I am iodine deficient? I have been suffering from cracked feet my whole life. I tried from A to Z nothing had been working. I will highly appreciate if someone will share thier thought here. Thanks

Iodine Deficiency
Posted by Jen (Bozeman, Mt, Us) on 12/22/2011

It's possible that you have a hypothyroid. One of the symptoms of a hypothyroid is severe cracked feet. Iodine might help if this is the case. You should check out the symptoms of hypothyroid and maybe get tested for it just to be sure. Some of the other symptoms are:

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
  • Coarse, dry hair
  • Dry, rough pale skin
  • Hair loss
  • Cold intolerance (you can't tolerate cold temperatures like those around you)
  • Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Memory loss
  • Abnormal menstrual cycles (usually heavy and/or long)
  • Decreased libido (due to hormone imbalances and depression)

You can have your thyroid hormone levels checked by your regular doctor or do some simple tests at home to get an idea. Just be very careful if you are diagnosed with hypothyroid problems as regular doctors like to fix this by prescribing synthetic hormones which usually don't work.

One way to check your thyroid at home is to take your temperature a few times throughout the day. If it is below 98. 6 around 3 pm then it is very possible you have low thyroid function and possibly hypothyroid disease. You can go to these sites for help with temperature and thyroid info.

http://allonhealth.com/hypothyroidism-test.htm

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/temperature/


Nascent Iodine
Posted by Karenina (Southampton, Uk) on 12/19/2011

Has anyone used Detoxadine Iodine? It is supposed to be more gentle on the stomach and it contains no alcohol which can trigger off allergies? I cannot find this Iodine anywhere on your site. Thanks Ted or anyone who is using it. Karenina

Nascent Iodine
Posted by Shelly (Texas) on 05/09/2014

I have tried the Detoxadine and I don't think it is strong enough. It taste kind of good but I think it's too weak. I wouldn't recommend it.


Nascent Iodine
Posted by D Lin (US) on 08/08/2014

I've tried the Detoxadine and it gave me hot flashes with only one drop a day. I stopped the supplement and went back on the Lugols. I've not had any hot flashes with the Lugols 2%.


Nascent Iodine
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 08/09/2014

Hi Karenina...Detoxadine is nascent iodine which only contains triiodide. It's also fairly well known that triodide forms of iodine do not detox heavy metals very well. Lugols Iodine is much better for detox. So naming it Detoxadine is just a contradictory marketing ploy.

That's why I always prefer to use lugols iodine because it contains iodide, molecular iodine as well as triiodide -- all of which are useful for the body.

The reason you get strange side-effects from using any form of iodine is because you have probably been eating a supermarket-bought processed food diet all your life which is high in heavy metals and other poisons and hugely lacking in anti-oxidants.

So your body will be lacking in anti-oxidants and will also probably have an excess build up of heavy metals and halides. To check this you can get a simple hair analysis -- this will tell you all vitamins and minerals your are lacking in your body and will also tell you about the excessive heavy metal and halide levels in your body as well.

Lugol's Iodine will detox cadmium, aluminum, mercury, lead, arsenic, bromine and fluorine. So if you have high amounts of these heavy metals and halides already in your body, iodine will remove them quickly from the cells and put them into the blood and this puts a strain on the liver and kidneys, hence the strange hyper symptoms. So the problem here is really your diet and not the iodine.

And if you also have an extensive infection in your body(known or unknown), iodine may also cause a significant Herx reaction from the die-off with more strange symptoms.

I take 8 drops 5% lugols iodine(50 mgs) per day -- been doing this every day for 8 years -- with no side-effects at all because I always ensure to take the iodine companion supplements like selenium, vitamin C, Magnesium, B Vitamins, Zinc etc as advised in this document:

The Guide to Supplementing Lugols Iodine(or Iodoral)

You should never supplement any form of iodine without also taking the iodine companion supplements every day as well. With iodine, start small and go slow is the rule.

Lugols Iodine and Iodoral are equivalent and are the most useful iodine supplements for the body.


Iodine, Iodide, Triiodide
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 11/29/2011

Dr Brownstein has written an interesting review of his own clinical experiences using lugol's iodine. His work illustrates the necessity of taking both iodide and iodine in lugol's form -- which contains both iodide and elemental iodine. Here are some extracts:

One and a half years ago, I began testing my patients for the [iodine] loading test. Although I expected lowered body iodine levels, I was not ready for the magnitude of the results. After testing over 500 patients, I found that 94. 7% of my patients are deficient in inorganic iodine. Many of these patients were already being treated by me for thyroid and other endocrine imbalances, including SSKI. When physiologic doses of iodine/iodide were added to their regimen, many of these patients showed dramatic improvement in their condition, especially patients who were non-responders, even though some were taking SSKI.

Iodine deficiency is often thought of as synonymous with thyroid malfunction, particularly with the development of goiter. The research is clear that iodine deficiency can lead to cysts and nodules of the thyroid gland. David Marine reported the benefits of treating school-aged children with iodine/iodide (Lugol's solution) nearly 70 years ago. Marine looked at two groups: a control group and a treatment group, which received 9mg/day of iodine/iodide. The iodine/iodide treatment group had a 0. 2% incidence of goiter while the control group had a 22% goiter 110x difference. This was the first U.S. Iodine study showing the decline of goiter formation with the use of iodine. Shortly after this study, iodized salt was initiated which was a great success in eliminating goiter in the U.S.

In medical school, little was taught about iodine. Specifically, we were taught that the iodization of salt was implemented to prevent goiter and therefore no further iodine was necessary in the diet. After studying the literature on iodine, I realized what I was taught in medical school was incorrect. The iodization of salt was adequate to lessen the prevalence of goiter, but it did not address the rest of the body's need for iodine.

I was initially hesitant to use higher (>1mg) doses of iodine due to my concern about causing adverse effects. In reviewing much of the literature there was concern about larger doses of iodine causing hyperthyroid symptoms. However, a further, more exhaustive review of the literature failed to prove that iodine, in milligram doses ever was shown to cause hyperthyroid symptoms. In fact, as iodine levels have fallen over 50% in the last 30 years in the United States, autoimmune disorders and hyperthyroid symptoms have been increasing at near epidemic proportions.

After testing individuals and finding low iodine levels, I began to use smaller milligram amounts of iodine/iodide (6.25mg/day). Upon retesting these individuals 1-2 months later, little progress was made. I therefore began using higher milligram doses (6. 25-50mg) to increase the serum levels of iodine. It was only with these higher doses that I began to see clinical improvement as well as positive changes in the laboratory tests.

Why would people need the larger doses of iodine? Why have iodine levels fallen 50% in the last 30 years? As I pondered these questions, I came to the conclusion that the toxicity of modern life must be impacting iodine levels. It is well known that the toxic halides, fluoride and bromide, having a similar structure as iodine, can competitively inhibit iodine absorption and binding in the body.

Source: Clinical Experience with Inorganic Non-radioactive Iodine/Iodides

Clearly, from the above research, not all forms of iodine will have the same beneficial effect and smaller dosages seem to be insufficient for whole body iodine/iodide sufficiency. SSKI contains only Potassium Iodide(I-) but lugol's contains KI(I-) as well as elemental iodine(I2), so they are not the same thing -- the former is the antioxidant ionic form and the latter is the pro-oxidant molecular form. Furthermore, although SSKI is extremely beneficial, lugols has a more widespread beneficial effect on the body because of the added elemental iodine(I2).

Here is some research by Eskin and Ghent et al (1995):

Biol Trace Elem Res. 1995. Jul;49(1):9-19

Different tissue responses for iodine and iodide in rat thyroid and mammary glandsby Eskin BA, Grotkowski CE, Connolly CP, Ghent WR. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19129, USA. This research describes the effects of short-term elemental iodine (I2) and iodide (I-) replacement on thyroid glands and mammary glands of iodine-deficient (ID) Sprague-Dawley female rats. Iodine deficiency causes atypical tissue and physiologic changes in both glands. Tissue histopathology and the endocrine metabolic parameters, such as serum TT4, tissue and body weights, and vaginal smears, are compared. A moderate reduction in thyroid size from the ID control (IDC) was noted with both I- and I2, whereas serum total thyroxine approached the normal control with both I- and I2, but was lower in IDC. Thyroid gland IDC hyperplasia was reduced modestly with I2, but eliminated with I-. Lobular hyperplasia of the mammary glands decreased with I2 and increased with I- when compared with the IDC; extraductal secretions remained the same as IDC with I2, but increased with I-; and periductal fibrosis was markedly reduced with I2, but remained severe with I-. Thus, orally administered I2 or I- in trace doses with similar iodine availability caused different histopathological and endocrine patterns in thyroid and mammary glands of ID rats. The significance of this is that replacement therapy with various forms of iodine are tissue-specific.

Editor's Note: As cited above, for iodine-deficient rats, iodine was more beneficial than iodide for the mammary gland. Similarly, for humans with fibrocystics breasts, the patients incurred more benefits from supplementing with iodine rather than iodide. The benefits included a reduction in breast size and remission of disease symptoms.

Source: http://www.breastcanceralternatives.org/iodineref.html

Therefore what becomes plainly apparent form all the above research are the following points:

* Iodide and elemental iodine do not have the same beneficial effects on the body because certain areas and organs of the body may specifically uptake only the iodide or only uptake the elemental iodine or even perhaps an intermediate form -- Triiodide(I3-) -- arising from a combination reaction between the Iodide and Iodine forms to resolve problems. So both forms are therefore needed for proper whole body sufficiency.

* Larger doses of both iodide and iodine are needed to resolve major problems in the body. Microgram amounts will only ever satisfy the thyroid, whereas larger milligram amounts are unquestionably needed for whole body iodine/iodide sufficiency.

* A paradigm shift in the thinking needs to occur regarding the human body's requirement for iodine/iodine. The body needs 100 times more iodide/iodine than the thyroid -- which only requires the iodide form. Therefore medical thought should more correctly consider this iodine/iodide need as a whole body deficiency rather than just as a singular thyroid deficiency.

As to why Lugol's Iodine causes probems with some people can perhaps be put down to the elemental iodine content in the lugols which can be harsh on the stomach. Both Lugol's Iodine and Nascent Iodine both contain the Triiodide form -- the most biovailable and friendly form for the body which is also not harsh on the stomach. However, Nascent Iodine, because of its electromagnetic formation, contains far more triiodide than lugols. Because of this and whereas one drop of Lugols Iodine contains 6.25 mgs iodide/iodine, Nascent Iodine only contains about 0.6 mgs iodine per drop -- but because most of it is in the triiodide form, this form is absorbed into the body ten times more efficiently than the lugol's form. Triiodide can also easily be absobed sub-lingually or in the stomach and has a much faster action on the body than Lugol's Iodine. The one drawback here is that Nascent Iodine is much more expensive than lugol's iodine because it involves a more complex electromagnetic process.

Iodine, Iodide, Triiodide
Posted by Mike (Denver, Colorado) on 03/19/2012

iosol contains ammonium iodide take 50 drops per day for 1 month as a loading dose after that take 7 drops per day as a maintanance dose take plenty of water kelp contains potassium iodide for the thyroid take 1 gram with a pint of water 5 times a day monday thru friday on the weekend dont take any so the body can flush the excess potassium iodide from the thyroid


General Feedback
Posted by Simeon (Bronx, New York, Usa) on 11/26/2011

Would decoloration of tincture iodine with either desoluble vitamin C, lime or lemon juice reduce the strenghth or potency of iodine and its taste? Could anybody tell me the measurement for the decoloration?

Best regards.

General Feedback
Posted by Lisa (Rabat, Morocco) on 11/26/2011

Tincture of iodine is not to be taken internally, if that is what you are saying. I prefer to use Iodoral tablets so there is no taste, though they are a little more expensive.


General Feedback
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 11/26/2011

You shouldn't take vitamin c and iodine at the same time. I add my iodine to milk (can't taste it), or to my chlorophyll solution.


General Feedback
Posted by Francisca (Zug, Zug, Switzerland) on 12/01/2011

Debbie, do you mean not take Vitamin C and iodine at the same time or not to take one at all if you are taking the other?


General Feedback
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 12/01/2011

Hi Francisca, I read that you should take them but not at the same time... an hour or two apart should be okay.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Maggie (Calgary, Alberta, canada) on 06/12/2012

Just wondering if anyone has heard of the nascent iodine and if it provides the same great results as Lugol's iodine? Thanks all. I love this site. I have used it for all my family health issues.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Lisa (Rabat, Morocco) on 06/12/2012

Maggie, I believe 1 drop of nascent iodine contains .15 mg of iodine--you would need a lot of drops. Also, nascent does not saturate body tissues and detox halides such as bromide and fluoride. You are better off using Lugol's.


General Feedback
Posted by Susan (New York) on 09/20/2011

Dear Bill from San Fernando,

I have been taking iodine per your postings. 2 Drops of 2% every night in half glass of water. What is different between Lugols and Nascent Iodine, do you have to take 2 days off or can you take it everyday?

Thanks Bill

General Feedback
Posted by Sasha (Chicago, Il) on 09/21/2011

Bill, If I stop taking iodized salt, what si the right amount to takr of Lugols? 3 drops a day as the bottle says? I don't want any complication of taking too much and getting the thyroid overactive. I think a friend did that and got anxious and racing heart. But from what I'm reading here, it seems 2 drops would take a year then I don't have much to worry about? What are the symptoms of too much and how can one alleviate them? Any antidote? Also does painting on the foot help much to get it into the body? I will consider this nascent if Lugol's uspets the stomach too much. Thank you!


General Feedback
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 09/22/2011

Hi Sasha... Up until the Second WW years, and for over a hundred years before this period, lugols iodine was used for a huge number of chronic problems and diseases. Doses of 300 mgs - 2000 mgs or about 50 drops to 300 drops were administered by doctors on a daily basis for chronic forms of emphysema, asthma and bronchitis (iodine has a tendency to accumulate in both the lungs and breasts and its effect is highly protective). Iodine is well known to be anti-pathogenic, anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer as well. And larger dose lugols was a successful treatment because, amongst all its other wonderful healing properties, iodine acts as a safe antihistamine, germ killer, blood purifier etc etc.

I took about 16 drops of lugols (100 mgs) per day for a while just to see what effect this would have on me. It had very little effect on me and so I concluded that because of its safe and long history of use in larger dosages by the medical profession in the past, those that do have problems with iodine now must have other problems with excreting the iodine from the body. This problem is not caused by the iodine -- this is because of other medical problems within that individual.

Foot painting with iodine would probably be useful just to maintain the small thyroid iodine maintenance levels in a fairly healthy body, but would not be sufficient to satisfy the whole body's need for iodine/iodide or enough to help cure such as hypothyroid conditions. The body also needs approximately a 100 times more iodine than the thyroid does -- so you cannot guarantee that even small amounts such as 2 drops will ALL go to the thyroid -- because the body, excluding the thyroid's requirement, needs iodine too in much larger amounts. This is why you must take larger amounts of lugols to get quicker and more satisfactory results.

The absorbtion of iodine by foot-painting, from the research, seems to be very small -- only about 12% of the iodine applied to the skin is ever absorbed into the body. Here is the article and research: http://thyroid.about.com/library/derry/bl2a.htm


General Feedback
Posted by Jc (Boston, Ma) on 09/22/2011

Sasha,

I know this is not your question but I would replace the iodized table salt with unrefined Sea Salt. Refined salt has lost the other trace minerals and has added anti caking agents that you do not want to take, like Aluminum. Get unrefined sea salt like Celtic or unrefined mined salt Like Real Salt. The Iodine content is low in iodized salt and for the reasons I stated is not a good idea. Get your iodine from kelp (or other sea weed), seafood or supplements like Lugols. You can buy ground and dried sea weed and sprinkle it on food like salt. It has a salty flavor but will not impact BP as much and is a food source of iodine. Available in most health food stores.

As another option, if your stomach is an issue, you can take Lugols sublingually. Place some under your tongue and hold it for a few minutes. I don't know how much you will absorbed but it will be better than 12% as reported in foot painting.


General Feedback
Posted by Susan (Ny) on 09/22/2011

Dear Bill from San Fernando,

How much pumkin seeds I have to eat in order to get 25-50 mgs in my body ? You recommend taking zinc once a week along with the iodine. Zinc(25-50 mgs once a week).


General Feedback
Posted by Sasha (Chicago, Illinois) on 09/22/2011

This is super info everyone! I'm going to try the iodine more fearlessly within the constraints of what is recommended here. I am going to try to get more seaweed into my diet. I'll look for some made in US East coast, not sure how all the radiation in Japan will affect things. I bought unrefined sea salt from a coop but it was pure white. I don't think it was truly unrefined but so tricky these days with ignorant or plain out false labeling in the states. Thank you Bill and Jc. I was told there was a link of Bill's typical supplement day, I am going to search through and find that here.


General Feedback
Posted by Sasha (Chicago, Il) on 09/23/2011

Does anyone know the link for Bill's routine use of supplements? I remember seeing it somewhere here. I found an older one here but I know there was an updated post with chanca. There are so many supplements here and I want to narrow them down but not miss any important ones. If someone can post a link of Bill's updated post on how he uses the supplements, please post it here. I've searched pages and pages but can't find it. Thank you very much!

Http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/fungus2.html


General Feedback
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 09/25/2011

Hi Sasha... My own health routine is quite variable, however I always make sure that I take certain supplements on a regular basis. I tend to use natural more bioavailable ingredients rather than synthetic nutrients, which also tend to be more expensive anyway. And I avoid multi-vitamin tablets because they cannot be gauranteed to be dissolved properly in the intestines and be absorbed into the body, they also contain synthetic nutrients as well as additives and the nutrient amounts contained in the multi-vit pill are usually very inadequate. I therefore regard multi-vits as useless.

Everybody has their own emphasis in regard to their own health regimen. My own emphasis is that, unless you eat food that is entirely organic and grown on healthy soils and you can afford to do this, then you must continually defend yourself against the bad effects of chemically processed foods. Therefore, I never stop defending my body from the effects of modern food now. I live in the Philippines and in the semi-provinces which is fairly primitive. Most of my shopping is done at the big primitive markets here. I eat no canned or processed food. But I have seen many Syngenta and Monsanto test farms in my rural area and I am not fooled, so the food where I live cannot be regarded as organic or pure or safe if you like -- therefore I defend against this and continually use a defensive and preventative approach. Most of the European and American retirees here of my age suffer from heart disease, diabetes or liver disease. This tells me a whole lot about their food diets and their bad habits. I therefore conclude that bad nutritional habits are the hardest thing in the world to change because we so love to eat sweet, acid things, we enjoy big steaks and beer etc. People look to convenience as a way out, popping a bucket full of medical pills daily to cure all their problems whilst still continuing their bad habits!! This is so crazy. I see this everywhere in the Philippines.

I always alkalize as per Ted's remedies -- I use the lemon/lime remedy on most days -- and also use the sodium bicarb and water remedy for the blood.

As my nutrient baseline I use dessicated liver tablets every day. It's not perfect but liver contains all the necessary vitamins, amino acids and minerals. William Kelly and Max Gerson used organic raw liver, but there were still problems with parasites in the raw liver.

I also take organic debittered Brewers Yeast for the CoQ10, the selenium, B vitamins etc. I sometimes vary this by eating 2-4 brazil nuts(raw, unsalted) on a daily basis. Brazil nuts also contain Selenium as well as high amounts of other amino acids such as glutamine, tryptopan and cysteine.

All my cooking is done in virgin coconut oil -- very cheap in the Philippines.

I also take fulvic/humic acid in concentrated ascorbate drops for all my mineral needs. 5-10 drops a day. Fulvic acid also removes pesticides and drug poisons from the body. There are many other numerous benefits to fulvic/humic acid as well as described on this site.

Then I addtionally take nutrients that are always lacking in our diets such as iodine as Lugols Iodine(2-4 drops a day at least as maintenance), Magnesium and Vitamin C(as ascorbate -- no calcium -- 3000 mgs a day -- more if ill). I take the magnesium as Mag Chloride or Mag Malate or Mag Citrate(250 mgs 2 X a day). I take the iodine about once every two days now because my iodine levels are now correct.

The above is my nutrient baseline if you like. Most people, as I see it, will need these nutrients because of the drugs, poisons in our own food, water supply and environment and because of nutrients they lack and the rest below is really my own regimen for my own individual needs.

Other nutrients that I take not on a regular basis are Chanca Piedra ("StoneBreaker") and heart vine (tinospora cordifolia) in a combined home-made decoction (taken on a once-a-month basis for a week only) to get rid of excess calcium, removes aches and pains, anti-inflamatory, highly protective of the liver and kidneys, removes gallstones and kidney stones, strongly anti-viral and can cure Hepatitis B in less than a month. I also drink green tea and eat raw cilantro in salads which, as Ted has advised, helps remove heavy metals and I also regularly take 10% Sodium Thiosulfate(8 drops a day in a glass of water) to remove heavy metals and to remove chlorine from my body. I also take Borax in water regularly to remove the fluorine fom my body and as a mycoplasma preventative.

Another alternative liver-protective protocol I sometimes use is Dr Foster's Triple Anti-oxidant Therapy which consists of taking Selenium (200 mcg twice a day), Alpha Lipoic Acid(300 mgs twice a day) and Milk Thistle (1000 mgs twice a day) on a daily basis. This also promotes Glutatione production in the body -- a protective super anti-oxidant -- and is very beneficial to the kidneys, liver and intestines.

As you have probably noticed, I also tend to favour and emphasize protection of the liver, kidneys and intestines in my own regimen in order to help create a healthier body terrain. This helps to purify the blood in order to deliver nutrients and remove waste to and from the cells and organs respectively in the correct way. And by doing this, the immune system, the excretory system, endocrine system, body organs and many other body parameters are also correctly maintained in a healthier state. This therefore makes all my body defenses stronger against illness and pathogens.

I also eat in a particular way. I hesitate to call it a diet -- this infers that one day you will come off the diet. This way of eating is really an elimination diet which is defined elsewhere on earthclinic but is no less important to your health.

All in all I have to admit that my nutrient regimen, apart from my nutrient baseline, is not a rigid thing. It has become intuitive to me, so that my health regimen is governed more by an awareness of how I'm feeling right now rather than that I must religiously take a certain nutrient routinely forever. To be honest about it, I think this is the best approach but I know this can be confusing to people. But there is rarely such thing as the magic bullet cure-all. The real trick is to educate yourself, validate all information assiduously, trust your own judgement and take responsibilty for your own health. And this is really all about educating yourself and taking your own health very seriously. Despite all that has been said about the hopelessness of allopathic medicies -- it helps to remember this one truth -- that the medical profession is not a performance related or results orientated profession. To illustrate, here are a few quotes from doctors:

"I find medicine is the best of all trades because whether you do any good or not you still get your money." (Moliere: "A Physician in Spite of Himself, " 1664)

"If we doctors threw all our medicines into the sea, it would be that much better for our Patients and that much worse for the Fishes." Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes, MD

The above really represents my own regular protocols. But I also keep Lysine, aspirin, methylene blue, hydrogen peroxide etc in emergency reserve in case of sudden illness or further problems.


General Feedback
Posted by Sasha (Chicago, Il) on 09/25/2011

Thank you Bill this is a selfless priceless wealth of info! This in a way can sum up the entire website for general health and would make a great sticky for everyone to find easily. Other than, many of the supplements I need to order (and some from abroad) I hope there is no irradiating of my mail, Thank you!


General Feedback
Posted by Wendy (London, U.k.) on 09/25/2011

This is for "Bill from San Fernando, Philippines" - How do we deal if supplements are irradiated?"

Read this - "If you want vitamins and nutritional supplements that are free of pesticides and have not been irradiated or fumigated, you must test every incoming batch today, as pesticides, irradiation, and fumigation are all widespread. If the company goes outside the United States to source ingredients, you need to know that up to 70% of raw materials coming into the United States today for vitamins and nutritional supplements are irradiated, creating toxic radiation byproducts. " Are we doomed if we can't grow organic products in good quality soils? -WORRIED


General Feedback
Posted by Cuz (Ny) on 09/26/2011

Dessicated Liver has A, B's, C, D, E and is said to be superior to Chlorophyll (body can break down the proteins meat source better than plant source). It has lots of minerals and amino acids. Bill takes the DL with meals. Alkalizing is done on an empty stomach. Bill will have to let you know if its ok to mix the other things with the alkalizing.

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/desiccated-liver.html


General Feedback
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 09/26/2011

Hi Wendy... The simple answer to your question about dealing with irradiated herbs is that you can't really deal with it because there is now a European-wide law -- Codex Alimentaruis -- that says that all herbal, mineral and vitamin alternative and nutritional health products in Europe are to be managed completely by the the allopathic medical fraternity in terms of their safety, dosages etc. But make no mistake, this is just an excuse for the big pharmaceuticals to wipe-out their main alternative medicine competition in Europe by discreetly adding unhelpful additives, irradiating, thus ruining herb quality and minimizing the RDA to useless and ineffective dosages. America will probably follow suit soon.

Here's another trick Codex is playing that you should also be aware of -- I bought some European Magnesium Malate recently all packaged nicely in capsule form. Capsules should contain pure loose powder and when I squeeze tested the capsule -- it was indeed powder -- and each capsule contained 400 mgs of Magnesium and 200 mgs of Malic Acid. However, the capsule itself was very large -- at least 1000 mgs. So what was the other unknown 400 mgs? Then I read the additives on the label: Stearic Acid. This substance is only ever used to help form tablets. So did my capsule also contain 400 mgs of Stearic Acid which I don't want?

The only real alternative you have is to either buy your herbs from sources outside Europe on the internet from gauranteed organic herbal distributors like Raintree Nutrition which might be quite expensive or to simply grow them yourself if you can.

In the Philippines I'm very lucky, I grow and prepare all sorts of herbs in the simplest ways and I know they are natural and organic because I grow them in my own small garden. And I've always found my own herbs to be very effective and useful. I tend not to use dried store bought herbs very much now.


General Feedback
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 09/26/2011

Hi Bill, I hope you are well..... Great that you can grow your own herbs, I try to do that as well but I am a beginner! How do you do to dry them? I haven't tried yet because I am afraid of doing it badly and therefore get fungus and other stuff which wouldn't be very good for the health. We are going to move to the countryside in a while and we intend to have a nice vegetable /herb garden there. But even here, countryside surrounded by the developed world we already manage to grow a few things.

On a different level here is a question I posted a little while ago but which I don't think you saw: I am now getting into the Anti-Candida diet in order to try to cure my dry eyes and mouth (especially during the night, it is a nightmare and I don't have Sjogren's). You seem to feel that molasses is not a problem but it is sugar..... I would like to take it to try to contain my grey hair but if it is not good in the fight against Candida I won't do it. Right now my priority are my eyes and my mouth! The problem with the diet is that there are so many different opinions. Could you maybe send me a link to your diet advice? I am basing myself in a book called Beat Candida through diet.


General Feedback
Posted by Camanokat (Camano Island, Wa) on 09/27/2011

It's very easy to grow herbs. I have some in the kitchen window and the rest in a little garden patch. It's approaching harvest time for the outdoor herbs. You can dry them by hanging upside down in a cool space or use a food dehydrator.


General Feedback
Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 06/10/2012

I would like to grow some indoor cilantro. I have no outdoor land (urban apartment, here). For the heavy metal detox effects plus it is very popular in the Tex Mex cooking here. Does cilantro grow easily and quickly? Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with this please.


General Feedback
Posted by Lorna (Brea, California) on 07/24/2012

For Bill of San Fernando, Philippines. Is there Lugols solution, Fulvic/Humic acid in ascorbate drops, disscated liver that I can buy in the Philippines. What do you call the herbs in Tagalog that you planted. I go home to the Philippines every year for 4 months. Just wondering if I should buy these things here. Thank you.


General Feedback
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 07/24/2012

Hi Lorna... The herbs that I use that grow in the Philippines are:

English names____________________Tagalog names

Chanca Piedra(Phylanthus niruri).......Sampa-sampalukan

Heart Vine(Tinospora cordifolia)........Makabuhay

Tumeric root.................................. Luyang dilaw

Neem leaves(Azadirachta indica).......Nim

Bashful Mimosa(Mimosa pudica)....... Makahiya

These are some of my favourite herbs that I use in the Philippines. And what's more they are all free -- they grow profusely everywhere in the Philippine lowlands. I use Chanca piedra, Heart Vine, Tumeric and Neem leaves usually about once every month to detox the blood. These herbs are hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, mildly diuretic, detoxing, anti-viral, ant-bacterial, ant-fungal and essentially they act to help protect the intestines, liver and kidneys. When this is assured then you will have pure and healthy blood. My way is always preventative -- continually protect and detox the nutritional and excretory pathways in the body and this will contribute greatly towards your own health. Then all you have to worry about is correct diet -- but that's a whole different story!!

You can also find many of these herbs near the old church at Quiapao Market in Quezon City. These herbs are also very easy to grow in your garden.


General Feedback
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 07/24/2012

Hi Lorna... I forgot to answer your other questions.

You can buy Quantumin Plus Fulvic/Humic drops in the Philippines. This is fairly cheap -- I can buy the 35 ml bottle for about 400 pesos now from a private seller in Maharlika Market in Baguio -- and this costs considerably less than similar drops made in America.

These Quantumin drops consist of a Fulvic/Humic/Zeolite mix in alkaline solution which also contains all the major electrolyte minerals for the body. Unfortunately Quantumin is only sold in the Philippines and is normally sold from small private enterprises and not from the malls. So just get a friend in the Philippines to find a franchise seller in your area before you come to the Philippines.

Dessicated liver can be easily bought at Healthy Options store outlets in all the major SM Malls like Megamall or Asia Mall in Manila. Dessicated Liver is also widely sold at muscle weight training shops in America and is fairly cheap.


Seaweed
Posted by Sara (Sacramento, Ca, Usa) on 09/12/2011

I am just wondering if you open a new page for seaweed. I live in a Korean pack city and there are stores in here that they sell different types of seaweeds. I want to use, but do not know how and what is the advantage and disadvange of seaweed. Thanks


Iodine Painting
Posted by Wondering (St. Louis, Mo) on 09/02/2011

I was painting a quarter size amount of Betadine Iodine on my stomach for 8 days. On the 8th day my blood sugar started to act very different; it wouldn't go under a 100 (I have a blood sugar issue of it spiking, but it always would go back to 85ish). And, as it turns out I was taking about 200mcg of iodine with some supplements (didn't realize that at the time). Could I have overdosed and that's what caused the blood sugar issue? If so, how does one resolve the overdose issue?

Iodine Painting
Posted by Lily (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) on 09/05/2011

Hi wondering, just avoid iodised salt and fish for a few days. I avoided anything with Iodine in for about 2 weeks (it's in bread here in Australia now again too) and my incredible whole body itching and kidney and bladder pain went away. It took about 4 days for it to calm down and a week to recover completely and then I waited 2 weeks to eat things with iodine in them again. I also used betadine, maybe it is too strong I haven't used it since and won't be going to either. Hope this helps. Cheers Lily.


Iodine Painting
Posted by Karenina (Southampton, Uk) on 10/04/2011
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Hi Ted,

I tried one drop of Lugol Iodine on my foot and within 24 hours I feel asthmatic, sneezes, running nose, and runny stools. I feel sick, with a headache and stomachache coming on. It takes a lot of Vitamin C to calm the reaction. I have tried doing this 4 times and the same problems occur again and yet it is helping me with painful breasts, more alertness and energy, not so tired etc. I do suffer from allergies generally. I read somewhere that when iodine is introduced to the body it kicks out bromide which has to be flushed out of the body, possibly causing a detox reaction which is what a get each time I try again. Is there anything or other alternatives to Lugol Iodine or is it simply the case that I am very allergic to Iodine or Bromide? I really find Iodine very effective for me. Please let me know. Many thanks in advance. Karenina


Iodine Painting
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 10/04/2011

Karenina, I read recently that you should never take vitamin c at the same time as iodine because vitamin c will render the iodine ineffective or useless and will in fact deplete the body of iodine. If you are using a lot of vitamin C you to" calm the reaction" you are negating any effect the iodine would have. You may as well not use iodine at all.


Iodine Painting
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 10/05/2011

Hi Bill, thanks but I would be interested in your opinion on what is written in the e-book I posted on Iodine.

It says that vitamin c can help iodine absorption but not taken at the same time. It was suggested to take them on alternate days. Anyway I would be interested if you could read it and give your opinion. I am referring to Point #10


Iodine Painting
Posted by Karenina (Southampton, Uk) on 10/05/2011

Thanks to those who have responded. The first time I painted a drop of Lugol Iodine on my foot I did not take Vitamin C until I had started experiencing a severe reaction to it. I took lots of Vitamin C afterwards to reduce the reaction to Lugol Iodine. Each time I had recovered fully I tried painting it on my foot again but each time I try again my reaction worsens, this time it has left me with a very tight chest and a need to cough all the time which is not going away so easily. If I had not taken Vitamin C after each episode I would have been in serious trouble.

Does anyone know whether a different type of Iodine will make a difference? Or will I still get a reaction? If it is in capsule form would it be better for me? Should I take something with Iodine to conteract the side effects? The Lugol Iodine certainly doesn't agree with me especially as I am very sensitive and allergic to most things. Can someone help me please? It would mean a great deal to me. Karenina


Iodine Painting
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, La Union) on 10/05/2011

Hi Debbie... Here, in answer to your question, is part of the chemical titration method used to find out how much Vitamin C there is in a substance or pill:

Iodine is relatively insoluble, but this can be improved by complexing the iodine with iodide to form triiodide:

I2 plus I- --> I3-

Triiodide oxidizes vitamin C to form dehydroascorbic acid:

C6H8O6 plus I3- plus H2O --> C6H6O6 plus 3I- plus 2H

As long as vitamin C is present in the solution, the triiodide is converted to the iodide ion very quickly. Howevever, when the all the vitamin C is oxidized, iodine and triiodide will be present, which reacts with starch to form a blue-black complex. The blue-black color is the endpoint of the titration.

This titration procedure is appropriate for testing the amount of vitamin C in vitamin C tablets, juices, and fresh, frozen, or packaged fruits and vegetables. The titration can be performed using just iodine solution and not iodate, but the iodate solution is more stable and gives a more accurate result.

From http://chemistry.about.com/od/demonstrationsexperiments/ss/vitctitration.htm

From the above, essentially when you combine iodine and iodide in water, you get the triiodide ion which makes iodide/iodine very bioavailable to the body.

When reacted with ascorbic acid, you also get dehydroascorbic acid, which is exactly the same as ascorbic acid but it can penetrate the blood/brain barrier which ascorbic acid cannot. But the outcome still seems to be the same - you still get the triiodide ion generated anyway from the final reaction, exactly the same as when you add iodine to iodide in water. And as the above says, at the end point of this reaction -- both triiodide and iodine are still present when tested with starch. The worst that can happen is that some of the triiodide is converted to just the iodide, with some loss of iodine perhaps. But potassium iodide is also good for you.

I also know from the Iodine Project research that their preference has always been to use only 5% lugols iodine because they regard this mixture of iodide/iodine to be in the perfect ratio for the body. Their research also backs this up. Perhaps they were trying to preserve this ratio for best results which is why they took Vit C and Lugols on alternate days? I generally always take lugol's on its own, sometimes mixed with fulvic acid drops, but there's no harm in taking Vitamin C, say, an hour or so after taking the Lugols in order to preserve that ideal iodide/iodine ratio if you wish.


Iodine Painting
Posted by Baldev (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) on 10/08/2011 184 posts

Bill, I have a question for you. Whenever I have applied the Lugols Iodine on any part of the body, it burns that area and the skin peels off after a few days. Well, I want to understand whether it is an allergy to Lugols or is a correct reaction. After about 12 hrs. The color of the skin becomes normal but the burning sensation remains and is quite disturbing. Your comments will be appreciated.

Baldev


Iodine Painting
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, La Union) on 10/08/2011

Hi Baldev... The usual test to see if you are allergic to iodine is to put a drop somewhere on your skin and, after only one or two hours, if this area is red, inflamed or itchy then there is a good possibility that you are allergic. Less than 1% of the population is allergic to iodine. The more serious symptoms of iodine allergy through oral or injected intake are defined here:

http://www.iodine-resource.com/iodine-allergy-symptoms.html

Another factor that could cause your skin-burning problems could be due to the actual strength of lugol's iodine that you used. If it was above 5% Lugol's Iodine strength and since iodine is caustic at high concentrations, it's possible that this might have also caused your skin-burning problem.

I know that I am not allergic to lugol's iodine since I have been orally supplementing it regularly for over 5 years now at doses 100 times higher than the RDA. I recently tested 2% Lugol's Iodine on a mole awhile back. During the day I put between 10 and 15 single drops, at different times, on the mole. The next day, like you, I had a burning or sore/tender sensation which disappeared after a few days.

It might be worth diluting some of the lugols iodine 50/50 with water and re-testing a patch of your skin again with a drop to see if the skin-burning recurrs. If it does, then likely you are allergic to lugol's iodine.

Dr James Howensteine, a member of the research team from the Iodine project, has written a notable and detailed book which truly emphasizes the importance of iodine towards good health -- Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It.


Iodine Painting
Posted by Annu (India) on 10/09/2011

Hi Bill, the same reaction as Baldev said occured after painting iodine solution not the first day but after applying 3... 4 days at the same place. As you say it may be the % of lugol's iodine. I can't find 2 % lugols iodine in the store. But I somehow arranged to make the the solution in the chemistry lab of our college. I have used 10 gm of KI, 5 gm of Elemental iodine , 50 ml Ethyl alcohol and 50 ml of distilled water. Is the measurement correct for 2% lugols iodine solution? Can I take 1 drop of this solution internally? As I guess I am iodine deficient after applying the patch, as the patch disappears within 4 hr.


Iodine Painting
Posted by Baldev (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) on 10/09/2011 184 posts

Hi Bill, thanks a lot for the prompt reply to my query. Lugols Iodine which I am using is Iodine 5g. Pot. Iodide 10g in 100ml. Of water that means it is 5% lugols Iodine which is being discussed on this site. I am keen to make use of this product towards a better health and also what ever I learn from dedicated people like Ted and you I use it to help others who don't have access to computer/internet. Your advice is well taken that I should dilute it further with water and see whether it still burns the area, but I hope the benifits do not get diluted.Thanks

Baldev


Iodine Painting
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 10/09/2011

Baldev, you can add a small amount of vitamin E to the area you are putting the iodine so it won't burn as much (it will soothe the skin and heal it).

The best way to take iodine however is to have a drop in water (I am taking 6-8 drops daily in water or milk). If you only put it on your skin only a small percentage can be utilised (about 12.5%). I only put it on my skin to test whether I was allergic to it.


Iodine Painting
Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 10/10/2011

Hi Baldev, My husband and I are using Lugols 2% as we don't have access to a stronger one and we are starting to see benefits. We started with the skin painting as taking it internally went against everything I'd been taught, we never painted the same spot as iodine can dry out the skin for some. Then we progressed to one drop internally and are now at 3 drops twice a day. So the 2% is definitely beneficial for us. But as Bill has said you need to know if it is an allergy or the strength that caused your reaction.


Iodine Painting
Posted by Dennis (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 03/25/2012

Hi Karenina, I have heard that Nascent Iodine might have fewer side effects (just search for it on Google -- you can order it from Amazon I think). Still, start with low dosages and proceed with caution. Good luck.


Iodine Painting
Posted by Ann (New York, NY) on 08/04/2011

I told my sister to use iodine test, i.e., painting 2x2 inch with Swanson's iodine.

She said it disappeared within 8 hours so reapplied. In 3 days of doing this, her eyes became swollen, red and itchy and she felt very bad. If the test is correct, she does need iodine but why did she have such a bad reaction?

I too, did the test and the iodine disappeared withing 8 hrs each time I applied the test sqaure for 3 days. I, too, started feeling crabby and my throat started to feel raw. I did apply on throat and for a few moments afterward felt I would choke, as though I'd swallowed something that irritated me terribly and couldn't swallow properly.

My sister is afraid now and says she will just use kelp.

2 things: Does anyone know why we had these reactions? And I thought kelp wasn't a complete iodine source. If it is, how much should one take every day?

Many thanks, Ann

Iodine Painting
Posted by Timir (Princeton, Nj, Usa) on 08/05/2011

Some people are allergic to iodine. I believe that your sister might be allergic to iodine. You can try with a different brand and very small amounts. Good luck!


Iodine Painting
Posted by Lily (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) on 08/05/2011

Hi Ann, you may be allergic to Iodine. If I paint it on it disappears in less than 3 hours, so I'm thinking you may not need it. Lily.


General Feedback
Posted by Cmcatri (Sandusky, Oh) on 07/16/2011
★★★★★

I have used iodine to check my thyroid and also clear iodine for toenail fungus. My Naturopath suggested that I use the brown iodine and put a half dollar size circle on my abdomen every morning as long as it disappeared and the first morning it remained visible, stop the treatment. I do this every six months to keep my thyroid healthy.


Where to Buy: Thailand
Posted by Singalong (Indianapolis, In, Usa) on 07/09/2011

Hi! We are moving to Thailand in a couple of weeks, and I'm wondering how easy it is to get Lugol's? We will be living in Chiang Mai. Thanks!

Where to Buy: Thailand
Posted by Nattakit (Bangkok, Thailand) on 07/10/2011

HI;

I don't think that you can find Lugol's in Thailand. I even contact government authority in charge of distributing iodine to schools in rural areas in the attempt to suppress retardant in kids. They do not use lugol's. a check with Government Pharmaceutical Organization who is the procurer of all pharmaceuticals to government hospital did not help also.

nattakit


Kelp
Posted by Annie (Melbourne, Australia) on 12/26/2012

Hi Julie, I am from Melbourne as well just wondering where you bought yr Iodine as I have been to quiet few chemist and health shops, I am suffering hair loss and want to try Iodine, would love to no where u bought it. Thank you Annie


Kelp
Posted by Julie (Melbourne, Australia) on 05/29/2014

Sorry Annie, I didn't check out responses to my warning in 2011 until today. You may have already found a supply by now. However, I bought my iodine from Chemist Warehouse. It is David Craig Aqueous Iodine Solution and they have to get it in for you as they don't normally stock it on the shelves.

All the best. Julie


Kelp
Posted by Carmel (Essex, Uk) on 11/02/2015

You say kelp grows on rocks, this is how it used to be, now it is factory farmed, where it really is organic and pure with no contaminants or metal. IF it is not farmed then it is not guaranteed to be pure. Different kelps also have different amounts of iodine in depending on their quality so one tablet from one manufacturer can be weaker than two from another.


General Feedback
Posted by Missm (Sydney, Nsw, Australia) on 04/13/2011

Hi Earthclinic peoples,

I have been reading for hours about the benefits of Lugol's Iodine and feel I could really benefit (lost half my thyroid a year ago). I have been unable to find the product called Lugols Iodine for internal use here in my chemist/pharmacy or health food stores (western suburbs of Sydney, Australia). I can only find it online, however I would really prefer not to purchase online. I have found a product on the shelf in the chemist and I wont give the brand name unless Earthclinic will allow it, but I think it may just be the same as Lugol's. The details on the bottle are as follows:

'Aqueous Iodine Solution APF' -

Contains: Iodine 5% w/v

Potassium Iodide 10% w/v

Pharmaceutical Raw Material

Net 100mL

It also has at the top of the bottle POISON - keep out of reach of children and the usual First Aid information down the right hand side of the bottle.

Could this be the same as Lugol's??? and Could it be taken like Lugols? I know I can skin paint with it but can I put it in water and drink?

Would appreciate any information.

Thanking you and earthclinic

General Feedback
Posted by Bev (Long Beach, Ca) on 04/13/2011

I get mine from a fish store that sells products for salt water aquariums. Can't find it at a pharmacy.


General Feedback
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, San Fernando, Philippines) on 04/13/2011

Hi Missm... A 5% Aqueous Solution of Iodine(ASI) simply means a solution of iodine and iodide in water and may be regarded as equivalent to 5% Lugols Iodine. The reason for this difference is that ASI is the British naming equivalent or standard for Lugol's Iodine and obviously Australia, being part of the British Commonwelth, has adopted the same naming standards as UK. Don't ask me why the British do this(I'm a Brit) as it leads to alot of confusion. When I bought my own current stock of lugol's iodine in Thailand, this was also called an Aqueous Solution of Iodine. Notably, on my own Thai bottles of aqueous iodine, there is no reference at all to iodine being a poison.

As regards putting POISON on a bottle of ASI or Lugol's bought in Australia, I am somewhat amused by this. If you check the Material Safety Data Sheet(MSDS) for Lugol's Iodine then you will see that the oral LD50(Lethal Median Dose) is 14000 mgs/kgm for a rat. The MSDS and LD50(oral, rat) for ordinary table salt is 3000 mgs/kgm. This simply means that ordinary table salt is over 4 times more toxic than lugol's iodine. The MSDS is the biochemist's bible on toxicity and handling for any drug or chemical.

As far as I am concerned, Lugol's Iodine is very body friendly. As an experiment, I took between 50 mgs and 100 mgs of lugols orally(that's 400 to 800 times more than the RDA for iodine) for a couple of weeks just to see what would happen. I had no terrible effects. If you have healthy kidneys then there will not be any ill effects from doing this.

Here is an article on the reasons why people fear iodine -- referred to as Iodophobia in this article. This research article explains why people have so much fear about taking Lugol's iodine orally. It's all about propaganda from the drugs companies because lugol's iodine was "too cheap, useful and successful" and intererred with their drugs sales. So they simply created fear of iodine or iodophobia to eliminate the iodine competition.

Here is the most current research on Lugol's Iodine and correct dosages by The Iodine Project. The current RDA for iodine is about 125 MICROgrams per day. The Iodine Project recommends a maintenance dose of at least 12.5 MILLIgrams per day(2 drops of 5% lugol's iodine) -- which is 100 times more than the RDA. Women generally need higher doses of iodine than men because women's iodine requirements for their breasts and sexual organs are far greater.


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Posted by Addy (Flowery Branch, Ga) on 04/13/2011

Hey Bev, Interesting enough that I just read your post and that you found the iodine at an aquarium shop. I was in a pet store last week buying anti algae med and low and behold there was a bottle of iodine sitting there on the shelf! Didn't have time to look at it closely but I did wonder if it was equiv to the Lugol's brand. Is what you have equiv?


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Posted by Missm (Sydney, Nsw, Australia) on 04/14/2011

Bill, Thank you so very very much for your information - you are a legend :)

I was going to ask further questions but it seems that you have answered them in your reply.

Thank you Bill and earthclinic, Keep up the great work


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Posted by Bess (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 04/14/2011

Hi Bill - The Lugol's Solution (5%) I have here in Canada also has a POISON label, plus the skull and crossbones and what to do for an antidote. When I bought it at London Drugs, the pharmacist told me not to ingest it. Yeah, right... I take two drops daily in juice or water. Thanks for the explanation!


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Posted by Gmaree (Toronto, Nsw Australia) on 06/12/2011

Hi Missm,

You should be able to get Lugol's from a compounding chemist, I know there is one up here in the Newcastle area that sells it.


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Posted by Kitty (Melbourne, Australia) on 11/07/2011

Hi Bill from San Fernando, Philippines - thanks for all of the information you posted, I loved reading it :)


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Posted by Carl (Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria) on 07/03/2012

Hello, I purchased a bottle of Lugol's Solution Aqueous Iodine Oral Solution. It is made by in West Africa. It does not state the percentage but it gives the following information.

50ml = Total Quantity.
Total iodine per ml = 130mg
Dose: 0.1 to 0.3 ml three times daily.
Directions: the recommended dose should be diluted well with 150ml water or milk.

Can someone please advise me on what the percentage is and if the dose above is correct. Thank you for a great site and all the wonderful advice.

Carl


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Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 07/03/2012

Hi Carl... The Iodine that you have is quite a high strength form.

1 ml contains 130 mgs

Therefore 1000ml(or 1 litre) will contain 130 X 1000 mgs or 130, 000 mgs = 130 grams

So 1 litre of your iodine solution contains 130 grams of iodine.

Iodine % Strength Calculation:

130/1000 X 100 = 13%

So your bottle is 13% lugols iodine strength.

Therefore the dosage per drop(from a dropper) of your lugols solution will be approximately equal to 16.25 mgs per drop of solution. See this link for strength to drop conversions.

As an example -- to achieve a 50 mgs daily dose of your iodine, you would only need approx 3 drops of your solution per day(3 X 16. 25 = 48. 75 mgs). I would simply take one drop of your lugols in a glass of water, spread out at different times, 3 times a day.

If the above single drop strength is too strong or harsh for you, then just dilute your iodine solution with an equal volume or amount of distilled water as the iodine solution and this will halve the strength to approx 6.5 % strength which is equivalent to about 8 mgs of iodine per drop which would certainly be less harsh and more manageable for you.


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Posted by Carl (Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria) on 07/04/2012

Hi Bill, thank you very much for the feed back. I should have waited a bit. I used the dropper supplied and filled it to the 0.3 ml which is in fact quite a few drops. I used it yesterday three times. I will follow your advise and go to the one drop three times a day.

I am amased at the disinformation that has been around for so long. http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/IOD-04/IOD_04.html I can see a law suit coming the same as what happened to the tobacco companies maybe?

I have a 7 year old daughter and a 4 year old boy. I can not honestly say that there is any thing wrong with them behaviourly or other wise. I would like to supplement them with iodine though as a preventive. Can you please advise a dosage. Our daughter has ocasional tonsil stones. I asked her yesterday to gargle with a two drop solution in about 100ml drinking water. This morning two pieces came out. She garled again and a large piece came out. She is a very happy little one now. Maybe the Iodine kills of the bacteria that makes the stones stick (Holding on)to the tonsils?

Thanks again and any advise will be highly valued.

Peace to all. Carl


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Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 07/04/2012

Hi Carl... Your children should be able to supplement iodine safely. Apart from iodine's many beneficial and protective effects, there is also a large body of research evidence which shows and efectively proves that children who supplement daily doses of iodine are able to improve their IQ and intelligence. See these links:

http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/iodine-deficiency-stunts-intelligence-2973967

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15734706

Some more research to help you:

http://iodine.imva.info/index.php/iodine-dosages/

For children, one of the best forms of iodine to supplement is Nascent Iodine because it is tasteless and so easy to take. Nascent Iodine is also very safe and will not cause stomach upsets at larger dose becsause it is just in the triiodide form. This form is the most body-friendly and is the most bioavailable form for the body. Lugol's contains potassium iodide, molecular iodine and the triiodide form. The molecular iodine content is what can cause nausea and other stomach problems for some people at higher dosage. And although triiodide is highly useful it is not as useful as the lugol's form because, for instance, nascent iodine will not be able to chelate and remove heavy metals from the body like lugol's iodine can and this is because lugols contains all three forms of iodine -- potassium iodide, molecular iodine and triiodide whereas nascent iodine only contains the triiodide form.

Normally a maintanence dose for lugol's iodine of 12. 5 mgs is given for an adult weighing 150 lbs. So if you child weighs say 40 lbs then the dosage for the child should be 40/150 X 12. 5 = 3. 33 mgs per day.

Dr Guy Abraham from the Iodine Project has spent much effort in completely disproving the iodophobia caused by the Wolf-Chaikoff Report(1948), which so wrongly concluded that supplementing daily with more than 2 mgs of iodine was bad for the thyroid and therefore poisonous to humans. The W-C Report was a particularly poor piece of biased research done on rats. This research, that all modern doctors ultimately believe to be true and proven, was never ever confirmed on human subjects. This is also a very good example of what I call "steered" or "spoiler" research.

Much of Dr Abraham's effort has been spent just confirming lugol iodine's long and wide historic use in medicine, at higher dosages, before WW2. The doctor's of this pre-war period even said that if they didn't know what was wrong with their patient, they would just recommend higher dose iodine and, whatever it did, it would do something good. Dr Abraham's and his team also demographically researched iodine wrt diet and disease -- and they found that the Japanese, who are an extremely healthy population, ate large amounts of kelp and seaweed which contains high amounts of iodine. This is the reason why the Japanese have such low rates of lung, prostate, breast and uterine cancer.

The post WW2 period was when the drugs companies eventually came into their own and, I believe, was the time when they started to switch from using natural cure methods -- such as iodine or natural thyroid to resolve medical problems -- to only producing and using their synthetic drugs that had to have a product patent. The only possible acceptable motive for the drugs companies switching direction in this way can only be for greater profit reasons. This is also further illustrated in modern times by how much control and power the drugs companies have gained over the law itself -- a very good example here is Codex Alimentarius. CA enabled the drugs companies to gain complete control over the laws and standards for producing herbs and nutrients used for nutritional and alternative medical purposes. So not only will herbs, minerals and vitamins now be produced chemically with unneccesary fillers and additves but they will also be sold at higher prices and at insignificant and ineffective RDA dosages as well. This law is truly a game changer for our health because it effectively banishes the alternative medicine opposition at one stroke such that the field has now become completely clear for the drugs companies to do whatever they like in making us believe that they are the only medical experts for our ailments.

In America, the drugs companies have remarkable power over the law now. A certain US Texas Governor, who also ran for the Republican nomination, passed a state law recently making it compulsory and mandatory for all teenager girls in Texas to have gardasil vaccinations against HPV. The awful offence here is that all personal choice has been completely ignored, eliminated and removed and simple, corrupt dictatorship has been allowed to creep in -- via the vast and corrupting state government influence from the drugs cartels. So, if this sort of dictatorship is allowed now then it is only a easy short hop until the federal government further gives less and less medical choice to its citizens.

As far as I am able to ascertain, the recent poor response to the H1N1 outbreak and Obamacare are further examples of this spreading medical dictatorship, which is so safely protected by American law as well as International law now. But these responses and government policies, which really rely on easy but corrupt dictatorship with no choices whatsoever, have done very little to improve the life of American citizens and only ever seem to work to further increase the power and the vast profits of the drugs companies.


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Posted by Maddy (Natalia, Tx, Usa) on 10/25/2012

I took my first dose of Lugol's Iodine 2% this morning. 4 drops is a glass of water while eating breakfast. Immediate head rush, nausea and dizziness. It's been over an hour now and it's still going on along with diarrhea. Is this normal? I've read many of the posts and I don't see anyone else having this happen. Your feedback would be so appreciated.


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Posted by Wayout (Motown, Ca/ Usa) on 10/25/2012

My opinion differs from others' on this point. Following Fukushema in Japan, I dilligently and extensively searched for how to protect my family from radiation, and to guard the thymus gland with iodine/ iodide. I began taking the iodine internally, but had read that it was not good to take internally, as could stop up the flow of urine. Well, quite soon, this happened, that I could not pee. So I stopped! I then began to do it only through my skin, the largest organ of the body. I do this every day, as described in another post, about five drops per day rubbed into my leg, where the body only absorbs what it truly needs of this neccesary nutrient. This has caused me no problems at all, however, one should be certain of not having an iodine allergy, first. If you have used iodized salt in the past-- standard "Mortons iodized salt" of years gone by-- one should be fine. Hope that helps!

P.S. (If you get strong reactions with anything you are trying yourself, listen to your body, and your own "knowing. " Likely, you are starting too fast, generally, and ought to back down, or possibly ought to question what you are doing, alltogether. Always, better to be safe than sorry. Practice what the medical field so often does not, that being, "First do no harm. " You are party to "The Great Physician. " Listen. ) --T.


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Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 10/25/2012

Maddy, always start something new SMALL, start with ONE drop first.


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Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 10/26/2012

Try adding 3-4 drops to coffee or tea, or even juice or soup. You wont get the "salty" taste, in fact you will barely taste it if at all. I put it in my tea all the time, and have no problems. In water? blech :)



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