Excessive Sweating
★★★★★
Where to Buy: Canada
Where to Buy: Canada
Apparently it's a dirty secret in Canada that almost any pharmacy, including any of the chain stores, can and will order it in for you in mere days at most! But you have to ask for it directly from the pharmacist, in person and not over the phone. They will simply look it up on the computer and verify it's there. Could be Xenex brand if out West, or if out east maybe another name. It is not in any way a Rx or controlled item here--YET! It will be either the 100 ml size or 500 ml, 5% LUGOLS original strength in Canada. Expect to pay maybe $11-14 for a 100 ml, or about $45 for a 500 ml. They will likely charge HST or PST/GST also.
Where to Buy: Canada
Where to Buy: Canada
Where to Buy: Canada
Bill's Iodine Fact Sheet
Bill's Iodine Fact Sheet
Recently, I went a bit overboard to perhaps push my own iodine levels deliberately into excess. This I did by using a 2% USP iodine tincture and painting an area under both my fore-arms which were each the size and area of a dollar bill.
I painted both my fore-arms this way four times. All these patches of iodine(except the 4th one) disappeared in under one hour. The fourth patch of iodine disappeared in about an hour and a half. I also took the equivalent of about 15 mgs of lugols iodine orally at the outset. There were no symptoms of excess iodism either in the evening, the next day or on any subsequent day.
From current thinking, the iodine painting alone should have driven me to excess iodine symptoms but it didn't and I was not happy about this, so I have searched widely on the internet for answers.
In answer to the many enquiries about the iodine skin painting test, here is an article by Dr David Derry, a person who is very pro-iodine and who has written books on the subject of iodine. Here he presents actual evidence on the usefulness of iodine painting:
"The "test" of putting iodine on the skin to watch how fast it disappears is not an indicator of anything. The iodine disappearance rate is unrelated to thyroid disease or even iodine content of the body.(1-2) Meticulous research by Nyiri and Jannitti in 1932 showed clearly when iodine is applied to the skin in almost any form, 50% evaporates into the air within 2 hours and between 75 and 80 percent evaporates into the air within 24 hours. (1) A total of 88 percent evaporates within 3 days and it is at this point that the evaporation stops. The remaining 12 percent that is absorbed into the skin has several fates. Only 1-4% of the total iodine applied to the skin is absorbed into the blood stream within the first few hours. The rest of the iodine within the skin (8-11%) is slowly released from the skin into the blood stream.
However Nyiri and Jannitti's findings that... "the percentage of iodine penetration through the skin is the same, irrespective of whether the cells have a high or low vitality, or are dead, and irrespective of the direction of penetration" have important implications for iodine functions in the body, skin, pregnancy and fetus and also for the therapeutic use of topical and oral iodine. Iodine would be the only compound of significance during early pregnancy which can pass rapidly through all tissues of the fetus without the aid of any blood vessel or lymphatic transport. It could be that not only does iodine control natural cell death (apoptosis) (5) in the fetus but may also influences stem cell development.
Nyiri and Jannetti also mentioned iodine applied on the skin can be used to shrink swelling of the thyroid gland (goiters). So even small amounts of iodine absorbed through the skin can have good effects on body organs. From my own clinical experience, repeated application of iodine (Lugol's) to the skin appears to cause regeneration of the skin from the bottom up (Quiescent, stable or stem cell) (3) eventually sloughing the old version of the skin off like a snake molting. If there was a pre-cancerous lesion on the old skin, it is replaced with new skin minus the lesion. There does not seem to be any skin lesions which are not helped or cured by this procedure. In some cases I found clinically obvious low thyroid conditions also needed to be treated to be more effective. Minor lacerations and healing of surgical wounds respond well. If skin regeneration is from the bottom, then there is little or no scar formation.
My parents' generation tended to put tincture of iodine onto a fresh wound to prevent infection. This turns out to be helpful but not the best way to use it. Besides it stung badly when applied. It is much more effective (and doesn't hurt) to apply iodine repeatedly after a scab has been formed. The iodine put onto the scab helps to organize total repair of the tissue. It is implied a similar approach could be taken to burns of all depths but at the same time the physiology of burns suggest there is an acute lack of thyroid hormone. (3)
All pre-malignant lesions and many other oddities of the skin appear to respond to this regeneration process triggered by topical iodine. I have mentioned previously a patient with a biopsy-proven breast cancer lesion (she refused surgery because of previous cancer treatment) that was strongly fixed to the skin responding well to topical iodine and ended up being a dimple on the breast three year later. (6)
It is my belief a water solution of iodine (like Lugol's) is an important therapeutic agent for skin. Because of its effectiveness and the results, perhaps many skin diseases are related to local tissue areas of relative iodine deficiency. Perhaps the most graphic lesions are the "keloid" (worm) incision scars formed after surgical procedures. If the iodine intake and tissue levels are adequate, such as in Japan, keloid formation doesn't happen (7). In addition, iodine's ability to trigger natural cell death (apoptosis) (5) makes it effective against all pre-cancerous skin lesions and likely many cancerous lesions. The local site is replaced with normal skin. However, even lesser doses of topical iodine seem to reverse the ominous appearance of skin lesions. Because my older brother died of metastatic melanoma, my chances of getting a malignant melanoma are increased by 400 times. (8-9) Having grown up in Venezuela near the equator my sun exposure at a young age was far above normal. So all suspicious lesions I notice are returned to normal with topical Lugol's."
Extract from About.com
Just to clarify some thoughts here -- iodine painting IS useful in my opinion when painted over the skin on the neck of the thyroid. This is because the thyroid only needs MICROgrams of iodine/iodide. However, in my opinion, since research evidence from Dr Abraham's Iodine Project has confirmed that the rest of the body's needs amount to at least 12.5 mgs as a maintenance dose -- an amount that is 100 times more than the RDA of 0.125 mgms, then foot-painting is not a good method to achieve the whole body's need for iodine.
In answer to all those asking how you can check your own iodine levels -- the best way seems to be by temperature using a Basal Thermometer. These are more accurate than electronic thermometers. When you first wake in the morning, put this thermometer in an armpit and hold it there with your arm and stay in bed for about 10 minutes. Then check your temperature -- if it is between 97.8 and 98.2 degrees, you probably don't need any extra iodine, because iodine is an essential part of the mechanism for body temperature regulation. If the temperature is lower or higher than this temperature zone, then you might need more iodine or less iodine respectively.
Iodine Interactions
When you add the drops of lugol's to a solution of ascorbic acid it is just the iodine portion of the lugol's solution that reacts with the Ascorbic Acid(Vit C) and is converted to iodide. So you end up with this reaction:
Iodine plus Ascorbic Acid --> Dehydroascorbic acid plus Iodide
The dehydroascorbic acid is handled in the same way by the body and is just as beneficial as ascorbic acid(Vit C). As well, your dose of lugol's becomes completely iodide with no iodine component now. This is Ok if you are taking this solution for thyroid problems or for general health because most organs, mucus glands and endocrine system can uptake both the iodide and iodine forms, but if you are taking lugol's specifically for a breast problem like fibrocystic disease or for uterine fibroids or BV for example, the iodide form will not be of much use because the breasts, cervix and prostate all uptake the iodine form only. Also, iodine is the component that is truly anti-microbial, so if you are taking lugol's against intestinal candida, better to take drops of lugol's on its own in a glass of water(containing both iodide and iodine).
Either way, lugol's iodine is very body-friendly.
You can read more here: The Role of Iodine in Health and Disease
Iodine Interactions
Where to Buy: USA
Where to Buy: USA
I'm from Philadelphia, PA and wanted to know where I can buy Lugol's Iodine from? Can this be used internally and externally? Thanks so much!
EC: Check Google shopping or Amazon for online sources:
http://www.google.com/products?q=lugol's+iodine&hl=en&aq=f
or
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=lugol's+iodine&x=0&y=0
This site is wonderful I check it for every illness and always found something that helps me.
Iodine Book Recommendations
The Importance of Iodine
In another study, experts for years were stumped because the Japanese, whose population are amongst the heaviest smokers in the world, yet still had one of the lowest rates of lung cancer per capita in the world. This was an unexplainable paradox for researchers, until it was discovered that the Japaenese intake higher amounts of iodine via seaweed than any other country in the world.
Max Gerson, in his Gerson Cancer Therapy, used huge amounts of iodine as well as thyroid extract for his cures and I have recently come across yet another study where they found that thyroid hormones -- T3, T4 as well as iodine -- had a tendency to accumulate in the lungs. Since iodine is anti-carcinogenic, ant-cancer as well as anti-mutagenic, this must be why the Japaense smokers have such a low rate of lung cancer.
As to the reason why thyroid T3, T4 and iodine tend to collect in the lungs, this is fairly easy to answer -- the lungs have mucus glands, and so do the throat, nose, salivary glands, stomach, breasts, prostate, cervix, intestines etc. -- whose mucus glands all accumulate and use iodine as a first line defence against microbial invasion. Iodine seems to be amazingly protective to the body but only when taken in the correct amounts like the Japanese.
The Importance of Iodine
* Palpitations
* Heat intolerance
* Nervousness
* Insomnia
* Breathlessness
* Increased bowel movements
* Light or absent menstrual periods
* Fatigue
* Fast heart rate
* Trembling hands
* Weight loss
* Muscle weakness
* Warm moist skin
* Hair loss
* Staring gaze
I have had none of these symptoms. I even did a experiment three days ago whereby, as well as taking the equivalent of 5 drops of 2% lugol's iodine(equivalent to an intake over 60 mgms iodine/iodide) as well, I painted half the underside of both my forearms(soft tissue) -- three times that day!! -- which still disappeared in less than 2 hours with absolutely no negative effects on my body that day or the next day. Here, I was actually trying to create the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (too much iodine) and failed miserably..LOL.
But to approach this logically, this result must also show that different people must have widely varying transdermal absorbtion rates as well as excretion rates for iodine and therefore taking and supplementing iodine this way does not allow you to know how much iodine you are actually taking and incorporating into your body, or how much is being successfully utilized or excreted.
The only way to determine correct iodine levels in your body these days is to get a blood test. But this test isn't very accurate, because the result will be compared to just your small thyroid needs and not on the much greater needs of your thyroid AND the rest of your body(your body needs something like 100 times the amount of iodine as recommended by the RDA) -- and has been fairly well proved from the Iodine Project Research, run by Drs Abraham and Brownstein, that your whole body including the thyroid -- needs a minimal daily intake of at least 12.5 mgs of lugol's every day(as opposed to the 150 microgms RDA recommended by the FDA and WHO). In their experiments and research with breast fibrocystic disease, uterine fibroids etc the Iodine Project has used upwards of 50 mg daily doses of iodine for several months to help successfully cure these acute medical problems without any bad effects.
Currently, since I have some sodium thiosulphate handy (which I periodically take to remove heavy metals, chlorine, arsenic and cyanide from my body as recomeded by Ted from Bangkok), I can perhaps use this in a simple loading test to see if large amounts of iodine are excreted in my urine over a 24 hour period after a large iodine intake. ST, when added to the urine, will be oxidized by the iodine to tetrathionate which turns the urine solution blue or blue/black (probably more like a shade of green depending on the yellowness of the urine) and can perhaps be used to judge visually -- and only very roughly mind you -- whether I am excreting large amounts of iodine after loading or not. This is not a particulalry good test, best I can do, since I haven't got the knowledge or the equiment to do a more accurate quantitative analysis. Ted from Bangkok would know how to do this analysis properly. But I will post the results if this is at all viable.
The Importance of Iodine
I have a question about iodine painting. I know you have said that you will paint the bottom of the foot, but I have read somewhere that you can paint it any where on the body.
No matter where I paint the iodine within just a few hours it is completly gone. My wife painted herself with the same iodine and it stayed for days.
Am I severly iodine defeciant or what is going on? How would you correct this?
I painted myself twice, yesterday and both time it was gone in a few hours. Today same thing, painted about a 3 inch by 3 inch square on my belly and now it is gone, not even a trace of where I painted is there.
It is really strange, because my wife's diet and my are basically the same. She is dark complected and I am very pale.
You have become one of my favorite people that post on here and I respect your studies and knowledge.
Thank you in advanced!
Rebel
The Importance of Iodine
I eat a lot of nori seaweeds plus takes kelp capsules every day, is it possible one could consume too much iodine? Thank you for your expertise.
The Importance of Iodine
The interview below also establishes the important relationship between the lack of iodine in our diet and the simultaneous steady increase of other dangerous halogens like bromine and fluorine in our food and drinks with all the multitude of dangerous and disturbing physical and mental problems and diseases that can arise from this.
I made mine by mixing 1 oz. of Iodine with 2 oz. of potassium iodide and two cups of distilled water. Use something wooden to stir it (I used a tongue depressor) and mix it in a glass jar with a plastic lid (not a metal lid). Keep it in a dark place for a few days while the iodine dissolves in the water, stirring or shaking occasionally.
After it is completely dissolved, carefully transfer it to amber dropper bottles. It stains if you get it on things, but baking soda and water might clean up some stains.
The liquid you have is considered 5% Lugols and each drop will contain about 6.25 mg of iodine. This is safe for internal consumption and external use in the proper amounts. For internal use people commonly put the drops in a glass of water or eat it with a small amount of saturated fat such as butter. For external use you can just swab it on with a q-tip type product.
There is a good deal of information on the internet covering its use internally, and the need to detoxifying when using it since iodine causes your cells to release toxins like bromine, fluorine, mercury, lead, and arsenic.
Broad Benefits
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
I have experienced so many benifits that I will always take my iodine
I live in ottawa. Prod # PT231 (5 g iodone 10 g potassium iodide.)
Broad Benefits
i'm wondering if perhaps you may also have a gluten intolerance, or even be Celiac.. does it feel like your insides are being 'sandpapered raw'/destroyed by any chance? extreme bloating? etc..
i suffered agonizing abdominal pain for awhile, and would be in the fetal position for days at a time.
the pain finally subsided once i cut gluten completely out.
anyways, maybe part of the problem?
just a thought..
Broad Benefits
In my experience, when I started using providone iodine on any of these areas, there was a dramatic change in the first few days, which would lead me to believe that in another couple of days, the problem would be gone altogether. Well, that didn't happen, but now I see that the area on one of my knuckles is finally completely normal. I.e., it took 3 days for it to get 80% better, then 3 months to get 100% better. The other little moles are now small enough that you only notice them if you touch them (they were really small to start with). I'm going to keep on applying the iodine in the hopes they too will disappear completely. Oh, and my breasts are still not lumpy like they were before the iodine.
Enlarged, Cystic Thyroid
★★★★★
Where to Buy: Canada
I have found that now,April 2010, when following up by e-mail to the Help or "Contact Us" links on the company sites, I get answers.
Most use a fill-in e-mail form on their page, not a browser e-mail. So you won't have a record of the sent e-mail.
One specific company, Rexall, a drugstore name here,when called said they didn't have it. But when I e-mailed their company site (just Search any engine for this)they replied in 2 days and even gave me the exact branch store and name of pharmacist I could ask to order it in for me.
I also tried:
Zellers
Walmart
London Drugs
Shoppers
local health food stores
Any Search will show up the main Canadian maker of LUGOL'S in Coquitlam. I used that name/link to the item page in my e-mails to show them what I wanted exactly. There is a 100 ml and a 500 ml size.
I also contacted them by e-mail and they said 'YES, our product IS available NO PRESCRIPTION, but you mustfind out from the retail company if their wholesaler can get it in for you!
Ovarian Cysts
★★★★★
After doing a little research between Earth Clinic and the rest of the web, I decided to try Iodine Painting. Simply use a cotton swab to 'paint' a two inch square on the soft skin of your wrist, upper arms, stomach or inner legs. Your body absorbs the iodine through the skin. The first thing I noticed was a slight jittery sensation, and very soon my cramps subsided. I have been painting the iodine on for over a week now... I have not had any pain, I have not taken any pain-relievers, I have more energy, I have clearer skin, and I have a greater sex-drive.
I felt as though half of my life was being devoted to my cysts, and now I simply paint on a two inch square of iodine in the morning, and I'm free to live my life. I feel that iodine has already improved my quality of life significantly, where traditional doctors constantly told me that what I was experiencing was 'normal'.
It was quick and easy to try, and a fairly large bottle was only $6 at my local grocery store. I've been telling everyone I know in an effort to help anyone that may be sufferng. I wish I would have run across this information years ago. Thanks to EarthClinic for improving my life significantly.
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
For the last three weeks I've been putting liquid iodine on 2 knuckles where I have very thick skin (no idea why). I read a lot of feedback from people using iodine on skin problems, so I thought I'd give it a try it, since I had liquid iodine in the house.
Almost immediately I saw a change. The skin, which was very rough, is now softer, almost like my other knuckles, and the skin isn't nearly as thick. One is almost normal.
I also started applying iodine about a week ago to a mini-mole on my face, and it is reduced in size.
One of the most interesting things is the change in my breasts. When I had mammograms done in the past, I was told that my breasts were dense. Now, although I didn't apply any iodine directly to the breast, they no longer feel lumpy.
Yet another thing I noticed was that I felt much less eye strain from the day I started using iodine on my hands, but it seems to be helping my eyes less than it did at the beginning.
The one thing I haven't had success with is in applying iodine on liver spots. I've been applying a few times a day to the biggest spot and so far no change, but I'll keep trying for a while.
This is a cheap and easy, harmless therapy. It's really worth trying to see if it does you any good.
General Feedback
Could anyone out there provide me the information I need about the iodine therapy? Which is better to take? Lugol's, Liquid Kelp, or SSKI? I would appreciate your knowledge on this subject. Also would this help with acid reflux?
Thanks, Carolyn
Thyroid Issues
Iodine Powder
they write on the bottle.
Iodine
L2=253.81
Assay.................................99.8%
Appearance............................Prill
Chloride and bromine (as chloride)...<280ppm
Identification.......................Pass test
Non-Volatile matter..................<0.05%
Thank you in advance for your help.
