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.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Robert (Cincinnati, Ohio) on 08/19/2009
★★★★★
Iodine ( lugol's solution 2%) : i have been drinking 16 drops of lugol's solution in distilled water daily for over 2 months. my blood pressure has dropped from 145/90 to 120/70 and lower. i also had acid reflux but that is gone also. my allergies have improved greatly (non-existent ). i also have better energy as well.
i gave it to my dogs when they had the parvo virus and they regained their health. i also gargled with provodine iodine when i had strep throat, 3 times a day and that was cured.
Dry Mouth, Dry Eyes
Posted by Doc Sheila (Toronto, Canada) on 08/09/2009
★★★★★
Dry Mouth Dry Eye cures
I use potassium iodide :Lugol's solution for all dryness in the body, vaginal dryness,dry eyes, dry nose,dry mouth.
It is excellent as anti septic, anti biotic ati viral etc
3 drops 1-3% lugol's in juice or water 2x/daily
How To Take Lugol's
Posted by John (Trang, Thailand) on 07/13/2009
Lugol's Aqueous Iodine 5%. I bought from the Trang Hospital with an expiry date, Oct 9th 2009.
1. Can it go off? What happens?
2. After taking it, what are likely side effects/ adverse reactions if any?
3. No distilled water here. Rain water OK?
4. Take the drops before eating or after?
5. How do I tell if cadmium, mercury, fluoride, chlorine etc. have left me?
Lugol's Iodine Side Effects
Posted by Mona (Minneapolis, MN) on 04/14/2009
The runny nose and sinus headache (pressure behind your eyes) are most likely a detoxification effect of the iodine you are taking. The iodine has the effect of detoxifying your body of the other toxic halides that are so prevalent in our modern diets and environments. The addition of vitamin C usually helps with the detoxification. The toxic halides are fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. They are toxic to our bodies and have no use by our bodies. They will attach to iodine receptors in the body, but they won't perform the function of iodine, thus the toxicity.
Fluorine and fluoride are added to most municipal water supplies these days, but many, many studies show no difference in the number of cavities and dental maladies between fluoridated and nonfluoridated water populations. Better dental hygiene and education have reduced the cavities more than the addition of fluorine to our water supplies. Trusting community leaders were sold on fluoridation by an industry that needed an outlet for its toxic byproduct, no we all are forced to consume the toxic fluorine.
Chlorine is toxic. Chloride is essential in the body, but chlorine is toxic. Chlorine is added to many water supplies, is used in pools, is found in bleach. The byproduct of chlorine bleach is dioxin, one of the biggest carcinogens known to our planet. Iodine could be used to make and keep our water supplies and pools safe, and is not toxic like chlorine.
Bromine is toxic and has replace iodine in the treatent of wheat for our flour. Bromine is found in flame-retardant and insecticides. We are exposed to bromine from many environmental sources. It is toxic.
With the abundance of toxic halides we are routinely exposed to in our modern diets and environments, it is not unusual to experience detoxification effects when you increase your iodine intake. The detoxification may occur, but the runny nose and the headache (and acne or any other symptom of the toxic substances leaving your body) will subside as the toxins are eliminated. The addition of vitamin C and fish oil along with the iodine will help with the detoxification. But, I do not agree with the previous suggestion by Ted that consuming bread (presumably for the bromine content) is a wise solution to the underlying cause of the effect (ingestion of more toxins may temporarily relieve your runny nose, but it is also adding more toxins to be eliminated from your body).
Lugol's solution is potassium iodide, the same iodine compound found in seaweed and sea vegetables, but in a standardized form, and elemental (molecular) iodine. Molecular iodine dissolves more readily in water that already contains potassium iodide. In our bodies, the thyroid gland absorbs iodide, breaks off the potassium or sodium portion of the compound and concentrates the iodine portion in the thyroid gland. Elsewhere in the body, the mammary glands and the ovaries have huge demands for iodine, too, but their preferences seem to be for molecular iodine. The whole endocrine system utilizes iodine or iodide, the digestive system needs iodine, the integumentary system, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the skeletal system all need iodine or iodide. Excess iodine is excreted in the urine. The presence of sufficient iodine in the body detoxifies the body of not only the toxic halides, but also heavy metals, such as lead ad mercury.
Physicians knew of the wonders of iodine over a hundred years ago, then a bad study cast it into the depths of oblivion until recent research into breast health and thyroid health have brought it back into the medical world's attention. Iodine is a natural product. There is little monetary profit for anyone to make from its promotion. The "profit" is for all of us in society whose heath and well-being has been suffering since iodine was cast off in error. Hopefully, the modern research will recapture the attention of mainstream medicine and we will be able to undo the damage.
Acid Reflux
Posted by Sara (Dublin, CA) on 03/15/2009
What was the % of the Lugol's Solution used? J. Crow's still sells 5% as well as the 2% version.
Acid Reflux
Posted by David (Huntington Beach, California, USA) on 01/04/2009
★★★★★
Hi, I'm a Chiropractor of over 22 years. I want to add a cure that I got from reading Dr. Donsbach, D.C.
My wife and I found as we got older that we were both starting to have digestive problems and really bad acid reflux at nite. The wholist concept is acid reflux is due to NOT ENOUGH acid! You can confirm if this is the case by taking a tablespoon of ACV when you are getting it, if it stops it, then you are LOW in acid.
The next step in the wholistic approach is to take digestive enzymes and HCl to substitute for the low acid. I always thought this isn't getting to the root problem of WHY isn't the body producing enough acid anymore. This is where Dr Donsbach came in.
He discussed that the body needs IODINE to produce the stomach acid. That made sense in that since becoming a Vegetarian, I don't get much seafood and I keep my salt intake down.
So I ordered Lugol's Solution from Amazon and began taking 2 drops a day in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, monday through friday with the weekend off. My wife did the same. Sure enough within a few weeks my digestion is back to where it was as a teenager, and acid reflux is gone! My wife had the same results as well as a friend that tried it.
If you go to take the iodine, first make sure you aren't allergic. I think a drop on the inside of the wrist or arm and see if it gets swollen or itchy, is a good test. After that, if no reaction, then you can start with one drop in water and see how that effects you. If you have no problems then you can proceed to the 2 drops.
I've been trying to get this information out there, because when people take antacids and medicines that decrease acid production in the stomach, it greatly limits the bodies ability to digest the food,and starts a process that ends up greatly harming your health.
If the word can get out about this cure, it will help millions to improve their health for less than a penny a day and prevent them from ruining their health as they are trying to help it.
Good luck and please write your feedback here so others can see.
Best wishes for health and happiness,
David from H.B.
Lugol's Formulation
Posted by Bill (Longmont, Colorado) on 12/03/2008
The reason Lugol's is made the way it is is because it is a constant concentration solution of Iodine. If some of the water evaporates over time, a drop still has 6.5 mg of elemental iodine in it. This makes it a very safe way to administer iodine.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Lisa (Coto de Caza, Ca) on 11/27/2008
★★★★★
Cold, Flu, and food poisoning, 6 drops Lugol's solution (iodine) in a cup of water twice a day. Do not take if allergic to Iodine. Lugol's will cure salmonella, purify water ( in case of emergency or traveling overseas), and stop diaherra. Use lugul's not iodine tincture or providone iodine.
Lugol's Iodine Side Effects
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 11/03/2008 392 posts
Actually iodine that you are taking are mostly harmless. The eye pressure and headache issue has a lot to do with the problems associated with elemental iodine. Taking about 1000 mg x 4 of vitamin C sodium ascorbate should neutralize most of the problems.
If not, eat white bread as it is high in bromine. I have taken much more iodine before, but it is in the form of potassium iodide and sodium iodide, closer to 100 mg, not mcg either. The Japanese eats 1000 times above iodine dose and has no effect because the high content of bromine and iodine are found in kelp. A kelp supplement inspite of high iodine, has much higher bromine and can also displace it.
In general no harm but elemental iodine are oxidative in nature and vitamin C sodium ascorbate should lessen that problem. What elemental iodine does to the body is it raises the ORP to be a positive value and the sodium ascobate 1000 mg x 5 will put the ORP to a normal negative values just as before. Drinking plenty of water with a small amount of sea salt will displace the unneeded iodine.
Ted
Lugol's Iodine Side Effects
Posted by Dee (Atlanta, GA) on 11/02/2008
I was taking Lugol's iodine for about a week, then stopped for 2 weeks, then started up 2 days ago, 5 drops diluted in water (what women say to take daily for breast cancer prevention). Right after taking the drops yesterday, I had an immediately reaction: runny nose and slight pressure behind the eyes. Today (Monday) my nose is still runny, but the pressure behind my eyes is a bit less. I know the runny nose is from having too much iodine in my body. Should I be worried? How can I pull the excess iodine from my system? I am going to stop the iodine for at least a month now and if I take it in the future, no more than 1-2 drops at a time.
Nail Issues
Posted by Robin (Southern, New Mexico) on 08/22/2008
★★★★★
I second what Stephanie says about iodine and the nails. I have had very poor nails all my life to the point where I never wore rings, not wanting to draw attention to my ugly hands. Also anxiety made me bite and pick at them 'til they bled sometimes. I now take 100 mgs (yes one hundred milligrams) of Iodoral every day. My body was starving due to celiac which went undiagnosed for decades. When I paint my skin with Lugol's it disappears in just a few hours (2-4).
Besides my nails and hair improving, iodine has helped me with snoring, salivary stones (swollen and hard salivary glands under the jaw bones), and hay fever is a thing of the past. I don't need the daily claritin anymore and I do not need 5-htp for anxiety now, I only take one or two at the most at night for sleep, where I was taking it all through the day.
When I first started taking iodine I went through a little detox period, but it was well worth it. I still have a long way to go to reach good health, but Iodine is the first remedy that helped and keeps on helping. I imagine that soon when big-med and big-pharma get wind of this movement it will become impossible to get iodine in any form, so I am stock-piling for the future. I never want to go without it again. I do not use kelp because of potential heavy metals and chemical contamination.
Good health to all...
Robin
Broad Benefits
Posted by Heidi (Jackson, WY) on 01/14/2006
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I used Lugols iodine for a couple months, had more energy and acne improved, then I got a rash. I quit for 3 weeks and have started again at a lower dose.
Colds
Posted by Cindy (Shady Cove, OR)
★★★★★
I use Lugol's iodine anytime I am getting a cold. I was a chronic user of antibiotics because of asthma. I have not had a bout with bronchitis because anytime i am getting a cold or virus I put 6 drops of Lugol's in water 3 times over a 24 hour period and the infection is gone. I actually have one day colds now. I follow up with acidophilus for my stomach and milk thistle for my liver. This really works and probably will work for Bird flu if you keep a supply in your cupboard.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Tel (Dewey, AZ) on 10/07/2006
★★★★★
Lugol's iodine cured food poisoning in less than an hour: 6 drops in a cup of water. Also cures, Cold, Flu, and the blase feeling, same dose 6 drops in a cup of water... do not take if allergic to Iodine. Dr Clark in all of her books, recomends Lugol's for many things including thyroid problems. It now sells under a prescription in most states. They know we are being healed with 6 drops and it is taking away from their huge profits.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Michael (Peoria AZ)
★★★★★
I have used Lugol's internally for years. My wife had a major bladder infection and had 2 bio's performed and all kinds of drugs prescribed including a Dr. stating we were passing a virus thru sex back and forth. I refused to take the chemicals. Finally she wanted to try the Lugol's and within 2 weeks began to walk with no pain. I placed it in the water containers of my 2 dogs. My 3 pound 10 old dog came alive once again. I feel it killed all the worms in her that were bleeding her of energy. I believe in Lugols for everything. I purchase it by the 500ml's and give it away to people who are real ill or sick.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Pamela (Pueblo West, CO) on 02/15/2006
★★★★★
Iodine cured Fibrocystic breasts, weight gain, fatigue, depression, over all poor health. Painted my stomach with iodine, and had a similar reaction as Candace. So now I paint my inside forearms, alternating each time... no problem now. Started taking Lugols at 2 drops daily increasing to 5 drops at this time. Within days I noticed a vast improvement in my breast tissue, my energy level etc. Within 10 days my breasts were normal. Energy still good, depression gone, better immune response. I always tested within the normal range on thyroid tests, however, I had all the symptoms, that is why I started taking the iodine. I was desperate to be normal again. I started Weight Watchers in October and lost 5 pounds in 4 months! It was almost impossible to lose weight even though I lifted weights and walked 6 days a week. Once I started the Lugols drops, the first week I lost 3.5 pounds. The second week I lost 2.8 pounds. It must be the iodine. I feel great. I am telling my family about Lugols because, my mother, grandmother, and both aunts have thyroid problems as well as other health issues I think the iodine could help. I'll lower my dose eventually to 2-4 drops but kick it back up if needed. This stuff is great!
Nail Issues
Posted by Stephanie (Loganholme, Qld. Australia) on 09/24/2006
★★★★★
Iodine cures brittle and easily broken finger nails. It makes the fingernails hard, chip proof and unbreakable. Dip your fingernails in colorless iodine once a day for 1 week; then once a week for 3 to 4 weeks; then once a month. It dries almost instantly. It begins hardening the nails under the cuticle and as the nail grows out it stays hard and un breakable. Once the new hard nail reaches the length you want, you will never again have chipped and broken nails. No need for all those expensive formulas sold in beauth parlors and chemist shops.
Lugol's Iodine Side Effects
Posted by Peter (Shellharbour, Australia) on 03/17/2007
Remember that minerals or supplements and treatments can be either a food or a poison. Food at the correct dose and a poison if too concentrated. If you analyze your hair the minerals are measured in parts per million. So very weak solutions of iodine regularly are better, not enough to discolour but enough for the skin to absorb. This also solves the problem of finding discoloured iodine. The same applies to anything that may burn, if it burns you are using far too much and causing damage instead of causing healing.
Iodine Warnings
Posted by James (Seattle, Washington) on 06/26/2007
Lugo's iodine caused my heart to palpitate (and not in a good way; the bad way). So I thought no more Lugo's. I felt bad because I read the health benefits on this site and others and I could not take even one drop. Then while reasearching fatty acid metabolism I found that you use a lot of vitamin B-1, B-6 and B-12. All the of these B's have heart palpitaions as a sign of their deficiencies. So I took all three. Now I can take Lugo's. Yeah!
Also selenium and zinc deficiencies can cause heart palpatations. So if you can't take iodine because of the heart quivers you might have a deficiency you need to correct first.
Lugol's Formulation
Posted by Marie (St. Louis, MO) on 10/21/2007
Iodine - people need lugol's. This stuff from the pharmacy is not enough. Lugol's has the TWO forms of iodine used by both thyroid and breasts, ovaries and prostate. It has to be ordered online. I noticed in your comments people were buying it from the pharmacy. And that's not the right stuff. jcrow.com has increased their prices so I'm on the hunt for another source.
Lugol's Formulation
Posted by Marie (St. Louis, MO) on 10/21/2007
I can't believe she has produced a product that is NOT Lugol's and has a label that says it is Lugol's. The iodine everyone needs is iodine AND potassium iodide in a very specific ratio. Dr H. Clark's doesn't seem to be that type.
