An Excellent Overview of Why We Need Iodine

The intake of iodine from plants harvested on japanese-style traditionally-prepared soil is 12.5mg a day (the farmers use seaweed in composting) [I don't remember the source of this citation but it was good enough at the time for me to memorize it]. North americans, mainland europeans, and others with low soil levels of iodine, only get about 0.030 to 0.070mg of iodine per day [again, see note].


It has been reported and I feel this must be correct, that it was a traditional (german) western pre-prussian farming practice to add seaweed hundreds of years ago, and this is generally not done anymore, especially today - although it has been on the come-back, e.g. Dan Kittredge. It's common to find, through both tests and symptoms, high multi-milligram level daily doses of 'anti-iodines' of fluorines, bromines, free chlorine and other specific synthetic chemicals in the environment. They wipe-out the otherwise beneficial effect of the trace levels of iodine. Iodine is used for many body functions, not only thyroid. Prostate, brain function, reproductive, pancreas, etc. are reported to have iodine receptors, which in turn fill with the 'look-alike' poisons, and malfunction accordingly. Sufficient iodine intake has been shown to have the effect of washing-out the toxins in lab tests of urine, by flushing toxins from the cell receptor sites and replacing with the correct mineral, iodine! Iodine is also reported to be, from lab tests and private experience, shown to be a chelator of heavy metals (removes heavy metals).




The expensive tablets and cheaper options:

It takes more than the standard 'japanese' dose of iodine to flush the body of the toxins, and to provide continued resistance against absorption of them. A completely healthy adult body is supposed to have a balance of about 1,500mg of iodine in storage, 3% in the thyroid and 70% in muscle and fat, and the rest in organs and elsewhere. So a single tablet a day is not really enough for many people. Lab tests are reported to show increased excretion of bromine and fluorine, only significantly-measurable at around 50mg/day (four tablets of 12.5, or one tablet of 50mg) [dr. brownstein]. So, a regimen of Iodoral tablets to provide truly therapeutic amounts of iodine when the body is and has been exposed, is usually at minimum, about 78 cents a day worth (150mg), whereas the same amount of iodine directly from a 10% iodine solution (see below), as Lugols solution, is about three cents a day (Dec2013 now slightly more, I'm guessing four or five cents after fukushima).




Where cost is a concern, it is important to note that the advantage of the Iodoral, is the drops are effectively pre-measured for those who value an extreme level of convenience, and the silica in the tablet can help with some stomach buffering issues for people who are overly-sensitive. Though stomach reactions usually only happen at first, usually due to other health issues, i.e. even semi-healthy people handle regular Lugol's Solution well.




1500USD - 100 grams of iodine through Iodoral tablets, when the shipping is averaged-out. [Oct2011]

50USD - 100 grams of iodine from a true 10% Lugol's solution. About the same world-wide. So the cost-savings is HUGE when using Lugol's directly. [Dec2013; after fukushima, it is sometimes 65 to 70USD.]




'Due to DEA restrictions' commercially, real Lugol's solution in useful quantities, is somewhat difficult to obtain directly _as a liquid preparation_ for people on north america. While Iodoral tablets can play a crucial initial role in introducing people to the benefits of iodine, for the six-months plus of continuing intake, the price is functionally too high for many. The core ingredients (45g I2 (iodine crystals) & 114g KI) are listed on another common online site, and you can mix them with distilled water, forming the Lugol's at home. World-wide outside north america, a liter jar is available easily, through a pharmacist or lab supplier for about the same price everywhere, 50USD/EUR. The Merck catalogue number is 1.09261.1000. The pharmacist should have a Merck catalogue, but may be surprised to know you want to order from it. Merck pharmacies publish a huge catalogue of straight chemistry compounds outside of the pharmaceuticals they are commonly known for.




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Some online alternatives, to be aware:

Usually people interested in Iodoral tablets also look at common one-ounce dropper bottles of what purports to be '2.2% Lugol's solution'. The actual amount of iodine is 10%/4, so a correct name is '2.2% iodine solution from Lugol's'. Using confusing descriptions only increases people's frustrations when already confused, looking for relief from toxic halide+heavy metal poisoning.




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Some of the culprits:

Fluorine - is not good for teeth, and was only used (labeled) as 'rat poison' until the 1940's. It continues to be used as rat poison today, and allegedly, 'healthy teeth'. It accumulates in the body, and without large amounts of iodine to wash it out (over 50mg/day), it causes long-term damage at low dosages, similar to how background radiation works to gradually destroy health. Most comes through use of hydrofluorosilicic acid, a raw waste-product concentrate directly from smoke-stack scrubbers that is commonly trucked unprocessed, directly to 'water treatment facilities'. It is the stuff that is not supposed to be going into the air, and you drink it!




Bromine - is used as 'flame retardant' - literally to 'retard the flame' inside in my opinion. It is also used in medications (such as bromated inhalers), and in commercially-produced bread on north america (in place of iodine).




Free Chlorine - Forms chloroform when reacting with the chemically-organic components in water. Ammonia is a better mold killer/cleaner, in my opinion.




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Other issues:

So-called 'side effects' in gradually-increased doses from Iodoral/Lugols are shown to be due to the toxic halides coming out, not the iodine going in. The kidneys then remove these halides from the bloodstream, while the iodine keeps them from re-attaching. During this process is when some effects can occur temporarily.




People with 'diagnosed kidney problems' should take it easy with iodine-containing items, and more slowly increase intake, while monitoring their kidney function, as functional kidneys are reported to only excrete at most, 50% of ingested or absorbed halides.




Sources:

Doctor David Brownstein's excellent DVD on Iodine, and his research reports on clients.

Yahoo Iodine group participants, researchers, and contributors.

Research reports of Guy Abraham (who developed Iodoral tablets).

Private, non-commercial research done directly with around 100+ participants.