The Dark Side of The Alternative Health Movement: Promoting Ingested Iodine

I read your article on the dangers of ingesting iodine. Would this include Iosol iodine? I ordered this from Dr. David Williams website and have also seen it for sale by Life Extension Foundation.

Thank you.

Tammy G.

Hey Tammy,

We would not recommend ingesting Iosol iodine, either. This form is generally seen as better than others because it was extracted from a natural source (kelp), however, the end product is very different from the initial extraction. It is extracted as potassium iodide, which is a safe form. However, it is transformed (bastardized) to iodine in a lab. Feel free to apply the iodine tropically though, and let it sink in through the skin at its own pace. See the above article for more on that.

We have received a lot of flack over the issue of iodine and canola oil from other alternative health sites. Those sites seem to be more concerned with political correctness and 'fitting in' than telling the truth. It has been known that ingesting iodine is poisonous for a long time - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002658.htm. If in doubt, call your poison control center, and they will assure you of it. We're not willing to poison people in order to be part of the in-crowd.

Thanks for leaving a comment. Despite all of our readership, most people don't leave feedback; and we appreciate all that we receive.

Or you could take the 24 hr iodine loading urine test. Iodine in the form of lugols, iodoral, magnascent or detoxified iodine is completely safe. I've been consuming 50mg of iodoral (potassium iodide/iodine supplement) daily for the past 2 years and guess what? My fibrocystic breasts are SOFT!. My periods are practically painless!! My body temperature is 98.6! I also take lugols!! shock!! I'm not dead!!

But I do agree completely with you on canola oil!

Hi,
I was looking for iodine to apply transdermally, however, at the drug store all I found was a tincture(45% alcohol) and it was denatured with ammonia. Would using that iodine tincture be beneficial or even worth the money? Or would it create other problems in the long run. Thanks in advance.

While we are getting tired of repeating this, iodine is absolutely essential for good health, and most people are deficient. They should supplement in it by applying iodine transdermally to the skin. Drinking iodine is poisonous. The menu to the left has three articles dedicated solely to iodine.

Hey Lisa;

The fact that it is combined with alcohol is fairly normal, but the presence of ammonia is not. If you can't find something with just iodine and alcohol or water, you may have to purchase online. You should be able to find Lugol's iodine (iodine and water combination) cheaply.

Thanks for this article. I've been applying iodine transdermally for almost 2 years. I was literally having pains in my neck and had an ultrasound show that my thyroid was mildly enlarged. This method has been helping my energy, and pain, but I still absorb it very quickly (within 8 hours). Do you have any suggestions as to bring my iodine deficiencies up to speed as this doesn't seem to be quite enough??

The safest thing to do is to simply increase the amount of iodine that you are using each time. In addition, you should make certain that you are not consuming fluoride, which is known to attack the thyroid. Be aware that most water filters do not remove fluoride, and that some pharmaceuticals contain it.

For a full list of our recommendations for hypothyroidism, you may want to read our, How To Cure Hypothyroidism Naturally article.

Thanks for the interesting article. I completely agree that the utmost caution should be used when consuming any individual supplements orally as we may as yet be unaware of important co-factors for it's correct utilisation.

What do you say to these two papers that show that the skin patch test is not an accurate measurement of deficiency?

Nyiri,W., Jannitti,M.. About the fate of free iodine upon application to the unbroken animal skin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 45:85-107, 1932.

Biskind,M.S. Penetration through tissue of iodine in different solvents. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 30:35-37, 1932.

These papers seems to suggest a uniform rate of absorbtion whatever the internal iodine status is.

Quite honestly, the rate of transdermal iodine absorption is not something that we need clinical studies to demonstrate. It is something than anyone can see for themselves, with their own eyes. A larger amount of iodine will take longer to disappear, regardless of its spread pattern.

We spent about an hour in a swimming pool yesterday, containing the typical amounts of highly chlorinated and fluorinated water. Afterward, we applied massively large patches of iodine to ourselves, and they were all gone within hours. For us, it was a demonstration of not only how iodine absorbs transdermally, but of how chlorine and/or fluoride do as well. It was a graphical reminder to us that absorption rates for iodine increase with the need. We didn't need a laboratory and millions of dollars to discover it.

Studies are great for testing conclusions, but not at the expense of ignoring what is clearly already in front of our own noses. Yes, true science is blind, but that doesn't mean that we have to be blind too.

We spent weeks researching this topic due to its importance and its controversial nature with some of the marginal members of the health movement. While we appreciate your desire to pass-on potentially meaningful information about this subject, we're nonetheless basically done with the topic. One of the lessons we have learned is that some people can't and won't be helped (like the iodine-drinking zealots).

Hi,

So vegetable iodine should only be applied externally as well?

Thank you, for the excellent articles. However, on this one I'm in need of a bit more clarity. I take liquid kelp daily, do you recommend I stop that and just apply iodine transdermally? Can or should I do both?

Again thank you for your dedication to the same ideals that I espouse....

We recommend stopping the oral supplementation. Putting it on your skin allows your body to absorb it at the rate needed. Drinking it forces your body to absorb all of it immediately, which is unhealthy on so many levels. This should give you all of the supplementation that you need.

If for some reason you cannot get enough that way, then bladderwrack is a safer option than kelp or seaweed. We would only suggest including bladderwrack as an oral supplement* for people with extreme hypothyroidism or fluorosis. All underwater vegetation will increase a person's heavy metal toxicity, but bladderwrack is the least dangerous, according to our research.

* We have to call it a "supplement" instead of a medicine, because the F.D.A. doesn't want us telling the truth or "practicing medicine". We would call it a medicine if we could, for treating hypothyroidism -- hypothetically speaking, of course.

I have Hashimoto's.

I saw a Natural Doctor for about 18 months w/o any results. I took the natural thyroid med (started @ 1/2gr. and went up to 1gr.) Because I didn't see/feel any better I finally decided to see my family doctor. I picked up the dreaded prescription for Levothyroxin, and my last test showed my thyroid at a normal level.
I hate taking meds, but definitely prefer to use something that is natural if meds necessary - especially since they are telling me that I'll be taking these meds for the rest of my life.
I'm just looking for some guidance. I've read SO much (books/internet) that I'm sooo confused. I just want to do what is right for my body!

Was this "Natural Doctor" a degreed Naturopath, or was it just Becky-Sue, the local "herb expert", "Reiki Master", and "expert" for Cure Zone? We get lots of Becky-Sues visiting our site telling us "the truth" about how we're wrong about everything.

Most naturopaths will not prescribe products most of the time. They will tell you how to help yourself with various supplements and lifestyle changes. I strongly suspect that you've been had.

What the heck is "the natural thyroid med"? This appears to be just another troubling sign.

Anyway, check our article about hypothyroidism for our advice. If it is not helpful, then send us your name and phone number using our contact page, and then we'll try to figure something out together.

I apologize for my late reply. We don't have internet @ home right now.
Yes, the doctor I saw is a "degreed Naturopath" and I was taking Armour.
Thank you for the link. I'll check it now.

Very very helpful article! I took oral iodine and wow that that screw up my bowle movements horribly! Funny though it was the first time my nose was completly clear and my hands were warm in years. Anyhow I did buy a 2% ticture of iodine at the store. I am just not sure how much to use, what a good size? Also any general advice to stay safe and get the most out of it.
Thanks

"Natural thyroid med" is dessicated pig thyroid gland providing natural T3 and T4. It's more effective than levothyroxine for patients whose bodies can't change T4 to the active T3 hormone. Some people feel LOADS better on natural dessicated thyroid than on levothyroxine.

1 grain of natural thyroid is a little bitty dose, so I'm not surprised that Shari didn't improve on it. The dose is normally increased gradually, adding another 1/4 grain every 3-4 weeks, until the optimal dose is found. Most patients wind up taking about 3 grains daily.

Natural thyroid is so effective that quite a few MDs refuse to prescribe it. Most prefer to prescribe Synthroid (which is called Syncrap by patients who aren't helped by it). When MDs boycott a natural substance, that doesn't always mean it's dangerous or ineffective. It may just be bad for the bottom line -- either theirs or Big Pharma's.

Folks, I like most of your articles and I support 100% your goal of empowering people to protect their own health. Although I disagree with some of the points you made in this article, thanks for pointing out that it's safe to paint iodine on the skin to push some into the body. That fact isn't generally known and it should help many of your readers.

Hello,i just want to say that I was on a bovine glandular that did nothing for me. Bovine actually made me feel worse.However,when I started taking Armour natural thyroid "all" my symptoms disappeared. Achiness gone,I can turn my neck the stiffness is gone. I am not up to my optimal dose yet,. will do a blood test soon.i have Hasimotos thyroiditis. I also am confused about the injestion of iodine. Maybe bladderwack is a better choice.
Thank You
kathy

I had ordered iosol iodine because I felt that I probably had a sluggish thyroid and I think I may have overdone my consumption now I had bloodwork done and it said that I had TSH of .02 and T3 of 425 and I wanted to know if anyone had ever had that type of reaction any advice would be appreciated. I recently had to have a Billiary scan with the radioactive tracer could that have caused the abnormal test results.
Thanks Rose

My daughter is currently on Armour Thyroid, she's 20 years old and has been diagnosed with Hypothyroidsm when she was 8 years old. She has been on Synthoid, Levothyroxine, Levoxyl and now she's on Armour Thyroid which we're sticking to. My daughter has Autism and a seizure disorder. I came accross your article and found it very helpful. I would like to start her on Iodine but would like to know if it is safe to do the transdermal iodine while she's also taking the Armour Thyroid, also, what is the best brand and how often should I apply it to her skin? Thank you!

Thanks Rose[/quote] I am not a Dr. or undercover person just someone looking for answers plsese any suggestions would be aprreciated. I would also like to add that 4 wks later my TSH is 1.1 T3 180 any idea why it would fluctuate so much in 4 weeks? help I really need some advice

Yesterday I went to a nearby health store to buy a liquid Iodine (potassium iodide, Glycerin, purified water, alfalfa extract, dulse extract)

I applied them on my stomach, 2 drops and made it into quarter size, and it disappeared within 5 hours.

Before sleep, I applied it on my stomach again, and when I woke up 8 hours later it diappeared.

This morning, I went to bathroom and did a number 2 and there are fresh blood with the "waste material". Fresh blood! I never had fresh blood coming out of this "procedure" ever in the 29 years of my life.

Does that related to the iodine?

Beware of the "improved" iodine mixtures that health food stores sell. I would recommend that you just go to a regular pharmacy, like CVS, and pick up a topical iodine tincture. Its ingredients should include alcohol, potassium iodide, and iodine.

Also I have a cold/flu right now and been drinking Colloidal silver.

The iodine I applied dripped to my belly button (alot), and I wonder if that has anything to do with the blood.

Hello there, I did a test of iodine tincture on my thigh not my stomach and saw that it disappeared after 10 hours. So I decided to apply a larger amount about 3 x 3 inches. I did this for 2 days. On the second day I felt like I was getting toxic effects from the Iodine. Headache, hyper, shortness of breath and feeling hot and having a hard time sleeping and "bug eyes"and stomach upset and more bowel movements. Two days later I went to emergency room because I had such a bad headache and my blood pressure went up. They did a TSH and T3 nad T4 test. I do not have the results yet. My sysmtoms improved however yesterday at work I had shortness of breath again, hot, headache, blood pressure went up. I had popcorn the night before with sea salt. (more iodine) I believe that I may have possibly applied too much iodine tincture and my thyroid became too stimulated and now is in a hyperthyroid state. I do not know what to do and how long will it take for my thyroid to calm down? Do you have any thoughts on this? Have you ever heard of this happening to some one applying iodine tincture toically.

It sounds like you already had hyperthyroidism, and thus shouldn't be using iodine. You are probably already getting enough iodine from your use of sea salt. It could have also been an impurity in your iodine, if you bought one of the strange concoctions that are being sold at some "health sites".

If you're really desperate, you can drink some tap water, because the fluoride in the tap water will slow your thyroid down.

so today I found that I have some hive near where I applied the topical iodine, as well as on the small spot on the rib cage under my right chest.

So is it what some called "iodine detox"? I heard from amazon customer reviews from someone who take iodine supplement that a girl who is deficient and had hypothyroidism has an hive outbreak for the first 3 days and then she get much better after, as well as become much healthier for the first time in 10 years.

I stopped using the improved iodine solution now.

Hi

Very interesting site. Just a quick question - Lugol's iodine, which you seem to recommend comes in a range of percentages, anything from 3% to 15%. Is there a particular percentage that you would recommend.

2% to 3% is standard, and recommended. Not for internal use, of course.

Thank you so much for confirming my own guess. I have hypothyroidism (not officially diagnosed but concluded from blood tests), which got better for a while, but then it got worse after a couple of years ago we moved to a house with a city water (fluoridated). Back then I didn't know that fluoride depletes iodine in the body, so I couldn't figure out my problem. We drink bottled water but cook with tap water. But then the symptoms got too obvious (hair loss, weight gain, terrible moodiness and depression etc) so I decided that my thyroid was acting up again. I was very much against going to the doc and getting on the prescription poisoning program. So I remembered that my mother always used to ask me draw on her back with iodine tincture, just a simple grid, every night. Since I couldn't draw on my own back I started doing it on my thighs (or, I should say, all over my upper legs, since I stay at home and wear pants all the time anyway), just draw a bunch of lines with a q-tip dipped in the tincture (simple 2% iodine tincture with alcohol). I noticed improvements very soon - it's mainly my mood that improves, depression eases and appetite goes down, and generally I feel much better and more cheerful. Unless you're super sensitive to iodine or have hyperthyroidism, there shouldn't be any "overdose symptoms", because the amount I put on my legs is way more than the size of a quarter, and I never feel any worse, only better. But if I miss a few days - my moods and everything comes back.
Funny thing about the tincture is that it used to be easily found in the pharmacy isle near other antiseptics, but now they keep it behind the counter and you have to ask for it and they only give you 3 tiny bottles at a time.
Also, my mom advised me to take some tincture orally (2-3 drops in a glass of milk), and I tried, but right after that I felt like if my thyroid was swelling, so I stopped it after a couple of times and don't want to risk it anymore. I think the topical application is the safest and surest way. (and cheap, too, compared to prescription meds!)

I found your article very important and clear. I've been looking for answers for a while and this is it.
I lost my endocrinologist a year ago and then my family Doctor two month ago. I'm a big believer in natural medicine but they insisted there was no natural help for the thyroid.
My grandmother had thyroid problems and I remember her taking a drop or two of tincture of iodine ( the same used for wounds) in a teaspoon of sugar. She lived a healthy life and died close to 90. I have thyroid problems since my 2nd child was born 9 year ago. I confess I remembered my grandma's solution and started doing the same. Reading your article now I am very concerned I may have done some damage to my body.
My levothyroxine was split in two doses, 0.075 during the week and 0.05 for weekends. How much Iodine should I put on my skin? what's the best place? I live in the country and it is not easy to find a Naturopath in hours.

I was given potassium Iodide by my naturopath and she overdosed me and I would up in the very ill and had to get emergency help because I could not urinate anymore. I broke out with large hives all over my body, I could barely breath, I swelled up and I went into shock. Be very careful self-medicating with this stuff.

Hi,

Please, do not give children any iodine spplements, it's incredibly dangerous. Do not take iodide salt. I gave it to my family and we became seriously ill. Our heart rate exploded, my son was vomiting all the time, his eyes were always red. I was taking salt and pills, I'm surprised I didn't die. Months after I stoped using the salt we still can't eat fish or eggs! Doctor's are crazy! They let iodized salt be in stores and they recommend it!