Benefits of Iodine for Health

Skin Ailments

Posted by Winfield (Pringle, USA) on 09/04/2008
★★★★★

excellent website information by the bucketfulls stuff we all can use. I had a itchy spot on my chin 6 months. Finally scratched it raw and applied two dime size spots of iodine, 2 nights before bed. Spot is fading and no more itch. Gone. If it ever comes back it will get three treatments. Thanks for this knowledge.

Skin Ailments

Posted by Debra (Edmonton, Alberta) on 02/29/2008
★★★★★

Dr Derry from Victoria on Vancouver Island has a book out about Breast Cancer and his research shows that taking 1 to 2 drops of iodine a day in a glass of water can help to prevent breast cancer. His book is very informative and gives a scientific reason why it works. I have been using Iodine this way for 6 years. I also use it on moles, tags and other skin conditions and it helps to make them small again. I have used it for sore throats too and it works wonderfully. Just use it sparingly as it can be toxic with too much use.

Skin Ailments

Posted by Patricia (Laguna Niguel, CA) on 12/19/2007
★★★★★

I love this website! Lots of wonderful home remedies. I read about Iodine and went on ebay- I bought Povidone- Iodine first to try, and painted myself with it over every problem area of my skin- the colors were disappearing in 15 minutes or so. The bottle says for external use only and do not apply it over large areas of the skin. Well, I have not tried take it internally yet, but as I understand it, Povidone is used for prep surgeries, which means it is in contact with blood and internal organs. After my first application on small areas, I noticed that the morning after I could see significant improvement on my skin where there used to be acne-like pumps that I had for several years- some shrank and some went away. I then started using it on all scars and it seems to make them more smooth and heal better. Upon seeing that, I asked my husband to paint me all over my back- dry, flaky skin with red irritable spots- and over night, they became more smooth. So I started to use it more and more, sometimes it stains my clothes, but my skin seemed to be healing. Don't know if that is also indication of my iodine deficiency. I wonder if it works any differently from Lugol's. I do have signs of low thyroid function, like cold intolerance, poor circulation. Can you tell me if I can take the Povidone internally? How is it different from Lugol's?

Thyroid Issues

Posted by Angie (Sparta, MO) on 12/09/2007
★★★★★

I have been having problems with being so tired the past month or two. I knew it was a low thyroid problem. I ordered some organic iodine from a seller on ebay and within hours have felt a lot better, I'm on my 3rd day and my fatigue is still a lot better.

Skin Ailments

Posted by Christiane (Los Angeles, CA) on 10/31/2007
★★★★★

I'have been experimenting with several remedies. I have been doing the HP inhalation for a few weeks now but only when fatigued. I use a throat spray bottle and spray a few times until I cough while inhaling, that seems to be the only way that I can determine that it's not just coating the back of my throat. I notice that it works almost immediately to get me out of that "desperately need more sleep" haze. It lifts that "heavy" feeling. I tried it again 2 days ago when I only got 4 hours of sleep with the intent that if I did the HP inhalation and it worked AGAIN then I would be convinced. I'm completely convinced for fatigue purposes at this time. I intend to increase my usage soon.

Also, I read where someone mentioned using iodine on cysts. I am using it on a cyst (may be caused by an ingrown hair or not!)on my shin, about the size of the circumferance of a sharpie marker. I started this a few weeks ago and was applying the iodine once a day for about 3 days straight. Then I forgot about it. I just happened to look this morning and it has shrunk by about half and the skin on top just peeled off. I will be starting up again today to see if I can get rid of it completely over the next week or so.

I have Candida but no insurance and I was trying a product that has been rated as the number 1 recommended product. Unfortunately, it felt like my kidneys were not happy about it so I had to get off of it. I am going to try some other methods to see if it helps. I'll post when I know more.

Skin Ailments

Posted by Leslie (Geneva, IL) on 06/07/2007
★★★★★

For 4 days I have been applying Lugols Iodine to my nose polyp, once in the morning and at night. Has reduced in size and shape. Before was very red, now looks like color of surrounding tissue. Will continue this experiment and report to you the outcome.

Ovarian Cysts

Posted by Robin (Houston, TX) on 03/01/2007
★★★★★

I took iodine for an ovarian cyst. It made it go away. I had been taking Depoprovara shots every three months to stop the formation of the cyst. I also gained twelve pounds. I stopped taking the shots and went on a diet and lost the weight but the cyst problem returned. This time I used iodine and it worked better with no weight gain.

Ovarian Cysts

Posted by Alyssainfinity (Austin, Texas) on 03/15/2010
★★★★★

I have had two relatively large ovarian cysts for years, and would freqently find myself curled up in the fetal position, having taken a couple over-the-counter or prescription pain killers, but nothing worked. The pain would radiate through my entire body as a dull ache, while extemely intense cramps would concentrate between my legs.

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.

Skin Ailments

Posted by Sharon (Boston) on 09/29/2006
★★★★★

Please delete my previous email from January and put this one in its place. This is the most successful remedy combination I have experimented with for dermatitis!

I have had an itchy dermatitis on and off around my nose for about 10 years. It was triggered after working in an office in Los Angeles for a man who smoked all day long (illegally of course, but he was a top entertainment executive so no one complained at that point in time). After years of smoking, the cigarette smoke was embedded in his furniture-- that's a horrendous smell to someone whose never smoked. Plus, think of all those microbes! At any rate, it took about 3 years to clear and then came back every time I would get around old, furniture embedded cigarette smoke. Psychological response? Maybe! At any rate, it came back again this summer after a few month respite.

But this time, I am happy to report that after years of playing around with every prescription and supplement under the sun, I think I have finally hit upon a dermatitis cure! It will only cost about $5... $.79 for the decolorized iodine, and $4 for a bottle of vitamin E oil. Here is my cure:

Using decolorized iodine for the face, take a q-tip and dab the dermatitis with iodine. If this is not on your face, you can use regular iodine. But it will stain you orange for a few hours.

If your dermatitis is on sensitive skin around your nose, like me, it will burn like crazy when you apply the iodine. Don't inhale the fumes while it is drying (takes about 10 seconds to dry). After it dries, apply some natural vitamin e oil. I open a large capsule and use that for several days before it runs out. Your skin will redden from the iodine and dry out, but the vitamin e will heal it and keep it from flaking. Keep this area moist with vitamin e oil all day and night if possible.

Do the topical iodine for 2 days, 3x a day. After the 2nd day, cut the iodine back to 1x a day. However, you will still want to keep the vitamin e oil on all day. After 3 days of 1x daily application of iodine, cut the iodine back to every other day. Continue every other day for 10 days (or less). Keep up the vitamin e oil every day until the dermatitis has disappear completely.

Let me tell you, the iodine and vitamin 3 oil starts to work on clearing up the dermatitis in about 24 hours! Initially the skin will look red and inflamed, but don't worry... the vitamin e speeds up the healing process.

I hope everyone with dermatitis (even perioral dermatitis) will try this cure. My particular form of dermatitis is one of the trickiest to heal so I am thrilled to maybe have a cure! I will let you know in the future how long this holds before I have to do the iodine again. Hopefully, never! Thanks, Sharon.

Skin Ailments

Posted by Olivia (Linden NJ) on 07/05/2006
★★★★★

After going to a dermatologist and explaining how a skin tag, which I thought was a mole, was constantly getting snatched with the seatbeat each time I buckled up.... The dermatologist told me that she would be right back, at that point her office assistant came in and explained that it would cost $75 dollars to remove that one skin tag, and that for $375 the doctor could remove all of them for me.... I gladly told them I would think about it. After some soul searching and remembering my Mom telling about the Iodine years ago.... I with the luck of fate, found this site and tried decided to give it a try. I applied the clear Iodine for a week, once in the morning and once in the evening.... I need to note that I noticed a tingle so I just keep at it and in one week my skin tag just fell off. Car rides are a dream, no more ouch.... Thanks for being here, what a wonderful resource, I will use this website and recommend it to all I know.

Thyroid Issues

Posted by Ted (Port Orchard, WA) on 02/10/2006
★★★★★

I use pH Testing tape to test my pH of my saliva. What I read is your saliva should be 7.35 and when I am real close to that, I don't have any shoulder pain at night when I sleep on that side. I learned about 8 months ago that if you're low on iodine, your thyroid doesn't function properly. It affects your mental attitude, like stress, depression and emotional feelings. I was with a lot of stress from my was sent home Aug 18th with 2 weeks to live because all the drugs they had given her the last year had almost destroyed her liver. Also, my mother of 102 years old was in an assisted living place and didn't like it. She was having leg pains, upset stomach and headache. I gave her colloidal silver, change her calcium to EZSORB powder and started putting clear iodine on her throat and in not time she was happy and not having leg pain. To test your iodine level, you put a 1" ring of the brown iodine on your stomach and if it is gone in 24 hours, you're low. I get the clear iodine from Albertson Gro for $1.29 plus tax. I put it on my thyroid under my chin. In 30 minutes the stress feeling is gone. You won't over dose as your body won't take it in if it doesn't need it. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Broad Benefits

Posted by Robert Sarver (USA) on 11/25/2005
★★★★★

There is mounting evidence that the major cause of breast, ovarian, uterine and prostrate fibroids (cysts) and cancers is dietary iodine deficiency.

Iodine deficiency is probably also a major cause of obesity, arthritis and mental illness. I think that the MD's who performed the research for these discoveries will receive the Nobel Prize.

Within the past week I have written an article "Iodine Deficiency" which is attached. I have retained the publication rights because the article has already published by the Vitamin C Foundation at http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/iodine.htm. Two health newsletters will publish the article and I have submitted it to the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine and the Townsend Letter for publication. I intend to submit the article to other health organizations.

The health and health care implications for this discovery are enormous. Virtually every older person I know has symptoms of iodine deficiency and those symptoms are fibroids/cysts of the reproductive organs, thyroid problems, obesity, arthritis, dry eyes, compromised immune system functioning, reduced sex drive and a long list of other symptoms. Some young people already show symptoms of iodine deficiency such as ADD. Iodine deficiency may play a role in autism.

I am a chemical engineer and 58 years old.

EC: Robert was kind enough to let us post his article. Click here to read it.

Sore Throat

Posted by Greg (Atlanta, GA)
★★★★★

Painting Iodine on my wrist gets rid of my sore throat everytime!

Skin Ailments

Posted by Teresa (Lowell, North Carolina)
★★★★★

I had a raised mole to come up on my face and several skin tags to appear under my arm. I was embarrased by the mole on my face, but didn't have the money to have it removed. Using a q-tip, I rubbed iodine on both the mole and skin tags at night before going to bed. Within 3 to 7 days the skin tag dried and fell off while the mole went away. I have shared this information with my sister who has removed several as well.

Acne

Posted by Ophelia (Cebu, Philippines) on 11/10/2020

Seafood like shells, clamps are rich with iodine.

Iodine Interactions

Posted by Bill (San Fenando, Philippines) on 03/11/2014

Hi Lin...Regarding mixing lugol's iodine with vitamin c or ascorbic acid, I do this quite often because it's quite beneficial. Ted from Bangkok also recommends taking it this way(there's no iodine taste).

Without getting too technical, when you mix together lugols iodine and ascorbic acid with water in a glass and then add sodium bicarbonate until the fizzing stops, the molecular iodine component of lugols is converted to sodium iodide and the ascorbic acid is converted to dehydro-ascorbic acid(DHAA). Put simply, the ascorbic acid is oxidized to DHAA by molecular iodine and the molecular iodine is reduced to sodium iodide during the reaction. You can see this happening in the glass because the brown color of the molecular iodine in lugols slowly turns colorless(iodide is colorless).

Iodide is extremely useful to the body -- very beneficial to the thyroid and it is essential to the immune system.

The dehydro-ascorbic acid has exactly the same properties as ordinary ascorbic acid except for one difference -- DHAA is able to penetrate the blood/brain barrier whereas ordinary ascorbic acid cannot do this. Normally ascorbic acid is dependent upon and converted to DHAA by glutathione in your body. So taking ascorbic acid with lugols iodine like this also helps to save the glutathione stores in your body for more essential tasks.

So the short answer to your question is that taking lugol's iodine and ascorbic acid together will not harm your body -- and it does not cancel out all lugol iodine's beneficial effects -- you will actually benefit in different ways from taking both these nutrients together in this way.

Skin Cancer

Posted by Lp (Catskills) on 09/28/2013
★★★★★

Iodine for Skin Cancer:

Started out with 3 spots of face, one close to eye, one hiding in eyebrow and a beauty on side of nose, that derm said beginnings of melanoma. She blasted the frozen stuff, but still present and hurt like hell. Decided to use regular tincture of iodine, applied with q tip 3 times a day. Within a month they are completely gone! Worst was on nose, which burned and got worse, before it got better. Burned, scabbed about 5 times, but don't give up!! I would put a spot bandage on if going out but removed when home. Keep it dry, and don't pull off scab. NO scarring, just nice new clear skin now!!! Swabbed sore throat that just won't quit last night and is better today. Fantastic stuff this iodine. Also, Lugol's iodine won't sting and you can use it to purify water if need be.

Acid Reflux

Posted by Ed2010 (Canada) on 08/12/2013

Chad, you can use Lugols 5% solution 2 drops a day in half a glass of water. You can get lugol's iodine solution from Hoopers Pharmacy. Good Health.

Skin Growths

Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn, Usa) on 04/29/2012
★★★★☆

HI U GOOD PEOPLE DOIN, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well it appears that Dr Simoncini's iodine treatment for skin growths and cancer may work. The iodine turned the growth into a black scab and now it is begining to turn loose. The protocol is to continue treatment even though the skin is clear. The theory is that cancer is a fungus and will come back if iodine treatment is not continued for awhile. The complaint of Derotologist's is that the growth returns. What I have learned to do is to circle the spot with vasoline to contain the iodine. That works pretty well. All is not done yet. When my 75 year old left hand looks like a babies butt, then I will report back. Ya'll behave for a change. =====RH=======

Broad Benefits

Posted by Bill (San Fernando, La Union) on 10/04/2011

Hi Debbie... I too am continually astonished at iodine's beneficial effects on the body. Here are some other facts I've stumbled across looking at all the history and research on lugol's iodine:

* Iodine acts to lower cholesterol and also helps to successfully remove and clear plaque from the heart arteries.

* Iodine, as well as T3 and T4, tend to accumulate in the lungs. Iodine is anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic. In the old pre-WW2 days iodine was used by medical doctors in much larger doses -- 300 mgs to 2000 mgs amounts (50 to 300 drops a day of lugols) -- to successfully treat chronic forms of bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. Lugol's Iodine is therefore highly protective for the lungs in general.

* In larger dose, lugol's iodine inhibits the conversion of histidine to histamine. So lugols acts as a natural anti-histamine against allergies as well.

* For low acidity problems in the stomach, taking oral lugol's iodine will treat the root cause and revive proper acid levels in the stomach for proper digestion.

* There is an artery that runs through the thyroid/parathyroid which trickles out iodine continuously into the blood. Iodine kills 90%-95% of all known pathogens.

* Iodine in the blood also prevents bacteria and viruses from attaching themselves onto host cells for invasion, attack or reproduction.

* Cyst problems such as uterine fibroids and fibrocystic breast disease are completely resolved and cured, usually over a 3 month period, by taking 50 mgs (8 drops) lugols iodine a day.

* Taking daily oral Lugol's Iodine can also resolve prostate problems in men.

* Larger dose lugol's iodine, just on its own, can completely cure systemic candida. Google Search "Orian Truss iodine candida".

All of the above benefits are associated with taking larger dose lugols. But most people still associate the small RDA microgram dose for iodine with just the thyroid when, in actual fact, the rest of the human body needs at least 100 times more iodide/iodine than the RDA recommends. Women also need much more iodine than men. For a lactating woman -- her breasts alone will need 100 times more iodine than the RDA.

Bill's Iodine Fact Sheet

Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 07/07/2010

Hi Bill, what a coincidence. I am just back from my country, Portugal, where I visited a doctor in a health shop who cured my bad knee years ago. Talking to him I mentioned the white spots on my legs and arms (he is now a natural dermatologist among other things). He gave me an iodine liquid to apply on the spots three times a day. I only started a week ago so it is hard to see whether it is working or not but interesting to read in your posting that this actually appears to cause regeneration of the skin from the bottom up. He told me that it will take maybe three months to see the results as I am not a very bad case. For years I have been to numerous dermatologist and no one ever seemed to have an answer for this problem which was slowly getting worse. They all had different explanations but the verdict was that there was nothing they could do! Thanks for all the good work and help!

Bill's Iodine Fact Sheet

Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 10/06/2011

Hi Saoirse, As you're having what appears to be a cleansing reaction, it would be worth giving your liver some support. Taking lemon juice in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning is good for our liver. Also things like Milk thistle, dandelion and turmeric.

It may also be worth taking one or two days off a week (5 on 2 off), this way you give your body time to catch up. If you are still getting headaches it may be worth staying at the lower level for another week or two. I know we want to get better quick but over loading the liver may in the long run actually take us longer and be sicker in the process. It is encouraging that you did not take that Drs opinion and persisted in finding your answer/s. All the best and let us know how you go.

Iodine Interactions

Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines) on 07/03/2010

Hi Kaybeebee...Lugol's iodine contains a mixture of 10% potassium iodide and 5% iodine in water.

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

The Importance of Iodine

Posted by Annie (Dania, Florida) on 07/17/2010

Lugol's Iodine is amazing. . I have been dealing with hypothyroid for 8 years. Gaining weight, swollen body and face, feeling slow and having no energy. Dr. Has me on levoxyl 125 steady all this time. I starting searching for help and found all this information here. Well, I have been painting for the last 6 months and my latest TSH is. 116. . . Dr is in a panic, wants to lower my levoxyl dosage, wants me off iodine. NO WAY, I have never felt better, look better, and have the energy I have since Lugols. I will have to re-test next month for the Dr to read my new TSH, but I know, just like all the rest of us that take or use iodine this is the answer. . . . . I have just begin to take the drops(8 @ 2% twice daily) internally, and my "hoarse" voice is almost gone. I am so thankful and amazed by my success with iodine. For all those that suffer and have suffered, Iodine is the answer you have been searching for. I am starting my parents on iodine now.