| 5 star (5) | 71% | |
| 3 star (1) | 14% | |
| 1 star (1) | 14% |
SamE (HI) on 03/17/2020: 
Rubbing medical grade or watered down vetrinarian grade iodine, (yeah the yellow stuff) on the palms of your hands once a day or paint the bottoms of your feet at night for bioavailable iodine. Especially for those of us who have hypothyroid related SIBO or other gut problems. Bypass that area entirely. I noticed substantial results in under a month. Of course also cutting out all sweets and comfort foods except white rice and furikake with all the meat you never ate!
Paula (Anon) on 09/14/2017:
Ali (Ontario, Canada) on 11/10/2015: 
Having read that many suffering from hypo-thyroid are iodine deficient, I decided it would be a good idea to test myself by painting a small two by four inch area with iodine to see how long it would take to absorb. Six hours was the average time needed. Five days a week, for a month and a half I painted with the iodine. My prior blood test indicated that I was just in the top of the upper normal range. The blood test after six weeks of use, showed my TSH was 4.21, the normal range indicated was between 0.30 and 4.00 mlU/L my TSH two months prior was 3.96, my free triioddothyronine was 4.2and my free T 4 was 12, these falling within the excepted normal range.
Recently I read that ninety percent of all hypo-thyroids have Hashimoto's and should not take iodine. It would seem this was true in my case so just wanted to warn others that might be considering using this protocol. Guess I will have to ask to have my iodine levels checked next blood work. Right now I am totally confused. I am also wondering if anyone else knows if NDT has ever been checked for traces of ractopamine? Could it be a part of the reason we are gaining weight even while being careful of our diet? I don't even want to think about having to use synthroid. My NDT does not seem to be working even after having my dose doubled from 15mg to 30mg.
Is anyone else having this problem? Any input on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks to all who make this site such a success.
All the best, Ali
Stacey (Gboro, Nc) on 04/12/2011: 
Better But With Side Effects
Like many on the website, I have all of the symptoms of hypothyroidism but test negative. Lately, my energy levels were dropping, and I have been steadily gaining wait even though I am on the Atkins diet. I decided to try Lugol's after a bit of research.
I wasn't expecting much since none of the thyroid supplements have helped me in the past, so I was pleasantly surprised with the iodine tincture. I started with 2 drops of the 2% in the morning in a tall glass of water and ACV.
So far my energy level has increased slightly. It isn't like a cup of coffee, but rather I am able to stay up a bit later at night, and even had trouble sleeping the first 3 days. My mood has elevated dramatically; it is much more positive even with overhaging stressors. My seasonal allergies are nearly neutralized as well.
My side effects so far include trouble sleeping, a low level vaginal discharge, cloudy urine in the morning, and possible hair loss. Iodine is supposed to help eliminate candida, which may account for the discharge. It may also be the case that my hormonal levels are changing, and that is the result. In relation to hair loss, I've always been losing hair, so I;m not certain that that is a side effect.
I'll keep you posted as I notice more changes.
Allmymarbles (New York City, New York) on 04/04/2010:
One winter I developed a craving for clams and could not seem to get enough of them. I noticed that occasionally I had short periods of normal sleep. Then it hit me - iodine! I had myself tested for hypothyroidism. The result was positive. And I was furious. I never got help from the medical profession, lived for years as a zombie, and had to find the cure all by myself! Thanks to potassium iodide I sleep just fine. Although I started at a higher dosage, I currently take only four drops of 5 per cent solution a week. Now if I could get a refund of all the money I wasted on doctors who resorted to facile psychology instead of medicine . . . .
Lucy (Albany, Georgia, Usa) on 12/13/2009:
Kaylin (Hampton, IL) on 07/23/2009:
Two and a half months ago I read "_______" by ___________. I was convinced that I was Iodine deficient so I asked my doctor if I could start supplementing. He gave me permission but told me to go slowly and follow the book. I took Iodoral, the pill form of Lugol's solution. I started with half a pill the first day and I started my period one hour later (my first since breastfeeding my daughter, about 14 months after her birth). It was like my body was just waiting for iodine! My cycles have been 29-33 days since then, much more regular than they have ever been in my life (I didn't even start until I was 15).
Last week I had an annual physical and my blood tested and my midwife called and told me that my TSH is low and my T3 is high, so I'm in a hypERthyroid state! Tonight at church about 4 people asked if I'd lost more weight. The scale says no, but my dad says my face looks a lot thinner. A puffy face (which I've had half my life) is a very common sign of hypothyroidism. My midwife told me to cut my Armour Thyroid dose in half and have another test in a month. I'll update with results. I finally have hope of getting off of medication!
