Lugol's Iodine: Treatment and Side Effects

Taking Lugols Iodine and Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

I am wondering is it OK to take the Lugols Iodine protocol and the Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide at the same time or on the same day? Is there any negative interaction between these 2 products in the body and cells? Do they need to be taken separately or would it be OK to take both together on a daily basis?

I was wondering the same.

This is amazing to hear, I have anetoderma, a rare and without cure autoimmune skin disease, and I'm searching for a natural cure. If anyone has any idea if this could help I would love to hear it. Should I take it orally or apply it to a lesion?

Dr. Tulio Simoncini recos 7% Lugols.

Hi Kate, If you didn't already, I'd like to suggest you read the book GAPS - Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride who healed her autistic child with her specific diet.

@Bill Thank you for your comprehensive info on lugol's supplementation. Wish you both all the best.

This question is for Bill - I would greatly appreciate any advice.

I have been trying to use Lugol's 5% iodine - I follow the protocol, but have rather bad detox reactions: heart palpitations, resting heart rate over 100, muscles feel very stressed, I feel an overall uncomfortability/restlessness, and have insomnia. I was up to 4 drops a day for about a month. At that point the symptoms were so bad I thought I would have to go to the hospital. I started heavy salt loading and the symptoms went away in a few days - thankfully. I have been trying to go back to the iodine but can only do a few days of 1 or 2 drops and the symptoms come back but never as severe as before because I do very heavy salt loading, every 30-40 minutes a half tspn. But even a week of no iodine I still have remaining symptoms - mainly high heart rate and stressed muscles. I have not had an iodine loading test, and currently do not have a GP (I have insurance but have not found an MD that has an alternative approach and can't afford an ND).

Last June I was diagnosed with gallstones. I am 34 and after research of gallstones, believe I have had gallbladder pain since 18 which I though was severe heartburn, as well as pain under rib cage and R shoulder.

Upon diagnosis, I began a strict vegan diet for 2-3 months from Healing with Whole Foods. After those months I began having extreme throat burning - the doctor diagnosed this as GERD, but it was unlike anything I had ever felt. Nothing helped - ACV, magnesium, etc. Now I believe this was fermented foods from the heavy grain diet I was on and my body not being able to digest well. After about 7 months the symptoms have abated (no more throat burning) though I still will get a lump in my throat when eating hard to digest foods. However I still feel food coming up, have gall pain, and a slow digestion. Thanks to research from earth clinic and various other orthomolecular articles, I believe the below supplements have helped.

I also took the Candida questionaire which I had a positive response from.My thyroid tests come back normal, though I still suspect hypothyroid.

I am currently taking:

B50, selenium, chromium, mag chloride, cod liver oil, dessicated liver, vit e, milk thistle, ox bile, unrefined sea salt, I just started alkalizing but I haven't had the chance to regularly do this.

I just started on Betaine HCL with pepsin again - had bad pain the first time (I wasn't doing it right).

I also just started l-glutamine (from Diet Cure book) for severe sugar cravings in afternoon/evening. I am also almost constantly hungry. I wonder if this is insulin resistance or adrenal-related?

Unfortunately my diet is not perfect - I manage unprocessed, lower-carb about 5 days a week, but with the sugar cravings I cave about once or twice a week. I will continue to try to improve this.

I also recently started trytophan and DLPA (from Diet Cure book) - so far I don't think this helps

I will start Chanca Piedra.

Overall, I do feel better than 9 months ago, but would like to continue to improve and ultimately be able to eliminate a lot of unnecessary supplements as well as get any advice on the iodine supplementation which I believe I need. I feel much more energy and less brain fog.

Thank you in advance.

Thank you so much for your advice Bill.

I really do need to focus my approach. I have purchased your Candida book and will make my aim to be more thorough and consistent. When I first became ill I was grasping and rushing to try anything that seemed like it would help. Preparation for the candiada protocol and better tests will be my first steps.

With dedication, I hope to be able to report back my improvements in a few months.

I am having same reactions to the iodine after three weeks at 25mg. How much salt loading did you do? Its been three days since I stopped the iodine but I still have the heart palpitations. I had anxiety, insomnia, and loss of appetite. Three days since I stopped the iodine and my appetite has returned by about 50% and the anxiety is down. But I did not know about the salt loading till yesterday and tried that a few times...does not seem to have helped very much. Any thoughts?

Hi Bill, I am hoping for a little bit of guidance and support to make sure I am doing everything right as I am recently new to taking LI to correct a multi nodular goiter. I am not yet on medication as my thyroid reading are still below borderline (hyper), I've had 3 aspirations which have not only kept the goiter size down over the last 5 years but they have all been benign too. I have looked for an alternative therapy now because this is the 1st time my reading have ever been borderline so I am wanting to be pro active in a cure rather than go down the medical route, of which my choices will be radioactive iodine, partial surgical removal and meds - er no thank you. so I have worked my way up to 5 drops of 15% LI (supplier confirms that 1 drop is 7.6 elemental iodine, so by my calculation I'm up to approx 45mg and this is in week 1), I am planning on more increases in the coming weeks. I am taking the lower dosages of the companion supplements, this is because I recently did a weeks juice detox 4 months ago (horrendous - wish i'd have known about the salt loading and supplements back then! ) and since the detox I have only eaten a vegan plant based diet with no processed food and 2 meals of the day have been raw plus I have a green juice everyday too, suffice to say I have only had mild detox symptoms so far. also I read (I'm not sure where because I've read so many different internet pages but I think it was from the book the iodine crisis) that if I am on LI treatment that I don't necessarily need to avoid cruciferous vegetables, can anyone confirm this because as a vegan these veg are pretty important to me? I'm healthy in every other way, I'm a perfect weight, I run a couple of time a week, I walk everyday, I do yoga, I've very active on a daily basis, my goiter so far has caused me no adverse effects other than cosmetic and even then its not that big, recently it has grown a fraction and my thyroid reading is just below borderline so I I just want to know I am doing all the right things, or if there is more that I can be doing, ideally in the long term I would like this goiter to have gone. any advice much appreciated.

Caitlin

Hi Bill,

Thanks for such a prompt reply, I am a vegan of 4 months so the only calcium in my diet is what I get from vegetables, I don't eat soy products or fortified processed food, I have to say if I don't eat any cruciferous/calcium rich vegetables I will hardly be getting any calcium and plus I will be missing out on other vital nutrients that these food provide on a vegan diet, does this put me in a dilemma? Is it only for the short term whilst I am correcting my goiter? Should I avoid them like the plague or should I not beat myself up if some slip in? Really don't know what to do for the best, I'm happy to be guided.

When I say I am taking the lower end of the companion supplements these are the amounts (lower figure of selenium, magnesium, vit c)

Selenium: 200 - 400 mcg per day

Magnesium: 400 - 1200 mg per day

Vitamin C: 3,000 - 10,000 mg per day

Vitamins B2/B3 (ATP CoFactors): 100 mg riboflavin and 500 mg no flush niacin, inositol hexanicotinate form, 1-2x per day

Unrefined Salt (Celtic): 1/2 tsp. or more per day

I have based this on the fact that my multi nodular goiter is not very big, it gives me no bother, and I don't take meds. however if you think I should up them then this will not be a problem, obviously I just had to get started and did not want to go blazing into the full dose straight off the bat. also I had a look at dr brownsteins supplements and they are not cost effective here in the uk, but I noticed that in his magnesium supplement he has also included 300mg of PABA which I am also taking.

Is 50mg of lugols a good dosage? I read people take more?

Is this a for life thing? :ets say goiter shrinks, thyroid levels normalise, do I always have to take iodine? if so do I always have to take the companion supplements?

Sorry for so many questions, but as you are probably aware thyroid patients rarely got support from mainstream medics, I'm just looking for a nod to say I'm heading in the right direction. Thanks so much

Caitlin

PS. when you say I should worry too much about the detox does this mean I can ditch the revolting salt loading????? please say yes :-)

Hi Caitlin...I would just reduce your intake of both cruciferous vegetables and soy for now -- there's no need to go to extremes. The magnesium you are supplementing should also help to reduce and regulate any excess calcium in your body.

I would also take the upper dosages of Selenium, magnesium and the B vitamins(including higher dose niacin). Take 3000 mgs Vitamin C in 3 split doses of 1000 mgs per day.

Is 50 mgs of lugols a good dosage? I read people take more?

50 mgs is the normal recommended dose for thyroid problems. If you have uterine fibroids then 50 mgs to 100 mgs LI per day is usually the norm. I've also read about people taking upwards of 200 mgs LI per day for cancer problems.

Is this a for life thing?

Since your thyroid problem is undoubtedly caused by a lack of iodine, anti-oxidants and minerals in the diet -- I think that it would be both wise and advisable to continue the protocol after your thyroid problem has resolved. I've been taking the iodine protocol for about 10 years.

when you say I shouldn't worry too much about the detox does this mean I can ditch the revolting salt loading?????

If you've been detoxing with the salt loading protocol for a while then you can certainly stop this protocol and see how it goes. But if you particularly start to develop skin problems and other excess bromine detox symptoms then I would restart the salt loading protocol.

Hi again Bill. thanks so much for all the info, you don't know how much it means to get some guidance on this matter, here in the UK it impossible to get an NHS doctor to take anything you want to try seriously, unless of course it's meds or surgery, and then it leaves you wondering if you are really doing the right thing by self medicating, so I really do appreciate this correspondence. After your initial reply I immediately started taking the higher end of the scale of all the supplements, I have always been an advocate of vitamin C and very often treat infections etc with 1000mg on the hour every hour so this was no surprise to me, however I only ever saw 1 recommended amount of niacin which was 500mg, should I be taking more?

Regarding the cruciferous veg, I think I'm going to have to make a judgement call, as I said before with me being vegan it really is my only source of calcium, however I've stopped using it in juices and will limit myself to just eating it as the amount I could eat would not be anywhere near what I could consume if juiced, also as a vegan they are just handy vegetables to make tasty meal from, ie. Cauliflower makes a lovely Creamy sauce and also a mayonnaise etc, but I will be mind full of moderation.

And funny you should mention uterine fibroids as a few years ago I started to suffer with these, the solution was a mirena coil that distributes a tiny amount of progesterone to the uterus, this worked great, fibroids gone on an ultrasound, however I never liked the idea of it but it was that or surgery, 5 years on and I am due to have this one removed and another out in, but with this information I might not have the new one put in, increase my iodine dose and see how I get on.

Again so much information I have gained from you, it means a lot, and I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress in the months to come.

with gratitude (a lot)

caitlin

Hi Mike, thanks for the extra info. I will definately look into it further, I'm coming to the end of my original purchase of niacin so I'll explore all options. I've been doing the iodine protocol now for around 3 months and I'm sure my goitre has reduced in size, I have an ultra sound in a month so it will be interesting to see the results, although my consultant was less than cooperative when I wanted to explore natural methods of healing so I'm unsure whether I will discuss this with him, so sad our NHS is not more supportive, it only big pharma they seem to support.

Kind Regards, Caitlin

Hi Bill, Just wondering have l missed something regarding Sea Salt and Magnesium supplements, aren't these the same thing? I thought you make magnesium oil from sea salt? Can you tell me amounts of sea salt to be taken daily and or magnesium please. Thanks heaps.

Hello,

How do you find someone to do a hair analysis?

Hello Bill, I recently started taking Lugol's Iodine and am taking 50 mg /day...I have Peripheral Neuropathy caused by Cipro...I have terrible neuropathy throughout my body. I was recently tested 160/100 for blood pressure...Never really had HBP before and I'm over 50...Is this because of the neuropathy or the Lugols? I refuse to take any drugs for my BP...I'll take ACV, and the other natural protocols...

I really don't have any symptoms of detoxing so I stop Lugol's every so often for a day and don't really adhere to the 5 on and 2 off...I want to get rid of the fluorine...I recently started taking green tea-decaffeinated as well. Read it gets rid of heavy metals...I do feel better taking green tea.. I got blown away with sodium thiosulfate and borax doesn't work well with me at 1/4 teaspoon per liter of water...I do alkalize with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with vit c powder (2 grams), 1 teaspoon ACV, a squeeze of lemon in a glass of water...If I do more my feet and ankles swell from the baking soda...Thank you very much in advance...and happy holidays to you and your family..

Do not take Iodine if you have Hashimoto's.

Hi! Curious to know why you shouldn't take iodine with Hashimoto's?

Hello, Bill --- thank you for your instructions which I will utilize soon when I am ready.

For now I am unable to obtain Iodine 5% (Lugol's) as the Canadian people have had their freedom of obtaining health products taken away or made so expensive. In the past I have read that one can make one's own iodine from other sources. I do not remember the details. Would you be able to enlighten me on that?

I have been to two acquarium shops but they had nothing. Can you help? It would be serious not to be without it under the present circumstances on this planet.

Thank you. Namaste, Om

Hello Bill,

I've been using the pH balance as suggested in the book by you and Ted and generally felt a lot better in that I've had no acid reflux. I've also been testing both saliva and urine and most days it around 7. However, I still do get nausea and wind at times and wonder if I should also be following your Gerd protocol with the Betaine etc. I've been taking Colostrum for leaky gut now for several weeks. I am struggling as when I get up I feel quite nauseous and dizzy at times and have dark rings round my eyes, especially between my brow and the crease of my eyelids, so I'm wondering if I have a sluggish liver or kidneys or both from following a Paleo diet for 12 months before I found this site and started Alkalising. During the day I'm generally fine and work in my garden or go out etc but then after sittin g for an hour or so reading before bed, I notice the dark behind my eyes has gone darker than in the day time and it's very tender. I often feel a bit nauseous then too. I know you're not a doctor but you seem very knowledgable. Any help would be most appreciated.

Also, with regards to reviewing your book, is there somewhere on this site I can review it, as I only have access to Amazon UK and I don't know if they'll let me review a book I didn't buy from them. But I'll try.

I hope Ted is on the mend. I haven't seen any new posts as to how he is. Blessings and good health to you all.

Hello again Bill. I've just re read your Gerd protocol and see my question is answered there, Betaine HCL is part of the protocol. However, when I spoke to the researcher here in UK (who also sells Colostrum, he's a one-man small business and very keen on the benefits of Colostrum) on using Colostrum for my leaky gut, he said he didn't think it would be good to combine it with Betaine. I not sure why. Do you have any ideas on this? Many thanks.

Thank you Bill,

I can't wait to try the turpentine, where should I purchase is? There are a lot to choose from and I am not sure which one to get, thanks!

@ Naturallykera - be careful with turpentine - I had never heard of any use other than as a solvent for paints... (art supplies shops carry it)!

@ Bill,

Are all DMSO the same? Where can I get some in the UK? I would like to combine it with Iodine and other minerals in a bottle, to spray on my skin everyday...in order to bypass the digestive process because I have gut issues. Thanks!

Hi Alice...In answer to your question: DMSO is Dimethylsulfoxide -- and its only the purity that varies according to the grade of the product. You can buy DMSO in UK from the following sources. See links:

DMSO 99 Website

Ebay DMSO(selling DMSO UK)

Both DMSO products from these website sources are pharma grade(99.98% pure).

Bill and Alice,

I started out with 2 drops of iodine twice a day because I had taken another iodine previously which did not produce the benefits promised by Lugols. I also started ACV at the same time and began having diarrhea. I have colitis and have to follow a diet which had cured the diarrhea I had had for 20 years. I assumed the ACV had caused the diarrhea. After a week without it, I'm still getting diarrhea in pretty substantial amounts, even using Lugols at 1 or 2 drops a day.

Alice, not trying to pry, but have your gut issues been affected by Lugols, if you have used it as you described? And have you experienced the promised benefits? And Bill, I noticed your comment about Iodoral being good for those with gut issues. I used Iodoral for years without noticing much benefit, while having the stomach problems, that is, before I found the diet which cleared them up. So I don't know if the Iodoral helped or hurt. I use all the recommended companion nutrients, though I have not heard of the salt loading before. I'm not anxious to use the turpentine, since it is supposed to have a laxative effect.

Maybe query for Bill. I am doing the Iodine Protocol which includes Selenium. I just bought L-glutathione 500 mg. Should I take this?

Hi Bill. I read in your post (which was great, BTW) that you sometimes mix the iodine with Vitamin C. But I read on several other sites not to take Vitamin C within 2 hours of taking your iodine. What do you say about this? Thanks so much!

I need help. I was on borax therapy for about 3 months. Then I stopped and started Lugols Solution about two weeks ago w/magnesium, 5000mg vitamin C, desiccated liver which apparently has all the B vitamins and selenium, niacin, zinc. Also Cod liver oil and flaxseed oil. All was good when I started to take 12x3day drops of 2% LI when I noticed that I have severe PMS this week, puffiness/some weight gain, swolen breasts etc.

Last month, before LI therapy, when I was still on Borax, my period was virtually painless (usually always painful) and I hadn't had PMS since Borax therapy.

Can anyone tell me what caused the change in hormones? And the sudden surge of PMS this month? Is it the LI? Am I doing something wrong? Should I stop?

Thanks!

@Piva - Turpentine is pine oil.

Does adding Lugol's iodine to a drink of water with lemon juice (vit. C) or ACV, cause the iodine to not work properly? What is the best way to take Lugol's 2% solution iodine, so it is most effective? Thanks for your reply.

My question is about Lugol's Iodine. I am taking 60 mg. of Thyroid (Armour type) a day. Will the Iodine interfere in any way w/this daily intake of thyroid?

I know some doctors are against adding Iodine saying it will cause havoc w/my body and thyroid. I don't know of a doctor (endocrinologist) who wants to bother w/anything but dealing w/just thyroid. I am not doing well. Am tired all the time and gaining weight. My hair is falling out. It was no different when on synthetic thyroid.

Thyroid - been reading on this site about coconut oil and apple cider vinegar for thyroid. Yesterday I started adding 1 Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil to my green smoothie in the morning - will let you know how it works out. Have a look at what others are saying about getting off thyroid meds!

Hi, I am on Armour thyroid and I take Lugols. I am feeling better and better, not sure what it is, probably all. Lugols, coconut oil, exercise, yoga, gi gong, So it hasn't hurt me to take it. I have been doing it transdermal and not everyday, reading other comments think I will switch to drinking. I had read just the opposite, that you get more transdermally, so what the heck.

There is a test to see if you need iodine and that is by putting iodine on the skin and if it absorbs within a certain time Google "skin test for deficiency" if you are interested in checking this out.

It took a while for the Armour to work after switching from the synthetic. Probably 6 months. Feel almost normal, though I cant work like I use to (overdo it)

ThyroidChange.org and StopTheThyroidMadness.com are fantastic sources of information for hypothyroid condition

Bill, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article today on Lugol's iodine supplementation. Thank you. Do you have an opinion on the Lugol's Iodine Transdermal Method? I have been using the method for about 2 months and find it gives very good results. I use up to 4 drops per day rubbed into my forearms. Best Regards.

To Bill,

Excellent newsletter on Iodine.

Can the Iodine be "painted" on the skin? This is the preferred means of application I'd read many years ago.

Where can I find lugol's iodine please? Thank you

I have hypothyroidism as well. I have taken various doses of Sunthroid, levothyroxine, added cytomel (T3), Armour, and now take NP Thyroid. My T3 has NEVER been in range, always below. I want to find out if taking Lugol's iodine would raise my T3 because I believe that would make me feel so much better. Any thoughts? I have blood work scheduled in 2 weeks so I will wait to start until after I get my results.