Iodine and Potassium Iodide

[s-kur]

Perhaps it was already mentioned elsewhere, but I just wanted to make sure if it's ok to use Lugol's 10% solution with glycerin (in one gram of solution 0.01 gram of iodine and 0.02 gram of iodide, and the rest is distilled water and glycerin)? This is the only one we have here in stores.

Also, got B3, but no separate B2, just as part of the complex. Which is ok too, I guess.

Keit, it seems you have 2% solution, if you have there 1 gram I and 2 gram KI in 100 gram of solution.

_http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-Lugols-Iodine-10/

To prepare a 10%
LUGOL'S SOLUTION, the ratios of the elements change, since elemental iodine is not very soluble in water, thus, a slightly higher percentage of KI is needed.

1. Put 118 ml (4 fl. oz.) of distilled water in a dark glass container. 2. Mix 33.7 grams (1.18 oz.) of potassium iodide into the solution prepared in step one. Use a wooden or plastic spoon / spatula to stir until completely dissolved --do not use metal! Stir

Add 16.9 grams of iodine crystals to the mix, being very careful not to touch the iodine crystals--they can burn the skin. If you come into contact with the iodine crystals, wash your hands immediately with plenty of water. Stir with the wooden or plastic spoon, and cover with a non-metal cover. Let it sit for 10 hours

In the morning, stir once more or shake the solution. You now have a 10% Lugol's solution, which can be taken internally or externally. If you choose to take the solution internally, note that the concentration is approximately 25.5 mg/drop! (Assuming the drop size is such that 70 drops make up 1 teaspoon).

Note: The standard Lugols iodine concentrations don't include the potassium iodide in the percent calculation. The standard Lugol's solution of 5% means that there is 5% elemental iodine in the solution and the potassium iodide KI is not considered.

However, when you calculate the mg/drop of iodine, the iodide is taken into account. To do this, note that iodide is 0.769 times the total KI present, the ratio of atomic weights of iodine to potassium. Then, [I + KI(0.769)]/ml = the concentration of iodine.

Proof that the 10% Lugols solution described above is truly 10%:

16.9 gr/(16.9 gr + 33.7 gr + 118 ml) = 0.10 or (10 %) A similar calculation can be performed for the strong iodine tincture.

Potassium iodide renders the elementary iodine soluble in water through the formation of the triiodide (I3−) ion.

Correct me if I'm wrong please.

 

[Jacques]

Is there any particular brand of Lugol's that is preferable, or any to avoid? Or are they all pretty much the same thing?

I am looking at ART Pharmaceutical 12% on Amazon.

I have just bought that one on amazon.ca:

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B014UQN03I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

It certainly is cheaper, but only 5% concentration. If my calculations are correct, if you double the dose for the 5% solution it will still last longer so this would be a much better deal. (100ml instead of 30ml.)

The ART Pharm has a GMP certified stamp on the label. Do you think it makes a difference?

I don't know for sure but probably not.

 

[Keit]

Perhaps it was already mentioned elsewhere, but I just wanted to make sure if it's ok to use Lugol's 10% solution with glycerin (in one gram of solution 0.01 gram of iodine and 0.02 gram of iodide, and the rest is distilled water and glycerin)? This is the only one we have here in stores.

Also, got B3, but no separate B2, just as part of the complex. Which is ok too, I guess.

Correct me if I'm wrong please.

Well, but I didn't say 100 ml. The description of the solution indeed says that for every 1gram of the substance, there is 0.01 gram of iodine and 0.02 gram of iodide. So how much is it in percentages? My math skills are not really great.

As for glycirin, they add it to the solution to make it thicker, and indeed so it could be used orally. They do warn against internal use, that's why I asked, and the book doesn't mention anything about glycirin. Thank you. Gaby for the reply! In any case I'll do research first before trying.

 

[Gaby]

I received my lugols and some of the coofactors yesterday, and rereading the thread i wanted to check the dosing because this states 12% but in the Amazon comments they admit it maybe (in their calculation) 11% and a research commenter is saying it's a standard 5%.

I read how someone else got the same lugol and inquired with the company about the percentages and concentrations. It seems that the initial amount of iodine added was a 5%, but the final recipe does contain a 12%. So you use the 12% reference to guide your dose.

You can contact the manufacturer, they should help clarify the recipe used.

 

[Chad]

I received my lugols and some of the coofactors yesterday, and rereading the thread i wanted to check the dosing because this states 12% but in the Amazon comments they admit it maybe (in their calculation) 11% and a research commenter is saying it's a standard 5%.

I read how someone else got the same lugol and inquired with the company about the percentages and concentrations. It seems that the initial amount of iodine added was a 5%, but the final recipe does contain a 12%. So you use the 12% reference to guide your dose.

You can contact the manufacturer, they should help clarify the recipe used.

thank you Gaby

Apologies if i'm being dense...The comment i referred to, and which is from the marketing manager (should have probably posted this before):

As Marketing Manager of Health Leads, Paul Harriss replies:
Our Lugol's Formula is the one recommended by Dr Hulda Clark. The table quoted by D&D is from a book by Lynne Farrow. She is following the idea that 5% Lugol's is based on the amount of pure iodine ONLY. We believe this is misleading to our customers. Look at the "totals" figure for each percentage. Multiply by 20 and divide by 10 to get the true percentage of iodine. Therefore, 15% Lugols contains 37.5% iodine!!!!!

The reason for the confusion is that Potassium Iodide contains iodine. In fact, 76% of the weight of each KI molecule is the iodine atom. Therefore, in order to understand the amount of iodine you are taking you need to add to the pure iodine 76% of the volume of KI.

Other factors to consider: How much is a "drop"? We previously calculated the exact amount of drops to make up 1ml (reaching the total of 15). However, we now feel that we should follow the accepted industry standard of 1 drop = 1/20 of 1ml. We have changed the per drop totals above to reflect this.

Finally, the quantity of distilled water used affects the strength. Searching the internet we found recipes using 4000ml and adding the iodine to 1000ml. In following the Dr. Clark formula, we add the distilled water to the ingredients to make 1 litre.
We would like to thank D&D for their comments as it has caused us to look again at how we present information to our customers. We have made changes where necessary. But for the reasons stated above we stick by the claim that our Lugol's contains 12% iodine.

Added: for now, i will work with the 12% calculations - unless i hear otherwise! :)

 

[Keyhole]

I am reminded of Weston. A. Price's findings. If I remember correctly, the culture which enjoyed the best health and displayed the best bone/dental structure was actually one who's diet consisted mainly of seafood. I am now beginning to think that this may very well be because of the abundant amounts of iodine :P

 

[Z...]

Hi Gaby, do you have any idea why most endocrinologists advise their patients with hypothyroidism against supplementing Iodine and insist they should only be taking synthetic thyroid hormones?

Is it just for usual big pharma reasons or there is some medical reason? I cannot think of any.

 

[Kay Kim]

Dr. Brownstein's Holistic Medicine website( drbrownstein.com ) is selling Ebook/pdf form. Iodine: Why You need it, Why You can't Live Without it.

This Ebook contained Dr. Brownstein's latest research about iodine and each chapter has been updated to provide all new information on the importance of iodine. The price is $15.00

But have to read using Adobe Digital Editions or software that is compatible with Adobe DRM.

And my iPad is not working with Adobe, from my previous experience. So I am waiting this Thursday to get laptop that my son promise to give me. Thus I will buy the iodine Ebook this Thursday

 

[kalibex]

Hi Gaby, do you have any idea why most endocrinologists advise their patients with hypothyroidism against supplementing Iodine and insist they should only be taking synthetic thyroid hormones?

Is it just for usual big pharma reasons or there is some medical reason? I cannot think of any.

Chris Kresser doth say (_http://chriskresser.com/iodine-for-hypothyroidism-like-gasoline-on-a-fire/_):

"...increased iodine intake, especially in supplement form, can increase the autoimmune attack on the thyroid. Iodine reduces the activity of an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase (TPO). TPO is required for proper thyroid hormone production.

"On the other hand, restricting intake of iodine can reverse hypothyroidism. In one study, 78% of patients with Hashimoto’s regained normal thyroid function with iodine restriction alone.

"However—and this is a big “however”— it appears that iodine may only pose a problem for people with Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune thyroid diseases in the presence of concurrent selenium deficiency."

 

[lilies]

5th day on iodine:
Taken 25mg (compared to 6mg on day 1), plan increase gradually toward 50mgs. Cold or flu feelings gone. No more 'dry-mouth' that was frequent pre-iodine. Consistent back pain I always had is gone! WOW! (I had it from sitting too much at the computer)

Herx:
No Herx yet. Reminder-pains of injuries suffered in the distant past come and go. All my over-stressed joints - from excessive exercise - started to ache suddenly a little, one region after the other. Those pains were usually experienced in the evening after exercise, before iodine.

Energy level:
Went back from super to 'better-okay' than before iodine.

Nice oiled feeling in the mouth, throat, stomach and body, as if my body-cogwheels had taken good machine oil. Stomach doesn't hurt anymore, heart palpitations almost gone. Slight metallic taste.

I'm curious what will happen at 50mg and beyond?

Real Salt(c) at the ready, but now I'm taking it only in form of over-salted food so I can still eat it, without my stomach churning. 200mcg selenium per day. Negligible cofactors via one measly 'NOW foods Super male multi softgel' per day.

Mental effects:
Noticeable changes in mental clarity, more 'brain cardio', more stable nerves and increased ability to concentrate. Could be also to Laura's post about L-Arginine (pure powder always!), which I'm taking too. Thank You!!

 

[bianca etezete]

thank you all for all this precious information!

Ignited from the latest C's session I ordered iodine as Lugol solution (5%),and after getting Brownsteins book (and reading it first) I will start.

Thanks to all!

 

[Laura]

5th day on iodine:
Taken 25mg (compared to 6mg on day 1), plan increase gradually toward 50mgs. Cold or flu feelings gone. No more 'dry-mouth' that was frequent pre-iodine. Consistent back pain I always had is gone! WOW! (I had it from sitting too much at the computer)

Herx:
No Herx yet. Reminder-pains of injuries suffered in the distant past come and go. All my over-stressed joints - from excessive exercise - started to ache suddenly a little, one region after the other. Those pains were usually experienced in the evening after exercise, before iodine.

Energy level:
Went back from super to 'better-okay' than before iodine.

Nice oiled feeling in the mouth, throat, stomach and body, as if my body-cogwheels had taken good machine oil. Stomach doesn't hurt anymore, heart palpitations almost gone. Slight metallic taste.

I'm curious what will happen at 50mg and beyond?

Real Salt(c) at the ready, but now I'm taking it only in form of over-salted food so I can still eat it, without my stomach churning. 200mcg selenium per day. Negligible cofactors via one measly 'NOW foods Super male multi softgel' per day.

Mental effects:
Noticeable changes in mental clarity, more 'brain cardio', more stable nerves and increased ability to concentrate. Could be also to Laura's post about L-Arginine (pure powder always!), which I'm taking too. Thank You!!

If you have the metallic taste in the mouth, you should probably back down just a little and see how it goes.

 

[Jacques]

Dr. Brownstein's Holistic Medicine website( drbrownstein.com ) is selling Ebook/pdf form. Iodine: Why You need it, Why You can't Live Without it.

This Ebook contained Dr. Brownstein's latest research about iodine and each chapter has been updated to provide all new information on the importance of iodine. The price is $15.00

But have to read using Adobe Digital Editions or software that is compatible with Adobe DRM.

And my iPad is not working with Adobe, from my previous experience. So I am waiting this Thursday to get laptop that my son promise to give me. Thus I will buy the iodine Ebook this Thursday

I bought the ebook and once you have opened it with Adobe, you can read it after that on your kindle or other devices.

 

[Gaby]

Hi Gaby, do you have any idea why most endocrinologists advise their patients with hypothyroidism against supplementing Iodine and insist they should only be taking synthetic thyroid hormones?

I think Dr. Brownstein does a pretty good job explaining that.

When you see TSH rise, people invariably think it is due to hypothyroidism. That is what the literature says.

Most people are unaware that TSH rises in a very iodine deficient person when they first start taking iodine because TSH has the job of creating iodine transport carriers for the cells.

If you are iodine deficient and don't take iodine, there is no use for such carriers because there is nothing around to be carried into the cell. Once you start taking iodine, you need those carriers and they are created with the help of TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone).

I'm cross checking with people whom I've been in contact in the past regarding iodine. One guy just told me that he stopped iodine for his prostate cancer because his TSH increased too much!

Anyway, TSH should rise in a very iodine deficient person and then go down after 6 months of iodine supplementation.

I will be reviewing the papers because this is something that we need to get on board. People might have TSH all over the place on their blood tests as they start taking iodine, and doctors might create some unnecessary hysteria. Reading Dr. Brownstein's book is really a must!!

My main past concerns on iodine are related with what Dr. Brownstein shared in the book:

"Does iodine therapy cause hyperthyroidism? l was taught in medical school that it did, especially in patients suffering from autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Graves' or Hashimoto's disease. Young doctors-in-training are still taught this today. So, let me answer the question: Very rarely. Between my partners and myself, we estimate that over 12 years, less than 10 patients out of thousands treated became hyperthyroid when treated with iodine.

When i lecture to doctors, l tell them one particular condition can predispose to iodine-induced hyperthyroidism. This
condition occurs in a patient who has an autonomously functioning nodule in their thyroid. Sometimes this is referred to as a hot nodule on a thyroid scan.

An autonomously functioning nodule is not under the feedback control of the pituitary and the hypothalamus. It functions independently of the thyroid gland. When iodine is present, these nodules can take up the iodine and produce copious amounts of thyroid hormone leading to hyperthyroidism. This condition can be diagnosed with a thyroid scan. However, it is most frequently diagnosed after a trial of iodine therapy is given and the patient becomes hyperthyroid after taking the first couple of doses.

How do you treat a patient with an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule? These patients must avoid iodine
supplements and food (such as seaweed ) that is high in iodine UNTIL the nodule is surgically removed.

Most medical doctors get trained in big hospitals which serve millions of people. It is not unusual to learn about about quite a few of these cases during an Endocrinology rotation. If you are just a regular physician with a "normal" practice, you might never come across with such cases, or maybe <5 cases at the most.

I've seen several people already though, all during my endocrinology rotations. Physicians are trained to find these people and refer them to the specialist for the appropriate treatment. They are not trained in critical thinking, curiosity is discouraged... You get the idea.

When you see someone get so ill by taking some lame iodine supplement such as kelp or other, it leaves an impression. That plus general ignorance about this iodine topic... Yeah, unless a physician catches up on this research, expect her or him to be wary about iodine due to programming.

It was very enlightening to read Dr. Brownstein for some much needed perspective. Yeah, this autonomous nodules are very rare and if I saw several... it was because I was in a place where all such cases were sent to.

Chris Kresser doth say (_http://chriskresser.com/iodine-for-hypothyroidism-like-gasoline-on-a-fire/_):

"...increased iodine intake, especially in supplement form, can increase the autoimmune attack on the thyroid. Iodine reduces the activity of an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase (TPO). TPO is required for proper thyroid hormone production.

"On the other hand, restricting intake of iodine can reverse hypothyroidism. In one study, 78% of patients with Hashimoto’s regained normal thyroid function with iodine restriction alone.

"However—and this is a big “however”— it appears that iodine may only pose a problem for people with Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune thyroid diseases in the presence of concurrent selenium deficiency."

Dr. Brownstein does provide convincing evidence that the first two paragraphs from Kresser's text are myopic. It is more complex than that and it seems iodine can resolve these autoimmune conditions.

 

[Lilou]

Thanks for posting the information about bromide, Gaby. I've been taking only 12.5mg for 3 days, today the 4th, and last evening I had some itching on my forearms and between my shoulder blades. My back felt like a raised rash was developing, but it was all clear this morning. I guess that is an indication that pulse dosing is VERY important. I'm adding milk thistle tea for liver support. And may skip a couple of days and not try any higher doses until I have all the cofactors on hand. It is important to remember that detoxing is a process and everybody has a different toxic load. Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey!!

So sorry to hear about your eyes, Chu. I hope the reaction subsides quickly!! Maybe infrared sauna will help? Warm tea bag compresses might help to reduce some lid swelling.