Iodine
All cells in the body need iodine for proper functioning. Of all the elements known so far to be essential for health, iodine is the most misunderstood and the most feared. Yet, it is by far the safest of all the trace elements known to be essential for human health, specifically the thyroid.
Dr. Brownstein who has done extensive research on the subject believes that iodine deficiency is a major cause of breast cancer and other diseases of the reproductive organs such as ovarian, uterus and prostrate cysts and cancers. Most people who suffer from cold hands and feet maybe iodine deficient. Iodine levels in the soil have fallen 50 per cent over the past 50 years. Iodine can similarly reduce uterine fibroids and one of the first conventional medical treatments for severe fibroids was to paint the uterus with iodine.
Iodine is necessary for the thyroid gland's proper performance of its work. The human thyroid gland is located in the front of the lower part of the neck. All the blood in the body passes through the thyroid gland every seventeen minutes. Because the cells making up this gland have an affinity for iodine, during this seventeen-minute passage the gland's secretion of iodine kills weak germs that may have gained entry into the blood through an injury to the skin, the lining of nose or throat, or through absorption of food from the digestive tract. Strong, virulent germs are rendered weaker during their passage through the thyroid gland. With each seventeen minutes that rolls around they are made still weaker until finally they are killed if the gland has its normal supply of iodine. If it does not, it cannot kill harmful germs circulating in the blood as Nature intended it should.
It is well established that the iodine content of the thyroid gland is dependent upon the iodine available in the food and water intake of the individual. If the iodine intake is low the gland is deprived of an element it needs to do its work. We learn in folk medicine, however, that this gland performs other functions besides killing harmful germs in the blood. The first is the rebuilding of energy with which to do the day's work. There is a definite relationship between the amount of energy you have and your iodine intake. When energy and endurance run low in relation to doing the day's work, then the taking of iodine needs to be considered.
A second function of iodine is to calm the body and relieve nervous tension. When nervous tension runs high there is irritability and difficulty in sleeping well at night, and the body is continually on a combat basis, organized for fight and flight. All these points stress a body need for iodine to lessen nervous tension, relax the body and enable it to organize for peace and quiet, by the building and storing of body reserves against time of need. I have learned through folk medicine that it is possible to repeatedly change an irritable, impatient, and restless child under ten years of age into a calm, patient individual within two hours' time by giving one drop of solution of iodine by mouth in a vegetable or fruit juice or in a glass of water made acid in reaction by adding a teaspoonful of apple-cider vinegar. It will make it possible for a mother of a race-horse-type little boy or girl to be able to live comfortably with the child. It has the capacity to calm a nervous child.
A third function of iodine in the human body relates to clear thinking. The mind simply works better when the body is supplied the iodine it needs. Then there is the matter of the storing of unwanted fat. Iodine is one of the best oxidizing catalysts we have. A catalyst is the match which lights in the body, the fire that burns up the food, we take each day. If this food is not properly burned, it may be stored as unwanted fat.
Now while the thyroid gland helpfully stores iodine from the blood passing through it every seventeen minutes, the gland may also be made to lose that stored iodine if, for example, we take in drinking water to which chlorine is added, or use too much sodium chloride, whose common name is table salt.
How shall we go about bringing up the iodine content of the body to the point needed?
There are three ways:
1. Eating foods which are particularly rich in iodine. Among these are: all food out of the ocean, radishes, asparagus, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, potatoes, peas, strawberries, mushrooms, lettuce, bananas, cabbage and onions.
2. Painting a small area of the body with tincture of iodine.
3. Taking preparations known to be rich in iodine; One of these is solution of iodine, which can be purchased at the chemist. Still another is the kelp tablets.
The iodine solution is an inexpensive preparation to take. In 1880 a French physician named Lugol originated a solution which contains 5 per cent of elemental iodine in a 10 per cent solution of potassium iodide. It has been used steadily ever since it was originated. Supplement iodine by putting 3 drops of iodine in water or juice each day for a month.
Another method, although not as accurate is to paint Lugol’s iodine over an area the size of about 5 cm. If it gets itchy move to another areas for a few days. Check each morning before bath to see if the iodine has disappeared or not. Once the iodine no longer disappears you can put off painting. It means your iodine level is okay, maybe you really don't need any more for now.
When used to maintain the iodine content of the body the dose is small and is taken only on certain days of the week. When the mineral content of the body is analysed, only a trace of iodine is found. Ten drops of iodine represent more iodine than is found in the entire body. For this reason, the maintenance dose of Lugol's solution of iodine is one or two drops, depending on your body weight.
If you weigh 75kgs or less, for example, your dose to maintain the normal iodine content of the body is one drop, taken twice a week. If you weigh more than 75 kgs, the dose should be two drops instead of one. It is useful to remember that the human body works on the minimum of anything it needs. During sickness, it is advised to take the Lugol's solution three times a week instead of two for the purpose of storing up reserve. In general, iodine should be taken on an empty stomach, preferably twenty minutes before food is taken.
Another way of taking iodine is by adding it to apple cider vinegar. First add one teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water to make the water acid in reaction. One drop of the Lugol's solution is added to the mixture. The contents are stirred with a spoon and sipped through the course of the meal, as one would drink a cup of coffee or tea.
How to Test Our Iodine Levels –
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One of the most popular ways to test for an iodine deficiency at home is the iodine patch test. The iodine patch test measures how quickly the body absorbs iodine transdermally through the skin. This is a general test which can help determine whether someone is deficient in iodine. Use Lugol’s iodine or orange colour iodine. It involves drawing a 2 x 2 patch on your forearm using a 2% tincture of iodine. For someone who isn’t iodine deficient, the patch shouldn’t begin to fade until after 24 hours. Someone who is deficient in iodine will see the patch disappear in a shorter amount of time. Those with a severe iodine deficiency will see the patch begin to fade or disappear completely in 12 hours or less.
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When you awake in the morning, take your temperature. Put the thermometer in your mouth or under your arm for 10 minutes. Afterwards record your temperature. Constant basal body temperature should be close to 98.4. If it is below 97.8 , you have low thyroid function and need to supplement iodine. If it is higher than you have a low grade infection and would again need iodine and Borax water consumption. Take your temperature during 10 days and write it down to see if it’s consistent. You can put iodine into a nebulizer for aerosol treatment for transdermal effect into the lung tissues in the case of lung disease, emphysema, asthma and tuberculosis.