Lugol's Iodine: Treatment and Side Effects

on Dec 12, 2013| Modified on Dec 05, 2023

Orthomolecular research is focused on preventing and treating disease by determining how much of a certain natural substance the body needs and then determining the best way to provide it. Lugol's Iodine (LI) is a substance that can be of tremendous benefit to us when we ensure that we have the right amount in our bodies. We can suffer from a wide range of illnesses simply because our bodies are deficient in this miraculous iodine.

Here are some of the benefits of Lugol's Iodine for the body:

  • Essential for proper thyroid health.
  • Useful anti-oxidant.
  • Efficient anti-pathogen-kills most forms of bacteria, viruses, and fungi quickly.
  • Effectively works to reverse hypo- and hyperthyroid conditions.
  • Has anti-biofilm surfactant properties.
  • Acts as an anti-histamine at larger dosages.
  • Detoxes cadmium, aluminum, lead, mercury, arsenic, and other poisons.
  • Detoxes fluorine and bromine.
  • Helps to balance the body's hormone system.
  • Essential for all hormone receptor activity and health (not just the thyroid gland).
  • Raises metabolism, making it more efficient.
  • Essential for proper immune system health.
  • Essential immune system component of mucus glands throughout the body.
  • Essential for bone health.
  • Promotes skin, hair, and nail health.
  • Promotes healthy digestion.
  • Reduces excessive mucus production.
  • Helps properly regulate estrogen in the ovaries.
  • Decreases insulin needs/helps diabetes.
  • Iodine has mucolytic action (clears excess mucus in the lungs, nose, etc.).
  • Increases energy (increases ATP production).
  • Essential for early brain development.
  • Lowers cholesterol and reduces arterial plaque build-up.
  • Radiation protection.

Please note that many of the above benefits from supplementing Lugol's Iodine have nothing whatsoever to do with the thyroid gland. Our thyroid gland is not the only part of our body that needs iodine. We should also ask: What other diseases and problems can (and will) arise if there is insufficient iodine/iodide for our brain, stomach, intestines, ears, hormone receptors, breasts, eyes, skin, uterus, prostate, salivary glands, lungs, and immune system These are all iodine user/storage sites

Why should we supplement Lugol's Iodine Why not just supplement Potassium Iodide(I-) or Nascent Iodine(I3-) instead

The reason why Lugol's Iodine is perhaps a better supplement is that it has all three forms of beneficial elemental iodine -- Lugol's Iodine contains molecular Iodine(I2), Iodide(I-), and Tri-iodide (I3-) according to this equilibrium reaction in solution:

I2 + I- I3-

Furthermore, when used on its own, Nascent Iodine (I3-) is not a heavy metal chelator. Lugol's Iodine is a heavy metal chelator and remover (due to the iodide content), removing mercury, lead, cadmium, aluminum and arsenic from the body's cells. Similarly, the Iodide form is only absorbed by the thyroid gland, skin and salivary glands, whereas the elemental iodine storage sites in the breasts, prostate and intestines can only absorb the molecular iodine form (I2). Furthermore, many other iodine storage sites need elemental iodine - such as the brain, stomach and salivary glands - and these sites need higher dosages in order to be absorbed in sufficient and proper amounts.

So the reason I use and prefer orthomolecular dosages of Lugol's Iodine (2 to 8 drops or 12.5mgs to 50 mgs of 5% Lugol's Iodine per day for maintenance) is because of LI's huge all-round benefit for the whole body - not just for the benefit of the thyroid gland.

Why do some people have such severe problems - heart palpitations, anxiety, skin problems, etc -- supplementing even one drop of Lugol's Iodine?

The cause of the above adverse reactions to Lugol's Iodine is simply due to a poor processed-food diet that lacks both vital antioxidants and contains excess heavy metals and poisons.

You Need To Replace What Is Missing From Your Food

I recently helped a lady with candida problems in the UK. She also expressed that she was fearful and apprehensive about using Lugol's Iodine within the protocol because it gave her heart palpitations and anxiety. So I advised her to always supplement Lugol's Iodine with its companion nutrients every day - consisting of Selenium,Magnesium, Vitamin C, higher dose Niacin, B Vitamins, and Zinc. Most of these essential nutrients are deficient in our processed-food diets today.

Only a month and a half later, after including the Lugol's Iodine protocol with the companion nutrients, this woman sent me an email and she was ecstatic. Not only had her candida greatly improved and abated but her brain fog had disappeared and she had much more energy. She was also overweight and so she was over the moon at having lost 22 lbs over such a short period of time. When she took the companion nutrients with Lugol's Iodine, she had no further problems or adverse reactions to Lugol's Iodine supplementation.

How Lugol's Iodine Went to War (and other places...)

Digging a bit deeper into the historical research, I also found that in the pre-World War II period, medical doctors regularly used what can only be described as huge dosages of Lugol's Iodine for a host of chronic diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, and syphilis. Dosages of 2,000mgs of Lugol's Iodine per day (320 drops of 5% LI per day) were not unusual and seemed to cause minimal side-effects for their patients.

Similarly, in my own experience of helping people who had serious candida issues in the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Africa, I found out that people from these primitive areas could easily supplement 30 drops or more (>187.5 mgs) of Lugol's Iodine without problems.

How is this possible when so many people in the West get such adverse reactions from just one or two drops of LI?

The answer, again, is a healthier, more nutrient-dense diet. Most people who live in less developed countries still buy their everyday food fresh and unprocessed from wet markets. Similarly, in the pre-World War II diet, there was much less processed food around, more fresh food, and far less agri-poisons, preservatives, GMO, halides(chlorine, bromine, fluorine) and other poisons in the diet than occurs today. These more healthy, primitive and historic diets also contained sufficient amounts of selenium, niacin, magnesium, Vitamin C, B vitamins and zinc because their food was more nutrient dense. And that's why people from earlier medical history and from these less developed regions of the world had little or no problems with higher orthomolecular dosages of Lugol's Iodine.

To give people a better idea why the companion nutrients should always be taken with Lugol's Iodine supplementation, here are some of the reasons, in brief summary:

* Selenium is required for proper glutathione peroxidase levels in the thyroid gland. If these levels are too low, then hydrogen peroxide waste builds up to dangerous levels within the thyroid cells, which eventually tend to corrupt the host Thyroglubulin protein and change it into a foreign protein that the immune system regards as "The Enemy". Hence the anti-bodies attack the thyroid cell, causing nodule formation..

* Selenium, as glutathione, as well as Zinc is also essential for the conversion of T4(thyroxin) to the more active form of T3 (triiodothyronine) within the thyroid gland. This helps to maintain more appropriate levels of T3(the more active thyroid hormone). Zinc is also required to maintain healthy thyroid receptors throughout the body. Zinc also stimulates the immune system.

* Both mercury and fluoride, whenever they are in excess in the body, cause significant damage to both the hypothalamus(in the brain) and the pituitary gland. Iodine is essential to displace and remove excess fluoride from the body and both iodine and selenium are needed to remove mercury. Build up of mercury or fluoride in these glands will cause corrupt misregulation of the TRH(Thyroid Releasing Hormone) and TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) which is also bound to adversely affect the production of thyroid hormones in the body.

* Vitamin C is necessary to help clear the NIS (Sodium-Iodide Symporters) of bromine corruption. When bromine is absorbed by the NIS network, iodine absorption is strongly inhibited and impeded. Vitamin C acts to quickly clear bromine from the intestinal and cellular NIS pathways to allow the proper uninhibited absorption of iodine throughout the body.

* Magnesium (as well as tyrosine, an amino acid) is needed to convert the iodide in the blood so it can be stored in the thyroid gland as iodine. Lack of proper daily amounts of magnesium in the body will therefore greatly contribute to low thyroid or hypothyroid conditions. Most people lack proper amounts of magnesium in their diets today.

* Niacin and the B Vitamins. A higher dose of niacin is required to stimulate energy production in the body. Niacin acts to lift depression and also helps to thin the blood safely. From recent research, it was found that niacin/niacinamide increased immune system strength by a factor of 2000. Supplementing the full range of B vitamins also acts synergistically to increase the beneficial effects of niacin.

* The Sea Salt Loading Protocol may also be needed to more quickly remove excess bromine from the body and from the blood. Bromine tends to inhibit iodine absorption as well as cause many side effects and symptoms. See References below for more details.

If Selenium is Missing From the Soil, It's Missing From Your Food

I also completed some demographic research recently and discovered some interesting facts. I found that the UK is a selenium-deficient area - there is insufficient selenium in the soil. Therefore it follows that there will be insufficient dietary selenium in the grains, vegetables, and food crops grown in UK for consumption. I also discovered that the east coast and eastern plains of America are also selenium-deficient areas. Selenium deficiency causes serious thyroid problems.

Furthermore, the huge prehistoric glacial basin area around The Great Lakes (extending well into the south) in America is heavily iodine deficient in the soil. That means that any food crop that is grown in these soils will also be iodine and nutrient deficient. That's why so many people in this glacial region have low thyroid problems - due to lack of iodine and other nutrients in their diets from locally grown food (caused by the heavy mineral leeching effect of the giant glacier on the soil from the prehistoric past).

Important! What to do if You Have Side Effects...

So if you have adverse reactions to supplementing Lugol's Iodine then I would always advise taking the companion nutrients as well. Taking the Iodine companion nutrients will help you to avoid symptoms like heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia etc. caused by excessive heavy metal detox from LI use and will also help you to avoid auto-immune thyroiditis (nodule formation) which is caused by a lack of glutathione peroxidase in the body. Selenium is the central metallic atom for glutathione peroxidase - a major anti-oxidant and strong detoxer and protector for both the thyroid and liver -- which is why you need selenium in the LI protocol.

This Dose Works For Me

For years, I've been taking between 6 to 8 drops of Lugol's Iodine a day (37.5 mg to 50 mg) in split dosages as maintenance and I have never had any side effects or problems. You can simply take LI with a glass of water or you can add the LI dose to a solution of Ascorbic acid or Ascorbate (Vitamin C). I also take LI drops mixed with Humic Acid granules in water (add a small amount of Humic Acid to the water until it turns golden brown and not black) and then add a tablespoon of ACV - this makes it a strong anti-viral. There are many ways to supplement Lugol's Iodine.

Please don't forget to always take all the companion nutrients whenever you supplement orthomolecular dosages of Lugol's Iodine.

References:

Selenium and Thyroid Function
Sea Salt for Skin Problems Caused by Bromide Dominance in the Body
Candida: Killing So Sweetly and co-author of




Accompanying Supplements

Posted by Gracie (Nottingham) on 08/29/2020

Hi,

I've not long started on the Iodine Protocol, but really dislike taking all the accompanying vitamins. My stomach does not take too kindly to so many. Is there a multi vitamin supplement which would cover all or most of these in one go? I am aware that vitamin C should be taken at a different time from the iodine.

I am taking Iodoral, not doing the drops.

Thanks.

Replied by Danntanna
(Austin TX)
09/28/2022

Recently I tested as anemic. As it turned out, I had a 2.5cm polyp removed from my duodenum. I found that is the area where b12 is absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract.

More to your point, I was low on Iron. We tried oral supplements, and I thought I would never feel good again. We switched IV for a couple of weeks, and I was no longer iron poor, and my stomach returned to normal. The point is, of course, if oral iron supplements are sneaking in, they may be at least part of your distress.

Cheers


Converting Lugol's Iodine

Posted by Frances (Cabarlah, Queensland) on 02/15/2015

I have 5% strength Lugol's which provides 6.25 mg iodine content per drop (per Bill's table). How do I reduce it to 2% to get 2.50 mg per drop as I want to start out low supplement. Tku.

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando, Philippines)
02/16/2015

Hi Frances ... To convert from 5% to 2% Lugols Iodine do this:

Calculated from mgs per drop. Drop size is the same for both and so is irrelevant.

6.25/2.5

Ratio is 1:2.5

So to convert from 5% to 2% lugols iodine, add one part by volume of 5% LI to a container then add 2.5 parts by volume of water. This will give you a 2% lugols sotution.

Perhaps an easier way to understand it is by drop dose equivalence.

Examples:

1 drop 5% LI = 6.25 mgs iodine
1 drop 2% LI = 2.5 mgs iodine

So 2 drops of 5% LI (12.5 mgs total iodine) is equivalent to 5 drops (12.5/2.5) of 2% LI.

And 8 drops of 5% LI (50 mgs iodine) is equivalent 20 drops (50/2.5) of 2% LI.

I hope this isn't too confusing!

Replied by Frances
(Cabarlah, Queensland)
02/17/2015

Bill, thank you so much.

Replied by Green Augustine
(Mold, Denbighshire)
03/04/2016
41 posts

Hello Bill, Like many people I'm a bit concerned about starting on Lugols iodine as I've read so much about bad side effects etc. You explain clearly why this is and so I'm wondering if it would be OK to take it as I was told( after a Bioresonance session last month) that I have copper in my kidneys and should take parsley 'tea' every day to clear it. I guess this might explain the dark streaks along my eyelids just on the crease under the brow. They get progressively darker as the day goes on and I've added Dandelion tea to the mix. I take vitamin C in the form of Acerola and eat all organic food ( locally grown -and not supermarket stuff - or from my own garden) . I've been taking my basal temp for 2 years now and can get it to 36.9 with magnesium, mineral supplements and coconut oil on some days but usually about 36.4 so I do have a thyroid problem and am over weight and have some hormonal issues etc. I'd love to start with Lugols iodine but the copper, as a heavy metal, has stopped me so far. Your opinion on any advice on how to proceed would be really appreciated and thank you for all the time you put into the brilliant site to help people. Sending you earth blessings.

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando, Philippines)
03/05/2016

Hi Green Augustine...Lugol's iodine(LI) is a wonderful detoxer that will detox lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium and arsenic. I have never read or heard about LI detoxing copper. If you have high copper then the chances are that you will also have low zinc in your body with poor immune system performance as a result of this problem. Both copper and zinc must be in proper balance in your body and each of these minerals effects the other's mineral concentration in the body. If you are worried about this then perhaps a hair analysis will help. If your copper is high then generally your zinc levels will be low. You know already that you have high copper and so the hair analysis will help you to confirm low zinc if that is the case. If this is the case then you must increase your zinc to at least 50 mgs per day for perhaps one week only. Then cut the zinc down to 50 mgs per week or 10 mgs per day. See if that helps your problem. Taking the extra zinc will also automatically help to reduce the copper load in your body. It will also simultaneously help to perk up your immune system as well.

There can also be other problems if you have low zinc. For instance, if you have very low zinc and very low Vitamin B6 in your body this can also indicate a problem called kryptopyrrolurea or just plain old pyroluria. I can't really advise dosages for this problem, if you have it. Suffice to say that you will have to take massive doses of both vitamin b6 and zinc, as well as other nutrients, in order to correct it. So its best really if you can find a doctor who specializes in treating this problem, if you have it, because your zinc and b6 levels must be monitored quite frequently for dosage safety purposes.

Replied by Chad
(Wondsor, Ontario)
06/25/2016

Dear Bill,

I had chronic fatigue for very long time .. I want to use Lugol's Iodine .. what else should I take with it .. it seems you posted too many supplements .. can it all be taken in one pill?

Chad

Bill
(San Fernando, Philippines)
06/26/2016

Hi Chad...I'm not quite sure what you mean by "too many supplements". You seem to think that many of the supplements recommended are unnecessary.

If you are hypothyroid then this problem will probably need a lot more than just taking Lugol's Iodine. What I'm talking about is all the critical body processes that are involved to get iodine absorbed and utilized correctly by your thyroid and by your cells. This involves iodine being absorbed into the blood from the intestines, blood transport and absorption into the cells. And this doesn't just happen. These numerous processes need enzymes and coenzymes that are usually all derived from minerals or vitamins.

For instance, if you are low in body magnesium or tyrosine then you will probably lack a critical coenzyme which converts the iodide to iodine for proper storage within the thyroid itself. If you don't take Vitamin C as advised and if your body contains high bromine then iodine absorption will be inhibited in the intestines and, instead, bromine will be transported to the cells and to the thyroid which is a bad outcome. Taking Vitamin C everyday removes the bromine and excretes it safely and quickly via the urinary pathway resulting in an immediate improved iodine absorption into the blood and thyroid. If you lack selenium, then you will lack the antioxidant protection of glutathione peroxidase in your thyroid cells. Low glutathione causes oxidative damage usually causing thyroid nodules. Taking Sea Salt with water is the cure for excess bromine in the blood during detox, which can cause bromoderma or acne-like skin problems.

So I hope you can now see how a lack of any one of the above recommended nutrients in the body can either directly cause or contribute to hypothyroid conditions as well as many other problems in the body. And that's really why you should supplement all the recommended companion nutrients with lugol's Iodine. Then all bases are covered.

Replied by Green Augustine
(North Wales)
06/26/2016

Hello again Bill.

Well since I asked you about copper toxicity a few months ago, I've been doing quite a lot of research myself with a biochemist and also an orthomolecular doctor. Apparently, taking the birth control pill/HRT releases extra estrogen into the system and makes the zinc bio unavailable to the body this causing the imbalance with copper! So what was considered the great saviour for us baby boomers in the 1970s, is causing health headaches in later life. What a surprise the big Pharmas haven't mentioned this little side effect of birth control tablets and HRT!

Anyway, I've been taking lots of parsley and also nettle and dandelion etc infusions which seem to have helped on a very gentle level. Added to which I've started taking cream of tartar (potassium ) and Celtic sea salt in water three times a day as well as adding a good pinch of sea salt to my drinking water and I can't believe the difference! Instead of waking up feeling lethargic and as if I've not slept for days, I feel full of energy and wide awake. I e also added acidophilus capsules several times a day along with L-Theanine, and my usual coconut oil, natural vit C etc and I no longer feel the need for Betaine nor do I rush to take my Bicarb and lemon after a meal. I do still take it of course, along with liquid magnesium, but even when I forget, I get no acid reflux or digestive problems. And my pH is usually between 7 and 7.5 so I feel very happy.

I'm going to have a hair analysis- done in the US where they have better resources it seems in this area, along with a full iron panel blood test. But I feel so well and not "Tired all the time " as I did before, I can't believe it. Thanks for your advice and I hope some of this feed back may help others who feel tired. I believe the potassium and salt and magnesium really sorts out the adrenals - and Adrenal Fatigue seems to be endemic is most Western countries.

Replied by Chad
(Toronto, Ontario)
08/28/2016

Thank you very much Bill ... how would I know if I lack all the recommended Supplements or Not? .... can I just start with Lugol's Iodine first and I will update you of the outcome as time goes by. I have 2% Lugol's iodine from J. Crow's (60 ml bottle). what do you recommend as a start?

Best Regards,

Chad

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando)
08/28/2016

Hi Chad...If you want to know what minerals are lacking in your body, you can get a hair analysis done fairly cheaply.

A hair analysis will tell you your mineral and vitamin status and will also reveal any excess heavy metals present in you body.

You can start supplementing with just iodine on its own if you want. But if this isn't working well for you then I would simply take all the minerals and vitamins that are recommended as companion nutrients for iodine.

You can start with a two drop dose of iodine per day. If it's OK for you, I would increase the this dose by two drops every day.

The recommended Lugol's Iodine daily dose is 50 mgs per day.

Since you are taking 2% Lugol's Iodine this means that you will have to take a split dose of 20 drops LI per day to achieve the 50 mgs daily dose.

The daily dose for 5% LI would be 8 drops per day. Please see the Iodine Drop to Mgs conversion chart shown here for more details.

Replied by Wendy
(Tx)
08/30/2016

Bill,

What if I have high zinc? Should I still supplement with it, or leave it out?

Thanks, Wendy

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando, Philippines)
08/30/2016

Hi Wendy...If you have high zinc then you could have low copper which competes directly with zinc for absorption into the body and cells.

Copper is an important mineral for the body, so what you should do to get a better idea about your general vitamin and mineral status is have a hair analysis done. This will also show you how much excessive heavy metals you have in your body.

To help balance the excess zinc and get it down you should also perhaps regularly supplement copper until proper levels of copper and zinc are reached. But try and get the hair analysis done as this will give you a much wider picture of your health status.

Replied by Jeff S
(Anon)
12/11/2016

Serum zinc and serum copper would be the tests you'd prefer. Hair is not good for heavy metal or mineral balance.

Replied by Shane
(Oz)
02/01/2017
1 posts

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.

Replied by Frances
(Cabarlah, Qld.)
11/28/2017

The online iodine protocol by Dr Stephanie Buist might be useful to you; it confirms what Bill has been suggesting.

http://jeffreydachmd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/The-Guide-to-Supplementing-with-Iodine-Stephanie-Burst-ND.pdf

Magnesium 'oil' is made from magnesium chloride flakes.

Replied by Gail S.
(Sacramento, Ca)
01/03/2018

Hello,

How do you find someone to do a hair analysis?


Detoxification Chemical Reactions

Posted by Maciej (Poland) on 01/22/2022

Could somebody share what do actual chemical reactions between lugol's iodine and heavy metals like mercury or arsenic during detoxification look like? I mean - the balanced chemical equations, thanks!

Replied by Gunther
(Germany)
04/23/2022

That is a good question I would like an answer too.

To detox mercury with Lugols there are three steps as far as I can put the pieces together afterI did a detox myself.

Make water soluble complex salt:

potassium tetraiodo mercurate (K 2 HgI 4) aka "Nesslers Reagent."Then excrete that via liver.

My guess is that this is done via an sulfur-containing aminoacid, most likely glutathione.

Then excrete via liver and bile. I could feel that it went this way.

In the intestine comes a "pitfall, "
bacteria may convert the ionic mercury to methylmercury. The methylmercury is fat-soluble and gets resorbed.
The result is moving mercury from belly fat to the brain, not advisable.
To bind the mercury, elemental sulfur can get processed in the intestine to some extremely stinky compound that binds mercury.

This is known in Germany as "Schwefelkur nach Dr. Probst" and goes back to Paracelsus. Dr Probst found that in an an ancient textbook.
To my knowledge he gives the empirical description that when "Detox" is needed ther stool will stink and when detox is not needed the stink stops without explaining any chemistry.

Î did a mercury detox with Lugols, supplied Acetylcystein (cough med) and elemental sulfur with every meal.
It took for me about four months to get the mercury out.
Some two weeks after I started Lugols I could feel mercury moving to my liver, then bile and some ten minutes later I went to the throne wher even the king walks. That stuff had to come aut asap.
At the very end of my detox my stool stopped stinking, I stopped sulfur and then I noticed another load of mercury going through the bile.
I could feel it going to my head a few days later.

With taking sulfur for a while I got that mercury out too, since then I felt no need to take sulfur any more.In my opinion as chemical engineer this fits only for mercury especially the resorption again.

How the detox mechanism for the other mentioned metals work I would like to know too.


Iodine and Vitamin C

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Anthony Ree (Columbia, SC) on 05/05/2022
★★★★★

Greetings, loved the article and the information provided about iodine. You mentioned taking Iodine with Vitamin C; everything I have read says the Iodine and Vitamin C should not be taken together as they neutralize each other.

Replied by Cindy
(Illinois, USA)
12/31/2022
415 posts

In this case, I would agree that taking them together - or even mega-dosing Vitamin C - is not a good idea as iodine performs its duties by attaching itself to other elements, being released by oxidation, attaching, being oxidized and so on and so forth so, since Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant...I would say yes. It will interfere with the oxidation of the compounds iodine goes into AND back out of in the course of doing its job until its run its course. Of course, if one is getting enough iodine, one wouldn't need mega-doses of vitamin C.

The best way - or so it appears to me - to get through the detox effects is to lower the dose since you're lowering it anyway, with the anti-oxidants.


Iodine and Weight Gain

Posted by Linda (Australia) on 11/21/2014

Hi Bill,

I have been using the Iodine Protocol now for approximately 4 weeks and all has been well until I started using the salt loading (I have been using the vitamins too).

I don't feel I have water retention but I have put on a large amount of weight in the last week and a half. So now I have stopped as I am already having trouble losing weight with Hashimotos.

Also extreme Hot Flushes which are so unbearble especially in Australia's in summer.

Again this is not water retention it is extra fat weight gain has this happened to others. Regards Linda

Replied by Kaz
(Australia)
11/10/2015

Do not take Iodine if you have Hashimoto's.

Caroline
(North Carolina)
05/01/2021

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

Replied by Ann
(Trinidad, West Indies)
01/25/2018

I have a goiter, may be hypothyroidism. My broth has been diagnosed with hashimoto disease. Pls explain why he should not take lugol solution.


Iodine for Moles

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5 star (1) 
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Posted by Grateful For Bill And Earth Clinic! (Love And Light To All!) on 12/12/2013
★★★★★

Thank you so much for this wonderful article, Bill. Think of all the people this will help. After reading Lynne Farrow's book, The Iodine Crisis: What You Don't Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life, I purchased a small bottle of Iodex ointment which contains iodine and other ingredients due to Lynne's mention of the ointment in her book. After noticing a mole I wanted to remove I decided to try the ointment on the mole.

1. Placed a small amount of the ointment along with Decolorized Iodine on the mole every day for about a week

2. Covered with medical paper tape or band-aids placed in a criss-cross fashion.

3. Changed paper tape and band-aids as needed.

And voila, little by little the mole came off. First it peeled up from the bottom, then came off in bits and pieces as the band-aids and paper tape needed to be replaced. The band-aids and paper tape were helpful in pulling the mole off completely.

Question: Are moles a fungus that iodine can effectively remove both inside and outside the body?

Replied by Chantal W.
(London UK)
12/09/2021

I have always believed moles are viruses. I'd like to know more, but what I do know is that my mother got rid of hers by applying alcohol on them every day for a while.


Iodine Protocol Detox Symptoms

Posted by Jkw (Monterey, Ca) on 07/17/2015

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.

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando, Philippines)
07/18/2015

Hi Jkw...There can be many reasons to get a hyper reactions from supplementing lugols iodine. And if you also have systemic candida, then this will add to your issues. Reasons for your hyper reaction are described below:

* Iodine is wonderful for heavy metal detoxing. It gets rid of aluminium, cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic from your cells. But it doesn't end there. This means that iodine removes these heavy metals from the cells and just dumps them into your blood thus stressing the liver and causing hyper reactions because of possible re-distribution.

* Iodine can kill large amounts of candida which then break up and release high amounts of waste toxins. This effects the mind(brain fog, lethargy, low energy etc) and body(hyper reaction from the poisons).

* If you have low thyroid or hypothyroid as well then this may be another reason for lethargy, overweight, brain fog etc. The thyroid needs iodine. Be sure to take all components and companion nutrients as advised in The Iodine Protocol.

Your own protocol seems to be bits and pieces from other protocols. Before you take a protocol, you should first learn all about candida behaviour. I urge you to do this to see what you are really up against. You can find out all about candida from the candida posts on EC and other internet sites. I also wrote a book describing candida behaviour in detail and how to cure yourself called Candida: Killing So Sweetly. Here is the main anti-candida strategy that I use against candida from my book:

*Anti-Candida and Anti-Pathogen Protocols

*Anti-Biofilm Protocols

*Alkalizing Protocols

*Neutralize candida toxins in the body

*Essential Detox Protocols

*Liver Support Protocols

*Vitamin and Mineral Support (Immune System Support)

*The Health Defence Diet

The current anti-candida protocol that I recommend you follow is shown here.

Regarding your thyroid issues -- If you get checked again I would advise that you get the proper labwork from your doc. Do not have the doc's TSH/T4 test -- this is highly inaccurate. Get the Free T3/Free T4 test which measures the active hormone in your blood(which is what you want to know). More info on proper labwork here.

I would also advise that you take Chanca piedra tea or capsules for your gallstones. Buy wildcrafted or organic quality Chanca piedra for best results.

To remedy your cravings you should drink Gymnema sylvestre tea 3 or 4 times a day. This will also help to reduce excess sugar in your blood. Supplementing Chromium and Vanadium minerals will also help you here.

Finally the proper way to take betaine and protease enzymes for GERD issues is fully described here.

Replied by Jkw
(Monterey, Ca)
07/19/2015

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.

Replied by Green Augustine
(North Wales)
08/02/2015
41 posts

Hello Jkw.

I've just read your email about iodine and Bill's very comprehensive reply. I have read Bill's book on- Ph balance for life - all about alkalising, which you say you're just getting into. For years I suffered from painful thrush under my breasts and believe it's candida over growth. I tried everything from Milk of magnesia as a deodorant ( brilliant) to coconut oil but nothing helped long term. I've been using Bill and Ted's protocol from the book, lemon juice in water with bicarbonate of soda( baking soda) for about 8 weeks or so 30-60 minutes after meals, and even being in Spain last month where it was 110* in the shade so lots of sweating etc, I never once have had thrush again. And I've had small and large outbreaks very regularly for several years. I've also starting eating less acidic and more alkaline food and it really helps. So I guess it could be. Great for your candida. Good luck.

And Bill and Ted's book is very informative.

Replied by Gardengirl
(Asheville)
05/29/2016

Dear Jkw,

I saw an article from the Weston A. Price Foundation that may be useful to you. http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-diseases/the-great-iodine-debate/

Good luck with your health issues! Lots of us can relate :)

Two thirds through the article I saw the following excerpt from Sally Fallon's article:

"Reaction to Iodoral

“Three articles appeared recently in The Original Internist concerning clinical research with the use of iodine/iodide in megadoses. Our medical group, consisting of three MDs and one ND/Acupuncturist decided that we should try to find out whether any one of us was iodine-deficient. Our practice is in the Great Lakes region that was described as the ‘Goiter Belt' by David Brownstein. We therefore followed Brownstein's recommendation for the iodine/iodide loading test. Five individuals within our office took the test and, by the criteria outlined, we were all iodine-deficient.

“Three of us, two MDs and our Laboratory Director, then proceeded to take the 50 mg of Iodoral a day with the intention of repeating the iodine/iodide loading test after three months of treatment. After about six weeks of continuous treatment, I experienced dysphagia [difficulty swallowing], resulting in lower chest pain on swallowing both food and fluids. This was particularly marked with hot fluids, a totally new experience for me. I told the Laboratory Director that I was going to discontinue taking the Iodoral since I had concluded that it was the potential cause. To my surprise, she told me that she had experienced exactly the same symptom and had also discontinued the treatment. The other two MDs who took the treatment did not experience this symptom. Some four weeks after discontinuation of the Iodoral, we both continue to experience the same kind of dysphagia, although it is much milder. We can only conclude that we experienced some esophagitis though this has not been proved by further study.

“If this is indeed a toxic effect of the Iodoral, we concluded that it needed to be drawn to the attention of the CAM medical community. If the conclusions are correct, we should expect to hear that other ‘guinea pigs' have experienced something similar. The question remains in our minds as to whether the test outlined by Brownstein is an accurate determination of chronic iodine deficiency. It may well be that iodine has a sensitive dose relationship like that which is so well known with selenium, for example, and with other minerals. The question, put so eloquently recently by Alan Gaby is whether we are embarking on a strategy that can be toxic for some while beneficial for those sick individuals reported by Brownstein and his co-author, Guy Abraham. Indeed, as Gaby questioned later, of the 4,000 patients treated by the Michigan Clinic, how many were carefully monitored in detail for potential side effects? Since gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is mentioned in a drug commercial as a common affliction, it might be that some patients who are being treated with high-dose iodine would never conclude that GER might be related to the iodine consumption. It might not be recognized as a side effect even by a physician, since it is so remote from any expected or predicted symptom.”

-Derrick Lonsdale MD, FAAP, FACN, Westlake, Ohio The Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, April 2006

Replied by Barak
(Tx)
12/03/2017

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?


Iodine, Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Beth (Ontario, Canada) on 12/05/2023

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?


Locating Lugol's Iodine

Posted by Suzanne (Novi, Mi) on 12/12/2013

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

Replied by Mike 62
(Denver, Colorado)
12/12/2013

Suzanne: Amazon

Replied by Wondering Woman
(Tennessee)
12/12/2013

If you can't get your doctor to prescribe Lugol's solution, just get a little devious and go the route like going to an aquarium supply (pet shop) and ask for Lugol's solution for your aquarium. Please note that dosages in Bill's article is written for 5%, but it also comes in strengths up to 15% which is essentially the same as SSKI (saturated solution of potassium iodide). It may still be legal to buy it in 1 ounce bottles at the l5% dosages. If you are lucky enough to get it in 15% solution, divide Bill's dosages by 3 to determine how many drops to take daily.

Another route you can take is going on line and looking for potassium crystals and mixing your own SSKI. Instructions are to use either beer bottle brown or green bottles for mixing and storage. Fill bottle to about 60% full with potassium iodide crystals, then fill to 90% full with distilled water. Cap and shake vigorously for a few minutes. You will know your solution is saturated if a few crystals are left undissolved. Please remember that SSKI is a l5% solution of potassium iodide and adjust dosage as mentioned above.

Replied by Geertje
(Ottawa, Ontario Canada)
06/09/2014

I am able to get it from the pharmacy without a prescription. I have been using Lugol's iodine for years, about 40 years. I notice a difference when I stop taking it for a while. My Doctor an old Dutch Doctor put me on it at 15 for sore breasts, they were cystic. It works wonders for my breasts when they get tender, good for my hair and skin and also help with going to the bathroom. Help with constipation. I have an underactive thyroid and take this, it will affect your blood readings. My present Doctor is not in agreement with me taking it, but I insist.

Kathy
(FL)
04/06/2022

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.

Replied by Diane
(Ca)
06/11/2014

You can easily buy online. One place I shop for alot of supplements, great pricing and shipping is cheap or free, is SwansonVitamins.com Probably Lucky Vitamin or Iherb.com has it also and its Lugols.

Replied by Jean
(Florida, US)
12/07/2014

To Gertie who has taken iodine for 40 yrs, I am wondering if you are less hypothyroid than 40 yrs ago.

I thought long term use of iodine ( iodoral) gradually lessening the amount of armour would cause my thyroid to produce more hormone So that eventually I would need only iodine.


Lugol's Iodine for Goiter

Posted by Caitlin (Uk) on 05/28/2015

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

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando, Philippines)
05/28/2015

Hi Catlin...I don't think that you need to worry too much about detoxing since lugol's iodine helps to remove mercury, aluminium, cadmium, lead and arsenic from the body. It will also remove bromine and fluorine from the body on its own. And the real reason for taking all the companion nutrients is really to help support the transport, storage and conversion of the iodine into thyroid hormones. The main function of the companion nutrients is therefore not to help you detox but to help support the many many metabolic processes involved in the final and successful production of the thyroid hormones. In this respect, the companion minerals and vitamins act like important cogs in a machine. If these cogs are missing then the machine will not work very well. So I would start by taking all the companion nutrients at their proper dosages as soon as you can.

Because you have goiter, this means -- from the research -- that you have excess hydrogen peroxide free radicals being produced in your thyroid which are not being quenched by the glutathione peroxidase enzyme. This produces corrupted proteins in the thyroid which results in an auto-antibody reaction by the immune system and goiter formation. That's why selenium is so key in this problem because selenium is the main central atom for glutathione peroxidase. If you don't have enough selenium everyday in your diet then you will not be able to manufacture enough glutathione peroxidase to help protect your thyroid against these free radicals which manifests in goiter formation. I describe all the companion nutrients and more in this Google doc. To further help you, here is a document on how to supplement lugol's iodine by Stephanie Buist who follows Dr Brownstein's recommendations on lugol's supplemetation.

Lastly, I would urge you to actively reduce dairy and cruciferous vegetables in your diet. Do not take calcium supplements if you are taking the iodine protocol to recover your thyroid. Both dairy and cruciferous veg contain high amounts of calcium. If you eat too much of these products then excess calcium will build up in your blood and this will act to inhibit the transport and absorption of iodine into the thyroid and the body. This is also why you should also take magnesum(as recommended in the companion nutrients) because magnesium helps to regulate calcium in the body. Magnesium, in an enzyme together with tyrosine, is also responsible for actively storing iodide from the blood as iodine in the thyroid...Like one of many cogs in an important machine.

Replied by Caitlin
(Uk)
05/29/2015

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 :-)

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando, Philippines)
05/30/2015

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.

Replied by Caitlin
(Uk)
06/03/2015

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

Replied by Mikee
(Oxfordshire, Uk)
08/19/2015

Hi @Caitlin,

Sorry, I'm not Bill, but on your question about Niacin, you may find the book "Niacin: The Real Story", by the late Dr Abram Hoffer M.D. of interest. He was a pioneer in orthomolecular dosages of Niacin (usually along with Vitamin C), for many aspects of health, e.g. psychological problems and restoring blood lipid levels to normal. For Hoffer, doses like 3g (grams) per day, divided over the day, along with good amounts of vitamin C, were normal. Like Linus Pauling, he lived and was active to a great age.

I'm not sure why Bill prefers the non-flush version; I got the impression from the book that provided people could tolerate the flush, Hoffer preferred the (usually cheaper) straight (flushing) niacin (aka nicotinic acid). It has some physiological advantages (see the book). And you get used to the flush and it is barely noticable when you've been taking orthomolecular doses for a while (as I have). (I am not currently on the iodine protocol, I should add, although I am considering it. I am actually taking most of the co-factors, just haven't started iodine yet, as I'm still monitoring my temperature over time without supplemental iodine, so as to have a good baseline to compare with when I do start supplementing. (I do find temperature monitoring a bit fiddly to be honest, and I'm not always sure I'm doing it right - that's why I'm taking my time over this).

Gyda llaw, dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg. Ydach chi'n siarad Cymraeg?

Hwyl, :-)

Mike

Replied by Caitlin
(Uk Ess)
08/19/2015

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

Replied by Vicky
(West Sussex)
01/29/2016

Hi Caitlin,

Do not worry about calcium. Firstly, all foods contain some calcium. Cruciferous vegetables aren't even the best source. Secondly, those on a plant based diet need far less calcium than meat eaters. 600mg a day is absolutely ample (400mg is enough on a low-sodium diet, but you aren't doing that), compared with 1000mg for a meat eater.

Sources of calcium per 100g of food:

(the first 2 listed are not realistic to eat 100g - more like 10g. Also, if possible, for maximum nutrition it is always best to soak and sprout seeds, legumes etc. It makes them easily digestible and increases absorption of zinc and iron by 400%)

Dill seeds - 1516mg

Poppy seeds - 1438mg (soak to remove opiates if you eat a lot! )

Whole sesame seeds - 975mg (but these are high in oxalates so less well absorbed)

Chia seeds - 613mg (also high in omega 3! But soak and sprout them first to get rid of the gel that forms when they contact water)

Flaxseeds (aka linseeds) - 255mg (another source of omega 3! )

Carob flour - 348mg

Soya beans - 277mg

Kidney beans - 195mg

Black turtle beans - 160mg

Moth beans - 150mg

Haricot beans (of baked beans fame) - 147mg

Mung beans - 132mg

Pigeon peas - 130mg

Chickpeas - 105mg

Peanuts - 92mg

(all legumes are good sources of calcium, especially if you buy the dried ones and soak and sprout them to remove the phytic acid)

Vegetables that are not cruciferous (not including spinach, chard, parsley etc because oxalates may make the calcium harder to absorb)

Dandelion greens - 187mg

Romaine (aka Cos) lettuce - 33mg

Lambs' lettuce - 38mg

Butternut squash - 48mg (but a whole squash is about 1kg, so if you had half a roast squash that would be 240mg)

Grains:

Teff (of injera bread fame) - 180mg

wholewheat - 34mg

Brown rice - 23mg

(Most grains have small amounts of calcium like wheat and rice do, but considering that 30mg is 5% of what you need in a day, it soon contributes a significant proportion to your calcium intake.)

Fruit:

Dried figs - 162mg

Oranges - 43mg (or 60mg/medium fruit. So one orange is 10% of your calcium! )

Dates - 64mg

Papaya - 24mg (or 73mg per medium fruit)

There are many other foods that contain significant calcium, but I'm not going to list them all :D Trust that all food contains some calcium, and it will easily add up to what you need in a day, provided you eat a varied whole foods diet with plenty of legumes, seeds, fruit and veg. Don't let anyone scaremonger you into thinking that it's some terrible challenge to live on a plant based diet! From all the BS out there, anyone would think that vegans are at imminent risk of dropping dead from malnourishment every second of every day if they don't this, that or the other.

If you want to supplement calcium, there are supplements made from seaweeds that naturally are extremely rich in calcium. Most seaweeds are a good source of calcium, but I can't be bothered to find the facts write now, so you'll have to look those up yourself if you're interested :D

Just so you know I have been a vegan for 10 years, a vegetarian all my life, and have never had a filling, tooth removed, or any broken bones, so my calcium is fine.

By the way, my vegan brother, for OCD + ideological reasons, once spent several months only eating banana and butternut squash. He developed a goiter, which went down immediately upon eating brazil nuts, and was quickly cured by continuing to eat them along with kelp. The moral of the story is, make sure you get enough selenium.

I did the iodine protocol in 2014, and it gave me huge benefits for the first 6 weeks, which so far are permanent, but it plateaued quickly and gave me no additional benefits after that (but also didn't cause any harm). I had definitely been deficient in iodine and it cured my lifelong slow-transit constipation (TMI, sorry! ) and Raynaud's. I occasionally top up with a bit of iodine and selenium now and then to keep myself going (since I don't like seaweed or brazil nuts). I am now absolutely fine with eating cruciferous vegetables and soya beans, as is my brother. A healthy person should be able to eat these foods with no trouble, you don't have to avoid them once your goitre is healed.

Good luck, Vicky :)


Lugol's Iodine Protocol

1 User Review
(1) 
  100%

Posted by Erin (Dubuque, Ia) on 06/03/2018

I started the protocol about 3 weeks ago. I have hashimotos and am hypothyroid. Since I started my thyroid has been aching and I happened to have my bloodwork scheduled and my TSH went up. Is this a detox symptom? I can't seem to find info on how this protocol impacts the thyroid. I'd appreciate any insight! Thanks!

EC: Hi Erin, can you please tell us which protocol you are referring to, Bill Thompson's Lugol's Iodine Protocol or his Candida Protocol?

Replied by Patrick G.
(Uk)
02/26/2023

Hi,

TSH always goes up with iodine supplementation.
NSA needs TSH, as the body makes TSH, which in turn makes NSA that feeds the body.

Without TSH, we have low NSA.

The TSH drops when the body has sufficient NSA and that's usually 6 months, so I am reliably told.

Having just gone through the same.


Lugol's Iodine Side Effects

2 User Reviews
(2) 
  100%

Posted by Leslie T (Usa) on 09/19/2017

I am taking Iodine, 8-10 drops a day, 5% Lugols, along with other things Bill Thompson suggested. Any way, every time I take it I feel ice cold for an hour or two. I would like to have some suggestions on how to minimize this.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
09/20/2017

Leslie, take less. Bill's recommendations are guidelines. But every body is different.

Replied by Leslie T
(Usa)
09/20/2017

Yes, I think you are right. I will try taking about a 1/4th of what I am taking now. I am doing several of the Candida kill methods so things should still progress along. Thanks!


Lugol's Iodine Side Effects
Posted by Anonymous (US) on 01/09/2016

Dear Bill Thompson,

I started taking Lugol's Iodine Plus on the suggestion of two doctors. For about 6-8 weeks I took 20 drops with no ill effects. Motherearth labs suggested I go up to 30 drops and then to 40. One day I sudddenly had excruciating pain in all my upper teeth (12 on a scale of 1-10) My mouth also got badly swollen and I had other side effects.

No doctors or dentists could figure it out. It was agonizing. The pain (not the swelling) seemed to diminish in the morning, but would quickly reoccur a few hours after waking. I took the iodine shortly awakening. For some reason I decided to research side effects of Lugol's...and sure enough, severe tooth pain, mouth swelling, and other symptoms listed as "Serious...contact your doctor immediately..."

By this time I had already had the symptoms for 3 weeks. I keep a medical journal, and sure enough, the day after I went from 20 drops to about 25 drops, the symptoms appeared. And by that time I had slowly worked up to 40 drops over a period of 3 weeks. I stopped the iodine immediately, and the next day the pain went from a 12 to about a 4. Over the next 3 days the pain level went down to a 1 or 2, but would sometimes, for no reason, flair back up to a 4/5.

After being off the iodine for more then a week, I still had the tooth pain and swollen mouth. I then looked up Iodine poisoning and realized that is what had apparently happened to me. I called my Internest, who had me come in immediately and he did several tests. The results have not yet come back. It is more than 10 days since I stopped taking the iodine and I still have tooth pain ranging from 1 to 5 on a scale of 1-10, and my mouth is still swollen. Narcotics(large amounts) and other pain meds - presciption and OTC drugs have done nothing for the pain. I am miserable. How much longer are these symptoms going to continue and is there anything I can do to get rid of the pain and swelling. I'm desperate...please respond ASAP Thanks.

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Lugol's Iodine Side Effects
Posted by Diane (Sherborn, Ma.) on 12/20/2014

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..


Lugol's Protocol and Food Grade Peroxide

Posted by Epeach (Ga) on 03/03/2018

I was just curious if anyone following Lugol's Iodine Protocol, is also using food grade peroxide? Does anyone know if you can do both protocols at the same time?

Replied by Dotty
(Foley Alabama)
04/27/2022

I was wondering the same.

Replied by Lisa
(Florida)
08/08/2022

Are you referring to the nebulizer protocol? I have used this and feel it was critical with my pneumonia.



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