My Patient’s story
Last year a patient came to me for a number of issues. Her main concerns were metabolic: carb intolerance, excess weight, high blood sugars, lack of energy…
During our first call she also mentioned a long standing problem she had not been able to resolve, but she did not expect I could help with: Dry eye syndrome.
She had had surgery on her tear ducts, and been put on several medicated eye drops, seen all kind of specialists…nothing had helped.
When we talked she was pretty much resigned to having to suffer from this ailment for the rest of her life.
I was happy to have some really good news for her. Her problem was completely solvable…they had just missed the root cause of it.
So as we worked together to resolve her metabolic issues and get her back to her ideal weight, I added one simple but crucial supplement to her regimen.
And within a month her eyes started to get better.
In a couple of months the problem was almost entirely resolved.
Would you like to know why?
The answer is baffling simple.
Her condition stems from a basic, severe iodine deficiency.
Iodine: hero or anti-hero?
In the last 50 years iodine has been strongly demonized by the medical community, to the point of creating the phenomenon called “iodophobia”!
I am not a conspiracy theorist, but what happened to iodine in the last half century, really makes me think twice.
All the negative “hype” about iodine is curiously based on only ONE main research paper.
“The Wolff-Chaikoff Effect” is a study published in 1948 in Bekeley, which claims that daily doses of iodine over 0.2mg/L will cause hypothyroidism in humans.
What most people don’t know about this study is that it was conducted on RATS, then values were extrapolated for humans.
Even more interesting is the fact that not even the lab rats used in the study ever became hypothyroid.
If that does not smell fishy to you..
Consider this:
- Iodine is a an ESSENTIAL micronutrient, every single cell of our body needs it, especially the thyroid and breast tissue where it is stored in large quantities.
- Iodine is also an antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic.
- It plays a very important role in breast cancer prevention, as it is fundamental for healthy breast tissue.
- It is fundamental for brain development of the fetus.
- It protects against carcinogenic radioactive iodine and radiation fallout (was used extensively in Chernobyl).
- Support strong and healthy immune function.
- Prevents oxidative damage to the DNA, resulting in a powerful anticarcinogenic effect.
- Helps the body detoxify and excrete heavy metals.
- Normalizes hormone receptors, making thyroid hormones more effective in their action.
- Functioning hormone receptors also mean better blood sugar / insulin regulation.
- Helps normalize blood pressure.
- Mobilizes the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue = helps you burn fat for energy.
- Supports healthy brain function.
The world health organization considers iodine deficiency a worldwide epidemic, and the number one cause of preventable metal retardation.
72% of the world has iodine deficiency disorder.
Here are some of the conditions caused by iodine deficiency:
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Breast cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Diabetes
- Fibrocystic Breast Disease
- Liver disease
- Depression
- Down’s syndrome
- Fybromyalgia
- Spontaneous abortion
And the list goes on…
Your body needs Iodine!
The thyroid alone needs 6mg of iodine per day to function.
Average sized breast tissue needs 5mg per day.
Other glands and tissues need 2mg per day.
Other tissues which require daily amounts of iodine are Ovaries, Salivary glands, Parotid glands, Pancreas, Cerebral spinal fluids, Brain, Stomach, Epithelial tissue, Lacrimal glands -Tear ducts!!!
Now you can start putting together the pieces of my patient’s puzzle….
Can you see how a deficiency in this essential nutrient would lead to serious disease in the body.
It is also important to note that a lack of selenium, magnesium, vitamin A, iron and zinc will exacerbate an iodine deficiency.
One last point I would like you to take home today is that a nation deficient in iodine as an average of 15% lower IQ level than a population who is iodine sufficient.
How to supplement
There are many different iodine supplements on the market, and they are not all created equal.
I would recommend avoiding Iodoral in favor of Lugol’s solution. What I use in my practice is the highest form of single atom pure iodine in the most bioavailable form.
As all the supplements I use it is not an over the counter product. I do recommend working with your nutritionist or functional medicine doctor to test your iodine deficiency levels and recommend the best product for you.
Since using this tincture, my dry eye has been drastically better to where I forget about it now. You nailed it!
That is awesome!!!!
I’ve recently started supplementing with this but am unsure as to when – empty stomach or full meal? how many drops? how many times of day? there are so many different suggestions, and you are the first dietary blogger that has brought it up so thought i’d ask you. thanks in advance!
Anita, you can take it in the morning on an empty stomach if you manage todo it 😉
Start with one drop a day and VERY slowly increase!
I’ve heard that Lugol’s is effective when applied topically to the nipples. Thoughts? Would there be equivalent benefit (if any) for men and women?
I would apply it to the whole breast. It will detoxify the tissue from halogens and be a great cancer preventative!!
An excellent post. Sometimes the answer is right under our noses. Thank you.
This is great information! Which % is best? (2%, 5% or 7%) Thanks!
Hi Jennifer. I use a special kind of iodine, but if you can just find Lugol’s I would use the 5% solution.
What iodine do you use. I use usually recommend Lugol’s and how about patient’s with Hashimotos??
Hi Louise, I use a special kind of iodine, that is available through practitioners only. Lugol’s can be ok if you use all the cofactors with it, especially selenium and vitamin C – do not use chemical isolates though, but whole food supplements. (See this blog post:
For Hashi you have to be really careful and start with extremely low doses and increase very slowly!! I would recommend working with somebody who is familiar with nutrition and restorative endocrinology!
Hello, can you please reference the research that supports the claim that iodine deficiency can cause Down syndrome? I am interested in learning more about that.
Thanks so much for this excellent article! No doubt in my mind there is a conspiracy to keep sufficient levels of iodine out of our food supply and replace it with fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. And the lengths that western medicine have gone to create “iodophobia” is unbelievable (every “official” medical or governmental website demonizes iodine intake above the trace amount of 250mcg, and suggest very bad side effects will happen if the RDA of iodine is exceeded). Although I take multivitamins daily (with the RDA of 250 mcg iodine), I was suffering from chronic fatigue, muscle and joint aches (fibromyalgia), foggy head, restless sleep, and inability to lose weight. Within 48 Hours of supplementing with 6mg Lugols 5% iodine, MY SYMPTOMS VANISHED. Its now been 3 weeks supplementing, and i see MAJOR changes in my body, with fat and bloat decreasing. Based on my stunning rapid improvement in health, I am now 100% convinced that Iodine can cure us all and keep us healthy, but a sick population fuels the multi-billion $ medical industry. TAKE IODINE!!! And don’t listen to the so-called medical experts who say we only need trace amounts – THEY ARE WRONG.
Hi, how did you determine how much 6 mg is using the 5% lugols since it is 50 mg per 1 drop? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, 1 drop of 5% Lugol’s is actually 6.25 mg. Not sure where you got the 50 mg number from? Hope this helps 🙂
In addition to Lugol’s 5% iodine (in a glass of water with raw apple cider vinegar and water), I take Larch tree bark fiber. It makes a tremendous difference. My rheumatologist recommended it, and now I rarely see her because my health is so good, and autoimmune symptoms have almost completely disappeared.
The clinical trial that lead to the recommendation indicated lesions in the brains of mice with MS actually healed when the diet of the mice was supplemented with Larch tree bark plus a fermented food (e.g., apple cider vinegar).
Does the source for Lugol’s Iodine make a difference. I see you can purchase “Lugol’s Originals” , Brooklyn, NY, slick grey lable, distributed by JoAlle Corp. of Brooklyn, NY. I have also seen a Lugol’s Iodine sold by “Healing Touch – Pathway to Health” in a different yellow label. Are both “lugol’s” real Lugol’s? Is one preferred over the other?
No Susan, Lugol is not preferred, the best source of iodine is actually nascent iodine.
Nascent iodine is absolutely NOT the best solution. It is too weak to do have a good effect, and it doesn’t have both iodine forms needed by you body: Iodine and Potassium Iodide. And remember this, most people are chronically LOW in Iodine. Lugol’s formulation, both in Lugol’s liquid or Iodoral pill, is the best. The Iodoral pill is better than the liquid Lugol’s for this reason: The pill goes into your stomach and intestine, and is distributed to all the cells in your body. When you swallow the liquid Lugol’s, a major amount goes to your Thyroid gland first, which can cause an imbalance to the Thyroid. Use the pills instead in order to receive a balanced dose, and you MUST take 200 mcg of Selenium at the same time, in order for the T3 to convert to T4. Without Selenium It is an uphill battle! taking Selenium, you are not giving the Thyroid T4 that it needs. One more thing – right after every daily iodine dose, you need to drink 1/2 teaspoon of Sea salt, or Piknk salt, mixed in a cup of water. Then follow with a plain 16 oz. bottled water. The Salt is very important because it latches onty the Bromine, Chlorine and Fluorine in your body so you can pee it out. The Sea or Pink Salt pulls the Halides OUT. If you don’t do this, dislodging the Halides from your iodine receptors is difficult and slow.
Can you give me the name brand of the iodine you use so I can request that brand from my practitioner? I am going to her soon and would like to use the same one exactly.
It’s not available with every practitioner. Try asking for Nascent iodine or elemental iodine.
There is disagreement among nutritionists and naturopathic doctors as to whether Nascent iodine or Lugol’s iodine is better. Almost all the NDs I’ve come across online recommend Lugol’s. Some don’t recommend nascent iodine. Stephanie Burst, ND is one. Look for her guide to supplementing with iodine online. It’s full of detailed information about iodine and how to take it.
Cheers, and good health to everyone!
I know many people don’t understand nascent iodine. Even my own mentor.
Do you recommend painting your breast with the nascent iodine? I’ve seen some people say to ingest nascent iodine and use Lugol’s externally. Please help. Thanks.
Also, do you suggest a book, an article, etc to help me understand why the nascent is better(recommended)?
Yes you can use nascent iodine topically as well. It absorbs straight into the cells. Lugol’s needs to be mediated by the symporter system of the thyroid in order to be absorbed by the gland, while nascent iodine is a pure I- atom.
Good article.
In 2015 I was hit in my van by a car. Caused multiple injuries and embolic strokes.
It took the medics 6 years to identify the broken bones and the cause of the stroke ie. The clavicle dislocation (posterior into my throat).
Professor Sydney Bush, a great man. Told me if ever I was sick to use Iodine, 10 grams of vitamin c, selenium and a few other supplements.
I have just found out that a load of symptoms could be from an enlarged spleen. And the investigation begins.
I take 6 drops of 15% on waking up in water. Then the rest in their correct orders co-operating chemical synthesis (if that’s what its called).
My body is still healing after 8 years.
I am however, alive and getting better.
I would recommend using Lugols. Its effective and I prefer 15% if you have injuries. If its maintenance 2% is probably enough. Yet, seek advice from someone who knows what they’re talking about. I can only speak of my experiences.
Remember, the mental attitude is what gets you through it.
Know you are alive
Know you’re enogh
Know you have enough left within you to heal
Repeat that until you can only see yourself healed.
We must assuming that we are healed and keep assuming it.
Iodine. Keep the faith, it will work out.
Thank you Stephen for the beautiful share and blessings on your continued healing.