Thoughts on Iodine

Of all the elements known so far to be essential for health, IODINE is the most misunderstood. Yet, it is by far the safest of all the trace elements known to be essential for human health. It is the only trace element that can be ingested safely in amounts up to 100,000 times the RDI. It is estimated by myself and other clinicians that probably 90% or more of the population of the United States is grossly deficient in Iodine. In fact, it must be noted that Iodine is the single most deficient nutrient in the world --- with approximately 70% of the world's population deficient.

The collective experience of many medical clinicians over 3 generations has shown that Iodine therapy in the range of 12.5mg to 50mg daily doses to be safe and effective in treating signs and symptoms of Iodine deficiency.

The current recommended daily intake (RDI) is only 150 micrograms (.15 mg). This is hardly enough Iodine for the Thyroid gland let alone the rest of the body. The United States RDI and World Health Organization recommendations were NOT based on WHOLE-BODY sufficiency for Iodine, but on the maximum amounts of Iodine required to prevent Goiter and Cretinism. The normal daily requirements of the body for Iodine have NEVER been determined. We still do NOT know the Iodine requirements for WHOLE-BODY sufficiency. In Japan, the Japanese people usually consume an average daily intake of 13.8 mg of Iodine, the only population in the world that gets this amount of Iodine daily and are the healthiest people in the world based on cancer statistics.

Since Iodine is not very soluble in water, the best preparation of an aqueous solution of Iodine is LUGOL solution because it allows the administration of a relatively large amount of Iodine in small volumes of water. The collective experience of myself, as a former registered pharmacist, and a large number of medical clinicians over the last 100 years has resulted in the recommended daily amount of 2 drops to 6 drops of LUGOL solution per day, containing 12.5 mg to 37.5 mg of Iodine for supplementation. This amount of Iodine is NOT just for the Thyroid Gland but is the amount found needed for WHOLE BODY sufficiency since every cell in the human body needs Iodine for optimal health.

Based on a simple Iodine "Loading Test" developed by Guy Abraham, M.D. we can now come pretty close to determining how much Iodine the ENTIRE body needs each day for OPTIMAL health. This amount is 12.5 mg to 37.5 mg per day, or 2 to 6 drops of Lugol solution per day.

Based on numerous studies, optimum supplementation of Iodine is also highly recommended for those patients who are receiving Thyroid Hormone therapy. It is also interesting to note that the mammary glands are the tissues most often found in the body to "compete" effectively with the Thyroid Gland for Iodine; hence 50% or more women in the U. S. have been diagnosed with Fibrocystic Breast Disease. Iodine supplementation will cure this problem in 6 to 8 weeks. One in seven or so women in the US will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

And, it was shown in JAMA, 1976 (Journal of the American Medical Association) that if women who have Iodine deficiencies are prescribed T4 thyroid medication (Synthroid & Levoxyl), this T4 medication further increases their risk for Breast Cancer. This same association has NOT been shown when women have been prescribed Armour's Thyroid.

This can all be summarized by the fact that the Medical Establishment collectively has been afflicted with a condition called "Medical Iodophobia" -- a condition that results in an altered state of consciousness, split personalities, impaired rational thinking. All the result, probably, from a deficiency of IODINE!!